What is the most difficult course to get to play?

[Andy Troeger]

Of the guys I know who are pretty connected, Augusta is the course that has been the hardest for them to access. I think maybe one of them have played it.

[Patrick Kiser]

I'm I to gather from the non-listing of Pine Valley and SFGC that ... they're walk ons??? 

[Scott Stambaugh]

How about the single-owner/no membership courses-

-Tim Blixseth's Porcupine Creek (once turned down a purchase offer from Bill Gates.)

-Craig McCaw's James Island (was for sale, not sure of the status of this one.)

-John Fry's Institute (tour event on the way?  Maybe will lose some of its mystique.)

-Another McCaw property north of Seattle- Caledon (a few charity events a year and that's it.)

[Jon Spaulding]

How about the single-owner/no membership courses-

-Tim Blixseth's Porcupine Creek (once turned down a purchase offer from Bill Gates.)

-Craig McCaw's James Island (was for sale, not sure of the status of this one.)

-John Fry's Institute (tour event on the way?  Maybe will lose some of its mystique.)

-Another McCaw property north of Seattle- Caledon (a few charity events a year and that's it.)

Take Porcupine off the list. They have charity events there every year where you simply write a check & tee it up.

I would tend to agree with the "homer" theorem. Shoot, in the bay area one can throw a dart at an SCU yearbook from 1942 and play the Cliffs at Olympic.

[Will MacEwen]

How about the single-owner/no membership courses-

-Tim Blixseth's Porcupine Creek (once turned down a purchase offer from Bill Gates.)

-Craig McCaw's James Island (was for sale, not sure of the status of this one.)

-John Fry's Institute (tour event on the way?  Maybe will lose some of its mystique.)

-Another McCaw property north of Seattle- Caledon (a few charity events a year and that's it.)

Was James Island ever completed?

[W.H. Cosgrove]

How about Seminole? 

Augusta
Fishers
Seminole

[Pete_Pittock]

Augusta - No. Become a sportswriter or a longtime volunteer for the turnamint. Your chances are gretly improved.

[Brad Fleischer]

I agree with most of the listings so how about le prince de provence and ellerston.....

[Mark_Rowlinson]

The UK is getting easier - Swinley Forest and Rye are much more accessible than once. I imagine Wisley is still strictly members' guests only. Even the golf courses attached to our (ever dwindling) RAF stations are usually available for party bookings. Has anyone ever played the course at the US Air Base at RAF Lakenheath? It looks to be heathland.

[Ally Mcintosh]

The UK is getting easier - Swinley Forest and Rye are much more accessible than once. I imagine Wisley is still strictly members' guests only. Even the golf courses attached to our (ever dwindling) RAF stations are usually available for party bookings. Has anyone ever played the course at the US Air Base at RAF Lakenheath? It looks to be heathland.

As Tom said elsewhere, I guess Queenwood to be the most difficult in the UK... The Wisley has a larger membership and a less interesting 80's RTJ course, both of which I suspect makes it that slight bit easier... Loch Lomond is still not easy... Swinley and Rye are much easier than the above three by comparison...

Any other really private courses in the UK?

[Mike Hendren]

I am confident that I am the only member of the treehouse that has played The Lighting Bug At Solutude.  In fact, I doubt anyone else could even find it.

Bogey

[Lester George]

Kanawha Club,  even if you have heard of it you can't find it.  Very cool.

Lester

[PCCraig]

Kanawha Club,  even if you have heard of it you can't find it.  Very cool.

Lester

Lester...you are listed as the GCA. Care to elaborate on your experience there? The club looks really cool and quiet.

[Lester George]

Kanawha Club is a private, 9 hole hole par 3 course with 50-60 members.  Many of the members are women (including my wife) and there are no rules except you can not smoke inside. 

You want to wear jeans, okay. 
You want to wear flip=flops, okay. 
You want to play a 7-some, okay. 
Carry you cell phone, walk, play with children, whatever.

Usually does around 8-10 rounds per day.

Immaculately maintained and a lot of fun.

Lester

[Tim Leahy]

The Institute in Morgan Hill, Ca. Only available to friends of Frye's

[PCCraig]

I am confident that I am the only member of the treehouse that has played The Lighting Bug At Solutude.  In fact, I doubt anyone else could even find it.

Bogey

What is The Lighting Bug At Solutude? Where is it?

[Tim Gavrich]

What about Morefar on the CT-NY line?  Isn't it owned by AIG or one of those companies?  The mother of a friend of mine played it once and said it was really cool.

[Jim Franklin]

Clearly, everybody has forgotten that only two men in all of history have gotten onto the Reverse Jans National....

But only one wanted to so it doesn't count.

[PCCraig]

Shivas,

When is the reverse Jans going to be playable this winter?

[Jeff_Mingay]

Was James Island ever completed?

Will,

Yes, there's an 18-hole course on James Island, designed by Jack Nicklaus and co. An irrigation contractor from B.C., who we've worked with on two jobs this year, did some work there. He says he's only seen a handful of people on the course. The turf is apparently IMMACULATE. I hear it looks like no one's ever hit a shot at James Island!

[John Foley]

What about Domaine Laforest in Quebec??

[Will MacEwen]

Was James Island ever completed?

Will,

Yes, there's an 18-hole course on James Island, designed by Jack Nicklaus and co. An irrigation contractor from B.C., who we've worked with on two jobs this year, did some work there. He says he's only seen a handful of people on the course. The turf is apparently IMMACULATE. I hear it looks like no one's ever hit a shot at James Island!

At one point I heard only 11 were complete, but I don't hang in the McCaw crowd.  I think they have been trying to sell the Island, but that must be tough right now.

[Mike Wagner]

Augusta
Arran Point (Wildflower)

[Phil McDade]

It strikes me that the 1,500 or so members of this Discussion Board are pretty well-connected. My sense, in reading threads, is that Augusta National is probably the most exclusive, at least judging from comments of GCA DB regulars who had admitted to playing there. There doesn't appear to have been that many, compared to Cypress, Seminole, Pine Valley, and others mentioned.

(The media/volunteer point seems outside the bounds of the original question....)

[Marty Bonnar]

The Old Course on a Saturday in July