How the Top Golf Courses Score
On Our Women-Friendly Ratings
Part II

Our Golf Course Gold Standard

Pebble Beach Golf Links, Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, and Oakmont Country Club are respectively rated 4th, 5th & 6th in Golf Magazine’s Top 100 Courses issue. We have taken it upon ourselves to give you the skinny on whether these courses are under par on our Golf Course Gold Standards for Women Golfers Rating Scale. The following are the five categories against which these US golf courses were held as they relate to women:

• The Beginning Golf Experience
• Game Options
• The Pro Shop
• Forward Tees
• Equal Accessibility of the Course

Pebble Beach Golf Links
Pebble Beach, California
5 Stars

Located in Pebble Beach, California and designed by Jack Neville and Douglas Grant in 1919, this all-inclusive U.S. golf course is really quite impressive from a number of perspectives, not the least of which is the fact that it is exceptionally women-friendly. In fact, this golf course has been on Golf for Women's “Top 50 Courses for Women Golfers” list more than once. Golf Magazine may call it fourth, but Pebble Beach is by far #1 in our book. Here are the specifics that are most important to women:

• The Beginning Golf Experience
  At Pebble Beach, the beginning experience for women golfers is just as available and extensive as it is for men. In addition to private lessons and group lessons for all levels that include video analysis along with a putting green and a chipping area, the lead instructor is actually a woman.
  Full star.
• Game Options
  Pebble Beach umbrellas, four separate golf courses - so you can spend five hours playing a leisurely 18 holes on your choice of courses - two hours playing 9 holes at Peter Hays, or just get a relaxing mani-pedi at the spa. Kids are welcome, so there's no need to worry about getting a babysitter.
  Full star.
• The Pro Shop
  Not only does the on-site pro shop have a wide variety of clothing, equipment, and accessories for women, but they also have home and garden items as well as an impressive collection of fine wines. You can even shop to your heart's content at Pebble Beach without leaving the house at their online pro shop. Did we mention there's also a spa? If we could give them more than a full star, we would.
• Forward Tees
  True to form, this U.S. golf course has outdone itself with standard five-tee layouts all around. Gratefully, we award another full star.
• Equal Accessibility of the Course
  If you've not yet figured it out, this is a dream golf course for women golfers. There is absolutely no stipulation on gender for any activities. Sample day at Pebble Beach: First, have brunch at the fabulous Gallery Cafe complete with espresso and mimosas. Next, head over to the spa for a massage to loosen you up before you step onto the golf course. Then meet up with the family for 9 holes with perfectly placed tees for everyone. Finish off the day with an extravagant seafood buffet at Stillwater Bar & Grill. Need we say it?
  Full star.
  

Shinnecock Hills Golf Club
Southampton, New York
3 3/4 Stars

This U.S. golf course was one of the founding members of the USGA as well as the first golf course to ever allow women golfers to join their membership. This Southampton, New York golf course, designed by Willie Dunn, Jr. in 1891, started off with a bang by hosting the 1900 Women's Amateur. Ever since then, Shinnecock Hills has been well ahead of its time, encouraging equal opportunities for both men and women since the beginning. This is how Shinnecock Hills currently ranks on our Golf Course Gold Standards for Women Golfers:

• The Beginning Golf Experience
  While Shinnecock Hills does have a teaching pro that is equally available to men and women golfers, rental clubs are not available which might make it difficult for someone who has not yet purchased her own but still wants to play.
  We'll award a ¾ star because rental clubs are an important part of the beginning golf experience.
• Game Options
  Although the golf course does have a putting green and a chipping area, there is no driving range, which will limit the woman golfer on her lunch hour who just wants to make a few good drives before she heads back to work.
  We'll give Shinnecock a ½ star for Game Options.
• The Pro Shop
  The pro shop is acceptable, but not outstanding. There is probably twice as much merchandise for men as for women.
  For that, we'll award half a star.
• Forward Tees
  This is where we were really impressed. This powerhouse of a U.S. golf course has six different tees at each hole ranging from the U.S. Open tee all the way to beginner/junior tee.
  Full star.
• Equal Accessibility of the Course
  Again, one of this golf course's strongest points, both historically and currently is the fact that it is completely unisex when it comes to availability of play.
  Gladly, another full star.

Oakmont Country Club
Oakmont, Pennsylvania
4 Stars

Designed by Henry Fownes in 1903, this Oakmont, Pennsylvania golf course has hosted the US Women's Open two times and has a separate Oakmont Country Club information sheet specifically for women golfers. Known for its brawn much more than its beauty, here is how this US golf course holds up to our gold standards:

• The Beginning Golf Experience
  Rental clubs are available, which is imperative for a course that caters to women of all levels. Additionally, a teaching pro is equally available to both men and women golfers.
  Full star.
• Game Options
  A chipping area and a putting green are readily available to both men and women as well as a nine hole game option, but Oakmont does not have a driving range which might make it difficult for women golfers on the go to get some playing time without committing to a four hour game.
  We'll award a ¾ star.
• The Pro Shop
  Much like Shinnecock Hills, the pro shop at Oakmont is focused more on men than women, but since we are not left out in the cold,
  we'll award a ½ star.
• Forward Tees –
  Every hole is equipped with a four-tee layout, but since we believe that the five-tee layout is optimum for women golfers,
  we'll award a ¾ star.
• Equal Accessibility of the Course
  This golf course has a number of different tournaments for women which include opportunities for non-members. There is a fully functioning association for women golfers at Oakmont that includes eight female officers along with a large number of members.
  That's full star quality if ever we've seen it!

 

Be sure to read Part I - Top U.S. Golf Courses on our Women-Friendly Gold Standard