OT: Best golf course you've played...

[DAWG61]

This isn't a one upper thread. Just an info/discussion thread on different courses everyone's played. Name your best or most favorite course you've played and a little info on it. Thanks.

Pinehurst #2, got treated to a round here. Immaculate course. Not overly long. Small greens that are almost all crested. Would be extremely difficult to score during an open here as they'd cut the grass so short almost anything you hit as an approach would roll off these greens. #2 is the nicest course I've played but it wasn't my favorite of the courses at Pinehurst village. If you get the chance make a week trip to Pinehurst village. It's like going back in time a hundred years with the way the town/village looks and there's roughly 12-14 courses that are all really fun to play.

#2 is where Payne Stewart made this final putt to win the US Open right before he passed away.

Course has a bronze statue of this pose at 18.

 

[RocketDawg]

I've played #2 a couple of times, as well as several of the others at Pinehurst. Just my opinion, but I didn't like it. It's not "pretty" at all, the sand had small gravel in with the sand. One time we played there was the week right after one of the big PGA tournaments, and greens were pockmarked, so that's not really a fair judgement.

I've played much nicer courses. I'll have to say that #2 was very difficult from the tips, but we were playing a 5-man scramble so that made an under par score a given.

Not sure what the best I've played is ... Eagle's Landing in Woodstock, south of Atlanta comes to mind (they played the women's Chick Fil A there), and Bear's Best on the north side of Atlanta is a lot of fun.

 

[Dawgzilla]

I've played Pebble Beach, Pinehurst #2 and Harbour Town. And here is the kicker....I got paid to play each of them. Those three courses sued my client and we videotaped certain holes on those courses as part of our discovery. We had to play the whole course, though, to support one of our defenses.

Pebble Beach was the best course, but I had more fun at Harbour Town. It's a relatively short course, and if you can keep your ball between the trees it is not overly difficult. The greens are really small and it's hard to stop your ball on them, but I got up and down a lot.

I agree with your assessment of Pinehurst. It's a great trip (I used to have a semi-annual guy's trip there). I also don't quite get the allure of #2, and I can't figure out how to play the greens. I like a couple of the newer courses out there a lot more than #2.

 

[HotMop]

Pitch and Putt in Ft. Walton Beach.

Good times.

 

[Maroon Eagle]

The little miniature golf course in the Omaha Holiday Inn Holidome was good back in 1990.

 

[Dawgbite]

The pirate themed putt putt in Gulf Shores. If you have time to play golf, you have time to mow my lawn. Do something productive.

 

[patdog]

Laurel Country Club.

 

[dorndawg]

Pine Creek in Purvis*

 

[coach66]

Karsten Creek in Stillwater and Whistling Straits for me.

Whistling Straits has goats and sheep roaming around and spectacular views of Lake Michigan, quite an experience.

Karsten Creek's was a more traditional course but long and tough and in tremendous condition. Ok St. takes a lot of pride in golf.

 

[Arnold Babar.sixpack]

I have been very lucky to play a lot of good ones because my father was a golf pro and are my uncles are in the golf business. In no particular order for US golf courses:

Oak Hill CC East and West
Winged Foot CC East and West
Cypress Point
Pebble Beach
Spyglass
Seminole
Pine Valley (Hardest course I have ever played but very fair)
Shinnecock
Quaker Ridge GC
Bethpage Black (It's mother 17er as well)
Prairie Dunes
The Country Club
Alotian
Castle Pines
Whispering Pines

 

[mcdawg22]

Nice! Honestly I haven’t been able to play many exotic courses. Magnolia Grove and Dancing Rabbit Azalea are probably the best manicured I’ve played. My favorite was Linksman in Mobile. Combination of the two, Lakewood in Fairhope.

 

[DAWG61]

When you play #2 you either have to get a caddie or leave your bag on the back of the golf cart at all times. I tried to carry my bag to a shot i was unsure of the distance to the green and the marshall showed up next hole to give me a lecture about keeping my bag on the cart. Later on during the round same marshall came around twice and lectured us about pace of play. We were a 4 some and there was nobody within two holes of us on either side. We weren't happy second time the marshall came by. It cost about $500 a person to play a round there.

 

[DAWG61]

I have been very lucky to play a lot of good ones because my father was a golf pro and are my uncles are in the golf business. In no particular order for US golf courses:

Oak Hill CC East and West
Winged Foot CC East and West
Cypress Point
Pebble Beach
Spyglass
Seminole
Pine Valley (Hardest course I have ever played but very fair)
Shinnecock
Quaker Ridge GC
Bethpage Black (It's mother 17er as well)
Prairie Dunes
The Country Club
Alotian
Castle Pines
Whispering Pines

Damn your golf game has been eating well

 

[coach66]

Wow, what a list.

nm

 

[Faustdog]

Niknar.

 

[coach66]

Rankin spelled backward for the uninformed.

nm

 

[Bulldog Bruce]

Of famous courses, Bethpage Black

I grew up on Long Island in the 60s & 70s. In those days the Black course always had the shortest wait time so that was the one i played the most. It obviously was not in as good of shape as it is now, but it always was a great course. The green course there was the old Lennox Hills country club and is actually a nice layout.

I also played Shinnicock Hills back in the day.

 

[fishwater99]

From my experience, all marshalls are usually ********..

 

[Junction John]

Bandon: Old Mac is awesome, but Pacific Dunes is my fave for the views.

Black Mesa in Santa Fe is the best mountain golf I've played. There's nothing like hitting a driver down into a valley at high altitude. It just goes forever.

The Wynn course in Vegas was the most lush (and most expensive).
Kelly Plantation is fantastic, as is the Raven in Destin.
Waverly is the best closest to home.
One that doesn't get much publicity is Farmlinks, south of Birmingham. We stayed in a cabin on the course and played a couple of days. Highly recommend.

I've walked a lot at Augusta, but they won't let me hit for some reason.

 

[fishwater99]

The pirate themed putt putt in Gulf Shores. If you have time to play golf, you have time to mow my lawn. Do something productive.

I bet you really suck at golf...

 

[Dubs.sixpack]

Muirfield Village. Also the toughest I've ever played. Nicklaus designed it to rival Augusta and while I haven't been to Augusta there were a lot of noticeable similarities. Great experience.

Also played Whisper Rock in Scottsdale a couple of years ago. Former VP Quayle was in the group behind us and played through and I got to meet him as he passed. Really cool experience. Charles Barkley was walking up as we left. I thought I was about to witness the most legendary golf swing in person but we couldn't stay.

 

[AlCoDog]

Shoal Creek a few times. Caddies are awesome.

 

[CochiseCowbell]

I picked up trash in a bright yellow jumpsuit at the Augusta National.

 

[Dubs.sixpack]

I've always wanted to play Whistling Straits. Is it worth planning a trip there?

 

[GTAdawg]

If you haven't played the Fine Nine at West Point Country Club then you haven't lived.

 

[CagerMania]

TPC Stadium Course and Sea Island, GA are the best two I’ve played. My game doesn’t deserve either.

Met Darius Slay’s uncle who is a server in the clubhouse at Sea Island. That place is like a cathedral and definitely “Old South” (not in a good way).

I get to play out west once or twice a year and kind of enjoy mountain golf.

 

[Dubs.sixpack]

We have a winner!! What a list...

 

[coach66]

Highly reccomend it, Kohler Wisconsin is a nice place with lot's of spa's and

great restaurants and is beautiful country. There's another good course there called Black Wolf Run. Also, some great fishing and shooting facilities. You could set it where you could go see a Packers game as well.

 

[Crazy Cotton]

Spanish Bay, Pebble Beach, Spyglass in that order. Why it pays to be a bulldog

I lived in Santa Cruz (other side of the Monterrey Bay) for 4 yrs working on the PhD. My buddy from State, Micheal Weams, was doing his golf course management internship with the pebble beach corp, and was allowed to bring a friend once a month to play. We'd always be the last group of the day, so nobody pushing behind you, ever. We played those 3 courses probably 5 times each. Spanish Bay has the best of both worlds, in my opinion.

 

[johnson86-1]

I've played Pebble Beach, Pinehurst #2 and Harbour Town. And here is the kicker....I got paid to play each of them. Those three courses sued my client and we videotaped certain holes on those courses as part of our discovery. We had to play the whole course, though, to support one of our defenses.

Pebble Beach was the best course, but I had more fun at Harbour Town. It's a relatively short course, and if you can keep your ball between the trees it is not overly difficult. The greens are really small and it's hard to stop your ball on them, but I got up and down a lot.

I agree with your assessment of Pinehurst. It's a great trip (I used to have a semi-annual guy's trip there). I also don't quite get the allure of #2, and I can't figure out how to play the greens. I like a couple of the newer courses out there a lot more than #2.

Three different courses sued your client? Did your client make that copy cat course outside of maybe houston or Dallas that tried to copy a bunch of signature holes?

 

[dogmatic]

A real hidden gem right here in Mississippi is the course at Hugh White State Park.

I've not played any truly exotic courses, but I've played a lot of courses, some of them very nice -- Old Waverly, Azaleas at Dancing Rabbit, etc., and in all seriousness, The Dogwoods at Hugh White State Park near Grenada may be the best value dollar for dollar. I almost couldn't believe it.

$40 for 18 holes, cart included

I should say, I'm not a good golfer. Low 90s average. So I don't claim to be a qualified judge of what the USGA would call "a good test of golf," but I'd risk saying the Hugh White course is worth a look no matter how good you are.

 

[EngDawg]

If you haven't played the Fine Nine at West Point Country Club then you haven't lived.

Haha, that place sucks (assuming WP, MS)

 

[jethreauxdawg]

Not many famous ones but

Old Waverly is one of my favorites.
Harbor Shores, an hour east of Chicago was the most lush course I’ve played. I played it a week before it hosted the senior pga Championship. It also has the craziest greens I’ve ever seen.
Arrowhead in Denver is the prettiest course I’ve played.

 

[jethreauxdawg]

What was Alotian like? I’ve looked for their membership application online, but the link must be broken**

 

[goindhoo]

Played torey pines in February. Unbelievable for a municipal course. Beautiful but Very difficult. Rough was brutal. But it’s also a muni - people dragging pull carts across greens, packed with people, no cart girls, beverage house on the back shut down at 3:00, etc.

I was very impressed with Camp Creek in Panama City beach.

Cabo Real was a gem. Probably one of the most lush courses I’ve played.

 

[RocketDawg]

Do you have time to go to football games and post on message boards? Do something productive.

 

[Palmettodog]

Sage Valley
Greystone
Shoal Creek
TPC Sawgrass

Sage Valley beats them all.

 

[RocketDawg]

There are some really nice courses in Crossville, Tennessee. One of them has bentgrass fairways. Beautiful mountain courses, but I think they close in the winter.

Also Canyon Ridge in NW Georgia somewhere out in the boonies ... supposedly 30 miles from Chattanooga but it seems very far away from civilization.

 

[J-Dawg]

Pearl Muni "Niknar"***


Clear Creek (#15 from the creek bluff, shoutout if you know what I'm talkin about!!!)**

 

[DAWGS1.sixpack]

TPC Sawgrass
Ponte Vedra GC - Ocean course
PGA National - Palm Beach
Doral - Blue Monster
Innisbrook - Copperhead
Shoal Creek
Greystone CC - Bham
Pine Needles GC
TPC Southwind and Colonial CC - Memphis
Id also put Old Waverly up there and I love playing Dancing Rabbit Azalea course.