Best E6 Courses for High Handicappers

E6 Connect has roughly 100 courses, and every one of them is professionally built. That is both the good news and the bad news for high handicappers. The good news: every course plays like the real course. The bad news: every course plays like the real course. If the real course is hard, the E6 version is hard.

But some E6 courses work better for higher handicap players than others. The key is finding courses where the fairways give you room, the rough gives you a playable lie, and the greens give you a chance to two-putt.

Here are five E6 courses ranked for high handicappers, from most forgiving to most demanding.

Read the full best courses on E6 guide for the complete breakdown of the E6 library.

1. Pebble Beach (Most Forgiving)

Pebble Beach is the best course for high handicappers on E6 Connect. The front nine is wide open. The fairways are generous. The rough is playable. The greens are small but the approaches are straightforward.

The course is premium content on E6 ($15-30 extra even with the Expanded tier). It is worth the cost. The visual quality is the best in sim golf. The ocean holes on the back nine are stunning on a 4K projector. The greens read correctly.

Play from the blue tees (6,700 yards). The key for high handicappers is to avoid the ocean holes on the back nine. Hole 7 is a 109-yard par-3 over the Pacific. Hole 8 is a 428-yard dogleg along the cliffs. If you are having a bad round, skip the ocean holes and play the front nine again. There is no rule that says you must play 18 in order on a sim.

The course is ranked 2 in our database. Full breakdown in our Pebble Beach on E6 guide.

2. Spanish Bay

Spanish Bay is the most underrated course for high handicappers on E6. It is a links-style course on the Monterey Peninsula, designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., Sandy Tatum, and Tom Watson. The course is shorter than Pebble Beach, the fairways are generous, and the greens are large.

The course is premium content on E6. It is part of the Pebble Beach 4 Course Bundle (Pebble Beach, Spyglass Hill, Spanish Bay, Del Monte), which is the best value in E6’s premium catalog.

Spanish Bay is forgiving because it is a links course. The ball runs out. The rough is fescue — it is playable if you find it. The greens are large enough that you can lag putt from 40 feet without worrying about a three-putt.

Play from the green tees (6,200 yards). The course teaches you to play the ground game, which is the most important skill for high handicappers in sim golf.

3. Bandon Dunes

Bandon Dunes is the first E6 course where the wind becomes a real factor. For high handicappers, this is the course where you learn to adjust for wind. The fairways are generous for a links course. The greens are large but undulating.

The course is included in the Expanded tier of E6. You do not need premium content for Bandon Dunes. The wind is the main defense — without it, the course is a resort track. With it, the course plays differently every time.

The key for high handicappers is club selection. The wind in E6 is modeled well. A 10 mph headwind adds 10 yards to your approach shot. A 10 mph crosswind moves the ball 10 yards. Learn to adjust, and Bandon Dunes becomes a course you can play well.

The course is ranked 36 in our database. Full breakdown in our Bandon Dunes on E6 guide.

4. Spyglass Hill

Spyglass Hill is the hardest course on this list, but still workable for high handicappers who are improving. The front nine is a tight forest course. The fairways are narrow. The trees are overhanging. The rough is playable but thick.

The back nine opens up along the ocean. The holes are wider, the greens are larger, and the penalties are less severe. If you are having trouble on the front nine, skip to the back nine and finish the round.

Spyglass Hill is premium content on E6. It is part of the Pebble Beach 4 Course Bundle. The course is ranked 34 in our database (as Spyglass Hill).

The key for high handicappers is to hit driver less and fairway wood or hybrid more. The narrow fairways on the front nine do not reward long drives that miss by 20 yards. Accuracy over distance is the rule.

5. St Andrews Old Course (Most Demanding)

St Andrews is the hardest course for high handicappers on this list, but it is also the most educational. The Old Course is defined by the ground game, the double greens, and the wind. The course teaches you to play golf with your feet on the ground and your head in the wind.

The course is premium content on E6. The double greens are enormous. The fairways are shared. The wind is the whole defense.

For high handicappers, St Andrews is a test of patience. You will three-putt. You will hit into a bunker on 17 and take three shots to get out. You will finish the round with a score that makes you want to delete the course from your library.

Do not delete it. St Andrews is the best teacher in sim golf. It teaches you that sim golf rewards consistency, not heroics.

The course is ranked 41 in our database. Full breakdown in our St Andrews on E6 guide.

The E6 High Handicap Path

Start with Pebble Beach and play it until you can break 90. Move to Spanish Bay and learn the ground game. Move to Bandon Dunes and learn to play in the wind. Move to Spyglass Hill and learn that accuracy beats distance. Finish at St Andrews and learn that patience is the most important skill in golf.

The E6 course pricing makes this progression expensive if you do not have the Expanded tier. The Pebble Beach 4 Course Bundle is the best value. Bandon Dunes is included in Expanded. St Andrews is premium. The total premium cost for all five courses is roughly $80-100 if you buy individually or $70-90 bundled.

FAQ

What is the easiest course on E6 for high handicappers?

Pebble Beach is the easiest course on E6 for high handicappers. The front nine is wide open and the course gives you room to miss. It is premium content but worth the cost.

Is E6 Connect good for high handicappers?

E6 Connect’s professionally built courses play consistently, which is good for high handicappers who want reliable data on their swing. The downside is the cost — the Expanded tier ($600/yr) plus premium courses adds up quickly.

What tees should high handicappers play on E6?

Play the blue or white tees (6,200-6,700 yards). The forward tees (5,500-5,800 yards) are also fine. The tips (7,000+ yards) are not for high handicappers.

Does E6 have a driving range for practice?

Yes. E6 Connect has a driving range and practice facilities included in all tiers. Use the range to warm up before playing these courses.

Which E6 courses should high handicappers avoid?

Oakmont, Pinehurst No. 2, and Whistling Straits are too demanding for high handicappers on E6. Save them for when you are breaking 90 consistently.