[John Kavanaugh]

Now that I have taken a friend from my home town out to Rustic and he declared it "the most beautiful course he has ever played"....I'm thinking that California must be the number one state for tourist golf.  My friends who are off to Birmingham this weekend might argue but isn't California a lock given it's great diversity of choices.  note:  Tourist golf may include criteria not normally discussed on this site.

[Tom Huckaby]

Hmmmmmm.....

We do have some heavy hitters for tourists here, that's for sure.  But we ought to, it's a very big state.

BUT... one does pay for the privilege.  I would say that based purely on quantity of truly great courses available for the tourist, our state would be tough to beat.  Maybe South Carolina or Florida gives us a run for our money, maybe North Carolina, maybe Colorado... but none of them have the real giants like we have in the Monterey area.  Then add in what's available in and around San Diego and LA, well... we're a big state so we ought to win.

Where I think we lose is in bang for one's buck/affordable great courses for tourists.  We basically have Rustic, and then there's Rustic, and after that Rustic...  I think we're truly a wasteland in this area.  Oh, other examples do exist, and one can hunt for specials and get decent deals.  But in general, one overpays for quality out here, sadly.

Disagree, John?

TH

[Tom Huckaby]

Dr. V - that's exactly what I was thinking when I mentioned South Carolina.  I do believe it gives CA a run for its money.  In the end I think we likely have more quantity of great courses out here, and I won't agree that Kiawah-Ocean surpasses Pebble Beach  .  But it is at least close.  If some South Carolinians want to fight for this, I'll step down without too much vigor.

TH

[rjsimper]

Certainly any conversation that allows Kiawah from the opposition must also allow the Monterey courses from the California contingent.

I do think, in some ways, "Tourist Golf" throws the element of price/value more toward the back of the line.

[Jon Spaulding]

Does Hawaii count as a state?

[Tom Huckaby]

That's a good point, Ryan.  My assumption was that tourist golf meant play what you can while in an area, figuring one only lives once.  Thus Pebble counts for us, although it's certainly priced out of most people's reality.  So I guess you can look at it two ways, like I tried to... that is we win based on courses available without bang for buck considered (although SC might compete there); and we lose based on bang for buck for sure - hell we're likely not in top 25 for that.

TH

[Tom Huckaby]

Does Hawaii count as a state?

Why would it not?

And that's a VERY strong competitor as well.  In fact I think HI has SC beaten.. and maybe CA as well.  Funny I totally forgot about it at first glance....

TH

[John Kavanaugh]

Huck,

I sure thought Pasa was a great deal that day we played.  Presidio with a view of the Golden Gate has to be tourist heaven.  Barona is nice (my friend that loves Rustic got a hole in one on 7 on his one play)..Torrey Pines will soon be the most affordable easy to get on US Open course in the country.  I've had a good run in California and that doesn't even include the privates.

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

I think South Carolina is tops with Florida right behind them. California is heavy on quality but light on quanity. Florida is light on quality but heavy on quanity. Alabama is getting better all the time as the Beatles would say. Hawaii is great on quanity but so very hard to get to.

[Phil McDade]

I'll throw in my two cents for Wisconsin:

-- The four Kohler-area courses, including Whistling Straits, which has hosted a major and is hosting a Ryder Cup in the future.

-- Some very well-regarded high-end courses, such as Erin Hills, the Bull at Sheboygan Falls, and the Bog.

-- Dye's Big Fish, near the muskie museum in Hayward, well-regarded by some regular GCA posters, and Lehman's Troy Burne, overlooking the Mississippi River near Hudson.

-- Milwaukee's Brown Deer, home to a PGA tour stop, and a true muni (and Brown County, another solid muni visited by gun-packing GCA posters near Lambeau...)

-- Some interesting museum pieces, virtually untouched over the years, such as Quit-Qui-Oc, Peninsula State Park in Door County, Plum Lake up north and Eagle Springs.

-- And, finally, the incomparable Lawsonia Links.

A good mix, and rare for a state -- although there are several very good private courses in Wisconsin (Milwaukee CC, Blue Mound for starters), a strong majority of Wisconsin's top courses are public-access.

[Tom Huckaby]

Huck,

I sure thought Pasa was a great deal that day we played.  Presidio with a view of the Golden Gate has to be tourist heaven.  Barona is nice (my friend that loves Rustic got a hole in one on 7 on his one play)..Torrey Pines will soon be the most affordable easy to get on US Open course in the country.  I've had a good run in California and that doesn't even include the privates.

JK - I agree with all of that - and there are many others to add also - hell Lincoln Park has way better views than Presidio at damn near 1/2 the price always.  I guess I just look at "affordable" differently in that I don't give much credit for special deals - which the tourist would have to fight long and hard to get.  But you also make a good point about Torrey.  So I will say we have quite a few great courses available for tourists... I'd just say they also ought to expect to pay a lot for them.  Notice the price of Pasa these days?

JB - I think CA has more quantity than you say... think of the whole state... that's a lot of great public courses.... Maybe SC competes, maybe not.  BTW, my son had to do a totem project - pick an animal, do huge report on it, make a hat showing it - and I had a nice conversation with LSU bookstore yesterday giving us the basic tiger head hat. It's on the way.  Yes, he chose the bengal tiger.  The boy is most definitely an LSU fan.
 

[John Kavanaugh]

Taking this out east...Is Maine the clear winner?

[Tom Huckaby]

Taking this out east...Is Maine the clear winner?

Would Maine be better than South Carolina?

BTW, know anyone we can ask about Maine golf?

 

[David Stamm]

I think California is very tough to beat for public access, in fact, I don't even think it's close. Now, as Hucks said, when you bring in the affordability issue into play, that can change things, but I'm looking at strictly course for course. And yes, it is a very large state. California could make a case for best state in the country for golf period, public or private. Here are some public's that I think anyone would want to play, granted, they are not all "top 100" material.

Torrey Pines
Barona
PGA West
Pelican Hill (When it opens back up)
Rustic Canyon
La Purisima
Sandpiper
Pebble Beach
Spyglass Hill
Poppy Hills
Spanish Bay
Pasatiempo
Pacific Grove



And many others. And don't forget, you can choose pretty much ANY time of year to play these

[John Kavanaugh]

Taking this out east...Is Maine the clear winner?

Would Maine be better than South Carolina?

BTW, know anyone we can ask about Maine golf?

 

I consider South Carolina to be in the South since it provides winter golf.  Kudo's to Phil Dade for proving that Wisconsin beats our Michigan.

[Dale_McCallon]

Where is Doug Ralston?  I'm pretty sure he would pick the Bluegrass State.

I'm actually convinced he is our Secretary of Tourism.

[John Kavanaugh]

I of course like to do stuff besides golf when playing the tourist.  Has anyone ever heard of an affordable golf/wine tour in California where transportation is provided so proper drunkeness can be achieved.

[John Kavanaugh]

Where is Doug Ralston?  I'm pretty sure he would pick the Bluegrass State.

I'm actually convinced he is our Secretary of Tourism.

When both courses at French Lick are up and running we will have to beat off you Kentuckians with a stick.

[Mike Benham]

I think California is very tough to beat for public access, in fact, I don't even think it's close. Now, as Hucks said, when you bring in the affordability issue into play, that can change things, but I'm looking at strictly course for course. And yes, it is a very large state. California could make a case for best state in the country for golf period, public or private. Here are some public's that I think anyone would want to play, granted, they are not all "top 100" material.

Torrey Pines
Barona
PGA West
Pelican Hill (When it opens back up)
Rustic Canyon
La Purisima
Sandpiper
Pebble Beach
Spyglass Hill
Poppy Hills
Spanish Bay
Pasatiempo
Pacific Grove



And many others. And don't forget, you can choose pretty much ANY time of year to play these

Hmmm ... let's tighten up the definition of tourism.  In a former life, I would go on a business sponsored golf trip in the fall, late September, early October ... play 36-holes a day for 3 days in a row, 6 different courses.

Where in California can you do that?  

The obvious places are Myrtle Beach, Charleston/Kiawah, Hilton Head, Pinehurst/Southern Pines ... maybe Scottsdale, maybe Palm Springs ...

[Tom Huckaby]

Michael, Michael, Michael.  How soon you deny your home state.  I think I hear a cock crowing....

 

Day 1:  Pebble-Spyglass
Day 2:  Spanish Bay - Bayonet
Day 3:  Quail Lodge - Carmel Valley Ranch

Or substitute Pacific Grove muni or Blackhorse if one has more of a sense of humor and adventure, or Pasa if drive time allows.

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

Michigan may be the best of all if number of good courses open to the public is the test, but I have trouble considering a short season area the best or even near the best.

[Tom Huckaby]

I of course like to do stuff besides golf when playing the tourist.  Has anyone ever heard of an affordable golf/wine tour in California where transportation is provided so proper drunkeness can be achieved.

Oh hell yes such things exist.  Contact my friend Bill Hogan at Wide World of Golf in Carmel (although he's now based in Austin).  They set up tours EXACTLY like this.  They ain't cheap, but I'd have to guess they are VERY fun.

TH

[John Kavanaugh]

Michigan may be the best of all if number of good courses open to the public is the test, but I have trouble considering a short season area the best or even near the best.

A short season is perfect for a tourist...all we care about is the few days we choose to visit.

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

Huck I had the fun of being a SMU golf team guy for a day. I even had more fun working on an email to Paul Richards going down the Illinios team one by one and saying cannot play, goofy, cannot play, not bad for a city kid etc.

[Tom Huckaby]

Huck I had the fun of being a SMU golf team guy for a day. I even had more fun working on an email to Paul Richards going down the Illinios team one by one and saying cannot play, goofy, cannot play, not bad for a city kid etc.

LOVE IT!
BTW, read up above... my son's love for LSU continues....

 

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