In 2024, hundreds of Golf Digest course-ranking panelists visited 59 new or remodeled courses that were candidates for our annual awards. The Best New Public and Private awards are given to the year’s most outstanding original courses, including those built over the bones of an older course. Traditional renovations and restorations, consisting of alterations and projects that return the design to some historically based version of its past, are combined in Best Renovation. Best Renovation winners are determined by surveys that measure the effectiveness of the work before and after construction. (Panelists must have played the course previously.) Best Transformation assesses major remodels that go beyond mere renovation to include a newly conceived architectural intent, new holes and possibly newly routed sections of the property—the name remains the same, but if you blinked you might not recognize the course. Here’s the work that our panelists deemed most significant for 2024.
You will find the winners below—but beyond just a list, please explore our expanded stories on each of the winners and runners-up for the categories at links below.
Additional write-ups and photos on every candidate can be found on each of the additional pieces of content. Plus, explore each course review page and leave reviews on the courses you’ve played to have your ratings featured on our pages.
BEST NEW PRIVATE COURSE 
BACKCOUNTRY STUNNER Chet Williams made great use of the land at Big Easy Ranch.
Brian Oar
WINNER THE COVEY AT BIG EASY RANCH
Columbus, Texas7,511 yards, par 72Architect: Chet Williams
Brian Oar captured exclusive drone footage of The Covey for Golf Digest. You can find one of the drone shots below—find more at our separate story here.
SECOND PLACE OLD BARNWELL
Aiken, S.C.7,070 yards, par 73Architects: Brian Schneider, Blake Conant
THIRD PLACE THE TREE FARM
Aiken, S.C.6,855 yards, par 71Architects: Kye Goalby, Tom Doak, Zac Blair
More On THE COVEY AT BIG EASY RANCH 
Golf Digest Logo The Covey at Big Easy Ranch winning our Best New course might be a surprise—until you see it BEST NEW PUBLIC COURSE 
HIGH NOTES Pinehurst #10 boasts extreme elevation, unlike the resort’s other courses.
Jeff Marsh
WINNER PINEHURST (N.C.) #10
7,020 yards, par 70Architect: Tom Doak
SECOND PLACE CABOT CITRUS FARMS (KAROO)
Brooksville, Fla. 7,562 yards, par 72 Architect: Kyle Franz
THIRD PLACE SEDGE VALLEY AT SAND VALLEY
Nekoosa, Wis.5,829 yards, par 68Architect: Tom Doak
More on PINEHURST (N.C.) #10 
Golf Digest Logo How Pinehurst’s newest course defeated some of the greatest public competition this decade BEST RENOVATION 
UNCOVERED GEMS Andrew Green used Donald Ross’ blueprints to help guide his Interlachen renovation.
Brad Rempel
WINNER INTERLACHEN COUNTRY CLUB
Edina, Minn.7,201 yards, par 72Architect: Andrew Green
SECOND PLACE OCEAN FOREST GOLF CLUB
Sea Island, Ga.7,365 yards, par 72Architect: Beau Welling
THIRD PLACE OMNI LA COSTA RESORT & SPA (NORTH)
Carlsbad, Calif.7,500 yards, par 72Architects: Gil Hanse, Jim Wagner
Come back on Thursday for a full story on Interlachen and the other Best Renovation candidates.
BEST TRANSFORMATION 
GOLD VISION Medinah #3’s prairie-style redesign makes best use of the land.
Medinah Country Club
WINNER MEDINAH (ILL.) COUNTRY CLUB (#3)
7,564 yards, par 72Architects: Geoff Ogilvy, Mike Cocking, Ashley Mead
SECOND PLACE EAST LAKE GOLF CLUB
Atlanta7,490 yards, par 72Architect: Andrew Green
THIRD PLACE WOODMONT COUNTRY CLUB (SOUTH)
Rockville, Md.7,002 yards, par 71Architect: Joel Weiman
Come back on Thursday for a full story on Medinah #3 and the other Best Transformation candidates.
Dustin Gilder
WINNER WELLMAN CLUB SECOND PLACEBOBBY JONES GOLF CLUB THIRD PLACE THE LINKS AT AUDUBON
Come back on Friday for a full story on the reintroduction of our Best Affordable Public Course survey.
• • •
Explore our brand-new course reviews experience with individual course pages for bonus photography, drone footage and expanded reviews of top international courses and all 17,000-plus courses in the United States. Post your own ratings for courses you’ve played … and tell us where it should be ranked.
This article was originally published on golfdigest.com
