The 25 best golf courses in America in 2019\, ranked

shinnecock hills golfShinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, NY, is one of the best courses in the US.Peetlesnumber1/Wikimedia Commons

Golf Digest recently released its 2019-2020 ranking of America's 100 Greatest Golf Courses. Established in 1966, the biennial ranking by the publication is considered the "gold standard" in the sport's community.

In Wealth-X's inaugural High Net Worth Handbook, golf was ranked as the No. 1 preferred sport amongst individuals with a net worth of $1 million to $30 million.

Many of the top ranking courses are elite private clubs, where non-members can only play if invited by a current member. Other courses are public but come with high green fees as a result of their prestige. Courses in Pebble Beach, California and Augusta, Georgia are often utilized for annual professional golf tournaments such as The Masters.

To score each prestigious course, the Golf Digest panel totals its averages in seven categories, including shot value, aesthetics, and ambience. In addition, 60 evaluations over the past 10 years are required for a course to even be considered.

Golf Digest defines shot value as the variety of risks and rewards when playing each hole. Aesthetics assess the course's scenic value, while ambience takes into account the overall feel and atmosphere.

Below are the top 25 of the 100 courses provided by Golf Digest, in descending order with scores rounded to the nearest tenth.

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25. Wade Hampton Golf Club, Cashiers, North Carolina

Shot values: 7.9

Aesthetics: 8.3

Ambiance: 8.2

Total score: 64.5

24. The Ocean Course, Kiawah Island, South Carolina

24. The Ocean Course, Kiawah Island, South Carolina

Shot values: 8.0

Aesthetics: 8.2

Ambiance: 8.1

Total score: 64.5

23. Riviera Country Club, Pacific Palisades, California

Shot values: 8.1

Aesthetics: 7.8

Ambiance: 8.3

Total score: 64.8

22. Oak Hill Country Club (East), Rochester, New York

22. Oak Hill Country Club (East), Rochester, New York

Shot values: 8.1

Aesthetics: 7.9

Ambiance: 8.3

Total score: 64.6

21. Whistling Straits (Straits), Haven, Wisconsin

21. Whistling Straits (Straits), Haven, Wisconsin

Shot values: 7.9

Aesthetics: 8.3

Ambiance: 8.2

Total score: 64.6

20. Oakland Hills Country Club (South), Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

20. Oakland Hills Country Club (South), Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

Shot values: 8.1

Aesthetics: 8.2

Ambiance: 8.3

Total score: 64.8

19. Los Angeles Country Club (North), Los Angeles, California

19. Los Angeles Country Club (North), Los Angeles, California

Shot values: 8.0

Aesthetics: 7.9

Ambiance: 8.2

Total score: 64.8

18. The Country Club, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts

Shot values: 8.0

Aesthetics: 7.9

Ambiance: 8.6

Total score: 64.9

17. Pacific Dunes, Bandon, Oregon

17. Pacific Dunes, Bandon, Oregon

Shot values: 7.9

Aesthetics: 8.5

Ambiance: 8.4

Total score: 64.9

16. Muirfield Village Golf Club, Dublin, Ohio

16. Muirfield Village Golf Club, Dublin, Ohio

Shot values: 8.1

Aesthetics: 8.0

Ambiance: 8.2

Total score: 65.2

15. Friar's Head Golf Club, Baiting Hollow, New York

Shot values: 8.0

Aesthetics: 8.3

Ambiance: 8.2

Total score: 65.2

14. Chicago Golf Club, Wheaton, Illinois

Shot values: 8.1

Aesthetics: 7.9

Ambiance: 8.7

Total score: 65.6

13. Crystal Downs Country Club, Frankfort, Michigan

Shot values: 8.2

Aesthetics: 8.2

Ambiance: 8.3

Total score: 65.6

12. Seminole Golf Club, Juno Beach, Florida

Shot values: 8.1

Aesthetics: 8.2

Ambiance: 8.7

Total score: 65.9

11. Winged Foot Golf Club (West), Mamaroneck, New York

Shot values: 8.3

Aesthetics: 7.9

Ambiance: 8.7

Total score: 66.2

10. Fishers Island Club, Fishers Island, New York

Shot values: 8.1

Aesthetics: 8.8

Ambiance: 8.7

Total score: 66.4

9. Sand Hills Golf Club, Mullen, Nebraska

Shot values: 8.3

Aesthetics: 8.4

Ambiance: 8.5

Total score: 66.4

8. National Golf Links of America, Southampton, New York

Shot values: 8.3

Aesthetics: 8.6

Ambiance: 8.8

Total score: 67.4

7. Pebble Beach Golf Links, Pebble Beach, California

7. Pebble Beach Golf Links, Pebble Beach, California

Shot values: 8.3

Aesthetics: 8.9

Ambiance: 8.8

Total score: 67.5

6. Merion Golf Club (East), Ardmore, Pennsylvania

Shot values: 8.5

Aesthetics: 8.3

Ambiance: 8.9

Total score: 67.9

5. Oakmont Country Club, Oakmont, Pennsylvania

5. Oakmont Country Club, Oakmont, Pennsylvania

Shot values: 8.6

Aesthetics: 8.2

Ambiance: 8.8

Total score: 68.9

4. Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, Southampton, New York

4. Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, Southampton, New York

Shot values: 8.6

Aesthetics: 8.7

Ambiance: 8.9

Total score: 69.3

3. Cypress Point Club, Pebble Beach, California

Shot values: 8.5

Aesthetics: 9.3

Ambiance: 9.2

Total score: 69.7

2. Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, Georgia

2. Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, Georgia

Shot values: 8.7

Aesthetics: 9.2

Ambiance: 9.4

Total score: 71.6

1. Pine Valley Golf Club, Pine Valley, New Jersey

1. Pine Valley Golf Club, Pine Valley, New Jersey

Shot values: 8.9

Aesthetics: 8.9

Ambiance: 9.2

Total score: 72.0