In recent years, North and South Dakota have become increasingly popular among the golfing community. The views are phenomenal, the atmosphere is relaxing and the courses are drop-dead gorgeous.
Golfers who have not yet visited the Dakotas for a golf getaway are missing out. Now is the time to plan a trip and book rounds at these three premier public courses.
BULLY PULPIT GOLF COURSE :: MEDORA, NORTH DAKOTA
In the opinion of Jesse Ward, head golf professional at Bully Pulpit Golf Course in Medora, North Dakota, the course features holes that simply cannot be replicated anywhere else. Overlooking the Badlands—with its buttes, meadows, ravines, river valleys, vistas and woodlands—the scenery is stunning.
However, Ward noted that the Bully Pulpit experience is about more than awe-inspiring views. Just as importantly, staff members provide a high level of customer service that elevates the entire visit.
“We’re a destination golf course, so for many of our guests, playing Bully Pulpit may be something they’ve been looking forward to for months or even years,” Ward said. “We want to recognize that and make sure their experience feels special from the moment they arrive. Our goal is to create an atmosphere that’s genuine, welcoming and personal.”
Aside from the welcoming atmosphere, the natural surroundings draw golfers back time after time. The open plains, the Little Missouri River valley, wooded pockets and dramatic Badlands formations ensure every single hole is memorable. Guests will not fully grasp the course’s magnificent views until witnessing them firsthand.
“To me, a premier public golf course should be somewhere people are willing to travel to play, remember afterward and want to return to,” Ward said. “I believe Bully Pulpit checks all three of those boxes.”
ELKHORN RIDGE GOLF CLUB :: SPEARFISH, SOUTH DAKOTA
Spearfish, South Dakota, has long been a tourist hub due to its proximity to Mount Rushmore and Sturgis. But there is another major draw in the area: Elkhorn Ridge Golf Club.
Unlike Mount Rushmore or Sturgis, Elkhorn Ridge offers quiet serenity. Head golf professional Mike Mendelson noted that guests often feel as though they are well off the beaten path.
That feeling is driven by the front nine’s setting among the Northern Black Hills and the Centennial Valley, alongside a back nine framed by Polo Creek Canyon and towering rock walls.
“Guests will be very close to all of the amenities that the Black Hills offer,” Mendelson said. “After all, the course is right on the Interstate 90 corridor.”
Set among rugged mountain prairies, the course stands out for its pristine turf conditions.
“The fairways and greens ‘pop,’ especially during dry years,” Mendelson said.
To maintain those conditions, staff members are preparing to update the front nine’s irrigation system in the near future, alongside bunker renovations and relocations.
“This is just the beginning of the planning phase as we prepare to ensure Elkhorn Ridge remains the Black Hills’ best public golf course,” Mendelson added.
THE GOLF CLUB AT RED ROCK :: RAPID CITY, SOUTH DAKOTA
Since opening in 2002, The Golf Club at Red Rock in Rapid City, South Dakota, has consistently been named one of the state’s top public courses by publications such as Golf Digest and Golfweek.
From its lush fairways and native grasses to its tall ponderosa pines, the layout takes full advantage of the natural landscape.
“It provides an exceptional Black Hills golf experience to both casual players and more demanding players,” said head golf professional Jason Young.
Featuring a minimum of four tee placements on every hole—with some holes offering up to seven—the course ensures golfers of all skill levels are challenged. While measuring just 6,900 yards from the tips, the layout is protected by links-style bunkers, undulating greens and dramatic elevation changes. Situated 3,800 feet above sea level, the course features up to 200 feet of elevation swings.
When off the course, golfers can sightsee at Mount Rushmore just 30 minutes away or visit historic Deadwood, located less than 50 miles from the property.
“Each of our guests will enjoy a challenging, exhilarating and world-class golf experience, time after time,” Young said.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
- Hart Ranch Golf Club, Rapid City, South Dakota: Ranked South Dakota’s No. 1 public course by Golfweek for four consecutive years.
- Hawktree Golf Club, Bismarck, North Dakota: Renowned for its dramatic elevation changes, scenic vistas and abundant wildlife.
- King’s Walk Golf Course, Grand Forks, North Dakota: King’s Walk Golf Course (Grand Forks, North Dakota): Designed by Arnold Palmer, this championship layout evokes the classic links courses of Ireland and Scotland.
