The 10 most unexpected golf destinations in the United States

Carved from the same epic Nebraska landscape as the lauded Sand Hills Golf Club, which is just up the road in Mullen, Wild Horse rises out of the remote farmland in Gothenburg. Even the legendary golf-course architect Tom Doak has praised this course, which offers a “Field of Dreams”–style experience.

This Lanny Wadkins design at Lajitas Golf Resort in Texas runs along the Southern border; at several points, it’s possible to drive balls into Mexico—and out of play. The stunning track, in the foothills of the Chisos Mountains, is a four-hour drive from Midland, the closest sizable airport. Margaritas at the Starlight Theatre in nearby Terlingua can help wash off the dust.

This rugged, beautiful nine-hole public course on Kodiak Island, Alaska, sits about three miles from a Coast Guard base—it’s a favorite among base personnel. Expect to see deer, goats, foxes, bears, and otters, along with occasional 30-knot winds and horizontal rain.

The lowest-elevation golf course in the world, Furnace Creek sits 214 feet below sea level in Death Valley, California, so you’ll lose maybe a full club’s worth of distance due to the barometric pressure. The highest recorded temperature here (130˚F) is also the highest recorded on Earth, but the course is beautiful and tee times are easy to get. One tip: Mind the coyotes.

More seen than played, Brickyard Crossing sits in the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in plain view of the nearly 400,000 on-site race fans who flock to the Indianapolis 500 every May. With 14 holes along the backstretch and another four in the infield, the course (which opened in 1929) can be played by the public during race weekend or any other time.

As its name suggests, Prison View Golf Course sits on the grounds of the Louisiana State Penitentiary, Louisiana’s only maximum-security prison, and is maintained by prisoners who also cook meals in the on-site restaurant. The course has 37 bunkers and water on 16 holes. Book at least 24 hours in advance: All players are required to pass a background check.

The floating island green on the 14th hole of this Idaho course is activated by an underwater cable system, shifting yardage—and likely confounding local waterfowl—as it moves. The 17 other holes are on firm, solid ground.

A work of art by the late visionary architect Mike Strantz, this polarizing course in Sanford, North Carolina is beloved only by those who understand its unconventional lines and astounding possibilities. Still, plenty of foursomes around the world make this an annual pilgrimage—and for good reason.

Built in 1937, this municipal course on Oahu’s North Shore remains a bit of a surprise to the uninitiated. For less than the cost of lunch at a nearby major golf resort, you get nine holes, ocean views, and unpretentious vibes.

This 30,000-square-foot putting course, hidden behind Journeyman Distillery in Three Oaks, Michigan, was built by the whiskey distillery’s golf-obsessed owner, Bill Welter, and his longtime friend Craig Haltom (who worked on Bandon Dunes, among other courses). Modeled on St. Andrews’ famed Himalayas, the course is as wonderful as it is unexpected. It’s also open to the public: You don’t need to visit the distillery to play it, but with Journeyman’s great food and drinks, you’ll want to anyway.