Recently, "American Heritage" produced a supplement, "Playing Through - The Rise of American Golf." In it, Al Barkow, author and former Golf magazine editor, listed his top 10 classic courses (old and new), limited only to courses he had personally played. With his list, he also had some interesting comments (which I have excerpted below) about some of the courses. I'm interested in this groups reaction.
The list, in no particular order he indicated, was:
1. Olympic Club (Lake Course) - "penned in by ... trees", "terrain mimics the ups and downs of the city"
2. Shinnecock Hills - "as close to true Scottish Links as can be found in the US"
3. Pine Valley - "unique example of punitive course architecture" "every hole demands a consequential carry" "fairways are wide, but the approach shots are monumental challenges"
4. TPC at Sawgrass - "a full examination of one's game"
5. Cog Hill (Dubsdread) - "mid-American masterpiece" "18 surprisingly animated holes" "Wilson was an artist of the dogleg"
6. The Knoll (East) - "sleeper" "best work of Banks"
7. Pinehurst No. 8 - "No.2 is a long recognized classic, but Tom Fazio's newer No. 8 has the same qualities with fairer putting surfaces"
8. The Dunes - "intriquing, thoughtful shorter holes" "subtly raised greens that have just the right degree of undulation" "sharply defined bunkers perfectly placed" "splendid variety of shapes and sizes" "perhaps the best of" RTJ, Sr.
9. Quaker Ridge - "this is the best course A.W. Tillinghast ever built"
10. Merion (East) "old classic supposedly outmoded by today's equipment. Bah!" "wonderful commingling of strapping par 4s and 5s and engaging shorter holes"