Best TGC 2019 Courses for Advanced Players

TGC 2019 has 150,000 courses. 90% of them are not worth your time. But the top 1% — 1,500 courses — are as good as anything on any platform. The top designers on TGC 2019 built courses that push the aging engine to its limits.

Here are the courses that will test everything you have. These are not for beginners. These are not for casual rounds. These are tournament-level challenges that separate good players from great ones.

Read the full best courses on TGC 2019 guide for the complete breakdown of the TGC library.

1. Turnberry Ailsa (LIDAR by LIDAR Kings)

Turnberry Ailsa is the best tournament-level course on TGC 2019. The course is a LIDAR recreation of the Open Championship venue on the west coast of Scotland. The layout is a links masterpiece — nine holes along the Ayrshire coast, nine holes inland, with the signature lighthouse on the 9th and 10th holes.

The course tests everything. The wind is constant. The fairways are generous but the greens are the defense. The approach shots must hold firm, undulating greens that shed balls that land off-line.

The 9th and 10th holes along the coast are the most demanding stretch in TGC 2019. The 9th is a 413-yard par-4 that plays into the prevailing wind. The 10th is a 452-yard par-4 along the cliffs. If you play these two holes in par or better, you are playing well.

Search “Turnberry Ailsa LIDAR” in the TGC 2019 course database. The course is ranked 50 in our database.

2. Long Island Black (by ApocalypticGolf)

Long Island Black is not a real course. It is a created design by ApocalypticGolf, one of the top TGC 2019 designers. The course is a tournament-level brute that rivals Oakmont in difficulty.

The course is long (7,400+ yards from the tips). The fairways are narrow. The rough is penal. The greens are the fastest you will find on TGC 2019. The course has no water hazards — it does not need them. The difficulty comes from the length, the rough, and the greens.

The course was designed as a TGC 2019 tournament course. It was used in multiple society events and league competitions. The routing is fair but punishing. Every hole gives you a chance to score, and every hole gives you a chance to make double bogey.

Search “Long Island Black” in the TGC 2019 course database. This is the course to play when you want to know if you are actually good.

3. Bethpage Black (LIDAR)

The TGC 2019 version of Bethpage Black is a solid tournament test. The course is a LIDAR recreation of the US Open venue. The rough is penal. The fairways are narrow by TGC 2019 standards. The greens are firm and fast.

The 5th hole — a 504-yard par-4 with a blind approach — is the hardest hole in TGC 2019. The tee shot must carry 280 yards to reach the fairway. The approach plays uphill to a green that is surrounded by deep bunkers. Most players make bogey or worse.

The course plays from the tips at 7,400 yards. Play it with tournament conditions (firm greens, moderate wind) and see how you score.

Search “Bethpage Black LIDAR” in the TGC 2019 course database. Full breakdown in our Bethpage Black on GSPro guide for comparison (the TGC version is similar in difficulty).

4. Pinehurst No. 2 (LIDAR)

The TGC 2019 version of Pinehurst No. 2 is the post-restoration routing with the crowned turtleback greens. The course is a LIDAR recreation that captures the waste areas, the native sandscapes, and the greens that reject off-line approach shots.

Pinehurst No. 2 on TGC 2019 is harder than it is on GSPro. The TGC 2019 engine handles the crowned greens differently — the balls release more, which means approach shots that land short release off the front of the green. The GSPro version is more forgiving.

The test is the approach shot. Every hole demands a precise iron into a green that will not hold a bad shot. If you are hitting your irons well, Pinehurst No. 2 is a joy. If you are not, it is a nightmare.

Search “Pinehurst No 2 LIDAR” in the TGC 2019 course database. Full breakdown in our Pinehurst No. 2 on GSPro guide for platform comparison.

5. Winged Foot West (LIDAR)

Winged Foot West hosted the 2020 US Open (Bryson DeChambeau’s win). The course is a parkland brute with tree-lined fairways, deep rough, and greens that are among the hardest on any TGC 2019 design.

The TGC 2019 version is a LIDAR recreation that captures the brutal rough that defined the 2020 US Open. The 18th hole — a 450-yard par-4 with a fairway bunker that catches every wayward drive — is the hardest finishing hole on TGC 2019.

The course tests driving accuracy above everything else. The fairways are the narrowest of any course on this list. If you miss the fairway, you are punching out. There is no recovery from the rough at Winged Foot.

Search “Winged Foot West LIDAR” in the TGC 2019 course database. Full breakdown in our Winged Foot on GSPro guide for comparison.

6. The Country Club (LIDAR)

The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts hosted the 2022 US Open (Matt Fitzpatrick’s win). The course is a composite layout that combines holes from the Clyde, Squirrel, and Primrose nines. It is a tight, tree-lined course with small greens and deep rough.

The TGC 2019 version is a LIDAR recreation that captures the difficulty of the composite layout. The 17th hole — a 368-yard par-4 that played as the hardest hole in the 2022 US Open — is the signature test. The fairway bends left, the green is elevated, and the rough is deep enough to swallow a golf cart.

The course is ranked 9 in our database. Search “The Country Club LIDAR” in the TGC 2019 course database.

How to Find Tournament-Level TGC 2019 Courses

The key to finding good TGC 2019 courses is searching for LIDAR versions. Search the course name plus “LIDAR” in the TGC 2019 course database. The LIDAR Kings and ApocalypticGolf designers built the best tournament-level courses on the platform.

Filter by difficulty in the search to find courses rated “Championship” or “Tournament.” Avoid courses with ratings under 4 stars. Check the play count — courses with 1,000+ plays have been vetted by the community.

FAQ

What is the hardest course on TGC 2019?

Long Island Black (by ApocalypticGolf) is widely considered the hardest course on TGC 2019. The course is 7,400+ yards with narrow fairways and the fastest greens on the platform.

Is TGC 2019 good for advanced players?

Yes, but only if you know which courses to play. The 150,000-course library has 1,500+ tournament-quality courses. The key is searching for LIDAR recreations by top designers. The full course guide has the complete list.

How do I find tournament courses on TGC 2019?

Search for “LIDAR” plus the course name in the TGC 2019 course database. Filter by difficulty (Championship/Tournament), rating (4+ stars), and play count (1,000+ plays).

What is the hardest hole on TGC 2019?

The 5th hole at Bethpage Black (504-yard par-4 with a blind approach) is the hardest hole on TGC 2019. The Country Club’s 17th (368-yard par-4) is close behind.

How does TGC 2019 compare to GSPro for advanced players?

GSPro has better physics and graphics for advanced players, but TGC 2019 has a larger selection of tournament-level courses. The best approach is to own both — GSPro ($250/yr) for daily play and TGC 2019 ($149 one-time) for the 1,500+ tournament courses that GSPro does not have.