From top right, clockwise: Sedge Valley; Rip Van Winkle CC; Yeamans Hall; Hualalai Golf Course.
Clockwise from top right: BRANDON CARTER/SAND LAGLEY; KEVIN CUNNHAM; LC Lambrecht; CONOR FEDERICO
At GOLF.com, the travel—and the game of golf—is part of the gig. Here, on the final day of 2024, is a look at some of the favorite courses our staff have played over the past 12 months. Click on the links to read the full stories and click here to use GOLF’s Course Finder tool and find golf courses near you.
9 of our favorite courses we played in 2024
Why This Mountain-View Catskills Course Was My Favorite of 2024, by Kevin Cunningham
A big move led me to my favorite course of the year: Rip Van Winkle Country Club in Palenville, NY Here’s why it won top honors.
My favorite course played in 2024? The one where I played for a WWE belt, by Nick Piastowski
My favorite course played in 2024? It was in central Wisconsin where I played for a WWE Championship belt.
Why this low-key gem was my favorite course I played in 2024 by Maddi MacClurg
Nestled in the South Carolina low country is Yeamans Hall Club. It amazed me with its visuals – and also opened up wonderful memories.
I’ve played this course many times – and it just keeps getting better, by Zephyr Melton
I’ve been playing the Rawls course since I was in high school – and every time I come home it seems to get better.
My favorite courses of 2024? They Reminded Me of What’s Important, by Josh Berhow
In 2024, I learned how to rate some golf courses more than others, and that’s a formula I’ll stick with.
This cult classic golf course stole my heart – but I still loved it, by Jack Hirsh
Our own Jack Hirsh has ticked off a few bucket list courses, but his favorite rounds of the year may have come at a $40 price tag in California.
This Scottish stunner was my favorite course I played this year, by Sean Zak
When I played Trump Turnberry on a summer evening, the sky turned pink, the wind died down, and the course became a work of art.
Why this lava-covered course in Hawaii was my favorite in 2024, by Connor Federico
The Hualalai Golf Course is set in an environment unlike any other in the world. This gem’s trail takes advantage of its pristine natural surroundings.
Why This Smoking Summer Deal Daily Fee Course Is My Favorite Course of the Year by Jessica Marksbury
An incredible summer deal made Stonecreek GC – a daily fee course in Phoenix, Ariz. – my favorite of the year.
