Golf_vk Posted July 13 Share Posted July 13 (edited) Alright, it’s a rainy day. This is a list of most of the courses I’ve played, and I’ve attempted to rank them. Personally, I have a really hard time comparing courses, especially if a significant time has passed between playing them and they are relatively in the same ball park. I’m curious what others opinions are, is anything wildly out of place? *If it has a question mark (?) by it, that means I played it a really long time ago during Jr golf and don’t remember it well enough to do anything other than ball park. some other things, I know PGA Frisco is probably higher on my list than what others would think. I played right before the LPGA, it was in mint condition, and I personally love the layout and resort. I know some don’t seem to like French Lick as much as I do- the course is absolutely eye candy and I’m tired of seeing hate! Also, I know some may be surprised Arcadia is below Cabot and No. 10- I played that day with a pulled intercostal muscle and didn’t get the full experience. Need to go back. Edited July 13 by Golf_vk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Looper34 Posted July 14 Share Posted July 14 Stonewall is nothing special and isn't maintained that well but Royal New Kent is very nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Hawkeye77 Posted July 14 Popular Post Share Posted July 14 Congrats I guess on playing all the courses - not sure how someone could critique your own personal preferences, they kind of are what they are. 3 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schley Posted July 16 Share Posted July 16 Mix in Streamsong as you are in the South and playing public courses quite a bit. Maybe even Reynolds Lake Oconee, although may have to stay on property. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sabram Posted July 16 Share Posted July 16 VK, As Hawkeye said, they are your own personal rankings. If that's how you like them "they are what they are". I've played 21 of the ones on your list, most of them only one time. Here's my order of preference. Group 1 are the ones I'd like to play again Pinehurst #2 Kiawah Ocean Bethpage Black (I've played here a bunch of times) Tobacco Road Pine Needles (2 rounds) Arcadia Bluffs Royal New Kent Group 2 are the best of the rest IMO Cabot Citrus Karoo (Played only once right when it opened. I'd like to see it again if it was less expensive) French Lick Ross Bay Hill (I've played here a bunch of times and don't need to play again) Torey Pines South (I've played here a bunch of times and don't need to play again) Group 3 (the rest) RTJ Legislator RTJ Judge French Lick Dye Stonewall OCN Crooked Cat (I play here often because I now live nearby. I prefer OCN Panther Lake) TPC Myrtle B Independence (I played here one time long ago and remember it as a fun round. I wouldn't mind seeing it again. I also recall liking the nearby Hunting Hawk) En Joie Hermitage (Two courses here. Not sure which you played, but they are fairly comparable in quality) Gaylord Springs Belmont (I played here on the same trip as Independence. It was not very good, but I understand it was subsequently restored or renovated, so wouldn't mind seeing it again) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ND2005 Posted July 16 Share Posted July 16 Fields Ranch seems weirdly high (and yes I've played it, not just going off the social media hate train) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Biarritz Posted July 20 Share Posted July 20 I'd say that Royal New Kent is worth a revisit. For me, it's better than Tobacco Road, Pine Needles, and Sweetens Cove. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vallygolf Posted July 21 Share Posted July 21 On 7/16/2025 at 11:45 AM, ND2005 said: Fields Ranch seems weirdly high (and yes I've played it, not just going off the social media hate train) Curious what the hate for FR is about (aside from the cost). West course is decent not spectacular, but the East course is a proper challenge and what I consider a true test of golf. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ND2005 Posted July 22 Share Posted July 22 18 hours ago, vallygolf said: Curious what the hate for FR is about (aside from the cost). West course is decent not spectacular, but the East course is a proper challenge and what I consider a true test of golf. After the LPGA players bashed it, seemed like it became the cool thing on social media to do the same. Then Rory made a crack at it. I only played one round, and while I think it is a challenging course, it just isn't very memorable. I usually can remember every hole on a course and half of them blur together in my head. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vallygolf Posted July 22 Share Posted July 22 2 hours ago, ND2005 said: After the LPGA players bashed it, seemed like it became the cool thing on social media to do the same. Then Rory made a crack at it. I only played one round, and while I think it is a challenging course, it just isn't very memorable. I usually can remember every hole on a course and half of them blur together in my head. Not a huge social media person so I hadn't heard all the criticism. I think courses like FR East get Pro hate all the time. Pretty open off the tee, but the greens complexes are off the charts. In flat listless texas the only way to make a championship level course is usally to have outstanding greens complexes. FR East is a second and third shot course. Pros like first and second shot courses with straight holeable putts. Any course that the third shot is the hardest will always draw hate as for many players it is the weakest part of their game. I find these types of courses so interesting and challenging. Different strokes. Literally. One of Hanses other masterpieces (Streamsong Black) faces the same criticism, but I would play it over any other course on SS property. It is such a strategic second and third shot course. IMO those with no golf imagination can only see clown shoes. To each their own. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dyd12 Posted July 22 Share Posted July 22 I gotta get down to Kiawah! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
golfday Posted July 22 Share Posted July 22 On 7/13/2025 at 3:20 PM, Golf_vk said: Alright, it’s a rainy day. This is a list of most of the courses I’ve played, and I’ve attempted to rank them. Personally, I have a really hard time comparing courses, especially if a significant time has passed between playing them and they are relatively in the same ball park. I’m curious what others opinions are, is anything wildly out of place? *If it has a question mark (?) by it, that means I played it a really long time ago during Jr golf and don’t remember it well enough to do anything other than ball park. some other things, I know PGA Frisco is probably higher on my list than what others would think. I played right before the LPGA, it was in mint condition, and I personally love the layout and resort. I know some don’t seem to like French Lick as much as I do- the course is absolutely eye candy and I’m tired of seeing hate! Also, I know some may be surprised Arcadia is below Cabot and No. 10- I played that day with a pulled intercostal muscle and didn’t get the full experience. Need to go back. You asked for critique so... I've never played any of the courses you ranked below 1757, but if they're worse than 1757 I refuse to set foot on them. I've heard Raspberry Falls is fun too, so I can't imagine it should be below 1757. That course is so cramped and partially in a swamp. It's flat, but not walkable because they didn't build enough walking bridges. The story I heard is that they had land to build a much bigger course, but had to sell part of it off for financial reasons so they re-worked the design and crammed into a smaller space. And you must have played Royal New Kent when it was in decent conditions, I'm really jealous of that. I could see how you'd like it but there have been major condition and staffing issues every time I've been there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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