Top 5 Courses You Have Played

[BG5]

5 minutes ago, MattSTL88 said:

High Pointe over Oakland Hills South, wow that good? OH South is maybe my favorite course I've played. Need to find a way to get out to High Point.  Love Kingsley of course and playing Dunes Club/Lost Dunes next summer. Good list!

 

Man I always felt that ranking courses is not fair.  It's like being in a room of supermodels and trying to say which one is the best looking.  The reality is they are all good looking and all of these courses are all world!

 

High Pointe is simply amazing as there is so much elevation change and its in the middle of the woods.  It's mostly a national membership so many days you are out there by yourself and you feel like you are the only one on the course.  Oakland Hills is also an amazing course....I just love High Pointe and the vibe of the club

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

On 7/29/2020 at 9:04 PM, njlam said:

Public

Bandon Dunes

Bandon Trails

Sheep Ranch

Pacific Dunes

Chambers Bay

Private

The Country Club

Portland Golf Club

Eugene Country Club

The Course at Yale

The Cal Club

 

This list will be shaken up when I go to Scotland next April (covid permitting) where I will play Turnberry/Prestwick/Troon/North Berwick/Muirfield/TOC/Kingsbarn.

YALE is actually public. All you have to do to get a tee time is enroll online, they'll send you a log in and password and then you can make a tee time. Currently undergoing a total renovation right now however! They are super welcoming there as well. Great place!

[kiawah]

4 minutes ago, BEND OF THE RIVER GC said:

YALE is actually public. All you have to do to get a tee time is enroll online, they'll send you a log in and password and then you can make a tee time. Currently undergoing a total renovation right now however! They are super welcoming there as well. Great place!

Did not know that. Will have to make an effort to play up there whenever I am in the neighborhood. Bucket list for sure. 

[kiawah]

My top 5: 

 

From an "objective" rankings standpoint: 

 

1.) Pebble Beach

2.) The Ocean Course

3.) Pinehurst #2

4.) Bethpage Black

5.) Congressional Blue

 

My top five favorites:

 

T-1.) Kiawah Island Club River and Cassique

2.) Congressional Blue

3.) Burning Tree

4.) The Ocean Course

T-5.) Robert Trent Jones GC, TPC Potomac  

[CPT_LHR_ATL]

1 minute ago, kiawah said:

My top 5: 

 

From an "objective" rankings standpoint: 

 

1.) Pebble Beach

2.) The Ocean Course

3.) Pinehurst #2

4.) Bethpage Black

5.) Congressional Blue

 

My top five favorites:

 

T-1.) Kiawah Island Club River and Cassique

2.) Congressional Blue

3.) Burning Tree

4.) The Ocean Course

T-5.) Robert Trent Jones GC, TPC Potomac  

User name checks out! A Kiawah Island trip is on my bucket list. 

[3_Jack_Par]

Updated list:

1. Pebble Beach

2. Royal Dornoch

3. Pacific Dunes

4. Kingsley Club

5. St. Andrews - Old

[kiawah]

1 hour ago, CPT_LHR_ATL said:

User name checks out! A Kiawah Island trip is on my bucket list. 

It's beautiful down there. If you're used to heat, I think prices are pretty good in the middle of the summer when it's hot. Weather is great outside of December/January and July/August. The resort courses on the island + Oak Point just off the island are all wonderful. My favorites of those are probably Ocean, Cougar Point, Osprey Point in that order but Turtle and Oak are great too. Turtle in particular has an amazing finishing stretch, but I won't spoil the surprise. Would also recommend staying at the Sanctuary if you happen to stay on the island. It's one of the finest hotels I've ever seen. 

[Schley]

On 10/20/2019 at 6:38 PM, Schley said:

> @"Schley " said:

> (Quote)

>

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> OK alot has happened in the last 18 months for the better.

>

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> 1. The Old Course - easy pick

>

> 2. Cape Wickham - King Island, Australia - Incredible views! Wonderful property and blows PB out of the water.

>

> 3. Riviera CC - played the best round of my life here and lovely course with mansions overlooking the course

>

> 4. Chicago GC - a hometown favorite of mine

>

> 5. North Berwick - loved how tricky it was, unique holes and wind was huge that day

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>

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> In addition to the above some new additions to the Honorable Mention* Royal Melbourne

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> * Kingsbarns

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> * Plainfield CC

>

> * LACC

>

> * Prairie Dunes

 

It continues to evolve for all of us as we play more courses. I am also using this almost to record the history of my courses and how I thought of them over time. This year has been a year I may never repeat. Had great time in UK/Ireland/Scotland as well as Long Island. My all time top 5 is:

 

1. TOC - still easy pick

2. Cape Wickham - Prettiest course I have ever played

3. Fishers Island - secluded and isolated, love Raynor

4. Chicago GC - still hometown favorite

5. Sunningdale (Old) - my favorite course on our England trip

 

Honorable Mention that I played this year (it is hard to leave some of them off for sure)

**_USA_**

Oakmont - history, aura, fast greens

Friars Head - great routing and use of rolling hills, some postcard holes

Merion - impressive conditions and maintenance, liked the yardage variety of par 4s

Valley Club at Montecito - impeccable conditioning, especially the MacKenzie bunkers

NGLA - great walk and loved that it was pretty easy in terms of difficulty

Maidstone - flat and really outstanding greens and bunker surrounds IMO

Shoreacres - ravines and Raynor templates

Garden City - underrated IMO and should get more attention, no water hurts rating perhaps

Sebonack - liked the shaved greens and collars, hard to beat facilities

Sleepy Hallow - would love to join here and play regularly, tough walk up / down on front

Austin Golf Club - loved the vibe of this C&C course, with Ben around regularly

 

**_UK/Ireland_**

Woodhall Spa - still tight off tee, small greens

Ballybunion - favorite course on the Ireland trip, beautiful walk

Lahinch - close second behind BB, more hilly and blind shots

European Club - didn't enjoy too tight and tricked up IMO

Royal County Down - way too tight for me with gorse

Royal St. Georges - loved the undulations and greens

Royal Lytham & St. Annes - very playable whispy grass

Royal Birkdale - lovely layout and a good mix of undulations and fair flat lies

Royal Liverpool - flat as can be, tight driving cooridors

Ganton - loved this course with huge bunkers and short par 4's

Sunningdale New - can't remember much as the Old dominates my memory that day

Walton Heath Old/New - gorse/heather/gorse/heather )

Royal Cinque Ports - great greens and bunker placement, oustanding links

Swinley Forest - great parkland course with plus conditions

This is actually useful to capture our thoughts over time and how they change as we get more experience with courses around the world.

 

My top 5 in USA

• Fisher's Island - boat ride just gets you excited
• Chicago GC - Greens are outstanding
• Peachtree - expansive greens and run offs, immaculate
• Valley Club at Montecito - Underrated and tremendous variety of holes
• Austin GC - Underrated and if I lived close, would be easy home course

 

My top 5 outside USA

• TOC - Easy
• Cape Wickham - Beautfiul setting
• Sunningdale Old - Favorite parkland
• North Berwick - Love the quirk
• Shanqin Bay - Best golf experience I have had

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

1 hour ago, kiawah said:

Did not know that. Will have to make an effort to play up there whenever I am in the neighborhood. Bucket list for sure. 

They just don't advertise that! I played early on  weekday morning in June and pretty much had the place to myself, also played with a longtime member and Yale alum who knew the course like the back of his hand. Awesome golf course.

[Ty_Webb]

1 hour ago, BEND OF THE RIVER GC said:

They just don't advertise that! I played early on  weekday morning in June and pretty much had the place to myself, also played with a longtime member and Yale alum who knew the course like the back of his hand. Awesome golf course.

 

Don't hurry there though - it's closed for reno at the moment I believe. Not sure what the timing is exactly, but I suspect it won't be open in 2025.

[vandyfan]

Not as fancy as the others, I go more for "where did I have the most fun". High emphasis on playability and setting over prestige and exclusivity:

 

Park Mammoth (Ky)
Wailea Emerald (Hawaii)
Pursell Farms (Al)
Tobacco Road (Nc)
We-Ko-Pa Saguaro (Az)
 

Also, courses that have high visibility in the golf world but I was a bit underwhelmed by:
 

Harbour Town
Caledonia Golf & Fish
Pinehurst No. 2
Pinehurst No. 8
Talking Stick

Edited December 10, 2024 by vandyfan

[ESOX ZO]

1 hour ago, vandyfan said:

Not as fancy as the others, I go more for "where did I have the most fun". High emphasis on playability and setting over prestige and exclusivity:

 

Park Mammoth (Ky)
Wailea Emerald (Hawaii)
Pursell Farms (Al)
Tobacco Road (Nc)
We-Ko-Pa Saguaro (Az)
 

Also, courses that have high visibility in the golf world but I was a bit underwhelmed by:
 

Harbour Town
Caledonia Golf & Fish
Pinehurst No. 2
Pinehurst No. 8
Talking Stick

 

I could play Wailea everyday for the rest of the my life and never grow tired of the course/setting. Did you ever play King K out there? I really enjoyed that course as well, albeit off the water more. 

[vandyfan]

4 minutes ago, ESOX ZO said:

I could play Wailea everyday for the rest of the my life and never grow tired of the course/setting. Did you ever play King K out there? I really enjoyed that course as well, albeit off the water more. 

 

I did not but I am not sure how you could make a bad golf course on that island. We stayed at the Waldorf so it had to be relatively close. I played all 3 Wailea courses for that reason (skipped King K and Kapalua for the same reason) and thought they were all interesting and each had their own appeal. I agree, I had a spiritual experience at Emerald and felt like I wanted time to just stand still so I could keep going around. 

[Octopus Golfer]

1. Cypress Point

2. The Old Course

3. Pebble

4. Riviera

5. Pebble

6. LACC

7. Pinehurst No. 2

8. Carnoustie

9. Kingsbarns

10. Kiawah Ocean Course

 

 

 

[CPT_LHR_ATL]

1 hour ago, Octopus Golfer said:

1. Cypress Point

2. The Old Course

3. Pebble

4. Riviera

5. Pebble

6. LACC

7. Pinehurst No. 2

8. Carnoustie

9. Kingsbarns

10. Kiawah Ocean Course

 

 

 

Pebble's so nice you picked it twice? 😉

 

I thought about including Kingsbarns, too. Need to play it again.

 

 

[Looper34]

18 minutes ago, CPT_LHR_ATL said:

Pebble's so nice you picked it twice? 😉

 

I thought about including Kingsbarns, too. Need to play it again.

 

 

That'd be a good topic. "Top 5 courses you've played twice".

[CPT_LHR_ATL]

2 minutes ago, Looper34 said:

That'd be a good topic. "Top 5 courses you've played twice".

Yeah. Usually there's a massive halo effect the first time you get out somewhere you've really looked forward to and you can't make a dispassionate analysis of whether the course is truly as good as you thought it would be. There are also those few, special places where you walk off the 18th and your only real thought is "OMG I'd give my left nut to do this again tomorrow!"

[caniac6]

Old Town Club

Pinehurst#2

Wild Dunes Links pre Hugo

Harbor Town

Tobacco Road

[JKreborn]

I'm new here so thought I would add my picks. I've been fortunate to play a lot of great courses around the world, so I am going to stick with my top 5 from 2024. As I was thinking about it, it became clear that this was going to be a C&C list. So here we go, in no particular order:

 

Brambles

Friar's Head

Te Arai South

Bandon Trails

Cabot St Lucia

 

I did have some other great courses this year and again in no particular order as runner ups:

TOC

Rock Creek Cattle

Chicago Golf

Sand Hills

 

 

[Mullenboy]

Wow.  You played all of those in 2024?  That is incredible.  Few could equal that list.  

 

My home away from home rarely falls out of anyone's top 5 though for yours.... I might disagree with a few but I will not argue.  These are all absolute gems. 🙂

 

 

 

Edited December 11, 2024 by Mullenboy

[david.c.w]

I see I posted earlier in this thread.  I have not looked for it yet.  I wonder if I will agree with my former self.  I have not played anything big/new recently, so it should be the same, probably, maybe.

[kwcsports]

Sawgrass

Doral

Gary Player Course ( Sun City )

Glen Abbey

Cabot Cliffs

[JKreborn]

2 hours ago, Mullenboy said:

Wow.  You played all of those in 2024?  That is incredible.  Few could equal that list.  

 

My home away from home rarely falls out of anyone's top 5 though for yours.... I might disagree with a few but I will not argue.  These are all absolute gems. 🙂

 

 

 

Yes, I am very fortunate. I must say that beyond the fabulous architecture, the best part of my golf travels this year was the wonderful, warm reception that I received everywhere I was a guest. Especially places like Friar's Head and CGC. I am grateful to the members that hosted me, and I appreciate the gracious culture at each of the clubs.

[TBD203]

On 12/10/2024 at 8:34 PM, JKreborn said:

I'm new here so thought I would add my picks. I've been fortunate to play a lot of great courses around the world, so I am going to stick with my top 5 from 2024. As I was thinking about it, it became clear that this was going to be a C&C list. So here we go, in no particular order:

 

Brambles

Friar's Head

Te Arai South

Bandon Trails

Cabot St Lucia

 

I did have some other great courses this year and again in no particular order as runner ups:

TOC

Rock Creek Cattle

Chicago Golf

Sand Hills

 

 

We had a pretty similar 2024. I hit Bandon, Cabot St Lucia as well. And those are definitely in my top 5, but I think I'd go Pac Dunes SLIGHTLY edging out Trails. Have to keep Pine Valley in there because... duh. I'll have to really consider my top 5 next July after Scotland and the UK... have some HEAVY hitters planned for that trip. 

[carrera]

5 minutes ago, TBD203 said:

I hit Bandon, Cabot St Lucia as well

What did you think of CSL?  Have heard it would be a difficult course to have as your "vacation house" course.

[TBD203]

I thought the property was absolutely INCREDIBLE, and the golf course was great. I personally don't think I would want my vacation home to be somewhere SO hot. I normally walk, we rode that day, and I was still drenched in sweat the entire time. Plus travel to/from St. Lucia wasn't incredibly easy. I suppose if you were there for a few months it would be totally fine.

[Archimedes65]

Pebble

Spyglass

Pasatiempo

Olympic - Lake

Sawgrass

 

I like to stay close to home, mostly.

 

 

[JKreborn]

1 hour ago, TBD203 said:

We had a pretty similar 2024. I hit Bandon, Cabot St Lucia as well. And those are definitely in my top 5, but I think I'd go Pac Dunes SLIGHTLY edging out Trails. Have to keep Pine Valley in there because... duh. I'll have to really consider my top 5 next July after Scotland and the UK... have some HEAVY hitters planned for that trip. 

I can't disagree with you. Bandon is so great I usually don't bother to try and pick between them. I feel the same way about Scotland and England. You will have an amazing time. 

 

I tried to limit my list somehow and I noticed the C&C theme, so I threw Trails in there. Could have easily been Pac Dunes but then I would have had to switch to Doak!😀

[njlam]

On 12/10/2024 at 6:24 AM, BEND OF THE RIVER GC said:

YALE is actually public. All you have to do to get a tee time is enroll online, they'll send you a log in and password and then you can make a tee time. Currently undergoing a total renovation right now however! They are super welcoming there as well. Great place!

Yale will be fully public after the renovation. Before the renovation it was not unless you were a CT resident.

[Argonne69]

4 hours ago, njlam said:

Yale will be fully public after the renovation. Before the renovation it was not unless you were a CT resident.

 

I played Yale in the summer of 2022. I was not a CT resident.