What is everyones dream course to play on the USA East Coast

[MrSandbagger]

I was having this conversation with my friends about which course we would like to play the most, one of the lads was fortunate enough to play Pine Valley and Merion while the us other 3 had played nish lol. After doing some digging and picking out the courses that are perceived the best on the East Coast we had the debate in which courses we would like to play the most, my top 5 was; Pine Valley, Fishers Island, Shinnecock, NGLA and Winged Foot to play in that order. I would be interested to see what other people would choose and if any of you had played these courses could provide insight into what you truly thought to them. 

[caniac6]

ANGC

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

Probably Seminole. Or, about 5 top shelf private on Long Island. Newport CC in Rhode Island. Lots to play that I'll never get to see.

[deadsolid...shank]

I think for me the Ocean course. And I’d also like to play TPC Sawgrass just because it adds an extra dimension when watching the Players telecast. 

[cassel191919]

NGLA and Fishers. Need to bid in some of these auctions.

[dtupy]

40 minutes ago, deadsolid...shank said:

I think for me the Ocean course. And I’d also like to play TPC Sawgrass just because it adds an extra dimension when watching the Players telecast. 

Went to SC last March and played the Ocean course. It was something else. I really enjoyed it and thought it was worth going. It's visually such a beautiful course and property. Luckily it wasn't super windy that day so it was playable for my skill level.

[mat562]

Seminole is the one 'great' course I've played in the US, and I had a walk around Kiawah Island on a windy day and it didn't look like fun for those who were playing, so it boils down to Augusta National or Pine Valley for me.

 

I want to say Pine Valley, and I know Augusta probably wouldn't look like it does for the Masters if I ever got the chance to peg it up there but, if I'm honest, I couldn't pass up the chance to play Augusta and live with the knowledge that I had.

Edited January 23 by mat562

[Pure716]

I'm really fortunate to have played most of the courses listed about (Pine Valley, Merion, Fishers Island, Seminole, and TPC Sawgrass). One of the courses mentioned above that I haven't gotten to play is Kiawah Island. I live within driving distance and unlike Pinehurst or Pebble, the Ocean course doesn't require a minimum number of nights lodging to play it.  You simply need to be willing to pay the $600 greens fee and you're set. Despite it being so close I never find myself in Charleston.  I've also never found the ideal time to go when you factor in the dormant winter season and the hurricane season.

 

The Ocean course is actually top 3 in my bucket list left to play (Pebble, St. Andrews, and Kiawah). I'm hoping to knock out these three by the end of 2027.

Edited January 23 by Pure716

[Sixcat]

Newport CC

 

It'll happen one day!!!

[GowerND11]

Oakmont, Merion, ANGC, Seminole, Pine Valley, Kiawah, Pinehurst. Basically a ton of places I will never play as a teacher in rural PA haha. 

[BombinJim]

In the NE area here is my immediate list: Marion, Yale, Newport CC, Fishers Island, Oakmont, The Country Club, Winged Foot.

[sabram]

I've played most of the ones discussed so far in this thread. The ones I have not and would love to see are NGLA and Shinnecock. 

 

A few sort of "under the radar" bucket list courses I'd love to play are Glens Falls and Monroe GC, both upstate NY, Mountain Ridge in W Caldwell, NJ and  Mountain Lake in Lake Wales FL.

Edited January 23 by sabram

[otto6457]

I really want to play Baltusrol.  So much Major history.

[edgibson22]

Ngla and shinnecock. Following day maybe friars head and ngla again. Then down to Seminole for a couple days. Might stop at Chicago golf club on way home. 

[act0fgod]

3 hours ago, Pure716 said:

I'm really fortunate to have played most of the courses listed about (Pine Valley, Merion, Fishers Island, Seminole, and TPC Sawgrass). One of the courses mentioned above that I haven't gotten to play is Kiawah Island. I live within driving distance and unlike Pinehurst or Pebble, the Ocean course doesn't require a minimum number of nights lodging to play it.  You simply need to be willing to pay the $600 greens fee and you're set. Despite it being so close I never find myself in Charleston.  I've also never found the ideal time to go when you factor in the dormant winter season and the hurricane season.

 

The Ocean course is actually top 3 in my bucket list left to play (Pebble, St. Andrews, and Kiawah). I'm hoping to knock out these three by the end of 2027.

It's always strange to me when people have played high quality private courses and mention public courses as bucket list.  I guess no rush because you can always play but when someone gives an invite you have to go cause that might be your only chance?  Or a magazine rater?

 

For me I want to get back to the first course I ever played.  I can honestly remember the first shot I ever hit.  For some reason my dad thought a 5 iron was the best club as far as ease to hit and distance so that's what I used off the tee.

[StoutKing]

Since you asked for one I'll say Merion.  I simply want to see how a great US Open course was routed onto such a small property.  

[svlido]

We do a home/away with a buddy who is a member at Pine Valley, but that would be #1.  I've played a ton of the best ones around there, but the two I haven't been able to play are Friar's Head and Sleepy Hollow.  I've heard Friar's Head is really good.

[Ty_Webb]

I've played a decent number of courses on the east coast that might rank up there. In approximate order:

 

Pine Valley

NGLA

Shinnecock

Merion

Winged Foot

Friar's Head

TPC Sawgrass

Baltusrol I've only played the Upper, not the Lower

 

Pine Valley is the best. NGLA was probably the most fun. Shinnecock and Merion are both masterpieces. Winged Foot is a big boy course. Seriously hard - it's kind of like Bethpage if Bethpage had ridiculously slopy greens. Friar's Head is awesome, but a little bit below the others above. Sawgrass was fun because of the history, but I wouldn't go that far out of my way to play it again. Pine Valley on the other hand...

 

I've always said if you get an invite to play Pine Valley, unless you're getting married THAT DAY or you're dead, accept it. And if you are getting married that day, think long and hard about it. Any of those top 6 there are good enough that you could center a cross-country or international trip around them. 

[jcvandamme]

3 hours ago, GowerND11 said:

Oakmont, Merion, ANGC, Seminole, Pine Valley, Kiawah, Pinehurst. Basically a ton of places I will never play as a teacher in rural PA haha. 

As a fellow rural PA teacher, I agree with all of the courses you listed. Just keeping it in PA, I would love to play CC of Scranton, Philly Cricket, or Aronimink as well, though I realize they might be a level below what you listed.

[buckrogers71]

I "had" the opportunity to play Merion but had to decline as I was coaching my daughter's princess T-ball team (what a terrible decision that was). I would probably say a course like Newport, Shinnecock, etc. 

[gm12673]

Fortunate enough to have played PV and Merion on the same trip many moons back. Have tortured myself since as to which I’d prefer to play again if I was so lucky. Still don’t really know. The aura and history around Merion is special and uncommon, as good as PV is.
 

They are both masterpieces as someone referenced above; just very different masterpieces. The day we played PV there were 3 plus cappers in our group. No one better than 81. It’s hard to describe how difficult it is - especially on a first look with all the nervous energy that brings - without experiencing it first hand. 

[MerryTex]

Merion. 

[CCTxGolf]

ANGC for me. I feel like the course wouldn’t kill me. I’ve seen it so many times on TV it almost feels like it would complete a loop in the brain.

 

Others like pine valley would probably kick my rear to hard to enjoy.

[SLP1967]

Shinnecock is #1 on my list.  Ive been lucky to play 5 of the top 10 in the U.S.  Hopefully will get the opportunity soon to play Shinnecock and NGL! So many good courses to play on the east coast!

[Chanceman]

10 hours ago, edgibson22 said:

Ngla and shinnecock. Following day maybe friars head and ngla again. Then down to Seminole for a couple days. Might stop at Chicago golf club on way home. 

En route to SFO, get your pilot to land in North Platte and whip up to Sand Hills for a quick round.

[Yoshifan151]

NGLA closely followed by Oakmont. Plenty of others as well but those are the easy top 2.

[dcmidnight]

Yeamans Hall has always been #1 on my list

[Hawkeye77]

Augusta National hands down in terms of courses anywhere, period.  Of course, I never will play Augusta National, but I've been lucky to play my other two bucket list courses, Pebble and The Old Course (so west coast of U.S. and east coast of Scotland covered, lol) and have enjoyed plenty of golf courses likely not even in anyone else's top 200.  If it's well maintained, I'm easily pleased.

 

I've never really had an interest in traveling the east coast of the U.S. and Augusta National really isn't on the east coast, but it's "east" enough for me.  Maybe the Carolinas someday, been to Florida a couple times a long time ago, not my favorite.

 

Having said that, I know there are some incredible golf courses in the eastern parts of the U.S. and if I was ever near one I'm sure I'd love to play it.  

[Poor Mans Ty Webb]

I'm not going to dispute any of the clubs mentioned already, and I'd love to play any number of highly exclusive courses that I'll probably never have a chance to set foot on in my life...

 

With that said, I'm maybe a little surprised that Bethpage Black hasn't received a mention yet.  I know it's public, I know that probably more than a few on here have played it, and I know it doesn't hold a candle to the exclusivity of Augusta, et. al., but I feel like it's getting tougher and tougher to get a tee time there (I've never played it), and I have to think it's only going to get worse with the RC bump this year.  I feel like I'd have an easier time trying to make Pinehurst No. 2 or Kiawah Ocean happen (if I want to spend the $$$) than BPB.

 

Maybe it's a modest dream, but it's a dream course for me, nonetheless.

[sabram]

1 hour ago, Poor Mans Ty Webb said:

I'm not going to dispute any of the clubs mentioned already, and I'd love to play any number of highly exclusive courses that I'll probably never have a chance to set foot on in my life...

 

With that said, I'm maybe a little surprised that Bethpage Black hasn't received a mention yet.  I know it's public, I know that probably more than a few on here have played it, and I know it doesn't hold a candle to the exclusivity of Augusta, et. al., but I feel like it's getting tougher and tougher to get a tee time there (I've never played it), and I have to think it's only going to get worse with the RC bump this year.  I feel like I'd have an easier time trying to make Pinehurst No. 2 or Kiawah Ocean happen (if I want to spend the $$$) than BPB.

 

Maybe it's a modest dream, but it's a dream course for me, nonetheless.

I've played the Black numerous times. It's a good one to have on a bucket list. Hope you get an opportunity to play it. While there, play the Red as well. Not as bold or beautiful as Black , but a fun course to play