It’s tailgate time, and the best way to start an afternoon of college football might be with 18 holes in the morning.
Most of the top 25 teams in the preseason Amway Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY have great golf within an hour’s drive of the stadium, making it possible to get in an early tee time and still make it to kickoff.
Following is a list of Golfweek’s Best Courses You Can Play within an hour’s drive – as indicated by Google Maps – of the top 25 college teams. The courses are taken from the 2019 state-by-state lists of best public-access courses. The numbers preceding the course names indicate that course’s ranking in its state.
When it comes to great golf opportunities, No. 3 Georgia outscores rivals Clemson and Alabama with eight ranked courses nearby. Four of those are at Reynolds Lake Oconee, where golfers could stay on property, play 18 in the morning and still make it to a late-afternoon or evening game an hour to the north.
Northwestern also has eight courses nearby, but the weather near Chicago isn’t especially golf friendly for much of football season. Another option for fans not entirely tied to any one school might be No. 17 Central Florida, which has six ranked courses within an hour of Spectrum Stadium in Orlando.
1. Clemson
No Golfweek’s Best Courses You Can Play within an hour
2. Alabama
3. Ross Bridge, Hoover
5. Oxmoor Valley (Ridge), Birmingham
3. Georgia
2. Reynolds Lake Oconee (Great Waters), Oconee
3. Arrowhead Pointe, Elberton
4. Reynolds Lake Oconee (Oconee), Oconee
5. Harbor Club, Greensboro
6. University of Georgia GC
8. Reynolds Lake Oconee (National), Greensboro
9. The Georgia Club (Chancellor’s), Statham
10. Reynolds Lake Oconee (The Landing), Greensboro
4. Oklahoma
2. Jimmie Austin GC, Norman
5. Ohio State
3. The Virtues, Nashport
9. Cooks Creek, South Bloomfield
6. LSU
5. Carter Plantation, Springfield
7. Michigan
11. University of Michigan GC, Ann Arbor
8. Florida
No Golfweek’s Best Courses You Can Play within an hour
9. Notre Dame
7. Warren GC at Notre Dame, South Bend
10. Texas
5. Omni Barton Creek (Fazio Canyons), Austin
13. Wolfdancer, Lost Pines
17. Barton Creek CC (Fazio Foothills), Austin
11. Texas A&M
No Golfweek’s Best Courses You Can Play within an hour
12. Washington
2. Chambers Bay, University Place
13. Oregon
No Golfweek’s Best Courses You Can Play within an hour
14. Penn State
9. Toftrees Golf Resort, State College
15. Utah
4. Soldier Hollow (Gold), Midway
5.Thanksgiving Point, Lehi
8. TalonsCove, Saratoga Springs
16. Auburn
2. Grand National (Lake), Opelika
6. Grand National (Links), Opelika
T-17. Wisconsin
10. University Ridge, Madison
14. Wild Rock, Wisconsin Dells
T-17. Central Florida
8. Bay Hill Club, Orlando
15. Victoria Hills, Deland
17. Mission Inn Resort (El Campeon), Howey-in-the-Hills
26. Orange County National (Panther Lake)
27. Winter Park Municipal GC, Winter Park
30. Reunion Resort (Watson Course), Reunion
19. Iowa
2. Blue Top Ridge, Riverside
4. Amana Colonies, Amana
20. Michigan State
7. Eagle Eye, Bath
21. Washington State
6. Palouse Ridge, Pullman
22. Syracuse
4. Turning Stone Resort (Atunyote), Verona
11. Turning Stone Resort (Shenendoah), Verona
14. Turning Stone Resort (Kaluhyat), Verona
23. Stanford
2. Pasatiempo, Santa Cruz
7. CordeValle, San Martin
13. Baylands Golf Links, Palo Alto
24. Iowa State
No Golfweek’s Best Courses You Can Play within an hour
25. Northwestern
1. Cog Hill (No.4-Dubsdread), Lemont
3. Highlands of Elgin, Elgin
5. Thunderhawk, Beach Park
6. Stonewall Orchard GC, Grayslake
7. Preserve at Oak Meadow, Addison
8. Mt. Prospect Golf Course, Mt. Prospect
14. The Glen Club, Glenview
15. Pine Meadow, Mundelein
