Under the Radar Golf Courses You Should Be Playing

Every die-hard golf player knows the country's biggest and most popular courses, but they usually come with high fees and an exclusive guest list. Luckily, dozens of great golf courses do not get much publicity throughout the United States. While there is a wide variety of amazing under-the-radar golf courses, these are the five that you should absolutely be playing.

1. Ocala National Golf Club
   If you are spending any time in Orlando or Gainsville, Florida, you need to take the short drive to Ocala National Golf Club to play this amazing course. Rees Jones renovated the entire course in 2012, and it was also the home of the 2009 Women's U.S. Mid-Amateur tournament. The course is open to the public every day after noon, and it features ridiculously low rates for a course with such a rich history.

2. Stonecreek Golf Club
   Everyone knows that the Phoenix area is known for having some of the best golf courses in the United States, but one of the best is just north of Scottsdale. Stonecreek Golf Club was designed by Roy Dye in 1983 and redesigned by Arthur Hill just four years later. While it may be one of the older courses in the area, that does not stop it from being one of the best. Stonecreek Golf Club is also the home of the LPGA Mitsubishi Pro-Am every year. The par-71 course requires accuracy and good shot-making, challenging even the best players.

3. SugarTree Golf Club
   Dallas is known for several top golf courses, but taking a short trip to Lipan, Texas, will allow you to discover this under-the-radar gem. SugarTree Golf Club's par-70 course was designed by Phil Lumsden in 1989. The course is located directly next to the Brazos River, so you will have difficulty finding a golf course in Texas with more beautiful scenery than the SugarTree Golf Club. The course is regularly chosen by Golf Digest as one of the best places to play in the country.

4. Dancing Rabbit Golf Club
   You may not associate Mississippi with golf, but it features one of the top under-the-radar courses in the country. The Dancing Rabbit Golf Club is located in Philadelphia, Mississippi, and features two amazing courses: The Azaleas and The Oaks. Both courses were designed by Tom Fazio and are less than 20 years old. The Azaleas has also been named one of the top 100 golf courses by Golf Magazine.

5. Saddle Creek Golf Club
   Saddle Creek Golf Club does not get the attention it deserves because of its remote location in the foothills of Copperopolis, California. The course is easily one of the most beautiful courses you will find anywhere in the world, thanks to the natural lakes and white bunkers. The only golf course in the state of California that has received a higher rating than Saddle Creek Golf Club by Golf Digest is Pebble Beach.