Longest Golf Courses in South Dakota
The 25 longest golf courses in South Dakota, ranked by total yardage from the back tees.
The longest golf course in South Dakota on Stymie is Sutton Bay Golf Course in Gettysburg, stretching 7,304 yards from the back tees and a slope rating of 132. Anything over 7,000 yards qualifies as "championship length" by modern standards, and the layouts below all clear that bar — most by a wide margin.
The average maximum yardage across South Dakota's golf courses on Stymie is 6,329 yards. 11 courses play to 7,000 yards or more — the threshold most tournament setups use to ensure long hitters can't simply drive their way around the layout. Long courses typically pair the extra distance with wider fairways and larger greens so the round stays playable.
If you're a long hitter looking for a course that will actually test your driving distance, or you want to play the same tees the pros would, work your way through this list. Just remember: yardage isn't the same as difficulty — a 7,400-yard course with wide fairways and minimal water can play easier than a 6,500-yard target-golf design with hazards on every hole.
Frequently asked questions
What is the longest golf course in South Dakota?
Sutton Bay Golf Course in Gettysburg, South Dakota is the longest ranked course at 7,304 yards from the back tees.
How many courses in South Dakota play over 7,000 yards?
11 courses in South Dakota play to 7,000 yards or more from the back tees. That threshold is the common yardstick for a "championship length" course.
What is the average yardage of a golf course in South Dakota?
The average maximum yardage for golf courses in South Dakota is 6,329 yards from the back tees. Most full-length 18-hole courses fall between 6,400 and 7,200 yards at the tips.
Why are some golf courses so long?
Modern championship designs stretch past 7,200 yards to challenge pros who routinely drive the ball 300+ yards. Longer courses typically have wider fairways, larger greens, and multiple tee sets so average players can still enjoy the course from shorter yardages.