Determined to play more golf? Here are 9 notable course openings in 2026

A new year means new places to play. In 2026, those places will range from high cliffs abroad to revamped munis and ambitious resort buildings closer to home. The nine courses below vary widely in style, scale and setting, but have one feature in common: they are all open to the public. Happy 2026.

The Commons at Sand Valley, Nekoosa, Wis.
Architect: Jim Craig
Opened: summer 2026
Inspired by the common land layouts of Great Britain, Sand Valley’s new 12-hole short course is also egalitarian in nature. Wide, welcoming fairways allow play over the ground, while carefully shaped greens create attractive targets for golfers of all levels, from experienced players to beginners just learning to play golf.

Old Petty, Inverness, Scotland
Architect: Tom Doak
Opened: summer 2026
Like its brother, Castle Stuart, Doak’s design is set on turbulent terrain near the Moray Firth, but it works further inland over heaving terrain. Although the sea comes into view several times, it is the course itself that draws the attention, with its emphasis on angles and nuanced demands around the greens. Its arrival takes Cabot Highlands even further to the next level and makes the resort a must-stop on any tour of the Scottish Highlands.

Ponta do Pargo, Madeira, Portugal
Architect: Nick Faldo
Opened: end of 2026
Faldo’s design has been in development for over twenty years and is located in a place that has to be seen to be believed, draped over breathtaking cliffs on the Portuguese island of Madeira. In its dizzying drama, the property is reminiscent of Ireland’s Old Head, transplanted to a milder climate. But it has a character all its own: treeless and windswept, with eight holes along cliffs that plunge some 300 feet into the Atlantic Ocean.

Gulf, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Architect: Ernie Els (with Greg Letsche)
Opening: autumn/winter 2026
Els’ first design project in Mexico takes place where high deserts flow into the Sea of ​​Cortez. The route underlines that contrast, starting on cacti-strewn ground before winding its way largely along the coast. Out of respect for the wind, Els and design partner Greg Letsche provide ample width off the tee while emphasizing positioning, creating a links-like challenge on a layout that isn’t technically a links.

The Patch at Augusta Municipal Golf Course, Augusta, Georgia.
Architects: Tom Fazio, Beau Welling; TGR design
Opened: spring 2026
When the people behind the Masters lend their influence to a muni project, the marquee fills with prominent names. By the time the next green jacket is handed out, Tom Fazio and Beau Welling will have completed their remake of the Patch, giving Augusta’s beloved, if disheveled, city property 18 a new face. The effort is part of a broader initiative to increase access to public golf courses, expand opportunities for juniors and open career paths in the game. Tiger Woods is also involved, with TGR Design adding a short 9-hole course called the Loop. It is scheduled to open later this year.

Rodeo Dunes, Rays, Colo.
Architect: Coore & Crenshaw
Opened: spring 2026
The first 18-holer at Rodeo Dunes marks the opening chapter of a golf development less than an hour from downtown Denver. Over the next year, tee times will largely go to the founders and their guests, with a grand opening to the public in 2027. A second course is already underway, making Rodeo Dunes the farthest of three major projects from Sand Valley co-developer Michael Keiser, who is also exploring destinations in Texas and Florida.

Streamsong (new course), Bowling Green, Fla.
Architect: David McLay Kidd
Opened: winter 2026

Streamsong’s fourth 18-hole course does not yet have a name, but its characteristics are already clear. McLay Kidd’s layout will be adjacent to the Black Course, sharing the clubhouse while creating a distinct identity through the sculpted landforms of a former mining site. With an engaging mix of driveable par-4s and reachable par-5s, the course will provide an entertaining balance of risk and reward, with relatively small and subtle greens that invite creative recovery.

Wildcreek, Northern Nevada First Tee, Reno, Nev.
Architect: Brian Curley (Curley Wagner)
Opened: summer 2026
In an era dominated by high-end private development, Wildcreek offers a populist counterpoint. Previously an 18-hole county property, the property joined the First Tee network in 2021. Curley has reimagined it as a flexible, community-oriented venue with a new 9-hole course, a 9-hole par-3 layout and a three-level practice facility built from repurposed shipping containers.

Wild Spring Dunes, Texas
Architect: Tom Doak
Opened: autumn 2026
Spread across 2,400 acres of dunes, meadows, and spring-fed creeks in East Texas, Wild Spring Dunes is developer Michael Keizer’s next big swing—and Tom Doak’s latest minimalist canvas. Roughly equidistant from Dallas and Houston, and even closer to Shreveport, La., the course will be joined by a second 18-hole, a Coore-Crenshaw design, as part of a resort and real estate development where golf remains the central draw.