Top 10 Public Golf Courses Near America’s National Parks
Where your next great round meets your next great view
There’s something different about playing golf surrounded by real scale.
Not trees lining the fairway—but mountains.
Not subdivisions—but rivers, cliffs, oceans, forests, and open space.
The best golf trips aren’t just about the course. They’re about where the course takes you.
And as America celebrates its 250th birthday, this feels like the perfect time to get out and experience some of the places that make this country so remarkable.
From the deserts of Texas and Utah…
to the mountains of Wyoming…
to the rugged coastline of Maine…
Our National Parks represent something uniquely American—space, adventure, beauty, and the freedom to explore.
And if you happen to love golf, they also create the opportunity for something even better:
The chance to play unforgettable courses in unforgettable places.
Here are ten public-access golf courses that pair incredible golf with some of the most iconic landscapes in the country.
1. Big Bend National Park (Texas)
Black Jack’s Crossing at Lajitas Golf Resort
📍 National Park: Big Bend National Park
📍 Course: Black Jack’s Crossing Golf Course
This is golf at the edge of nowhere—and that’s exactly what makes it special.
Designed by Lanny Wadkins, Black Jack’s Crossing winds through desert canyons with the Rio Grande cutting through the property. The visuals are unforgettable, but so is the challenge.
The dry desert air changes distances. The firm turf changes bounce interaction. And the massive landscape can trick you into swinging harder than you should.
ISZ Take:
This course rewards commitment and punishes indecision.
Bill’s Tip:
In desert conditions, your wedges can fly farther than expected. Control your trajectory and trust your numbers.
2. Zion National Park (Utah)
Black Desert Resort Golf Course
📍 National Park: Zion National Park
📍 Course: Black Desert Resort Golf Course
Few courses in America look like this.
Black lava rock. Towering red cliffs. Bright green fairways carved through volcanic terrain.
It’s visually stunning—and mentally demanding.
This is one of those places where target discipline matters. If your focus drifts for even a moment, the landscape can distract you from what really matters: executing the shot.
ISZ Take:
Precision beats aggression here.
Bill’s Tip:
Pick very specific landing spots. General targets create general swings.
3. Yosemite National Park (California)
Wawona Golf Course
📍 National Park: Yosemite National Park
📍 Course: Wawona Golf Course
Wawona feels less like modern golf and more like stepping into another era.
Located inside Yosemite National Park, this historic course plays through towering pines and natural terrain with minimal interference from modern architecture or conditioning.
Perfect lies are rare. Creativity matters.
And honestly? That’s part of the charm.
ISZ Take:
This course teaches adaptability better than almost anywhere.
Bill’s Tip:
Don’t chase perfection from uneven lies. Prioritize solid contact and let the course come to you.
4. Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Parks (Wyoming)
Jackson Hole Golf & Tennis Club
📍 National Parks:
- Yellowstone National Park
- Grand Teton National Park
📍 Course: Jackson Hole Golf & Tennis Club
If mountain golf is your thing, this belongs on your list.
With the Tetons filling the horizon and wildlife roaming nearby, every hole feels cinematic. But altitude and firm conditions create one of the biggest adjustment tests in golf.
Distances change quickly here.
ISZ Take:
Players who manage distance well score. Players who guess… don’t.
Bill’s Tip:
Your wedge numbers at home probably won’t match what happens here. Spend time recalibrating before you attack flags.
5. Acadia National Park (Maine)
Kebo Valley Golf Club
📍 National Park: Acadia National Park
📍 Course: Kebo Valley Golf Club
One of the oldest golf courses in America—and one of the most peaceful.
Kebo Valley doesn’t overpower you with length or drama. Instead, it gives you classic New England golf surrounded by ocean air, pine trees, and the rugged beauty of coastal Maine.
It’s walkable. Strategic. Timeless.
ISZ Take:
Courses like this remind you that scoring is about positioning—not power.
Bill’s Tip:
When the wind comes off the coast, flight your wedges lower and focus on controlling spin.
6–10: Other Great National Park Golf Trips
Rocky Mountain National Park (Colorado)
Pole Creek Golf Club
Pole Creek Golf Club
Altitude, mountain views, and wide fairways make this one of the most enjoyable public golf experiences in Colorado.
Cuyahoga Valley National Park (Ohio)
Sleepy Hollow Golf Course
Sleepy Hollow Golf Course
A classic public course with rolling terrain and one of the best values anywhere near a National Park.
Death Valley National Park (California)
Furnace Creek Golf Course
Furnace Creek Golf Course
The lowest-elevation golf course in the world—and one of the most unique rounds you’ll ever play.
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (Michigan)
Manitou Passage Golf Club
Manitou Passage Golf Club
Arnold Palmer design. Rolling dunes. Lake Michigan views. Pure northern Michigan golf.
Olympic National Park (Washington)
Cedars at Dungeness
Cedars at Dungeness Golf Course
Mountain views, coastal air, and one of the most scenic public layouts in the Pacific Northwest.
Final Thoughts
What makes these places memorable isn’t just the scenery.
It’s the way the environment changes the way you play.
Different turf. Different air. Different visuals. Different decisions.
That’s why good scoring travels—and swing mechanics alone don’t.
The golfers who adapt the fastest are usually the golfers who score the best.
And honestly, that’s part of what makes destination golf so much fun.
Because sometimes the best golf memories aren’t about the number on the card.
Sometimes they come from standing on a tee box somewhere near a National Park… taking in a view that reminds you just how special this country really is.
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