Favorite Courses

[David_Tepper]

Mike B. & Tom H.-

I have not played Winchester or Dark Horse yet. All I can say is that I have played 3 rounds at Twelve Bridges and I REALLY like it. Great routing, almost every hole is isolated from the rest of the course, etc. I am tempted to say Twelve Bridges could be one of the 5 best public access golf courses in Nor Cal (ex-Monterey Peninsula), but I only know what I have played and what I like!

I probably should have put Sonoma Mission Inn (formerly Sonoma National) on my list as well. Another classic course in a beautfiul setting that is very walkable. I will be interested to see how Sonoma holds up when they play the Senior Tour Championship there this October. I wonder if they will play either of the par-5s on the back side as a par-4, #13 especially.

DT  

[THuckaby2]

I'm gonna cast my vote with David and against my fellow SCU alum Mr. Benham here.  That's cool, if we Broncos agreed about everything we'd have a boring alumni association.  I too really liked Twelve Bridges, for just the reasons David writes, as well as for the variety it posed... you need to go left, right, high, low, and there is a lot to figure out there...

I'll also concur re Sonoma.  Another great course, rarely discussed.

TH

[THuckaby2]

Yes, it does get toasty up there past Sacto... you can have your Alumni Association card back....

TH

[Andy_Lipschultz]

I truly don't know if this is on any lists (maybe Top 100 public), but La Purisima in Lompoc, CA is one of my favorite places anywhere.

[Bill_McBride]

I'm glad to see Sonoma National (now referred to as Sonoma Mission Inn after the pirates who bought it and have turned it into a mega resort / high end private).  I've vented about this a few times before, but I played high school matches there in the 50's and it is still one of my all time favorites.  I was aghast when Neal Meagher told me they are planning to build condos along the course, apparently up around # 10 and the right side of # 8 I'd guess.  One of the most natural and open courses anywhere becoming condo canyon.  Sam Snead once said it had his favorite routing of any course he'd played, two concentric circles, front nine on the outside clockwise, back nine on the inside counterclockwise.   I remember when all the tees had beautiful, white, horse country fences around them, later removed for easier maintenance.  Progress like this, ptooie!!  :-/

[Mike Benham]

I was aghast when Neal Meagher told me they are planning to build condos along the course, apparently up around # 10 and the right side of # 8 I'd guess.  

Bill - you might have to blame the desire to build condos surrounding the course on the somewhat stagnant and overdevelopment of vineyards.  

Mike

[Tom_Egan]

A few to consider:

Sankaty Head (Mass)
Columbia (Md)
Sunningdale (NY)
Indian Creek (Fla)
Old Towne (NC)
Montclair 3 and 4 nines (NJ)
Forsgate Banks (NJ)
Rolling Green (Pa)
Morris County (NJ)
Greenbriar Old White (WVa)

[Paul_Turner]

The Addington.   Doesn't make the UK lists, (unless there's a Croydon top 10 ) eventhough it's better than some on the World 100.  

[David_Tepper]

Bill McBride-

I believe you can rest a little easier concerning the prospects of fairway condos at Sonoma (National) Mission Inn. About 6 months ago there was a big shake-up among the management of the Inn and the golf course. The Fairmont Hotel people are now running the entire facility and my understanding is that they have scrapped (or at least dramatically scaled back) whatever development plans the prior regime had for the golf course. I have heard this from two friends who are members at Sonoma.

The one big coup of the new management team was landing the Senior (Champions) Tour Championship event for the top 31 money winners each October for the next 3 or 4 years. I assume they think this is a good way for the course and resort to get national exposure. As I mentioned in my prior post, it will be interesting to see how the Irwins, Watsons, Kites, etc. handle the course.

DT  

[David Kelly]

Kebo Valley GC (ME)
Rancho Santa Fe GC (CA)
Brookside #1 (CA)
La Purisima (CA)
Lakeside CC (CA)
Redlands CC (CA)
Southern Dunes (FL)

[Mike Benham]

DavidKelly,

I too am a fan of Brookside #1 ...

[Will E]

Never say never, but these courses aren't on many list.
Hideout- Naples, FL (Kelly Blake Moran)
Golf Club of Cape Coral- Cape Coral, Fl (Dick Wilson)
Barton Hills- Ann Arbor, MI (Donald Ross)
Black Forest- Waters, MI (Tom Doak)
Gateway- Ft. Myers, FL (Tom Fazio)
Sudden Valley- Bellingham, WA (Ted Robinson)