The 5 Worst Golf Courses in America (and Why They Drive Golfers Crazy)
[Music] I asked Chat GPT for the five worst courses in the United States and gave me a horrible list. Number five, Birch Hills in California. Fairways crammed so tight you’re more likely to yell four then hit the fairway. Think golf in a parking lot. Number four, Thunderbird in Klexico. Uh also California. Locals call it dust golf. I couldn’t find it online anywhere. Probably best. Number three, Turtle Hill in Texas right next to me here. Uh hard pan fairways, uneven greens, and yes, rattlesnakes. It’s golf meets survival training. Number two, the concrete jungle in Detroit, a par three course with astroturf te’s, broken te’s or broken greens, and car pass everywhere. It’s closed mercifully. And uh the worst, they said goat hill park in Oceanside before it was renovated. Uh dead grass, weed filled bunkers, and locals called it the goat track. Today it’s America’s darling. Uh but it’s it’s got a rough pass earned it at the top spot accorded GPT. Forget this BS list. What is the worst
Editor’s note: We asked ChatGPT to give us the five worst golf courses in America. Problem is … One never seemed to exist, one is closed (mercifully), and another is NOW one of the most-loved munis in the world.
Golfers love to debate the best courses in the country — Pebble, Pinehurst, Augusta — but what about the other end of the spectrum? Some tracks have earned infamy not for their beauty, but for their busted bunkers, dirt fairways, and head-scratching designs. Here’s a tongue-in-cheek look at the five worst golf courses in America (past and present), and what makes them so bad.
5. Birch Hills Golf Course – Brea, California
The problem: Imagine playing golf in a parking lot that was painted green. Birch Hills is a cramped “executive” course where fairways overlap, holes cross, and ducking for cover is a survival skill. Patchy turf and drainage issues add insult to injury.
4. Thunderbird Golf Course – Calexico, California
The problem: If you’ve ever wanted to play golf on a frying pan, here’s your chance. Thunderbird is more dirt than grass, with summer heat making it a true endurance test. Locals call it “dust golf” for a reason — bring sunscreen, water, and low expectations.
3. Turtle Hill Golf Course – Muenster, Texas
The problem: Built on rocky ground, this one feels more like hitting golf balls in a cow pasture than a proper track. Fairways are hardpan, greens are uneven, and rattlesnakes are a real hazard. Bring extra wedges — they’ll take a beating.
2. Concrete Jungle Golf Course – Detroit, Michigan (RIP)
The problem: A par-3 course infamous for astroturf tee boxes, broken greens, and endless concrete cart paths. It looked more like a parking lot than a golf facility, and vandals only made things worse. It’s mercifully closed now, but the legend lives on.
1. Goat Hill Park – Oceanside, California (Before Renovation)
The problem: Before locals revived it, “The Goat Track” was a muni in name only — with dead grass, weedy bunkers, and a reputation as one of the most neglected courses in California. Today, it’s actually a cool community hub, but its dark past earns it the #1 spot.
The Verdict:
Not every golf course can be Augusta. Some are quirky, some are scruffy, and some are just flat-out awful. But here’s the funny thing — most of these spots still have loyal fans who embrace the chaos. Because sometimes, bad golf makes the best stories.
