
Golf enthusiasts, get ready to peek behind the velvet ropes of America’s most sought-after country clubs. These aren’t your average fairways—we’re talking about the best golfing paradises in the world. Let’s tee off and explore the green pastures where the elite meet to play.
Augusta National Golf Club (Georgia)

Home to the Masters, it’s where golf dreams are made (or shattered). With only 300 members, which includes billionaires and former presidents, this club is harder to get into than Fort Knox. The course? Pure magic, with its famous azaleas and perfectly manicured greens.
Pine Valley Golf Club (New Jersey)

Consistently ranked as the world’s best course, Pine Valley is a golfer’s dream. It’s so private you can’t even drive by without an invitation. Non-members can only play if invited and accompanied by a member, and guests must have low handicaps.
Cypress Point Club (California)

Hugging the Pacific coastline, its location is one of its major selling points. This golf club is considered one of the toughest to join, with only 250 members. Cypress Point Club membership is divided equally among its members, irrespective of how often you go there.
Seminole Golf Club (Florida)

This Florida gem attracts golf’s biggest names. It was founded in 1929 by an investment banker. A masterpiece of strategy and beauty, the course was designed by Donald Ross. During the club’s member-guest tournament, it’s not uncommon to see more major champions than at some PGA Tour events.
Shinnecock Hills Golf Club (New York)

You can only play on this golf course if a member accompanies you in this club, and even if you’re allowed to play, getting a tee time is almost impossible. As one of America’s oldest golf clubs, Shinnecock Hills has hosted the U.S. Open five times.
National Golf Links of America (New York)

Like all the other golf courses on this list, getting a tee time at the National Golf Links of America is hard. Its holes were inspired by the best of Scottish and English courses. On the other hand, the club’s red, white, and blue flagsticks are a nod to its patriotic name.
Chicago Golf Club (Illinois)

As one of the five founding members of the USGA, Chicago Golf Club speaks loudly about history. It’s the oldest 18-hole course in North America, designed by the legendary C.B. Macdonald. Here, the club’s dedication to traditional golf is visible in its no-frills, golf-first approach.
Merion Golf Club (Pennsylvania)

Merion’s East Course was launched in 1896 and has hosted more USGA championships than any other course. Despite its compact size, it’s considered one of the most challenging tests in golf. The club’s history includes Bobby Jones completing his Grand Slam in 1930.
San Francisco Golf Club (California)

This joint is old-school cool. No fancy frills, just pure golf the way it was meant to be played. They’ve got this wild “Duel Hole” where folks used to settle beefs with pistols. The member list? It’s basically a “Who’s Who” of San Fran’s top dogs.
Winged Foot Golf Club (New York)

The two championship courses at Winged Foot have humbled golf’s greatest. Notably, this West Course is a six-time U.S. Open host that is notorious for its difficulty. To get in, you’ll need an initiation fee of $150,000.
The Country Club (Massachusetts)

This place is basically golf’s great-grandpa. It’s been around since 1882 and has seen a lot of action. Remember that crazy upset in the 1913 U.S. Open? Yep, it happened here. Oh, and they’ve got so many sports facilities, you might forget you came to golf.
Congressional Country Club (Maryland)

If you’ve ever wanted to tee off where presidents play, this is your golden chance. Well, theoretically. Congressional is where the political elite come to let themselves go. With the famous closing hole around a lake, the Blue Course has challenged the world’s best players.
Oakmont Country Club (Pennsylvania)

Oakmont’s greens are among the fastest and most challenging in the world, often reaching speeds of 14 on the Stimpmeter during major championships. The course features 210 bunkers and virtually has no water hazards, making it a true test of shot-making ability.
Baltusrol Golf Club (New Jersey)

The club is like the overachiever of golf clubs. Two championship courses? Check. Hosting major tournaments left and right? You bet. Established in 1895, this prestigious private golf club is just about 20 miles west of New York City.
Pebble Beach Golf Links (California)

Playing at Pebble Beach is considered a bucket-list experience for many golfers. The course is famous for its breathtaking holes along the coastline, particularly Nos. 4-10 and Nos. 17-18, considered some of the most beautiful and challenging in golf.