Great Courses Which Live(ed) up to Expectations

[Kevin Pallier]

North Berwick exceeded by far any expectation I had. An absolute joy to play. Dornoch and TOC were in that class.

[W.H. Cosgrove]

Merion exceeded my expectations as a complete golf experience.  Pac Dunes is never dull.  

Many have met my expectations but those two stand out.  

[A.G._Crockett]

The Ocean Course.  I STILL think it is underrated.

[Scott Szabo]

Would have to be Sand Hills for me.  No way was I prepared for what I would encounter, and I get a bit giddy every time I think back, and can't wait for a return trip.

[Jim Sweeney]

Fisher's Island; TPC Sawgrass; Crystal Downs, Somerset Hills.

[Guy Phelan]

There are so many golf courses that I see mentioned here that IF they were NOT great experiences that live(ed) up to expectations, then I would be shocked, but there are others mentioned that are less noticeable, meaning they are not hosting a major every ten years and they are truly wonderful:
 
Somerset Hills
North Berwick
Dornoch
County Down
Kinloch
Sand Hills

And then a few others that have live(ed) up to my expectations, not in any order:

Preston Trail
Mid Ocean
Indian Creek
Jupiter Hills
Scioto

This sampling is fun to think of because there are so many fond memories...

[Steve Pozaric]

Pebble - excited from the time I was driving there and was not disappointed.

Bethpage Black - What public golf ought to be

Cypress Point - what can you say about stretch of 3 holes 15-17.

[Jerry Kluger]

I would second many of the courses already mentioned and would add Ballyneal - the whole experience is wonderful.

With that being said the one that really was the biggest shall I say surprise was Wild Horse.  We got into Denver at about 6 in the evening and drove through a rainstorm for about 3 hours.  We were going to play Wild Horse followed by Dismal River, Sand Hills and Ballyneal.  We stayed over at a $39 Ramada and drove an hour the next morning get to Wild Horse - drove right by the turn off and finally found it.  We get there and there's a small clubhouse, nasty range balls, and most of the other golfers were wearing jeans as they had some local event going out after us.  Figured oh well, at least it was only $45 including cart.  All I can say is wow - what a great experience. Great firm and fast conditions, great variety of holes and really interesting and well contoured greens.  We kept on saying to each other - HOW COOL IS THIS!

[Jon Spaulding]

The few "great" courses I've been to have all met or exceeded expectations.

2 of my highlights (for me defined by reality divided by expectation) would be SFGC and Rustic. I expected SF to be as advertised....it was far better. Was not expecting as much of Rustic, but it was wonderful as well.

[Mike Benham]

Most recently was the Plantation this morning ...

Which only means one thing, you are on your Second Honeymoon ... Congratulations

[Brian_Sleeman]

Thanks Mike!

Anniversary Trip #1, again the wife's idea and location choice...trekking around the Village today and then the Plantation again tomorrow.

The Plantation is tough when the winds are blowing in the opposite direction of the usual trades.  #17 and #18 are brutally long in those conditions...

As for its walkability (as I spotted in another thread), you would be passed by about four groups on the walk from #5 green to #6 tee.

[tlavin]

Sand Hills certainly lived up to my exalted expectations.  I played with Jeff Rude and Dave Seanor from Golfweek.  Each of them had Sand Hills on their wish list from A Walk in the Park, the great Golfweek book, so we were all in a state of great anticipation.  I have to say that every single hole was scenic, memorable and extremely challenging.  It was nothing short of exhilirating.

[Scott Szabo]

I would second many of the courses already mentioned and would add Ballyneal - the whole experience is wonderful.

With that being said the one that really was the biggest shall I say surprise was Wild Horse.  We got into Denver at about 6 in the evening and drove through a rainstorm for about 3 hours.  We were going to play Wild Horse followed by Dismal River, Sand Hills and Ballyneal.  We stayed over at a $39 Ramada and drove an hour the next morning get to Wild Horse - drove right by the turn off and finally found it.  We get there and there's a small clubhouse, nasty range balls, and most of the other golfers were wearing jeans as they had some local event going out after us.  Figured oh well, at least it was only $45 including cart.  All I can say is wow - what a great experience. Great firm and fast conditions, great variety of holes and really interesting and well contoured greens.  We kept on saying to each other - HOW COOL IS THIS!

Wild Horse is probably one of the best bangs for your buck in the US.  It is a ton of fun to play!

[Tim Leahy]

Pebble Beach, never thought I would get my money's worth for $375(three years ago) but it was worth every penny. "The finest meeting of sand and sea".
Also the Olympic Club Lake is still my favorite although it has been 20 years since I have played there. By far the classiest and most tranquil course I have ever played.

[Glenn Spencer]

The Ocean Course.  I STILL think it is underrated.

I will second that. Pasatiempo was light years ahead of what I thought it was going to be. I didn't play the golf course, but the entrance to Yeamans Hall and what I did see, certainly lived up to expectations and beyond. Garden City was well past what I expected. Bethpage Black had to underachieve, but only because I can't imagine a course that gets more acclaim and has you thinking that you will shoot 125 the first time you play it. Harvester lived up as well, except 18.

[Padraig Dooley]

Alwoodley, Cypress Point, The Valley Club of Montecito, Pasatiempo, RCD, Royal Portrush, Co. Louth, Ballybunion, the list could go on and on.

[Ted Kramer]

Shinnecock lived up to and exceeded my lofty expectations . . . what an amazing place.

-Ted

[wsmorrison]

Ted,

Believe it or not, it is getting even better!  The green expansions are returning some amazing pin positions next to falloffs and bunkers that will greatly add to the strategy of the course lost during green reduction.  The guys there are doing an amazing job a few greens per year.  With some specific fairway expansions where needed and a possible return of some lost waste areas and a removed bunker, the course will be returned to its full potential.  Scary thought, isn't it  

[John Shimp]

Lahinch was the real surprise on my Ireland trip. Just a notch behind RCD.

Western Gailes was the big surprise on my Scotland trip. Right behind Dornoch.

[Mark_Rowlinson]

I'll never forget my first round on TOC - really uplifting.

In the States I found the experiences of Yale and Pasatiempo far greater than I had expected - brilliant!

Wentworth West Course in 1987, playing it the day after Langer had won the PGA Championship, from the same tees to the same pin positions.

St George's Hill, Rye, Royal West Norfolk, Formby, Southerness, Southerndown, Royal Worlington, Felixstowe Ferry, Stoke Poges (in the old days, before being 'smartened up'), Burnham Beeches, Aldeburgh, Nairn.  These may not all be great courses but they all exceeded my expectations on a first visit.  

[tomgoutman]

Post-restoration Plainfield.

[ed_getka]

Plainfield is a great choice. I knew the name going way back, but I saw it for the first time it blew me away. I find it hard to believe that more people don't sing the praises of this great course. We do here, but outside of the treehouse you would get  a lot of blank stares.

[Andrew Mitchell]

North Berwick

Royal Dornoch

Alwoodley

Hoylake

[Ash Towe]

The courses that lived upto my expectations were-
Royal Melbourne ( West )
TOC
Muirfield
One that I had limited expectations but exceeded them was Royal Lytham

[Tony_Muldoon]

Alwoodley, Cypress Point, The Valley Club of Montecito, Pasatiempo, RCD, Royal Portrush, Co. Louth, Ballybunion, the list could go on and on.

North Berwick

Royal Dornoch

Alwoodley

Hoylake

For those still mulling over a possible appearance at this years BUDA Cup, there's two unsolicited testimonials for Alwoodley. Just look at the course's it get's ranked with. Can't wait.