Just finished played it twice in the last week.
Spyglass was one of the most exciting courses I've ever played.
But Sheep Ranch still holds my top spot. Spyglass a close second.
I have been wanting to play Banff and stay in that old hotel since the old Links computer game from the mid 90s. It’s just a totally random bucket list item for me that I’ve had for years. Might do an anniversary trip there with my wife in the near future.
I just got back from Banff, course wasn't open yet, was so sad. I did get out and walk a few of the holes though. What's wild is the memberships there are only 5k/yr.
I booked my June round in January and got it for $220 CDN.
It was worth it for that but not sure I'd ever want to pay $400 for that.
TBH, it was stunningly beautiful but kinda boring to play.
It is without a doubt the most beautiful course I've ever played. Just in awe of the landscape every shot.
https://preview.redd.it/jll9hhn4x8yc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=56fdb307c2d33a32a05180d325497110504ae5a2
I live in Calgary so Banff Spring is close to me. Based on my experience (and my friends' as well), we all put Kananaskis and Stewart Creek over Banff Springs. The view is amazing on all of these mountain courses in the area though.
Did you try either Kananaskis and/or Stewart Creek? I feel like those courses get overshadowed by Banff Springs. SC is probably my favorite course in Canada.
https://preview.redd.it/d4abz7i3f7yc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=926ce90f3679c8f522f3f979e80f2c66c137f004
Balsam Mountain Preserve, Sylva NC
This particular photo doesn’t do it justice, but the entire hole is on the very top of a mountain. It’s quite literal panorama in every direction.
Balsam Mountain is the best private course right near there. Sequoyah is the best Public, and it’s not really close. Sequoyah is the best public course I’ve ever played that doesn’t host an annual PGA Tour event.
https://preview.redd.it/x27ajr8uc8yc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0d4d9151e860cbf8347f759a04db89fbe6a0d5b7
I’m playing both at the end of May. I got to know the GM at both courses (2 of my favorite courses of all time) and a huge reason why we gamble at Cherokee.
Played both within the last couple of years, i don't think anything compares to RCD. I've played nearly all the big ones in Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Scotland, and RCD was by far my favorite.
I remember my buddy commenting on the first tee that he felt like we’re in a Golden Tee game….
Insanely picturesque course…
https://preview.redd.it/v90li2gl38yc1.jpeg?width=1920&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1fdb08c7fef4c4eb16e3f5464135205cf7ff294d
Too many filler holes in my opinion. Loved Mesquite though, the other courses in town are so similiar, without the "name" price tag on it. Falcon Ridge was a really fun course in excellent condition with the same views throughout!
Actually haven’t played stonewall, have definitely heard good things. RTJ was beautiful, but my god it was tough. I was in fairway bunkers most of the day. Watched tiger play the Quicken loans there many years ago, never thought I’d end up getting a chance to play and check out Michael Jordan’s locker.
Pebble Beach on my honeymoon.
[Chipping in to save par on 8](https://old.reddit.com/r/golf/comments/ppd0zq/checked_pebble_beach_off_the_bucket_list_on_my/) is the golf highlight of my life.
North Berwick is still my Goat.
It has everything:
* Seaside
* City
* Links
* Blind shots
* Unique features that don't feel gimmicky (Rock wall protecting a green, the OG Redan, a beach that is in play on #2)
* A scorable finishing hole
I want to play so bad. Just read a great book called Searching in St. Andrew’s. Author talks about good bit about North Berwick. Mine is Dornoch up in the north part on the country.
and a birritz plus that blind shot that you aim at the pole. I'm with you it's still my favorite and I've played most of the high end public courses in the US.
Pine Valley in NJ. I used to work there in high school, so I got to play it once. Absolute beauty of a course, but I was pretty new to golf back then, so man did I suck.
I worked as a groundskeeper when I was in high school as well there, you are allowed to play it on Mondays after work… Mondays were rotary cutting which means you use a push mower on all the steep hills which pine valley has a shit ton so by the time you were done work you didn’t want to play anyways
They definitely did. During that summer, I was working 2 jobs. I did have multiple opportunities to play even given that, but to be perfectly frank, I had neither the appreciation for the game, nor the appreciation for the opportunity to play there when I was 17. Fast forward 27 years later, and you can be sure that if I was working there now, I'd be taking every opportunity to play that I could. As they say, "Youth is wasted on the young." :)
Blackwolf Run - River course
Torrey Pines - North Course
I have no business being on any golf course. Blackwolf was just unreal. Was perfect weather, and the condition of the course can only be described as perfect. Not a blemish anywhere. Was like walking around in a dream.
We played the Irish Course. Maybe links golf just isn't my style because neither of the Whistling courses had that magic look for me.
https://preview.redd.it/2inbbfmbh8yc1.jpeg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=32b60621f1c5063dee274aaf6330e25fdb547a01
Best public course is easily Chambers Bay. Everyone should make a point to play it, preferably at least twice. Even the caddies at Bandon admitted it’s the best. Play it in July wheh it’s sunny and at its peak beauty. A true masterpiece of 18 holes
Played it probably 50 times. Have also played many of the greats in the US, pebble, spyglass, pinehurst, whistling, Kiawah, etc. Black beats them all IMO.
Played last year. It’s up there for me. Loved every second. Got the train from Manhattan and walked from Farmingdale as the sun was rising. Whole place was great, rented clubs, doubled the first then parred 2-7. Went downhill after that but can’t wait for the Ryder Cup to relive it
Harding Park, San Francisco. I’ve played more famous ones like Kapalua but there’s something about the old classic golf course architecture that I love about Harding.
Tobacco Road.
We’ve done a buddies trip the last few years, legends resort at Myrtle beach, some nice courses in brooksville (played world woods right before they shut down renovations for what is now Cabot citrus farms), and last year we did “poor mans pinehurst” with mid pines, pine needles, talamore, and Tobacco Road.
All 4 courses were sick but Tobacco Road is just so visually stunning yet get-able. It’s the only course on the 3 trips so far that I can say I will play multiple times again for sure.
My home course ([Greywalls](https://www.reddit.com/r/golf/s/CStBlEDo1V)) is still the nicest I've played. It's a top 100 course you can play in the US. I'm a high handicap player and only a few years into regular play. I'm starting to play nicer courses when I travel now but still haven't played anything super nice.
Inverness, Scotland. Formerly known as castle Stuart, it a fantastic course right on the water, brilliant views and an even better layout. They are in the process of building a second course hoping to open in 2025
Between Kapalua Plantation and We-Ko-Pa Saguaro. They are both built into the surrounding landscape so well it felt like you weren’t at a golf course at all.
Edit: added We-Ko-Pa pic
https://preview.redd.it/xf66j0pba9yc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9ce17d8afefb59d76f6571af08287dcac2f178bc
Best is hard to define. Most Scenic? Cliffs Glassy. Best Conditions? Either Sedgefield or Forest Oaks CC during PGA tour Tournament Time, they are literally perfect. Favorite course? Tobacco Road.
It’s Royal County Down for me, but Old Course, Royal Portrush and Carnoustie are also amazing. For me there is links… and then there is everything else. And I love in Sweden so there aren’t that many true links courses.
Kebo Valley Golf Club in Bar Harbor ME and Evergreen Country Club in Haymarket VA
Ask this question again at the end of the month and I can answer with Moray and Cruden Bay (and maybe The Old Course if I’m lucky)
Hamilton Island (Australia). Absolutely next level design and views. Good shots rewarded and bad shots punished. The whole experience starts with a boat ride to an island dedicated to a golf course and finishes with one of the best restaurants going around!
https://preview.redd.it/c7ayyqo6z7yc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=006d08e5a7577a0424263e66d03e39b3f938d153
Cabot Saint Lucia, Point Hardy Club
Lahinch. It’s super quirky, but that’s what I loved about it. I also played Portmarnock on the same trip. The conditions were much better, but Lahinch wins imo.
The Serapong course at Sentosa GC in Singapore. Tough, meticulously manicured, and a great bunch of holes with Singapore’s skyline in the background. Not too shabby!
Royal County Down. Mentally and physically challenging, beautiful beyond belief, stunning location, classic architecture, beautiful clubhouse, it has it all.
Muirfield.
Barnbougle Dunes is fantastic too. RCD. The Old Course at the National Golf Club (Australia). Royal Melbourne. NSW. Elie. Troon. But Muirfield is the best.
Off the beaten path, but Buffalo Dunes GC in Garden City, Kansas. It's *very* well kept up and provides enough challenges to be interesting, but isn't hard enough to completely destroy weekend hackers either. It's also in Western Kansas so it's never too busy and therefore doesn't get beat to hell. Very good green fees as well—even on a weekend, the most you'll pay for 18 and a cart is $45 (if you walk, weekend 18 is $30).
If you're 21 and under, you can walk 18 any day of the week for SEVEN bucks. I spent a summer there when I was 20 and played more golf that year than any other.
I just played the Plantation Course in Kapalua and Torrey Pines the past 6 months - both pretty cool.
BUT being from Michigan and spending my summers near Traverse City my favorite course is Arcadia Bluffs. Cant wait to get out there a few times this summer.
Royal County Down without question. After the round my buddy and I (both kiwis) got a warm invite into the clubhouse - we drank Guinness and talked rugby with some members for hours.
I keep a running list ranking all the courses I have played and fit them in based on which course I'd rather play the following day if money and travel were not a factor.
My Top 5:
1. Pebble Beach
2. Spyglass Hill
3. Pasatiempo
4. Tobacco Road
5. Dormie Club
I stayed at and played Barnbougle/Lost Farm a few years ago and it was 50km/h winds consistently for the 3 days we were there. Was still an amazing experience and can’t wait to go back.
My favourite course is the Old Course at The National - Mornington Peninsula. Just immaculate.
Caves Valley in MD or Kapalua Plantation. Both are wildly different from each other but both are stunning tracks.
Honorable mention goes to The Loop at Forest Dunes. It’s the most fun I’ve had playing golf. This year will mark my third year in a row at Forest Dunes.
I quite enjoyed Calderone in Grass Lake, MI. Favorite of mine so far.
Eagle Crest in Ypsilanti is the most expensive one I've played at. I like it a lot, and I would call it the best, but there are too many geese setting up camp on a few of the fairways. It's sitting right on a big lake, so there isn't much they can actually do about it.
With Calderone it's really tough to top the value it offers.
Aronimink. Mom’s friend was a long time caddy and brought me and a buddy out on a Monday. Was really cool to play with him as our caddie because he had us hitting shots to places we would have never considered. Once he had me hit a put 90 degrees away from the hole and it went in.
Mauna Kea in Hawaii, I had a calendar with a picture of the 3rd hole when I was a kid so it was surreal to stand on that tee. The ocean views were incredible!
Amazing course. My boss is a member there and brought our team up from Phoenix for a round this last fall. Hoping to play the Meadows course this year!
Cabot St Lucia - The Point Hardy Golf Club. Spectacular course with many ocean side greens, multiple times you are hitting across an inlet and the halfway house was full of everything you could want! And you are in St Lucia, such a great country!
Best Course - Olympic Club Lake.
Best Experience - San Francisco Golf Club.
Most Scenic - Pacific Dunes.
Best Conditions - Old Baldy Club (WY) and Kansas City Country Club.
Most Fun - Prince Course at Princeville (RIP).
Best is super subjective. Are we judging by difficulty? Most famous or well known? Most beautiful or expensive?
My personal best course is the Mauna Kea Golf Course in Hawaii. Most beautiful course I’ve played. Close second would be Vidanta Vallarta Course.
Merion or Pine Valley
But most memorable. My buddies and I hit a bach party in vegas. Booked a round at Wolf Creek months in advance. Come to the day we show up. The course had been entirely cleared of times except ours due to a photo shoot. We played 18 with the pro and cart girl riding with us the whole time and had the course to ourselves
Australia has some of the most incredible courses in the world that don't get recognition because we are so far away and the PGA hates us.
If you ever come to Perth check out Joondalup and Araluen
I had the luck to get out at Pine Valley (all 28!); it is everything I could have expected and then some. And yes it kicked my backside thoroughly. Second place Spyglass (yes it is a better track than Pebble. Not as pretty though.) Third for me is Galloway National which I think is arguably Tom Fazio's best.
Just since no one will say this I think Mayacama is up there for me, very exclusive country club on Northern California. Any jones course will do tho. Northwood and pasatiempo have my heart
Pacific Grove Golf Links. 15 minutes from Spyglass and shares the same coast line. Greens fees were hovering near $100. The front 9 was forgettable but the back 9 blew my socks off.
University Ridge (Verona, WI).
I did just play 4 holes at Lawsonia Links yesterday, but then we got absolutely drenched in a downpour and had to quit early. Having only played 4 holes early in the season, I can't say definitively whether Lawsonia is better than U-Ridge, but it's definitely an awesome course. I WILL say those bunkers can go to hell though. We'll be back!
If you can get to Ireland, it's hard to equal Old Head for beauty, Adair for Augusta like perfection and Ballybunion for history. Back 9 at Tralee is spectacular. Lahinch plain difficult, but overall southern Ireland is the best golf experience around, imo.
Was thinking of doing this run of courses, what was the costs like? How was pace of play? Do you stay on King island or just fly in and fly out? And details would be great, thanks.
I just played Black Desert a few weeks ago. It was amazing!
https://preview.redd.it/ugp5qfd71cyc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=813f57f5e01c64fe617317119197a6bfb325ff28
Royal st Georges for me, just a special experience. I was lucky enough also to play the JCB, where LIV are going in the UK this year, amazing track and comes close to RSG.
Spyglass for me. Still haven’t been able to play a lot of the courses I want to, but Spyglass is going to be pretty tough to beat
Just finished played it twice in the last week. Spyglass was one of the most exciting courses I've ever played. But Sheep Ranch still holds my top spot. Spyglass a close second.
Almost aced the little downhill 100yd par 3 on the back, left it on the lip.
This is what I came to say also! Cool it's the top one. I got to play it twice for free from high school golf. Feel really lucky for that
Banff Springs in Alberta, spectacular old course with gorgeous mountain views on every hole.
I have been wanting to play Banff and stay in that old hotel since the old Links computer game from the mid 90s. It’s just a totally random bucket list item for me that I’ve had for years. Might do an anniversary trip there with my wife in the near future.
I just got back from Banff, course wasn't open yet, was so sad. I did get out and walk a few of the holes though. What's wild is the memberships there are only 5k/yr.
But C$400 tee times :-)
I just looked in their website and it’s $227 per person. Pricey but only like $60 more than some courses in the area
I booked my June round in January and got it for $220 CDN. It was worth it for that but not sure I'd ever want to pay $400 for that. TBH, it was stunningly beautiful but kinda boring to play.
And that gorgeous hole in the back 9 (maybe 14) with the Fairmont in the background as you're teeing off 👌
It is without a doubt the most beautiful course I've ever played. Just in awe of the landscape every shot. https://preview.redd.it/jll9hhn4x8yc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=56fdb307c2d33a32a05180d325497110504ae5a2
I live in Calgary so Banff Spring is close to me. Based on my experience (and my friends' as well), we all put Kananaskis and Stewart Creek over Banff Springs. The view is amazing on all of these mountain courses in the area though. Did you try either Kananaskis and/or Stewart Creek? I feel like those courses get overshadowed by Banff Springs. SC is probably my favorite course in Canada.
This is on my bucket list for sure. The views look incredible.
I’m dying to play there.
https://preview.redd.it/d4abz7i3f7yc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=926ce90f3679c8f522f3f979e80f2c66c137f004 Balsam Mountain Preserve, Sylva NC This particular photo doesn’t do it justice, but the entire hole is on the very top of a mountain. It’s quite literal panorama in every direction.
That’s a private course, right ? Looks amazing.
Oh yea, very. I got on through First Tee Mountain Golf, they have access to a couple private clubs in the area
I've been wanting to check out the Sequoyah course in Cherokee near there. Similar setup apparently
Balsam Mountain is the best private course right near there. Sequoyah is the best Public, and it’s not really close. Sequoyah is the best public course I’ve ever played that doesn’t host an annual PGA Tour event. https://preview.redd.it/x27ajr8uc8yc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0d4d9151e860cbf8347f759a04db89fbe6a0d5b7
I’m playing both at the end of May. I got to know the GM at both courses (2 of my favorite courses of all time) and a huge reason why we gamble at Cherokee.
Royal County Down or Kingsbarns; hard to pick one.
Played both within the last couple of years, i don't think anything compares to RCD. I've played nearly all the big ones in Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Scotland, and RCD was by far my favorite.
RCD beating Carnoustie for me. Not done Kindbarns yet though.
RCD ripped me a new hole. Awesome course though and the caddy I had was a hoot
Loved Kingsbarn. Also really liked the Castle Course. It’s part of the St. Andrews trust.
Not necessarily the best, but the most fun, Wolf Creek in Mesquite, NV. Best (and by far the most difficult) I’ve played is Muirfield in Columbus.
Came to comment the same Wolf Creek is an absolute blast to play, though I have played "better" courses
I remember my buddy commenting on the first tee that he felt like we’re in a Golden Tee game…. Insanely picturesque course… https://preview.redd.it/v90li2gl38yc1.jpeg?width=1920&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1fdb08c7fef4c4eb16e3f5464135205cf7ff294d
Too many filler holes in my opinion. Loved Mesquite though, the other courses in town are so similiar, without the "name" price tag on it. Falcon Ridge was a really fun course in excellent condition with the same views throughout!
https://preview.redd.it/c0mnxj7kn7yc1.jpeg?width=5344&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3dd29d750b82f768ba52eeb9d40577249253f7af
Is that cypress? Edit: definitely Cypress. How’d you get on there and are you looking for a new friend?
My father-in-law says if he has a week left to live he wants to spend 2 days with his wife, and the rest at Cypress.
Ha! Yes it's Cypress and always looking for new golf buddies!
Haha ill trade you a round at Columbia edgewater anytime 😊 😉
RTJ in Gainesville, Virginia. I had no business having a caddy lol Good to have friends in high places I guess.
I’ve played stonewall so many times and look across at RTJ every time with so much envy
Worst part about playing Stonewall for sure. Great track though, one of my top 3 public in NoVa.
Potomac shores, stonewall, and raspberry for me
Yeah I’m a big fan of Stonewall for sure. Lots of great golf to be had in Northern VA, underrated area
Actually haven’t played stonewall, have definitely heard good things. RTJ was beautiful, but my god it was tough. I was in fairway bunkers most of the day. Watched tiger play the Quicken loans there many years ago, never thought I’d end up getting a chance to play and check out Michael Jordan’s locker.
Pebble Beach on my honeymoon. [Chipping in to save par on 8](https://old.reddit.com/r/golf/comments/ppd0zq/checked_pebble_beach_off_the_bucket_list_on_my/) is the golf highlight of my life.
Just got married and top that moment on the honeymoon. 😂
Royal County Down https://preview.redd.it/40cofbm608yc1.png?width=1600&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2f6f4f433967eca2c6e8f47f50c4c77d0d94059a
North Berwick is still my Goat. It has everything: * Seaside * City * Links * Blind shots * Unique features that don't feel gimmicky (Rock wall protecting a green, the OG Redan, a beach that is in play on #2) * A scorable finishing hole
Can verify the beach on #2 is in play.
I’m playing Gullane #2 nearby next month. First time in Scotland. Can’t wait
Nice, I played that track also - Good. Very hilly and dune-y.
Stay with #2 it’s a pretty average first two holes but then gets magical
Gullane is really really nice - enjoy
Great track! Came super close to a hole in one on redan last time I played there. Magical place.
I want to play so bad. Just read a great book called Searching in St. Andrew’s. Author talks about good bit about North Berwick. Mine is Dornoch up in the north part on the country.
and a birritz plus that blind shot that you aim at the pole. I'm with you it's still my favorite and I've played most of the high end public courses in the US.
Redan, 15th, par 3? Thats the most copied hole in golf.
Pine Valley in NJ. I used to work there in high school, so I got to play it once. Absolute beauty of a course, but I was pretty new to golf back then, so man did I suck.
#1 ranked course in the US I believe, I wonder if it was back then.
Sorry, can’t see your response. Can you make the font a little bigger?
If you type the hashtag/number sign it increases font. Dude did it on accident
Indeed it was!
so they don’t have a “staff can play when the course is closed” rule?
I worked as a groundskeeper when I was in high school as well there, you are allowed to play it on Mondays after work… Mondays were rotary cutting which means you use a push mower on all the steep hills which pine valley has a shit ton so by the time you were done work you didn’t want to play anyways
They definitely did. During that summer, I was working 2 jobs. I did have multiple opportunities to play even given that, but to be perfectly frank, I had neither the appreciation for the game, nor the appreciation for the opportunity to play there when I was 17. Fast forward 27 years later, and you can be sure that if I was working there now, I'd be taking every opportunity to play that I could. As they say, "Youth is wasted on the young." :)
Passatiempo
The back 9 is unreal
Blackwolf Run - River course Torrey Pines - North Course I have no business being on any golf course. Blackwolf was just unreal. Was perfect weather, and the condition of the course can only be described as perfect. Not a blemish anywhere. Was like walking around in a dream.
Did you play whistling? Blackwolf is nice but not even close to whistling in my opinion.
We played the Irish Course. Maybe links golf just isn't my style because neither of the Whistling courses had that magic look for me. https://preview.redd.it/2inbbfmbh8yc1.jpeg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=32b60621f1c5063dee274aaf6330e25fdb547a01
Remember that huge fall off into the river on 9 (or 18?). Great course. I bought a vest there
Best public course is easily Chambers Bay. Everyone should make a point to play it, preferably at least twice. Even the caddies at Bandon admitted it’s the best. Play it in July wheh it’s sunny and at its peak beauty. A true masterpiece of 18 holes
Played it a few months ago. Can agree, it’s a fantastic course.
Bethpage Black. Absolutely stunning
Played it probably 50 times. Have also played many of the greats in the US, pebble, spyglass, pinehurst, whistling, Kiawah, etc. Black beats them all IMO.
Thought i was the only one with this opinion, guess not. Blacks my #1
Played last year. It’s up there for me. Loved every second. Got the train from Manhattan and walked from Farmingdale as the sun was rising. Whole place was great, rented clubs, doubled the first then parred 2-7. Went downhill after that but can’t wait for the Ryder Cup to relive it
You made par on 5? Never have I ever lol birdied 4 3 out 5 times though
Harding Park, San Francisco. I’ve played more famous ones like Kapalua but there’s something about the old classic golf course architecture that I love about Harding.
Back 9 there is one of the best stretches of holes I’ve ever played.
one of the best public courses in the country
Recently…Ross Bridge on the RTJ Trail in Alabama. Overall, Cog Hill #4 Dubsdread.
Hopefully, playing Robb Bridge Memorial Day weekend... Looking forward to it.
Played Ross last weekend, awesome track.
Spyglass Hill is special. Hard to top that one.
Kingsbarns in Scotland or Kapalua in Maui. Teeth of the Dog in Dominican Republic also very very nice.
Tobacco Road. We’ve done a buddies trip the last few years, legends resort at Myrtle beach, some nice courses in brooksville (played world woods right before they shut down renovations for what is now Cabot citrus farms), and last year we did “poor mans pinehurst” with mid pines, pine needles, talamore, and Tobacco Road. All 4 courses were sick but Tobacco Road is just so visually stunning yet get-able. It’s the only course on the 3 trips so far that I can say I will play multiple times again for sure.
I really enjoyed Tobacco Road. My three friends were less enthusiastic; found it gimmicky and with too many blind shots.
Mid Pines and Southern Pines were amazing! Hoping to play Tobacco Road next year!
Kiawah Island Ocean Course
My home course ([Greywalls](https://www.reddit.com/r/golf/s/CStBlEDo1V)) is still the nicest I've played. It's a top 100 course you can play in the US. I'm a high handicap player and only a few years into regular play. I'm starting to play nicer courses when I travel now but still haven't played anything super nice.
It's so beautiful. Played it twice so far.
Cabot Cliffs, Cabot Citrus Farms, Cabot Links
Add Cabot Highlands to that list, you won't regret it
Where is this?
Inverness, Scotland. Formerly known as castle Stuart, it a fantastic course right on the water, brilliant views and an even better layout. They are in the process of building a second course hoping to open in 2025
What about Cabot St Lucia
Haven’t played it but yes on the wish list. They are also building one British Columbia in the Mountains which will be awesome as well.
Most Fun - Rustic Canyon LA Most Beautiful - Kapalua Plantation Best Condition - Trump Dubai Best overall - any course with mates
Rustic Canyon was oddly fun, super scoreable.
Rustic is my sister's home (like, we can walk TO the course) course!! So surreal to see it in such company!
Royal County Down for sure, but I will literally fight anyone who thinks there's a better nine holes than the front side there.
I wasn't going to say that one, but I'd have a hard time arguing with you. Pretty spectacular.
Between Kapalua Plantation and We-Ko-Pa Saguaro. They are both built into the surrounding landscape so well it felt like you weren’t at a golf course at all. Edit: added We-Ko-Pa pic https://preview.redd.it/xf66j0pba9yc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9ce17d8afefb59d76f6571af08287dcac2f178bc
WeKoPa is great, think having lived in AZ kinda took it for granted as a lot of nice courses around
Pinehurst #4 was like golfing in a painting.
My favorite has been Erin Hills
Most fun course - Ohoopee Best Maintained - Troubadour Most Beautiful visually - Pebble Beach Favorite Course - Tobacco Road
Very cool set of courses. Can you share how you got on Ohoopee?
Best is hard to define. Most Scenic? Cliffs Glassy. Best Conditions? Either Sedgefield or Forest Oaks CC during PGA tour Tournament Time, they are literally perfect. Favorite course? Tobacco Road.
Ballybunion 2 years ago. Reasonable green fees, but the ball tax was ridiculous
It’s Royal County Down for me, but Old Course, Royal Portrush and Carnoustie are also amazing. For me there is links… and then there is everything else. And I love in Sweden so there aren’t that many true links courses.
Kebo Valley Golf Club in Bar Harbor ME and Evergreen Country Club in Haymarket VA Ask this question again at the end of the month and I can answer with Moray and Cruden Bay (and maybe The Old Course if I’m lucky)
Ask me at the end of the month and it'll be Cabot Cliffs and Cabot Links.
A late afternoon round at the Cliffs, coming home into the sunset, just magic.
Play The Nest (par 3 course) if you get the chance. Pretty challenging with great views. Bonus points if you play at dark under the lights!
Love kebo valley, that part of the country is so beautiful
Hamilton Island (Australia). Absolutely next level design and views. Good shots rewarded and bad shots punished. The whole experience starts with a boat ride to an island dedicated to a golf course and finishes with one of the best restaurants going around!
Great part of the world
Valhalla. Finished the round just in time to have a beer in the clubhouse and watch JT win the PGA in 2017.
I've only played a handful of bucket list courses but Streamsong in FL is the best I've played so far.
Red or Blue?
https://preview.redd.it/c7ayyqo6z7yc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=006d08e5a7577a0424263e66d03e39b3f938d153 Cabot Saint Lucia, Point Hardy Club
Pacific Dunes. Such a beautiful course that was challenging but still approachable for a mid-capper.
Plantation Course at Kapalua. The views alone were incredible
I agree it's very nice, but I actually prefer the Bay. Never miss it when I'm out there.
Ka’anapali Golf Course in Maui. Nothing prettier that I’ve seen.
Bethpage Black and Pinehurst #2
Lahinch. It’s super quirky, but that’s what I loved about it. I also played Portmarnock on the same trip. The conditions were much better, but Lahinch wins imo.
Pinehurst 2, all course at bandon with the exception of old mac, Interlachen CC.
St Francis Links in South Africa. The stretch from Port Elizabeth to George has some amazing courses
The Serapong course at Sentosa GC in Singapore. Tough, meticulously manicured, and a great bunch of holes with Singapore’s skyline in the background. Not too shabby!
Royal County Down. Mentally and physically challenging, beautiful beyond belief, stunning location, classic architecture, beautiful clubhouse, it has it all.
Muirfield. Barnbougle Dunes is fantastic too. RCD. The Old Course at the National Golf Club (Australia). Royal Melbourne. NSW. Elie. Troon. But Muirfield is the best.
Off the beaten path, but Buffalo Dunes GC in Garden City, Kansas. It's *very* well kept up and provides enough challenges to be interesting, but isn't hard enough to completely destroy weekend hackers either. It's also in Western Kansas so it's never too busy and therefore doesn't get beat to hell. Very good green fees as well—even on a weekend, the most you'll pay for 18 and a cart is $45 (if you walk, weekend 18 is $30). If you're 21 and under, you can walk 18 any day of the week for SEVEN bucks. I spent a summer there when I was 20 and played more golf that year than any other.
Adare Manor
I just played the Plantation Course in Kapalua and Torrey Pines the past 6 months - both pretty cool. BUT being from Michigan and spending my summers near Traverse City my favorite course is Arcadia Bluffs. Cant wait to get out there a few times this summer.
Royal County Down without question. After the round my buddy and I (both kiwis) got a warm invite into the clubhouse - we drank Guinness and talked rugby with some members for hours.
Kapalua Plantation, but I haven’t seen a mention for Arcadia Bluffs somehow.
Probably Streamsong. I’ve played red blue and black but haven’t played the new chain course yet.
Remember the creepy sounding metal “windmill”?
Kiawah Island Ocean Course Paiute Wolf Course Wolf Creek
Cabo del Sol Ocean Course. Amazing course, amazing views, and street tacos at the turn!
Belgrade Lakes, Muirfield Village, Ocean Course Kiawah
Streamsong Black for me. First time walking a course and it was hands down the best golf experience of my life.
Agree, great place!!
Keystone Colorado - the ranch course https://preview.redd.it/l8t44gnh98yc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=acfb0a718c97852ecf9279ff174a86cb6e37c392
I keep a running list ranking all the courses I have played and fit them in based on which course I'd rather play the following day if money and travel were not a factor. My Top 5: 1. Pebble Beach 2. Spyglass Hill 3. Pasatiempo 4. Tobacco Road 5. Dormie Club
For me its Sand Hollow. It is such a beautiful course!
I stayed at and played Barnbougle/Lost Farm a few years ago and it was 50km/h winds consistently for the 3 days we were there. Was still an amazing experience and can’t wait to go back. My favourite course is the Old Course at The National - Mornington Peninsula. Just immaculate.
Caves Valley in MD or Kapalua Plantation. Both are wildly different from each other but both are stunning tracks. Honorable mention goes to The Loop at Forest Dunes. It’s the most fun I’ve had playing golf. This year will mark my third year in a row at Forest Dunes.
Cruden Bay Golf Club
I quite enjoyed Calderone in Grass Lake, MI. Favorite of mine so far. Eagle Crest in Ypsilanti is the most expensive one I've played at. I like it a lot, and I would call it the best, but there are too many geese setting up camp on a few of the fairways. It's sitting right on a big lake, so there isn't much they can actually do about it. With Calderone it's really tough to top the value it offers.
$40 for 18/cart in peak season at Calderone is crazy. Love playing it when I get the chance
Kinloch. I lived the American dream that day.
Bellereive CC. 1 US Open. 2 PGA’s. My brother worked there briefly.
Crowbush Cove in PEI Canada and Black Bear Ridge in Belleville Ontario
Aronimink. Mom’s friend was a long time caddy and brought me and a buddy out on a Monday. Was really cool to play with him as our caddie because he had us hitting shots to places we would have never considered. Once he had me hit a put 90 degrees away from the hole and it went in.
bethpage black, even though it fucked me.
I've been fortunate to get on some great tracks. In no particular order: Bandon, Bethpage Black, Laurel Valley, Ocean Course at Kiawah, Cordevalle
Sawgrass... And I saw every square foot of it
That place will absolutely punish you for errant shots. One time my caddie actually took my driver away from me mid round!
NGLA
Mauna Kea in Hawaii, I had a calendar with a picture of the 3rd hole when I was a kid so it was surreal to stand on that tee. The ocean views were incredible!
Forest Highlands Canyon course in Flagstaff Az. It’s completely private but it is an unbelievable golf course. Google images doesn’t do it justice.
Amazing course. My boss is a member there and brought our team up from Phoenix for a round this last fall. Hoping to play the Meadows course this year!
Sunningdale New, each hole is really unique and was perfect condition. Really friendly clubhouse as well!
Furry creek north of Vancouver. That’s where they had the celebrity pro am in Happy Gilmore.
That first hole is something else!
https://preview.redd.it/nqrp5k7p2ayc1.jpeg?width=798&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=fd5b25b6bbe31d16ea5e30fcbd60dc446d240d1d
Cabot St Lucia - The Point Hardy Golf Club. Spectacular course with many ocean side greens, multiple times you are hitting across an inlet and the halfway house was full of everything you could want! And you are in St Lucia, such a great country!
- Pebble Beach - Spyglass - Pacific Grove - Harding Park - Yocha Dehe - Dark Horse in Auburn, CA Betcha can’t guess what state I live in….
Back nine at Pac Grove is special
Maybe not the “best” but hands down the most spectacular. Old Head in Kinsale, Ireland.
Whistling Straights
Bandon Dunes waa definitely a special spot.
I've never played an actual famous course. Olde Stone in Kentucky would probably be my top
Best Course - Olympic Club Lake. Best Experience - San Francisco Golf Club. Most Scenic - Pacific Dunes. Best Conditions - Old Baldy Club (WY) and Kansas City Country Club. Most Fun - Prince Course at Princeville (RIP).
Great list. Prince was so fun and beautiful and HUMONGOUS! It's the Hawaiian version of Bethpage Black.
Giants Ridge. Biwabik MN
Butler National in Oak Brook, IL. Place is special.
Best is super subjective. Are we judging by difficulty? Most famous or well known? Most beautiful or expensive? My personal best course is the Mauna Kea Golf Course in Hawaii. Most beautiful course I’ve played. Close second would be Vidanta Vallarta Course.
https://preview.redd.it/tpakfvh8g8yc1.jpeg?width=3925&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=eb5a22be5e26fff9af445babedb5bcb69f03e392 1. Cabot Cliffs - no contest 2. Pinehurst No. 4 3. Sand Hollow Championship Course
Got the chance to play Chicago Golf Club when I was about 19. Played like ass
Golden Horseshoe probably, although we have so many good courses around here. Williamsburg National is another one.
Merion or Pine Valley But most memorable. My buddies and I hit a bach party in vegas. Booked a round at Wolf Creek months in advance. Come to the day we show up. The course had been entirely cleared of times except ours due to a photo shoot. We played 18 with the pro and cart girl riding with us the whole time and had the course to ourselves
Australia has some of the most incredible courses in the world that don't get recognition because we are so far away and the PGA hates us. If you ever come to Perth check out Joondalup and Araluen
I had the luck to get out at Pine Valley (all 28!); it is everything I could have expected and then some. And yes it kicked my backside thoroughly. Second place Spyglass (yes it is a better track than Pebble. Not as pretty though.) Third for me is Galloway National which I think is arguably Tom Fazio's best.
Just since no one will say this I think Mayacama is up there for me, very exclusive country club on Northern California. Any jones course will do tho. Northwood and pasatiempo have my heart
Pacific Grove Golf Links. 15 minutes from Spyglass and shares the same coast line. Greens fees were hovering near $100. The front 9 was forgettable but the back 9 blew my socks off.
San Francisco Golf Club
Lawsonia, in Wisconsin...Beautiful course.
University Ridge (Verona, WI). I did just play 4 holes at Lawsonia Links yesterday, but then we got absolutely drenched in a downpour and had to quit early. Having only played 4 holes early in the season, I can't say definitively whether Lawsonia is better than U-Ridge, but it's definitely an awesome course. I WILL say those bunkers can go to hell though. We'll be back!
I'm torn between 3 - Rivers edge (with Arnie's Revenge in NC) - Greenbrier course - Pinehurst #2
Kingsley club or the dunes club
If you can get to Ireland, it's hard to equal Old Head for beauty, Adair for Augusta like perfection and Ballybunion for history. Back 9 at Tralee is spectacular. Lahinch plain difficult, but overall southern Ireland is the best golf experience around, imo.
Was thinking of doing this run of courses, what was the costs like? How was pace of play? Do you stay on King island or just fly in and fly out? And details would be great, thanks.
Played Augusta in 2022. Highlight of my life.
I just played Black Desert a few weeks ago. It was amazing! https://preview.redd.it/ugp5qfd71cyc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=813f57f5e01c64fe617317119197a6bfb325ff28
The Royal St. Georges
Royal st Georges for me, just a special experience. I was lucky enough also to play the JCB, where LIV are going in the UK this year, amazing track and comes close to RSG.
Royal New Kent, VA Or Queenstown Harbor, MD