Two courses in Michigan are the finalists of the top public course voting in the United States today

Two courses in Michigan are the finalists of the top 10 public courses in the United States today

Today, the United States will hold a “Reader’s Choice” vote to identify the best public golf courses in the United States.

There are two Michigan courses on this list: Black Lake (pictured above) and Cardinal of St. John’s (pictured below).

I have long considered Black Lake to be the top 10 courses in Michigan and are talking about the best public courses. This is a little unpopular, though, and only the more well-known Michigan golfer knows. You can read my Black Lake Golf Course review on the link.

Cardinal of St. John is the latest course in Michigan. It was designed by Ray Hearn and built on the old twenty-seven bones of St. John’s Resort in Plymouth, Michigan. You can read my comments on the Cardinal in the link.

(I’ve reviewed nearly three hundred Michigan courses. See all Michigan golf course reviews by Golfblogger.)

Black Lake and Cardinal are indeed divided into two different categories. Black Lake is an epic northern Michigan layout, with all the stately forests changing and gloriously isolating the area. Cardinals are more comfortable; this friendly neighborhood lesson will bring people back time and time again.

In terms of its value, the LIV golf tour will be held in the Cardinal from August 22-24, 2025. Depending on how people feel about Liv, this can be a plus or a negative one.

The two lists also include Cobblestone Beach and Pinehurst No. 2. Indeed, rare air.

In addition to the Michigan course, I took four other on the list: Bandon Dunes, Caledonia Golf and Fish Club, Pinehust 2 and Tobacco Road.

Caledonia is one of my favorite courses ever. Mike Stranz’s designs are endlessly creative, but very playable. Tobacco Road is also a design by Stranz, and while more creative than Caledonia, I think it can be played well. I like the number 2 Pinehust (who doesn’t?), but my favorite at Pinehurst is actually number 4. Again, Bandon Dunes is great, but I prefer Pacific Dunes.

The complete list is as follows. Vote for your favorites in USA Today.

• Alberton, Alberton, GA
• Bandon Dunes, Bandon, Oregon
• Black Lake in northern Michigan
• Bully Pulpit in Medora, North Dakota
• Caledonia Golf Fish Club in Pali Island, South Carolina
• Cardinal of St. John’s in Plymouth, Michigan
• Chasca Town Courses in Chasca, Minnesota
• Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course, stateline, Nevada
• Grey Ranch Golf Club in Portola, CA
• Highland Route in the Grassland in Dan, Virginia
• Leatherstocking golf course in Cooperstown, New York
• Sand Valley Mammoth Sand Dunes in Nekoosa, Wisconsin
• Oakcreek, Sedona, Arizona
• Paako Ridge in Sandia Park, New Mexico
• Payne’s Valley, Big Cedar Lodge, Hollister, Missouri
• Pebbles Beach Golf Connection, Pebbles Beach, California
• Pinehurst, Pinehurst, North Carolina
• Redlands Mesa, Grand Junction, Colorado
• TRJ Golf Trail at Rose Bridge, Hoover, Alabama
• Tobacco Road Golf Club in Sanford, North Carolina

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