The best golf courses in Missouri, USA

St. Louis Country Club, designed by Charles B. Macdonald and opened in 1914, is one of the oldest and most prestigious private clubs in the United States. Featuring a parkland-style layout with classic Macdonald template holes and immaculate Bentgrass playing surfaces, it has hosted several national championships and is acclaimed for both architectural pedigree and refined atmosphere.

Boone Valley Golf Club, designed by Paul Dye and extensively renovated by Hale Irwin, is a private, 18-hole course set in the rolling hills of Augusta, Missouri. Opened in 1992, it features bentgrass surfaces and a natural, rustic appeal, hosting top events like the Champions Tour's Boone Valley Classic and the US Junior Amateur Championship.

Ozarks National Golf Course, designed by legendary architects Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, offers an 18-hole, par-71 layout set atop the scenic Missouri Ozarks. The course is renowned for its dramatic views, natural terrain, and challenging design, featuring rapid elevation changes, pristine bentgrass greens, and zoysia fairways. It highlights native habitats and a signature 400-foot wooden bridge, offering a true world-class golf experience.

Bellerive Country Club, established in 1897 and located in Town and Country near St. Louis, is a world-renowned private club known for hosting major championships. With a course redesigned by Robert Trent Jones, Sr. and renovated by Rees Jones, its bold bunkering, winding creek, and large undulating greens deliver a championship-caliber experience.

Old Warson Country Club, established in 1954 in St. Louis and designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr., is noted for its classic, undulating parkland layout and elite private membership. The course features tree-lined fairways, strategic bunkering, and challenging greens. It has hosted high-profile tournaments, including the 1971 Ryder Cup, earning it a place among Missouri’s most respected clubs.

The National Golf Club of Kansas City is a private club in Parkville, Missouri, masterfully designed by Tom Watson. The course weaves through rolling hills and wooded glens and is renowned for its challenging layout and scenic elevation changes. Since opening in 2000, it has been recognized as one of the area's most prestigious clubs, offering first-class amenities and a picturesque golf experience.

Payne's Valley Golf Course, designed by Tiger Woods via TGR Design, honors Payne Stewart and offers expansive fairways, large greens, and dramatic Ozark terrain. Its 18-hole layout accentuates playability and strategic challenges for all skill levels, highlighted by breathtaking mountain backdrops and the iconic 19th island green.

Buffalo Ridge Springs, redesigned by Tom Fazio and conservationist Johnny Morris, delivers an engaging par 71 layout rolling through the scenic Ozark hills near Hollister, Missouri. Featuring native grasses, water features, and proximity to free-ranging buffalo, this well-recognized course rates among Missouri’s top public tracks and showcases a strong blend of natural beauty and modern design.

Branson Hills Golf Club, designed by Chuck Smith with Bobby Clampett, is a celebrated public course set in the Ozark Mountains. Known for dramatic elevation changes, natural rock outcroppings, waterfalls, and creeks, the course offers six sets of tees and honors Missouri golf legends. Frequently ranked #1 in Missouri, it stands out for its challenging play and scenic splendor.

St Albans Tavern Creek is a beautifully routed, private 18-hole course in Missouri, designed by Dana Fry and Dr. Michael Hurdzan. Opened in 1997, it features dramatic rock-lined creeks on 12 holes and impeccable use of the Missouri River Valley’s vistas. The club is regarded as one of the premier private golf destinations in the St. Louis region.

Dalhousie Golf Club is a nationally ranked, private club in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, designed by Gary Nicklaus. The course features undulating terrain, mature forests, water features, and a championship layout with zoysia fairways and bentgrass greens. Renowned for its challenging play and pristine conditions, the club also offers extensive practice facilities and a luxurious clubhouse.

Meadowbrook Country Club in Ballwin, Missouri, is a distinguished private club featuring an 18-hole, par-72 parkland golf course set on 320 acres. Designed originally by Robert Bruce Harris in 1961, with significant renovations by Gary Kern (1988) and Keith Foster (2000s), it is noted for strategic bunkering and challenging green complexes. The club is recognized for maintaining impeccable playing conditions and a classic club atmosphere.

Old Kinderhook Golf Resort, designed by Tom Weiskopf, winds through the scenic Ozark hills in Missouri. This 18-hole, par 71 course features dramatic elevation changes, meandering creeks, rock waterfalls, and flowering trees. Known for its stunning visuals and playability, it consistently ranks among the Midwest's finest and offers an exceptional round for golfers of all levels.

The Club at Porto Cima is a premier private golf course in Sunrise Beach, Missouri, designed by Jack Nicklaus. Set on the shores of the Lake of the Ozarks, this 7,060-yard, par-72 layout features seven holes that play along or over the lake, providing scenic beauty and challenge. The course is known for its meticulous conditioning and Mediterranean-style clubhouse.

Norwood Hills Country Club (West) is a classic private course in St. Louis designed by Wayne Stiles and opened in 1922. Renowned for hosting the 1948 PGA Championship won by Ben Hogan, it weaves through mature trees and rolling ground. The challenging layout features traditional parkland character, well-placed bunkering, and firm bentgrass greens in excellent condition.

The Lewis & Clark Course at the Country Club of St. Albans, designed by Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish, opened in 1992. It is a challenging, par-72 layout that uses dramatic terrain, rolling hills, creeks, and stunning wooded vistas to create a memorable and strategic parkland-style golf experience, regularly hosting top amateur events.