The Inside Swing

Best Golf Courses in St. Louis, Missouri

St. Louis has quietly built one of the strongest golf resumes in the Midwest. Bellerive Country Club has hosted the U.S. Open, PGA Championship, and multiple other major championships, and the Gateway City's rolling Missouri terrain and strong public golf infrastructure make it a rewarding destination for visiting golfers.

Our Methodology: Courses are ranked by an expert panel evaluating design quality, conditioning, challenge, aesthetics, and overall experience. Both private and public courses are considered on merit.
1

Town and Country, Missouri · Robert Trent Jones Sr. (1960) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 7,547 yards

Host of the 2018 PGA Championship won by Brooks Koepka, Bellerive has also hosted the 1965 U.S. Open and 1992 PGA Championship. Robert Trent Jones Sr.'s design through rolling Missouri terrain features generous fairways, bold bunkering, and challenging par 4s that test the world's best.

2018 PGA Championship host venue1965 U.S. Open and 1992 PGA Championship hostRobert Trent Jones Sr. championship design
Green Fee: Members Only Rating: 4.8/5
2

Ladue, Missouri · Robert Trent Jones Sr. (1954) · 18 holes · Par 71 · 7,249 yards

A Robert Trent Jones Sr. design in the affluent Ladue area, Old Warson hosted the 1971 Ryder Cup and has been a perennial top-100 course in America. The classic parkland layout through mature hardwoods features RTJ Sr.'s trademark large greens, expansive bunkers, and strategic water hazards.

1971 Ryder Cup host venuePerennial top-100 ranked courseRTJ Sr. classic parkland design in Ladue
Green Fee: Members Only Rating: 4.6/5
3

Clayton, Missouri · Charles Blair Macdonald / Seth Raynor (1914) · 18 holes · Par 71 · 6,697 yards

A Charles Blair Macdonald and Seth Raynor collaboration, St. Louis Country Club is an architectural treasure featuring classic template holes. The layout hosted the 1947 U.S. Open and brings Golden Age design principles to the rolling hills of Clayton with Redan, Biarritz, and Eden holes.

Macdonald-Raynor template hole design1947 U.S. Open hostGolden Age architectural treasure
Green Fee: Members Only Rating: 4.7/5
4

Augusta, Missouri · Hale Irwin (2001) · 18 holes · Par 71 · 7,213 yards

Designed by St. Louis native and three-time U.S. Open champion Hale Irwin, Boone Valley is carved through scenic Missouri River bluffs near Augusta. The dramatic layout features significant elevation changes, panoramic valley views, and a challenging test that reflects Irwin's competitive golf philosophy.

Hale Irwin design on Missouri River bluffsThree-time U.S. Open champion architectDramatic elevation changes and valley views
Green Fee: Members Only Rating: 4.5/5
5

St. Louis, Missouri · Gary Kern (2002) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 7,136 yards

Consistently rated the top public course in the St. Louis metro area, Tapawingo National features a rolling layout through wooded terrain with dramatic elevation changes. The championship design delivers a premium golf experience at public pricing with excellent conditioning and scenic Missouri views.

Top-rated public course in St. Louis metroDramatic elevation changes through woodsPremium championship experience at public pricing
Green Fee: $50–$95 Rating: 4.3/5
6

Madison, Illinois · Keith Foster (1998) · 18 holes · Par 71 · 7,174 yards

A Keith Foster links-style design across the river in Madison, Illinois, Gateway National offers windswept, treeless golf with views of the St. Louis skyline and Gateway Arch. The layout through reclaimed wetlands features firm-and-fast conditions, fescue rough, and pot bunkers unusual for the region.

Links-style with St. Louis Arch viewsKeith Foster firm-and-fast designReclaimed wetlands with fescue and pot bunkers
Green Fee: $40–$75 Rating: 4.2/5
7

Weldon Spring, Missouri · Jack Nicklaus (1998) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 7,091 yards

A Jack Nicklaus design in Weldon Spring, Persimmon Woods offers semi-private access to championship golf in St. Charles County. The layout winds through mature hardwood forest with strategic water hazards and Nicklaus's signature bold bunkering on rolling Missouri terrain.

Jack Nicklaus semi-private designMature hardwood forest routingChampionship golf in St. Charles County
Green Fee: $55–$100 Rating: 4.2/5
8

Glendale, Missouri · Seth Raynor (1899) · 18 holes · Par 70 · 6,620 yards

One of the oldest clubs in Missouri, Algonquin features a Seth Raynor redesign from 1921 with classic template holes in a compact parkland setting. The intimate layout through mature St. Louis suburbs delivers Golden Age charm with Raynor's Redan, Punchbowl, and Short holes.

Seth Raynor 1921 template hole redesignOne of Missouri's oldest golf clubsCompact Golden Age charm in Glendale
Green Fee: Members Only Rating: 4.4/5
9

Madison, Illinois · Keith Foster (1998) · 18 holes · Par 71 · 7,157 yards

A Keith Foster links-style design on the Illinois side of the Mississippi River, Gateway National offers panoramic views of the St. Louis skyline and Gateway Arch. The windswept layout through wetlands and native grasses delivers an authentic links experience unusual for the Midwest.

Panoramic St. Louis skyline and Arch viewsKeith Foster links-style designAuthentic windswept links feel on Mississippi
Green Fee: $40–$75 Rating: 4.2/5
10

Eureka, Missouri · Tom Fazio (2001) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 7,138 yards

A Tom Fazio design west of St. Louis in Eureka, The Country Club at the Legends features dramatic Ozark foothill terrain with significant elevation changes and mature hardwood forest. The private layout delivers Fazio's trademark visual drama and strategic challenge through one of the most naturally scenic properties in the metro area.

Tom Fazio design in Ozark foothillsDramatic elevation changes and hardwood forestOne of metro St. Louis's most scenic properties
Green Fee: Members Only Rating: 4.3/5
11

St. Charles, Missouri · Robert Trent Jones Sr. (1964) · 18 holes · Par 71 · 6,927 yards

A Robert Trent Jones Sr. design in St. Charles, Bogey Hills is a well-respected private club with classic RTJ Sr. features including large tiered greens, sweeping bunkers, and strategic water hazards. The mature parkland setting along the Missouri River bluffs provides a serene and challenging golf experience.

Robert Trent Jones Sr. classic designMature parkland along Missouri River bluffsWell-respected St. Charles area private club
Green Fee: Members Only Rating: 4.2/5

Public Courses in St. Louis

Looking for courses you can play without a membership? See our complete guide to public courses in St. Louis .

Overview

The St. Louis metro area offers a balanced mix of championship private clubs and quality public courses spread across the rolling hills west of the Mississippi. Bellerive anchors the private scene, while public gems like Pevely Farms, Gateway National, and The Legends Country Club provide accessible championship golf. The region's affordable cost of living translates to excellent golf value.

Best Time to Play

April through October, with May, June, September, and October offering the best conditions. St. Louis summers are hot and humid, but the long season provides plenty of comfortable golf days. Fall colors on the heavily wooded courses are spectacular.

Travel Tips & Getting There

St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL) is conveniently located northwest of the city. Most golf is concentrated in the western suburbs (Creve Coeur, Town and Country, Chesterfield). Combine your golf with St. Louis's world-class attractions — Forest Park, the Arch, and the city's famous BBQ and Italian food on The Hill.

Nearest Airport: St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most famous golf course in St. Louis?
Bellerive Country Club is St. Louis's most prestigious course, having hosted the 1965 U.S. Open, the 1992 and 2018 PGA Championships, and the 2013 Senior PGA Championship. It's a private club located in the Town and Country suburb.
What is the best public course in St. Louis?
Pevely Farms Golf Club in Eureka is widely considered the best public course in the metro area. Gateway National Golf Links in Madison, Illinois offers a unique links-style experience. Both provide championship-caliber golf at reasonable prices.

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