White Clay Creek Country Club, Bayside Golf Resort, The Links at Lighthouse Sound, Back Creek Golf Club and Baywood Greens: Best Golf Course (Public)

EDITORS’ PICK, UPSTATE
The Arthur Hills-designed White Clay Creek Country Club plays more than 7,000 yards from the long tees. Large and beautiful, it will challenge you every time. 777 Delaware Park Blvd., Wilmington, 994-6700, whiteclaycreekgolfcourse.com

EDITORS’ PICK, DOWNSTATE
Delaware’s first public Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course, Bayside Golf Resort offers a variety of terrain, from tree-lined to marshy to wide open, with great views of Assawoman Bay. 11310 Signature Blvd., Selbyville, 436-3400, golfbayside.com

EDITORS’ PICK, OVER THE LINE
The afternoon thermals of summertime will force you to step up your wind game on The Links at Lighthouse Sound. The bay vista makes the frustration worthwhile. 12723 St. Martin’s Neck Road, Bishopville, Md.,  (410) 641-1199, lighthousesound.com

READERS’ PICK, UPSTATE
Back Creek Golf Club 101 Back Creek Drive, Middletown, 378-6499, backcreekgc.com

READERS’ PICK, DOWNSTATE
Baywood Greens, 32267 Clubhouse Way, Long Neck, 947-9800, baywoodgreens.com