Top 5 Courses You Have Played

[ceejay81]

1. Carnoustie

2. Bethpage Black

3. The Old Course at St. Andrews

4. Cruden Bay

5. Pinehurst #2

[Sjewell94]

So far

1. Torrey Pines

2. TPC Harding Park

3. PGA West

4. TPC Scottsdale

5. Pine Canyon

Honorable mention to.. Sand Hollow, Desert Willow, and Starr Pass.

[ljrad1995]

> @"Schley " said:

> > @ljrad1995 said:

> > An all aussie list for me...

> > 1. Royal melbourne (west)

> > 2. Kingston heath

> > 3. Nsw golf club

> > 4. Royal adelaide

> > 5. Barnbougle lost farm

> >

> > Honourable mentions

> > Commonwealth GC

> > Barnbougle dunes

> > Kooyonga

> >

>

> No Cape Wickham?

 

Sadly, i have not made the king island pilgrimage (yet), so i can't rank them. Same goes for the australian and metropolitan which i feel like might shake the rankings when i play them.

[CMCSGolf]

> @ljrad1995 said:

> > @"Schley " said:

> > > @ljrad1995 said:

> > > An all aussie list for me...

> > > 1. Royal melbourne (west)

> > > 2. Kingston heath

> > > 3. Nsw golf club

> > > 4. Royal adelaide

> > > 5. Barnbougle lost farm

> > >

> > > Honourable mentions

> > > Commonwealth GC

> > > Barnbougle dunes

> > > Kooyonga

> > >

> >

> > No Cape Wickham?

>

> Sadly, i have not made the king island pilgrimage (yet), so i can't rank them. Same goes for the australian and metropolitan which i feel like might shake the rankings when i play them.

 

I haven't played the Australian, but Metro definitely shouldn't change those rankings. Nice course with great bunkering, but a clear step below what's on Tasmania and the best of the Sandbelt.

[Golfingfanatic]

Have to update my list after a recent trip to France:

1. Morfontaine

2. Prestwick

3. LACC

4. Turnberry (Ailsa)

5. Valderrama

[dmecca2]

**Top 5 favorite courses:**

1. Bulls Bridge Golf Club

2. Oakmont CC

3. Bethpage Black

4. Stonewall

5. Old Corkscrew Golf Club, TPC Wakefield Plantation

**Top 5 toughest courses:**

1. Crystal Springs (NOT FUN for a serious college event on a windy day)

2. Old Corkscrew Golf Club

3. Oakmont CC

4. Bethpage Black

5. St. James Plantation Reserve Club

[MoaningM]

1. Hankley Common

2. Royal Lytham St Annes

3. Hillside

4. Sunningdale New

5. Royal St Georges

 

As for Toughest

1. Royal St Georges

2. Carnoustie

3. Royal Lytham

4. Liphook

5. Combo of back 9 Burnham and Berrow and back 9 of Royal Cinque Ports brutal!

[PorkChopExpress]

1 MPCC

2 Bandon resorts

3 Pebble resorts

4 Madison Club

5 Machrihanash

[FairwayFred]

New Top 5 for me.

Alphabetical order.

 

Ardfin

Askernish

Cruden Bay

Royal County Down

Sand Hills

[tdog3]

Love this thread. Who wouldn’t?

 

Top:

Pebble beach

Merion

Riviera (the 10th is a classic)

Whistling Straits

Pacific Dunes

 

Honorable mention:

Tpc Harding

Streamsong blue

Mammoth Dunes (easy but crazy fun)

Brandon dunes

Pasatiempo

 

Most overrated: Scioto

[cbbaron]

1 Pacific Dunes

2 Bandon Dunes

3 Chambers Bay

4 Old Sandwich

5 Torrey Pines South

 

Hon Mention

Bannf Springs

Troon North Pinnacle

Wekopa Saguaro

Grayhawk Raptor

Desert Forest

Old Macdonald

Bandon Trails

Caledonia

Cabo Del Sol

 

[Krt22]

Pinehurst #2

Pinehurst #4

Spyglass hill

Poppy Hills

Jug Mountain Ranch

 

Honorable mentions

Old Greenwood

Grizzly Ranch

Ko Olina

Yocha Dehe

[Chanceman]

Top 5

 

Sand Hills

Ballyneal

Desert Forest

Barnbougle Dunes

Bonville

 

Honorable Mentions

 

Wild Horse

Bear Dance

We Ko Pa Saguaro

Rams Hill

Lost Farm

[Schley]

> @"Schley " said:

> (Quote)

>

>

>

>

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

>

>

>

> 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

>

>

>

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

>

> * Kingsbarns

>

> * 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

[duckboat24]

1: World Woods - PB

2: Wild Horse

3: Streamsong Blue

4: Ocean Club

5: Firekeeper

[burnsniper]

I like to break them down a couple of different ways:

 

Top 5 Courses:

1. Riviera CC (every hole is unique)

2. Crystal Downs CC (best front nine in golf; 17+18 are also spectacular)

3. TPC Sawgrass (IMO way underrated with arguably 14 of the best holes in golf; not a popular opinion).

4. Robert Trent Jones GC (last 10 are an unmatched stretch of holes)

5. Ballyhack GC (Some may consider it tricked up, however it has 18 very unique and challenging holes)

 

Top 5 Golf Clubs (golf + lux/service):

1. Crystal Downs CC (treated me like a member from the minute I set foot on the property)

2. Oakland Hills CC (played the South Course; best clubhouse, locker room, and men’s lounge)

3. Riviera CC (unmatched rockstar and VIP service)

4. Robert Trent Jones GC (the type of place where anything you can think of can be done)

5. Farmington (VA) CC (one of the best overall country clubs around; underrated golf between the two courses)

 

Top 5 Scenic GC:

1. Arcadia Bluffs GC (draw dropping views on almost every hole)

2. Cabo Del Sol Ocean (would be a top 20 GC from the scenery alone if it was in the US)

3. Shadow Creek GC (the contrast of the extreme green and desert mountains is breathtaking)

4. Kiawah Ocean Course (back nine has spectacular views of the Atlantic)

5. Robert Trent Jones GC (10 straight waterfront holes)

 

[Chanceman]

Using a similar but different approach,

Top 5 Golf Courses

Sand Hills

Royal Dornoch

Royal County Down

TOC

Lahinch

 

Most Scenic Courses

Pebble Beach

Cape Wickham

Bonville

Bandon Dunes

Turnberry

 

Best Value courses

Barnbougle Dunes

Pasatiempo

Sunningdale

Wild Horse

Ballyliffin

 

Best Budget Courses

Dooks

Fortrose and Rosemarkie

Lost Farm

Rams Hill

Windermere

 

 

[jjthomp2]

Cal Club

Pebble Beach

Dormie Club

Olympic Club (Lake)

Interlachen CC (MN)

[tkwilliamson22]

Pebble Beach - CA

 

Poppy Hills - CA

 

Coeur d'Alene Resort - ID

 

Gold Mountain - WA

 

TPC Scottsdale - AZ

 

 

[FairwayFred]

> @FairwayFred said:

> New Top 5 for me.

> Alphabetical order.

>

> Ardfin

> Askernish

> Cruden Bay

> Royal County Down

> Sand Hills

 

Next 5 (Alphabetical order again)

 

Lahinch

Machrihanish

Muirfield

Oakmont

Shinnecock

 

 

 

Missed my top 10 (off the top of my head)

 

Augusta

Ballybunion

Bandon courses

Carnoustie

Chicago GC

Crystal Downs

Cypress

Fishers Island

Merion

National Golf Links

North Berwick

Old Course

Pebble

Pine Valley

Portrush

Prestwick

 

I'm sure I missed a few that should have been mentioned.

 

BTW Ardfin...... Needs to be seen to be believed. Easily the best setting and views of any course in the world and its not close. It's not quite "done" yet they are working on a couple things over the winter but it has the potential to be the best course in the world and I don't say that lightly. It's like playing 6-9 at Pebble and 15/16 Cypress for 18 (actually 19) holes. Pictured is the par 3 10th. About 175y and yes there is a green out there.......

 

 

 

 

 

[jjthomp2]

> @FairwayFred said:

> > @FairwayFred said:

> > New Top 5 for me.

> > Alphabetical order.

> >

> > Ardfin

> > Askernish

> > Cruden Bay

> > Royal County Down

> > Sand Hills

>

> Next 5 (Alphabetical order again)

>

> Lahinch

> Machrihanish

> Muirfield

> Oakmont

> Shinnecock

>

>

>

> Missed my top 10 (off the top of my head)

>

> Augusta

> Ballybunion

> Bandon courses

> Carnoustie

> Chicago GC

> Crystal Downs

> Cypress

> Fishers Island

> Merion

> National Golf Links

> North Berwick

> Old Course

> Pebble

> Pine Valley

> Portrush

> Prestwick

>

> I'm sure I missed a few that should have been mentioned.

>

> BTW Ardfin...... Needs to be seen to be believed. Easily the best setting and views of any course in the world and its not close. It's not quite "done" yet they are working on a couple things over the winter but it has the potential to be the best course in the world and I don't say that lightly. It's like playing 6-9 at Pebble and 15/16 Cypress for 18 (actually 19) holes. Pictured is the par 3 10th. About 175y and yes there is a green out there.......

>

>

>

>

>

>

 

I haven't heard anything about Ardfin. Any details that can be found on this? Is it new?

[cardoustie]

I can't recall if I replied in this one. I know I did a similar one eons ago, off the top of my head

 

USA/Canada (no order):

 

Cabot Cliffs

Mauna Kea

Bethpage Black

Muirfield Village

TPC Sawgrass

 

Europe and ROW:

 

Royal Melbourne (Composite)

Carnoustie

Kingsbarns

The Old Course

[FairwayFred]

> @jjthomp2 said:

> > @FairwayFred said:

> > > @FairwayFred said:

> > > New Top 5 for me.

> > > Alphabetical order.

> > >

> > > Ardfin

> > > Askernish

> > > Cruden Bay

> > > Royal County Down

> > > Sand Hills

> >

> > Next 5 (Alphabetical order again)

> >

> > Lahinch

> > Machrihanish

> > Muirfield

> > Oakmont

> > Shinnecock

> >

> >

> >

> > Missed my top 10 (off the top of my head)

> >

> > Augusta

> > Ballybunion

> > Bandon courses

> > Carnoustie

> > Chicago GC

> > Crystal Downs

> > Cypress

> > Fishers Island

> > Merion

> > National Golf Links

> > North Berwick

> > Old Course

> > Pebble

> > Pine Valley

> > Portrush

> > Prestwick

> >

> > I'm sure I missed a few that should have been mentioned.

> >

> > BTW Ardfin...... Needs to be seen to be believed. Easily the best setting and views of any course in the world and its not close. It's not quite "done" yet they are working on a couple things over the winter but it has the potential to be the best course in the world and I don't say that lightly. It's like playing 6-9 at Pebble and 15/16 Cypress for 18 (actually 19) holes. Pictured is the par 3 10th. About 175y and yes there is a green out there.......

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

>

> I haven't heard anything about Ardfin. Any details that can be found on this? Is it new?

 

 

It's new. Built on a private estate on the Isle of Jura in Scotland. Will open for limited public play next year I believe. If you do a Google search you can find some info.

[sbrylant]

In no particular order...

 

-Pebble Beach (CA)

-Prairie Dunes (KS)

-Castle Pines (CO)

-Oak Tree Natl (OK)

-Torrey Pines (CA)

[jwellefson1]

Well after my last mini trip of 2019 (that I know of) it's gotta be this:

1. Royal County Down

2. The Old Course

3. Cal Club

T-4. Philly Cricket Club

T-4. Bethpage Black

Honorable Mention/Just missed out (in no particular order):

- Caves Valley

- Dormie Club

- Ballyhack

- Castletown Golf Links

- Harding Park

- Bulle Rock

[nikegolfer1983]

My top 5 that I have played in no particular order:

 

Muirfield Village

 

Oakmont Country Club

 

Inverness Club - Toledo

 

Pebble Beach

 

Cypress Point

 

 

[theredzone7]

1. Shadow Creek

2. PAC Dunes

3. Brandon Dunes

4. Southshore CC (las Vegas)

5. Brandon Trails

[Irishman1979]

> @RTP419 said:

> If this is a repeat topic I apologize in advance, still new here. But I want to hear what everyones top five public and private courses are that they have played. I will start it off, list isn't going to win any awards but I can't really complain.

>

>

>

> Connecticut

>

>

>

> Public

>

>

>

> 1. Lake of Isles

>

> 2. Wintonberry Hills

>

> 3. Ricter Park

>

> 4. Fox Hopyard

>

> 5. Oxford Greens

>

>

>

> Private

>

>

>

> 1. Shorehaven GC

>

> 2. Brooklawn GC

>

> 3. CC of Fairfield

>

> 4. Yale

>

> 5. TPC River Highlands

 

 

[sodak77]

**Top 5**

Harbour Town

Whistling Straits

Kapalua Plantation

Bandon Dunes

Prairie Club Pines

[Voltron]

Streamsong Red

The Cliffs at Keowee Vinyards

Sand Valley/Mammoth Dunes

Whistling Straits (Straits)

Shoreacres