[Eric Smith]

Northern Michigan in my opinion is public golf Nirvana.

Forest Dunes in Roscommon is high, high, high on my favorites list of stay and plays.  I don't think I've ever enjoyed a golf trip more. 

http://www.forestdunesgolf.com/

Also, you can tie in a visit to Arcadia Bluffs very easily from here.

[Anthony Gray]

Jasper
Banff
Highland Links

and I have

 Tell me more about these please. Is it worth the trip?

[tlavin]

TPC Sawgrass
Hilton Head
Myrtle Beach
Pinehurst
Kiawah
Doral
Disney Courses
RTJ Golf Trail
Kohler Courses
Northern Michigan
Monterey Peninsula
Bandon Dunes (best of the best)
Bend, Oregon
Banff
Bethpage
Maui: Kapalua, Wailea, Makena

[Robert_Ball]

I agree with JohnK...I would need something other than just Wild Horse to make that trip.  Or a little bit of peer pressure.   

Shadow Creek
Ojai Valley Inn+Soule Park - Not far from Rustic
Barona - Nice casino onsite and a short drive to downtown SD
La Purisima
PGA West Stadium+LaQuinta Mountain
Royal New Kent+Stonehouse

[Adam Clayman]

Jasper
Banff
Highland Links

and I have

 Tell me more about these please. Is it worth the trip?

Anthony, If only to see the amazing continent's terrain and beauty. But, throw in some intelligently designed golf courses and you have a trip worthy of any serious gca student.

[Tom Huckaby]

If your friends like to gamble I would, and have, plan a trip around Rustic and Santa Anita near Los Angeles.  Los Angeles is heads and shoulders the best poker town in the world given the Commerce and other fine rooms.  If you like the horses you can not beat the home of the Breeders Cup with astoundingly fine Santa Anita G.C. next door.  At Hollywood Park runners will take bets on the ponies while you decide to raise or fold.  Flights are plentiful and cheap, In-N-Out Burgers abound and Vegas is the finest road trip in the world away.

What if one doesn't like to gamble?  Would LA still qualify?

I'm thinking no.... but then again I lived there half my life so perhaps I take it for granted.  I wouldn't plan a golf trip around only Rustic Canyon... and there's not enough close enough to that to justify it either....


Oh wait a second, check that, I HAVE done a trip just for Rustic - the King's Putter held there!

Seriously though, I don't see LA as a golf destination... not in the context presented here.  If one likes to gamble, yes I guess JK's assessment makes sense.  But outside of that, just for the golf?  I'm not seeing it.

TH

[hhuffines]

Anthony,

I too recommend Banff and Jasper as Adam noted.  Especially if you can spend a few days at each with multiple plays to get to know each course.  The drive from Banff to Jasper is almost worth the trip alone.

I plan to get back there but have a few other courses to see for the first time ahead of a repeat.

[Tim Bert]

Anthony,

I too recommend Banff and Jasper as Adam noted.  Especially if you can spend a few days at each with multiple plays to get to know each course.  The drive from Banff to Jasper is almost worth the trip alone.

I plan to get back there but have a few other courses to see for the first time ahead of a repeat.

Bannf / Jasper is a must-do in my opinion.  The golf is simply a bonus, but a wonderful bonus (I've only played Banff, not Jasper.)

I can't recommend this area strongly enough to do the actual trip justice.

[Karl Bernetich]

Beechtree (at least until the beginning Dec.)

I didn't make the GCA event but I have a vendor north of Baltimore that I'll be visiting in the next couple of weeks, so I'll ply homage one more time ...

[Tim Leahy]

Here's a great public week for you:
Fly into San Francisco, play Harding Park,
then Pasatiempo,
Bayonet/Blackhorse(both reopen in Dec)
Pacific Grove,
Spanish Bay,
Spyglass
and finish with Pebble Beach.

[Jason Topp]

I'm defining as courses you would advise others that it is worth getting on an airplane for a trip designed primarily to play one course with some additional rounds at relatively mundane courses.  In order to qualify, a course not only needs to be terrific, but the course and the trip need to be memorable.

In the US:

Any course playable in the winter when you live in Minnesota!
The Ocean Course
Pebble Beach
Spyglass
TPC Sawgrass
Tobacco Road

[Tom Huckaby]

Jason - I agree with your definition re this - if it's going to mean as good as a Top 100 private - as was first stated - that definition seems perfect to me.

So as I read this I nod my head with a bunch of yesses.... (though you might as well combine Pebble and Spyglass into one trip - I am not sure I'd plan an entire trip around JUST Spyglass... but heck that's close enough I guess.  I'd add Pasatiempo also though)....

Until I read Tobbacco Road.  I know many on here love it.  It does certainly look interesting to me.

But would you really advise me to fly from CA just to play primarily that course?

I'm not seeing that.  The others, yes.  TR?  Hmmmmmmmmm....

[Mike Fowler]

Don't forget New Mexico.  Black Mesa, Pa-ko Ridge, Twin Warriors, Univ of New Mexico Golf Course.  Did this trip during the Oct. baloon festival and loved it. What a sight to be playing golf with hot air balloons all around you!

[Brad Fleischer]

Wow ,

I just logged on and even with my hangover   I must say I am shocked that there are two pages of replies. I have read all the replies and I thank everyone for the ideas and opinions expressed. I have much to add also after reading some of the thoughts on the subject . I will post replies in more detail when I get the chance. Real quick however...

Jasont,
Your correct in your thinking , thats what they feel however I was able to swing the door open some by adding courses around a specific area. It can be a long weekend it can be 5 day's. How quickly they forgot about pebble!!

Sean
Interesting conclusion you have come to. Maybe that's why my friends and I agree to disagree. Maybe it is not the courses themselves but the actual getting there thats the problem . I like to consider myself that hardcore golf traveler your speaking off.

Jk,
Hmm well that drive out of your way turned into it's own trip did it not ? Wild horse is a perfect example of my point. Me I would force my friends there to see the place if only for a quick weekend. I would have to kick and scream but I think I could pull it of if only for the fact it could probably be done on the cheap. JK after playing there do you think it was worth it for the course ?

Different view with the gambling idea thrown in. I must say they would be happy and I would be bored!! lol..... Need my golf fix....

Some of the courses I had in my mind were brought up and that's good. I will definitely be able to bring some fireworks to our next argument on this topic.  I see highland links was mentioned a few times. I gather your saying definitely worth a trip on it's own??

Stay tuned I have more to add and thanks!!!!

[Brad Fleischer]

Tom,

Just read your post and real quick before I have to go. Your both correct but like you said "you might as well add in pebble" Certain places have the luxury of being able to throw in another course that is close. This example is why I was able to persuade them into a area so to speak, but all the courses must be worth it. Spanish on it's own you say no which they would agree with you but pebble is in the backyard so they would allow it. Another example would be giants ridge and wilderness. Alone me I would, them not a chance but together......

[Jim Tang]

Here would be my list of places I've played and feel the travel is worth it....

Blackwolf Run - River.  What a great golf course, tremendous par 5's.
Sea Island - Sea Side.  Classic lowcountry golf.
World Woods - Pine Barrens is great golf.  Rolling Oaks holds its own.
Grey Walls - Way, way out there on the UP of Michigan.  Worth it.
Cuscowilla - Crenshaw knows what he is doing.
Black Mesa - Can't wait to see TD's new course there.

In general, Northern Michigan has at least a week's worth of solid golf = Black Lake, Treetops - Masterpiece, Forest Dunes, Arcadia Bluffs, & others.

Places I've still got to see.....Ireland (2009), Mexico, Canadian Rockies.

[Jason Topp]

Until I read Tobbacco Road.  I know many on here love it.  It does certainly look interesting to me.

But would you really advise me to fly from CA just to play primarily that course?

I'm not seeing that.  The others, yes.  TR?  Hmmmmmmmmm....

Huck:
Yes.  Tobacco Road is worth a trip because stretches the definition of what a fun golf course can be.  It feels like you are in another world and includes some terrific par fives.

My guess is that the course may not be as enjoyable after 20 rounds so it probably does not qualify as a great course.  Nonetheless, I would not hesitate in recommending someone schedule a trip around it.  (Of course, the notion is hypothetical because of the other options in the area.)

[Tom Huckaby]

Jason:

I am all about fun in a golf course.  So I get it.  TR does look to be darn fun.  And it certainly looks to be unique.  Perhaps you are right.

 I just remain somewhat dubious about travelling cross-country primarily to play this course though.  Stretching the analogy big-time, to me it sounds like saying one ought to travel primarily to play Pacific Grove Muni.  That too is fun, and unique... but that too has some rather famous big-time neighbors which while expensive as hell are pretty darn fun also.

[Kyle Henderson]

The Old Course (not to mention a few dozen more around the U.K.)

[Brad Fleischer]

In the case of tobacco road I fear that has garnered a no go. I have not yet played it but the other 4 have and say they would not plan a trip just to play there and only there. I feel tobacco is a hard vote to garner. From what I have read you either love it or hate it. They liked it but say they wouldn't plan another trip for it alone. Tom kind of hit the nail on the head with this one. Fun yes but a trip by itself they say no.

Jason that won't stop me from getting there one day, with or with out them

[Tom Huckaby]

Brad:

I kinda figured your friends would be a big no-go for TR.

And yes, the reaction has been love/hate for that course, from what I can tell.

I too sure as hell want to see it some day though, just like you!

TH

[PCCraig]

Tobacco Road is great...if you are in the Pinehurst area already.

TR is fun because it is different, but it is not a destination course.

Remember, Pinehurst is kinda hard to drive to because it is a lot of back roads to get there. It takes less time to drive to Charleston from Chicago than Pinehurst from Chicago, despite being 100 miles less.

[Wade Whitehead]

I see highland links was mentioned a few times. I gather your saying definitely worth a trip on it's own??

Highland Links is worth the trip.  They've got some on-site lodging (and are building more) that is secluded and off the golf course.  The course itself is stunning.  I've actually got some photos from a round before it officially opened if anyone's interested.

WW

[CJ Carder]

Remember, Pinehurst is kinda hard to drive to because it is a lot of back roads to get there. It takes less time to drive to Charleston from Chicago than Pinehurst from Chicago, despite being 100 miles less.

Pat, you must be going to a different Pinehurst than I am, because this past weekend, my trip was interstate and low-traffic 2-lane highway the entire way.  And for those coming from really far out of town, just fly into Raleigh and it's about an hour drive south.  And according to Google maps, Pinehurst is a full 45 minutes closer to Chicago than Charleston.

I wouldn't necessarily traverse the width of the country just to see Tobacco Road, but when you think of everything else that is there, I would have to place it easily in the Top 5 of pure public golfing trips.  Just think of the combination of highly respected courses and "fun" ones within a 60'ish mile radius - #2, Mid Pines, Pine Needles, #4, #8, Tobacco Road, The Pit, Washington-Duke, UNC Finley, Tot Hill Farm, Tanglewood, Southern Pines CC.  And then if you happen to have private access, you can always look at CCNC, Forest Creek, potentially Dormie when it opens, and then whatever else is in and around Raleigh.  Oh, and there's almost always deals to be had at the non-resort courses.  To me it's a bit of a no brainer.

[Tim Book]

Brad,

Our group does what you describe once a year.  We target a few select courses and build a trip around the best public coures in the area.  Our agenda's in recent years have include:

Pinehurst - Pinehurst #2, #4, #8, Tobacco Road, Pine Needles

Atlanta - Cuscowilla, Reynold's Plantation, Capital Hill, Cherokee Run

Mid Michigan - Forest Dunes, Tullymoorre, Pilgrim's Run, Arcadia Bluffs, Shepherd's Hollow

Mid Atlantic - Bulle Rock, Beechtree, Links @ Lighthouse Sound, Blue Heron Pines, Pine Hills

Arizona - Boulders, Grayhawk, Troon

Florida - Ocean Hammock, TPC Sawgrass, World Woods, Bear Club @ Keene's Point

Chicago - Whistling Straits, TPC Deere Run, Eagle Ridge, Glen Club, Kemper Lakes

Trent Jones Trail - Oxmoore Valley, Limestone Springs, Capital Hill, Cambridge Ridge, Grand National, Ol'Colony

Oregon - Sandpines, Bandon, Eagle Point, Running Y Ranch, Crosswater

On our radar is New Mexico, Minnesota, Boston, Kiawah,  West Virginia, Colorado.  Lots of choices and a reminder that they are still great public tracks out there.

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