Golf course development is at its highest level in more than a decade, with over 140 new courses actively in the pipeline across the United States and internationally. In 2026 alone, 26 brand-new courses are expected to open their doors — a surge that reflects the sport’s post-pandemic growth and a renewed appetite for premium golf experiences.
From desert links in Colorado to coastal gems in Scotland and a fourth 18-hole layout at Florida’s acclaimed Streamsong Resort, this year’s crop of new courses includes designs by some of the biggest names in golf architecture. Here are the openings worth paying attention to.
Rodeo Dunes — Roggen, Colorado
The most anticipated opening of the year belongs to Rodeo Dunes, a Coore & Crenshaw design on the plains northeast of Denver. Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw are widely regarded as the finest golf course architects working today, and Rodeo Dunes is expected to showcase their signature minimalist style — using the natural terrain rather than imposing artificial features on it. The course is slated for a spring 2026 opening and early reports from those who have seen the property suggest it could instantly rank among the best courses in Colorado.
Streamsong’s Fourth Course — Bowling Green, Florida
Streamsong Resort, already home to three acclaimed courses designed by Tom Doak, Gil Hanse, and Coore & Crenshaw, is adding a fourth 18-hole layout designed by David McLay Kidd. The Scottish architect, best known for designing the original course at Bandon Dunes, brings a links-influenced approach that should complement the resort’s existing portfolio. A winter 2026 opening is expected, giving golf travelers yet another reason to make the pilgrimage to central Florida’s most unique golf destination.
The Patch at Augusta Municipal — Augusta, Georgia
Masters week visitors looking for a warm-up round may have a compelling new option this spring. The Patch, a remake of the Augusta Municipal Golf Course by Tom Fazio and Beau Welling, is set to open in spring 2026. The course sits adjacent to Augusta National and has long been a favorite among tournament visitors and locals alike. The Fazio-Welling renovation is expected to elevate the layout while preserving its welcoming, accessible character — a public course with major championship neighbors.
Old Petty — Inverness, Scotland
For golfers with international travel plans, Old Petty near Inverness represents one of the most exciting new course openings in the United Kingdom. Designed by Tom Doak, whose portfolio includes some of the world’s most celebrated courses, Old Petty is being built on Scottish Highland terrain that promises dramatic views and the kind of natural ground movement that Doak excels at transforming into memorable golf holes. A spring 2026 opening would position it as a must-play addition for any Scottish golf trip.
Wildcreek — Reno, Nevada
The Reno area is getting a significant golf upgrade with Wildcreek, designed by Brian Curley and opening in summer 2026. The project features a new 9-hole course and a par-3 layout, adding to the growing appeal of northern Nevada as a golf destination. The high-desert setting offers year-round playing conditions and mountain views that rival anything in the western United States.
Wild Spring Dunes — Location TBD
Another Tom Doak design, Wild Spring Dunes is set to fully open in 2026 after previewing select holes in 2025. Doak’s reputation for creating courses that feel as though they were discovered rather than built has made every new project an event in the golf architecture world, and Wild Spring Dunes is no exception.
What the Boom Means for Golf
The current wave of new course construction represents a significant shift from the previous decade, when the golf industry was closing more courses than it was opening. The turnaround has been driven by several factors: a surge in participation during and after the pandemic, increased interest from younger demographics, and investment from developers who see premium golf experiences as viable real estate and hospitality assets.
Notably, several of the new openings are public or resort courses rather than exclusive private clubs — reflecting an industry-wide recognition that growing the game requires making great golf accessible to a broader audience.
For golfers planning trips in 2026, the sheer volume of new courses opening provides an unusual opportunity to play layouts in their inaugural year — before the trees mature, the bunkers settle, and the courses develop the patina of age. It’s a rare chance to see world-class design in its freshest form.
