JKreborn

So many of the top five, at least in the U.S. are exclusive privates. That makes it hard to enjoy the experience sometimes if not a member, or playing with a member. How about this category? Top five treated well when playing unaccompanied. I'm trying to factor course quality as well here. I'll pick: Chicago Golf; maybe it's the small membership so when you get there, everyone wants to know who sent you. Running into Bill Shean on the first tee and hearing the hearty "welcome" with the handshake. Cypress Point; caveat, one must be staying in the clubhouse to get this experience. Bel Air: They don't really do unaccompanied, but the members are so keen to share they will set you up with another member and they treat everyone on property great. (I picked this one as a contrast to LACC) Rock Creek Cattle: I've done it both ways. I can't say I noticed any difference in how I was treated between the two. Brambles: What a great crew up there. Felt Like a member all day.

Well done on the fun, particularly Rustic. For me it's hard not to think of Discovery properties when talking fun. What's not to like? Solid if not truly special Fazio golf courses, plus the non-golf related amenities. Two of my favorites in this category: Kukio Silo Ridge In the Discovery model but different companies: Bluejack National Twin Dolphin And one more that I find a lot of fun to play: Nanea

Let's hear them! "The lists" have some consensus towards the top. I tend to agree. I listed my "top" of the "list" courses. Happy to share some of my "top" fun, under the radar etc. courses as this evolves.

I've played with students before on TOC and other Links Trust courses. Such a great deal. Sorry that has come to an end.

Obviously, a Links Trust ticket holder. Will you be around for the Town Match this year?

I can do that, but it probably won't yield the results you are expecting. If forced to discuss enjoyment, I'll pick them in the order of number of plays: CPC PV TOC Being fortunate to have 20 plus on CPC, a dozen or so on PV and close to 10 on TOC, each round adds to the understanding and enjoyment.

I did but did not think it through. You are correct it could be tough without any connection. My bad.

In no particular order: Pine valley Cypress Point Royal Melbourne Composite TOC Shinnecock

The California Golf Club of San Francisco.

They didn’t have to do both. If they wanted to keep the greens at this speed they could have kept the true MacKenzie contours. They do want to look good for the Western Collegiate though? This is the problem when you steepen the tiers but flatten bottoms. The balls roll well down the slopes at 8, but then the flat parts seem very slow…

It’s my annual summer trip to CA to get out of the TX heat and listen to music and talks in the redwoods. I decided to run down to Pasatiempo this week. I guess I’m an outlier here but it’s hard for me to see how this is a better version of what I played before the “restoration”. I’m particularly troubled by the choice of turf grass and the mowing lines. They used tall fescue in a lot of the greens surrounds and on bunker edges, at least on the green side. This means balls hang on the slopes instead of rolling off. Nobody should worry about loss of contour on the greens. However, in the process of restoring the large contours, they flattened the bottoms of the slopes, I guess to allow putts from above to be able to stop. They were rolling about 8 when I played. Felt a lot like links speed. Worked well, but I doubt this is what club members want day to day.