What does it take to become a top course for women? A female-friendly design, amenities, courteous staff, programs and an atmosphere that appeals to women. This list differs from other Golf Digest rankings, such as America's 100 Greatest Golf Courses, which are based on panelists' evaluations of categories like Shot Values and Resistance to Scoring. In compiling America's Top 50 Courses for Women, we considered nominations and evaluations by our panel of more than 100 female raters, but ultimately we ranked the universe of daily-fee and public courses on how well they met the woman-friendly criteria established by the editors. Among them: at least one tee less than 5,300 yards; at least two sets of tees with USGA Slope and Course Ratings for women, minimal forced carries from the forward tees, and run-up areas to most or all greens.
1: Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club Southern Pines, N.C., www.pineneedles-midpines.com, $235
2: The Boulders Resort Spa (South) Carefree, Ariz., www.theboulders.com, $250
3: Amelia Island Plantation (Ocean Links) Amelia Island, Fla., www.aipfl.com, $180
4: Running Y Ranch Klamath Falls, Ore., www.runningy.com, $125
5: Sea Island Resorts (Seaside) St. Simons Island, Ga., www.seaisland.com, $325
6: LPGA International (Champions) Daytona Beach, Fla., www.lpgainternational.com, $75
7: The Golf Club At Newcastle (China Creek) Newcastle, Wash., www.newcastlegolf.com, $125
8: Celebration Golf Club Celebration, Fla., www.celebrationgolf.com, $149
9: Kingsmill Resort & Spa (Plantation) Williamsburg, Va., www.kingsmill.com, $115
10: Grand Cypress Golf Club (East/North) Orlando, www.grandcypress.com, $250
11: Keystone Resort (River) Keystone, Colo., www.golfkeystone.com, $170
12: __ The Greenbrier (Old White)__ White Sulphur Springs, W.Va., www.greenbrier.com, $225
13: Reynolds Plantation (Oconee) Greensboro, Ga., www.reynoldsplantation.com, $265
14: Kiawah Island Golf Resort (Osprey Point) Kiawah Island, S.C., www.kiawahresort.com, $225
15: Southwood Golf Club Tallahassee, Fla., www.southwoodgolf.com, $75
16: Four Mile Ranch Cañon City, Colo., www.fourmileranch.com, $54
17: __ La Quinta Resort & Club (Mountain)__ La Quinta, Calif., www.laquintaresort.com, $179
18: Ventana Canyon Golf & Racquet Club (Mountain) Tucson, www.ventanacanyonclub.com, $195
19: Snowmass Club Snowmass Village, Colo., www.snowmassclub.com, $220
20: Pinehurst Resort (No. 8) Pinehurst, N.C., www.pinehurst.com, $265
21: Turning Stone Resort & Casino (Shenendoah) Verona, N.Y., www.turningstone .com, $150
22: Nemacolin Woodlands Resort (Mystic Rock) Farmington, Pa., www.nemacolin.com, $185
23: Heritage Hill Golf Club Shepherdsville, Ky., www.hhgolfclub.com, $59
24: The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club Orlando, www.grandelakes.com, $209
25: Province Lake Parsonsfield, Maine, www.provincelakegolf.com, $49
26: Boyne Highlands Resort (Heather) Harbor Springs, Mich., www.boynehighlands.com, $134
27: King's Creek Golf Club Spring Hill, Tenn., www.kingscreekgolf.com, $49
28: Hammock Beach Resort (Ocean) Palm Coast, Fla., www.hammockbeach.com, $225
29: Fairmont Turnberry Isle Resort & Club (Miller) Aventura, Fla., www.fairmontgolf.com, $225
30: Treetops Resort (Rick Smith Signature) Gaylord, Mich., www.treetops.com, $145
31: Willbrook Plantation Golf Club Pawleys Island, S.C., www.mbn.com, $150
32: Blue Ridge Shadows Golf Club Front Royal, Va., www.blueridgeshadows.com, $80
33: Purgatory Golf Club Noblesville, Ind., www.purgatorygolf .com, $75
34: The Golf Club at Del Webb Ave Maria, Fla., www.golfclubatdelwebb.com, $79
35: Half Moon Bay Golf Links (Ocean) Half Moon Bay, Calif., www.halfmoonbaygolf .com, $205
36: Murder Rock Golf and Country Club Hollister, Mo., www.murderrock.com, $80
37: Monarch Beach Golf Links Dana Point, Calif., www.monarchbeachgolf.com, $195
38: Rancho Mañana Golf Club Cave Creek, Ariz., www.ranchomanana.com, $139
39: Williamsburg National Golf Club (Yorktown) Williamsburg, Va., www.wngc.com, $79
40: Black Lake Golf Club Onaway, Mich., www.blacklakegolf.com, $85
41: Stowe Mountain Golf Club Stowe, Vt., www.summer.stowe .com, $205
42: Queenstown Harbor (Lakes) Queenstown, Md., www.mdgolf.com/queenstown, $69
43: Barton Creek Resort & Spa (Fazio Foothills) Austin, www.bartoncreek.com, $260
44: Wailea Golf Club (Emerald) Wailea, Maui, Hawaii, www.waileagolf.com, $225
45: Desert Willow Golf Resort (Mountain View) Palm Desert, Calif., www.desertwillow .com, $185
46: Sunriver Resort (Meadows) Sunriver, Ore., www.sunriver-resort.com, $109
47: Whistling Straits (Irish) Haven, Wis., www.whistlingstraits.com, $170
48: Indian Wells Golf Resort (Players) Indian Wells, Calif., www.indianwellsgolfresort.com, $155
49: The Sea Pines Resort (Heron Point) Hilton Head Island, www.seapines.com, $120
50: Angel Park Golf Club (Palm) Las Vegas, www.angelpark .com, $119
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