I am a mid-handicap golfer, but closer to scratch at obsessing over inane golf topics. A recent such topic was about courses.

While I’ve been fortunate to play a number near the top of our franchise rankings, I’ve come to recognize how certain courses target certain weaknesses more than others. Hence, the idea of “The Best Courses for Bad Golfers,” which, it’s important to note, is not just about being easier.

On this list constructed with the help of some of my Golf Digest colleagues, we’ve sought to identify elite courses that are at least forgiving in crucial areas. You won’t lose as many balls, won’t rely on the shot of your life to clear a hazard, and even if scoring poorly, won’t stagger off the 18th green wondering why you didn’t just stay home.

The feature is also representative of my tendency to put almost everything in the game through my perspective as a mid-level player. In the new year, I’ll be writing a regular “Low Net” newsletter specifically for players like me—golfers who are obsessed with getting better, who believe that they can, but also have learned to live with healthy helpings of golf imperfections. Keep an eye out for that, and send a note to samuel.weinman@wbd.com to let me know what topics you’d like me to explore.

—Sam Weinman, Golf Digest Digital Editorial Director