Golfweek has released its list of the best casino resort golf courses for 2024, revealing once again a strong presence of tracks owned by sovereign tribes. MGM Resorts’ Shadow Creek in Las Vegas maintains its top position as the No. 1 casino golf course in the United States, a title it has consistently held. Playing a round here, however, comes with a hefty fee of $1,250.
Joining Shadow Creek at the top is MGM’s Fallen Oak Golf Course, part of the Beau Rivage Resort & Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi, which ranks second. French Lick Resort’s Pete Dye Course in Indiana ties for third with The Greenbrier’s Old White course in West Virginia.
The tribal courses make their significant mark starting from the sixth spot. Yocha Dehe Golf Club, associated with the Cache Creek Casino Resort in California and operated by the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, ties for third place. Barona Creek Golf Club at Barona Resort & Casino in San Diego, owned by the Barona Band of Mission Indians, ranks sixth.
Scottsdale’s We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort’s Saguaro Course ranks seventh, owned by the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation. The Wilderness at Fortune Bay Resort Casino in Minnesota, owned by the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa, holds the eighth spot. Finally, New York’s Turning Stone Resort Casino’s Atunyote Golf Course, owned by the Oneida Indian Nation, ranks ninth.
Tribal nations’ courses continue to dominate the list, claiming nearly half of the top 10 spots, and their presence is even more notable in the top 50, with 24 positions secured. These tribal golf courses promise championship-caliber experiences often at a fraction of the cost of playing at MGM properties, barring high-roller exceptions who may enjoy comped rounds.
While playing at Fallen Oaks costs $275 and The Greenbrier’s Old White charges $665 for non-hotel guests, We-Ko-Pa’s Saguaro Course offers rounds for $170. Eagle Falls Golf Course at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Southern California’s Coachella Valley, owned by the Cabazon Band of Cahuilla Indians and ranked No. 24, offers an even more wallet-friendly experience. A round this weekend at Eagle Falls is priced at $125 before 1 pm, which includes a cart, range balls, four bottles of water, and a play $20 get $20 free slot play coupon. The fee drops to $100 after 1 pm.
Golfweek utilizes hundreds of course raters to evaluate and rank courses based on ten criteria points. These include routing, design integrity for classic courses, shaping quality for modern ones, overall land planning, greens and surrounds, the variety and memorability of par 3s, 4s, and 5s, tree and landscape management, conditioning and ecology, and the “walk in the park test,” which assesses whether the setting is worth four hours of your time. These ratings are averaged to produce a final score for each course.
