How we compile the golf course directory
We build a state-by-state directory of named golf courses from U.S. federal public-domain data, and we’re upfront about what that source does and doesn’t include. This page explains how, and what we deliberately do not claim.
Who’s behind this site
Golf Courses by State is an independent publisher operated by VentureCorp, Inc. We are not a course, a booking platform, or a golf association, and we don’t accept payment to add, remove or feature a course. The site answers one question: what named golf courses are there in a given state, and where are they?
Where our data comes from
| Data | Source | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Course names & locations | U.S. Geological Survey, Geographic Names Information System (GNIS), classic NationalFile (2021 vintage) — U.S. federal public-domain data | Every state, county and course page |
| City (locality label) | Derived: the nearest GNIS Populated Place to each course’s coordinates (each carries its own distance + confidence) — NOT a third-party lookup | The locality shown on each course |
What GNIS does not carry. The federal gazetteer records named features and where they are — it has no public-vs-private status, green fees, par, yardage, address or phone. We never fabricate those; any such detail belongs on the course’s own site, and a future state/data.gov merge could add some of them with a cited source. The directory is also partial and dated (2021 vintage): new, renamed or closed courses lag.
How we calculate
We pull the classic GNIS NationalFile, keep features whose names match golf courses, clubs and links (excluding name-collisions like dams and cemeteries), and derive each course’s city from the nearest populated place by distance, with a confidence flag. State and county come straight from GNIS. Regional totals are summed from the per-state course counts. We re-pull annually, or when USGS publishes a newer vintage.
What we deliberately leave out. We name no single “best” course and rank nothing by quality — the source supports a geographic directory, not a ranking. We don’t publish fees or tee times, because they aren’t in the federal data and we won’t invent them.
Independence & how we make money
Some links on this site may be affiliate links to tee-time or golf-travel partners; if you act on one we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Partners never see or influence which courses we list, and no placement is for sale.
Keeping it current
GNIS publishes on its own cadence, so we re-pull annually and review the name filters each time. Each page carries its verification date; current verification: June 2026. For live hours, rates and booking, always check the course’s own site.
Corrections
Spot an error? Tell us and we’ll fix it. Contact us →