Top 100? you can golf

[A_Clay_Man]

From Golfonline;

http://www.golfonline.com/golfonline/travel/ranked/article/0,17742,675169,00.html

Top 100 Courses You Can Play
2004
Rank  2002
Rank  Course  City, State  Greens Fees  

1  1  Pebble Beach  Pebble Beach, CA  $395-$420  
2  2  Pacific Dunes  Bandon, OR  $60-$200  
3  3  Bethpage (Black)  Farmingdale, NY  $78-$98  
4  4  Pinehurst (No.2)  Pinehurst, NC  $245-$345  
5  8  Whistling Straits (Straits)  Haven, WI  $272  
6  5  TPC at Sawgrass (Stadium)  Ponte Vedra Beach, FL  $180-$322  
7  9  Bandon Dunes  Bandon, OR  $60-$160  
8  12  Kiawah Island (Ocean)  Kiawah Island, SC  $170-$290  
9  10  World Woods (Pine Barrens)  Brooksville, FL  $40-$120  
10  6  Spyglass Hill  Pebble Beach, CA  $275-$300  
11  7  Shadow Creek  Las Vegas, NV  $500  
12  11  Blackwolf Run (River)  Kohler, WI  $176-$199  
13  17  Torrey Pines (South)  La Jolla, CA  $115-$165  
14  19  Kapalua (Plantation)  Maui, HI  $140-$225  
15  15  Pasatiempo  Santa Cruz, CA  $135-$175  
16  16  The Challenge at Manele  Lanai, HI  $185-$225  
17  23  Sea Island (Seaside)  Sea Island, GA  $190-$260  
18  14  Cog Hill (No. 4)  Lemont, IL  $130  
19  13  Harbour Town  Hilton Head Island, SC  $200-$250  
20  20  Princeville (Prince)  Kauai, HI  $130-$175  
21  21  Troon North (Monument)  Scottsdale, AZ  $75-$275  
22  22  Cuscowilla  Eatonton, GA  $150  
23  24  The Homestead (Cascades)  Hot Springs, VA  $205-$240  
24  27  Mauna Kea  Big Island, HI  $135-$200  
25  -  Red Sky Ranch (Greg Norman)  Wolcott, CO  $220  
26  32  Caledonia  Pawleys Island, SC  $85-$185  
27  18  Bay Harbor (Links-Quarry)  Bay Harbor, MI  $75-$199  
28  25  Bulle Rock  Havre de Grace, MD  $145  
29  29  PGA West (Stadium)  La Quinta, CA  $75-$235  
30  30  Taconic  Williamstown, MA  $140  
31  31  Pine Hill  Pine Hill, NJ  $70-$130  
32  -  Cascata  Boulder City, NV  $350-$500  
33  33  Bay Hill (Championship)  Orlando, FL  $207-$378  
34  35  Dancing Rabbit (Azaleas)  Philadelphia, MS  $50-$96  
35  36  The Dunes  Myrtle Beach, SC  $85-$160  
36  37  Reflection Bay  Henderson, NV  $135-$260  
37  38  Linville  Linville, NC  $125  
38  -  We-Ko-Pa  Scottsdale, AZ  $75-$180  
39  34  Longaberger  Nashport, OH  $95-$125  
40  28  Pine Needles  Southern Pines, NC  $125-$175  
41  26  Arcadia Bluffs  Arcadia, MI  $75-$175  
42  42  Karsten Creek  Stillwater, OK  $250  
43  43  Paa-Ko Ridge  Sandia Park, NM  $30-$79  
44  39  Pumpkin Ridge (Ghost Creek)  Cornelius, OR  $45-$138  
45  40  Golden Horseshoe (Gold)  Williamsburg, VA  $75-$150  
46  41  Spanish Bay  Pebble Beach, CA  $215-$240  
47  -  Black Mesa  La Mesilla, NM  $50-$66  
48  44  The Greenbrier (Greenbrier)  White Sulphur Springs, WV  $100-$350  
49  46  World Woods (Rolling Oaks)  Brooksville, FL  $40-$110  
50  -  Harding Park  San Francisco, CA  $76-$101  
51  54  Reynolds Plantation (Great Waters)  Eatonton, GA  $250  
52  47  Sunriver (Crosswater)  Sunriver, OR  $110-$155  
53  50  Coeur d'Alene  Coeur d'Alene, ID  $150-$185  
54  72  Wild Horse  Gothenburg, NE  $30-$46  
55  48  Wolf Creek  Mesquite, NV  $80-$180  
56  55  Blackwolf Run (Meadow Valleys)  Kohler, WI  $141-$164  
57  45  Pinon Hills  Farmington, NM  $33-$48  
58  59  Barton Creek (Fazio Canyons)  Austin, TX  $97-$208  
59  53  Pelican Hill (Ocean South)  Newport Coast, CA  $175-$250  
60  52 Eagle Ridge (The General)  Galena, IL $60-$144  
61  57  Grand National (Lake)  Opelika, AL  $37-$72  
62  51  Barton Creek (Fazio Foothills)  Austin, TX  $82-$250  
63  -  Iron Bridge  Greenwood Springs, CO  $125  
64  58  Troon North (Pinnacle)  Scottsdale, AZ  $75-$275  
65  61  The Glen Club  Glenview, IL  $115-$135  
66  66  Sugarloaf  Carrabbessett Valley, ME  $51-$110  
67  -  Reynolds Plantation (Oconee)  Eatonton, GA  $115-$260  
68  60  Whistling Straits (Irish)  Haven, WI $141-$191  
69  -  Branson Creek  Branson, MO  $48-$94  
70  64  Grand National (Links)  Opelika, AL $35-$72  
71  65  Lost Canyons (Sky)  Simi Valley, CA  $79-$130  
72  - Pinehills (Jones)  Plymouth, MA  $65-$100  
73  56  La Quinta (Mountain)  La Quinta, CA  $75-$235  
74  49  Castle Pines North (Ridge)  Castle Rock, CO  $75-$120  
75  69  Grand View Lodge (Deacon's Lodge)  Nisswa, MN  $76-$99  
76  62  Doral (Blue)  Miami, FL  $200-$275  
77  -  Belgrade Lakes  Belgrade Lakes, ME  $50-$120  
78  74  Kauai Lagoons (Kiele)  Kauai, HI  $125-$170  
79  70  Ocean Hammock  Palm Coast, FL  $125-$185  
80  71  Links at Lighthouse Sound  Bishopville, MD  $130-$165  
81  73  Cambrian Ridge (Sherling-Canyon)  Greenville, AL  $35-$72  
82  63  Pinehurst (No. 4)  Pinehurst, NC  $174-$240
83  76  Capitol Hill (The Judge)  Prattville, AL  $45-$85  
84  77  Hualalai  Big Island, HI  $175-$185  
85  -  DarkHorse  Auburn, CA  $59-$79  
86  88  St. Ives (Tullymore)  Stanwood, MI  $40-$99  
87  79  Pinehurst (No.  Pinehurst, NC  $174-$240  
88  78  Grayhawk (Talon)  Scottsdale, AZ  $50-$225  
89  67  The Greenbrier (Old White)  White Sulphur Springs, WV  $100-$350  
90  -  Red Sky Ranch (Fazio)  Wolcott, CO  $175-$200  
91  93  Crumpin-Fox  Bernardston, MA  $39-$85  
92  80  Lakewood Shores (Gailes)  Oscoda, MI  $75  
93  84  The Broadmoor (East)  Colorado Springs, CO  $95-$188  
94  - Forest Dunes  Roscommon, MI  $70-$125  
95  85  Tidewater  Myrtle Beach, SC  $99-$179  
96  81  Ventana Canyon (Mountain)  Tucson, AZ  $79-$189  
97  86  Mauna Lani (North)  Big Island, HI  $120-$185  
98  - Westin Innisbrook (Copperhead)  Palm Harbor, FL  $100-$200  
99  68 The Boulders (South)  Carefree, AZ  $75-$250
100  -  La Purisima  Lompoc, CA  $53-$78  

[A_Clay_Man]

One obvious ommission is Lawsonia.

Any others?

[Steve Lapper]

The inclusion of Nroman's Red Sky on this list, and as highly rated as it is:#25, is a joke...

Clearly, the PR department people deserve a huge raise for getting this very contrived and and mediocre course on the map.

 Not even worth the beautiful drive to get there!

[Scott_Burroughs]

there's this course just north of LA that a lot of people talk about on here that doesn't seem to be on this list, either....

Whaddya mean?  Lost Canyons IS on there....

Oh, and here's an unbroken link to the article.


I nominate Barona, Beechtree, and Tobacco Road.

Where's Sandpines?  

[Clay Huestis]

No Apache Stronghold  

[Tim Taylor]

Lighthouse Sound over Beechtree?

I'd like to see a similar list that factors out all the $200 and up resort courses.

TimT

[Geoffrey_Walsh]

I like Tim's suggestion - we should have a list called "The Top 100 You Can Really Play" and only include courses where it is possible to play a non-twilight weekend time for under $100.

Taking the list below, I believe the top 10 would be:

1.  Bethpage (Black)
2.  World Woods (Pine Barrens)
3.  Dancing Rabbitt
4.  Paa-Ko Ridge
5.  Black Mesa
6.  Harding Park (I assume residents are under 100)
7.  Wild Horse
8.  Pinon Hills
9.  Grand National (Lake)
10.  Sugarloaf

[Mike Nuzzo]

In the same issue they have the thrifty 50....although it's not on line.
It's a ranking of the top 50 courses $50 or under.

Cheers

[Mike Vegis @ Kiawah]

I like Tim's suggestion - we should have a list called "The Top 100 You Can Really Play" and only include courses where it is possible to play a non-twilight weekend time for under $100.

Taking the list below, I believe the top 10 would be:

1.  Bethpage (Black)
2.  World Woods (Pine Barrens)
3.  Dancing Rabbitt
4.  Paa-Ko Ridge
5.  Black Mesa
6.  Harding Park (I assume residents are under 100)
7.  Wild Horse
8.  Pinon Hills
9.  Grand National (Lake)
10.  Sugarloaf

That same issue has "The Thrifty 50," their new ranking of the 50 best U.S. courses for $50 or less.  It starts on page 152 of the Sept. issue of Golf Magazine.

Interesting note, in the Golf Digests "Best Places to Play," Kiawah Island Golf Resort got the highest score for "service" of any golf facility in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.  In Golf Magazine's "Top 100 You Can Play," we also got the top score in service.  Hmmm....  I note a pattern.  

Now I've got to go out and help open our new hotel and spa, The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island (ribbon cutting is at noon with doors opening to the public at 1pm...  
Check it out at www.thesanctuary.com

[ForkaB]

One obvious ommission is Lawsonia.

Any others?

Just about every great course which is not in the USA.

[A.G._Crockett]

I also found it astonishing that Tobacco Road was left off of this list.  I'd place it in the top 25, and certainly it belongs in the top 50.

I'd also like to see the list amended to exclude resort courses that you can only play as a guest of the resort, but that is a personal bias rooted in my lack of disposable income!

[michael j fay]

Unless you stay at the Carolina Hotel you cannot get a time at the Pinehurst # 2 course. This raises the ante significantly.

[JohnV]

The total cost to play all of these 100 courses using the highest rates is $18,750, not including hotel stays.

[A.G._Crockett]

"The total cost to play all of these 100 courses using the highest rates is $18,750, not including hotel stays."

Where's the First Tee program when you need it?

[Brian_Gracely]

Unless you stay at the Carolina Hotel you cannot get a time at the Pinehurst # 2 course. This raises the ante significantly.

I believe they still allow you to call the pro-shop and get "same day" tee times on #2 if space is available.  This is really only useful to those of us that live within driving distance  

[Andy Hughes]

I believe they still allow you to call the pro-shop and get "same day" tee times on #2 if space is available.  This is really only useful to those of us that live within driving distance  

Ack, save the $250 or so and play Southern Pines!

[Jeff Shelman]

I didn't really get some of the choices on the list either. I don't get the Irish Course being as high as it is. I don't get Deacon's Lodge being in front of The Classic at Madden's in Minnesota. Agree that Lawsonia should be on the list. What about the Harvester?

I will say that I liked the 50 under 50 bucks list. There were some good choices on there. One on there that I think is really fun is Piper Glen in Springfield, Ill.

[Brian Mariotti]

This "rankings" list seems to give the benefit to RESORT style courses. No way on god's green earth should The Challenge at Manele be rated in the top 100, let alone number 16. I also find problems with Ghost Creek at Pumpkin ridge, Troon North and Coeur d'Alene  being on this list. These are all courses that strive for perfect maintainence and a resort style experience but maybe only Ghost Creek should make the top 100, and that should be in the 80-100 range. Apache Stronghold for example (not on the list) beats all the above courses hands down in every area except course conditions. Barona Creek in the San Diego area is another course that easily should make this list but did not.

[texsport]

I know for sure that Deacon's Lodge at number 75 is not the best you can play in Minnesota. Both the Quarry and Legend courses at Giants Ridge are far superior to Deacon's Lodge. In addition, the Wilderness@Fortune Bay is better.

Deacon's Lodge has had difficulty getting their slope rating into the mid 120's. It's a "looks hard but plays easy" course.

[Mike_Cirba]

Pine Hill at #31?

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahah  

Sorry.  I've played at least 31 public courses just in the mid-Atlantic that are superior.  

I'm also finding that I must be slowing down.  I've played 20 of these courses and from the one's I've seen newly added to the list, I can't say that I'm all that compelled to run there.

[dfrey]

I hate to say it....but some of these are bargains if you consider that some crap courses out there charge upwards of $100 to $125 for greens fee and cart on a weekend.  I can remember when Taconic was less than $30........I must be getting old!

[David Kelly]

We-Ko-Pa at #38 but no Apache Stronghold or Talking Stick North?

[Martin Del Vecchio]

I guess I should stop complaining about access and wifely issues; I have played 14 of these courses!

I like the addition of Belgrade Lakes.  The course is very good, and the scenery is unbelievable.

I am surprised at The Pinehills (Jones) in Plymouth, MA.  It's not as good as The Pinehills (Nicklaus) adjacent to it, but I don't think either belong on this list.  The Pinehills is a great upscale public facility, with 2 very good courses and a great practice facility.  But when Old Sandwich opens next door, I think we will see what the land is capable of.

As usual, I would add Red Tail (Devens, MA), which is a fabulous course.

[Cliff Hamm]

Martin

Agree with your comments about Belgrade Lakes.  The recent thread on 'fun' courses brought Belgrade to mind.  I've played it a few times and find it to be very enjoyable. Having tee times every 15 minutes also makes the round move quickly.  The view from the first tee of the hills in the background and of the lakes can't be beat and I suspect is the most sceinic first tee anywhere. The rocks at time do seem  a bit contrived .... Have wanted to get out to Pinehills but haven't made it.  I do think that Waverly Oaks is superb and perhaps worthy of being on the list.  Finally, Newport National is now open to the public, at least temporarily, and would also be a strong contender.

[Wayne Freeman]

 Having played 17 of the top 25, I'm pretty much in agreement with the top courses.  Maybe someone could comment if Torrey Pines belongs among the elite.  Having played it several times, I just don't think it's all that great-  maybe the fact that it's been in such terrible shape every time I've played it has something to do with it.