Golf digest: 100 greatest courses 2025-2026 + 50 greatest courses built since 2000
The quiet making of
Something extraordinary
In the cornfields outside Marshall, Illinois, something rare was created. Built by the Forsythe family for their private enjoyment, Canyata was never meant to be busy. It was conceived as an idea first—a vision of golf in its purest form: uncompromised, intentional, and deeply considered.
There was no spectacle surrounding its arrival. No rush to be discovered. Instead, the course revealed itself slowly, known first only to those fortunate enough to encounter it. Its reputation spread quietly, carried in whispers among those who recognized something extraordinary. Even national Top 50 recognition arrived without crowds or commerce, as if the course preferred to remain just beyond the noise.
Canyata is among the most celebrated courses in America, and is among the least-known.
Access has always come the same way it always has—by invitation, shared among those who understand why places like this are meant to remain rare.
