[Tom Huckaby]

CJ:  I think it's a very different question if one wants AREAS to which travel for public (and only public) golf is worth doing.  In that case, the Pinehurst area is Top 5 for sure.  I just don't think that's what Brad was asking.. he was asking for individual courses.  And in that respect, I like a few others now continue to be dubious about Tobacco Road.


Tim:  no thought of Northern California/Monterey?  Can't be for lack of quality... too expensive?  That I'd get.  But you seem to have hit some other pretty expensive places... what gives?

Also all those Oregon courses and no Bandon?  Again - too expensive?

Just curious....

TH

[Jim Franklin]

There are two types of people in this world: People who would answer Primland (Highland Links) and people who haven't played it.

WW

Good call. I unfortunately had to cancel a trip there. I can't wait to make the trip next year.

[Brad Fleischer]

wwhitehead ,

I assumed we were talking about the one in novia scotia. Interesting you meant the one in virginia. I would love to see pics by the way. So you feel it is worth a trip by itself?

Now the one in novia scotia  is that to a course worth the effort to get to on it's own ? It's a course I have been trying to get to for some time now. Thoughts?

[Bill_McBride]

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

Robert, you would make a trip to play LaPurisma?  I certainly wasn't that impressed, although there are some good courses to play in Santa Barbara that would make it a worthwhile plan.

[Anthony Gray]

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....

  Tom,

  Tobacco Road is not worth a special trip but it is around the corner from Pinehurst so You have to include it in your Pinehurst trip.

   I just didn't get Tobacco Road. It was disapointing. I understand the concept but it was not for me and the greens were very slow.

                            Anthony

[Tom Huckaby]

Anthony:

That's pretty much how I thought about it also; thus my queries to Jason.  Again though the question here is courses, not areas.  So sure, I get including it in a Pinehurst trip.. what I don't get is travelling primarily just to play TR.  And others seem to have this same question.

Bill - wow great catch there also.  I sure can't see travelling to the middle of our state just to play La Purisima.  Tough course, some think it's great.. but man that's an eyebrow-raiser also.  Robert has some 'splainin to do.  Thinking about it more... I don't think I'd even include the greater Santa Barbara area as a top-notch PUBLIC golf destination.  Apres-golf stuff?  Oh my yes.  But just  public golf?  I don't see that either.

TH

[John Foley]

There are places to go for a trip with your golf buddies and then

There are places to go for a trip if you are a GCA geek to the max.

I'm the travel director for our group and every fall we get together to play golf, however much of the group is in a significant lower wage group than our beloved Hammy, so we always have to add in the factor of VALUE. We always try and search out fun, better courses that do not break the bank, but it gets tougher & tougher. At each and every one of these we have found fun better courses that have some fine Architecture.


Orlando  -  Alaqua Lakes & World Woods
Jacksonville  - TPC Sawgrass (off season - Marriott points - 10 years ago - now it's pricied out)
Hilton Head - Hmm... - The best was two we got access onto Berkley Hall & Spring Island
Alabama - RTJ Trail @ Grand National, Capitoal Hill & Muscle Shoals
Pocono's (no one flys) - Morgan Hill & Great Bear
New Jersey (no one flys) - Ballyowen & Wild Turkey

For the GCA Geek....

I've traveled specifcally for (and would do so again) to

Crumpin Fox
Newport National
Rustic Canyon
Kiawah
Pinehurst
Tobacco Road
PGA West
Arcadia Bluffs
Bond Head
Angus Glen


Most of my friends would think I was out of my mind to travel as much as I have to play the courses I have, but thats what you have to do to scrathc the itch.

[Tim Book]

Tom,

Two in our group grew up in the bay area and have played Pebble, Spyglass and Spanish Bay.  I would say right now for our group that expierence is an expense account trip and not something our crew would pull off.  I am the travel agent / course selector for our trip and I have been lucky to slide out there on an expense account journey.  Because of that I would rather discover uncharted courses in New Mexico or Minnesota for now.  In fact I am jumping on a plane in the morning from San Diego for Pebble.  Hope the weather and my game are up to the task.

As far as Bandon, we played Bandon Dunes in August 2000 and haven't gotten back.  I am sure we will, but there is so much golf and so little time and money for dads with kids.

[Tom Huckaby]

Tom,

Two in our group grew up in the bay area and have played Pebble, Spyglass and Spanish Bay.  I would say right now for our group that expierence is an expense account trip and not something our crew would pull off.  I am the travel agent / course selector for our trip and I have been lucky to slide out there on an expense account journey.  Because of that I would rather discover uncharted courses in New Mexico or Minnesota for now.  In fact I am jumping on a plane in the morning from San Diego for Pebble.  Hope the weather and my game are up to the task.

As far as Bandon, we played Bandon Dunes in August 2000 and haven't gotten back.  I am sure we will, but there is so much golf and so little time and money for dads with kids.

Tim - perfectly explained and totally understood - makes perfect sense.

TH

[Brad Fleischer]

Johnf,

Well I fall into the lower wage group when it comes to my friends.They have also played more of the top privates than me. So it makes this argument even harder to win but I try. My friends think Im nuts to but if you cant do the private than I do what I can to keep my passion fueled. It doesn't help that I live in the best area for privates not so much for the public offerings so our trips almost always entail travel. My question to you is you feel the one's you listed were worh it on there own merit ?

Brad

[Brad Fleischer]

Tom,

They all agree on bandon,from there however it's like pulling teeth. Mentioned Bandon in my opening topic and they replied that's all you got!!

UNREAL!!!
lol

[John Foley]

My question to you is you feel the one's you listed were worh it on there own merit ?

Brad

Brad

The ones I have seeked out on my own are all worth of the extra effort.

As for the ones we've ended up playing on our trips, I would say the vaue of the RTJ Trail is second to none. They are not top 100, but thet are fine golf courses and as a value can absolutly not be beat. Not sure in the true public side if Hilton Head would be a destination, these rest would though.

[Bill_McBride]

Anthony:

That's pretty much how I thought about it also; thus my queries to Jason.  Again though the question here is courses, not areas.  So sure, I get including it in a Pinehurst trip.. what I don't get is travelling primarily just to play TR.  And others seem to have this same question.

Bill - wow great catch there also.  I sure can't see travelling to the middle of our state just to play La Purisima.  Tough course, some think it's great.. but man that's an eyebrow-raiser also.  Robert has some 'splainin to do.  Thinking about it more... I don't think I'd even include the greater Santa Barbara area as a top-notch PUBLIC golf destination.  Apres-golf stuff?  Oh my yes.  But just  public golf?  I don't see that either.

TH

There are non-public options IF you are a lucky guy! 

[CJ Carder]

CJ:  I think it's a very different question if one wants AREAS to which travel for public (and only public) golf is worth doing.  In that case, the Pinehurst area is Top 5 for sure.  I just don't think that's what Brad was asking.. he was asking for individual courses.  And in that respect, I like a few others now continue to be dubious about Tobacco Road.

Tom, you're right, the question wasn't about areas, but I think it's almost an inevitable addition to the conversation because if I'm traveling somewhere to play golf, I'm playing multiple times.     I do agree with you though, I would not fly all the way across the country for Tobacco Road... so let's say Pinehurst #2 then, and we'll just toss in Tobacco Road on the way out of town.   

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.

Tim, you guys need to keep Williamsburg, VA on your radar too.  I'll be glad to show you around.

[Kevin Pallier]

Barnbougle Dunes

[Jon Heise]

Grey Walls - Way, way out there on the UP of Michigan.  Worth it.

Wow, took 40 posts to mention this one.  I think it fits the original question perfectly.

public- yes
travel- very much yes
worth it- absolutely, especially when you can combo it with some of the other very fine courses in the UP or Northern MI.

and of course Tobacco Road.  What a blast!

[Tim Gavrich]

The Greenbrier
The Homestead
(both of the above are playable even if you don't stay there, I believe)
Caledonia/True Blue/Heritage/Pawleys Plantation
Rustic Canyon (?...I've never played it but it looks awesome and I've read many such pronouncements here)
Harbour Town
Longshadow (not really far from Cuscowilla either)
Tot Hill Farm/Tobacco Road

[Brad Fleischer]

Jon,

I have greywalls on my list for 09. It might be by myself but im going either way. This was one I was saving to pull out of the hat on them. I think they would be up for it though. They liked devries work at kingsley so im sure they would have to side with me on this one.... Before you ask yes I played kingsley and yes I loved it. One of the few privates I have played

Kevin,
Not sure where you live but I can 100 percent guarantee we wont be making that trip for just the one course. I don't think I would either. It's just way to out there even for me.

Tim,
Not sure about rustic I might I know they wouldn't. Dito for the myrtle courses again alone no way together maybe although they are real real close to each other. I hear where you are coming from but again one maybe two courses if it was less than 15 min away. There all great trips together but standing alone I would lose my argument.

The fact that tobacco road continues to come up leaves me scratching my head. Did my friends miss something while there. It certainly explains the love it or hate it mentality. Same goes for stranzs work at stone house and kent, alone I know they would say nay.

Keep the opinions coming.....

[Patrick Kiser]

Interesting debate.

However, how many folks really would travel to play just one course?

I'll venture to guess not many.


Brad,

When you mention Bandon, you surely must be thinking ALL the courses of Bandon and not just one.  Right?  Likewise, your friends must be thinking the same.  Correct?  So I think your friends are pulling your leg a little.  I'd guess they would not travel to a "private place" to play just one course.

Then to me this sounds much less about a single course and much more about a destination.

With this in mind, I can think of the following destinations that would fit the bill stateside and keep it at that "private" kind of level:

- Pebble
- Pinehurst
- Kiawah
- ... Bandon

Now ask me if I'd travel to any one of these to play JUST ONE and not the others or as many of the others (e.g. play only Pebble but not SpyGlass or just Pac Dunes and not Bandon Trails)?

I probably wouldn't...


P.S. About trails...  I would never bother with TR unless I could make it part of the Strantz trail.

La Purisima is all about the experience.  There are few public courses in CA like this where you feel somewhat remote and away from it all.  The golf is solid.  Not great.  Kind of reminds me of the Stone Eagle vs. Chambers Bay topic.  More about the overall package.  Worth the drive from SF?  In my mind definitely.  The drive alone is great.  But my excuse is I meet up with a San Diego friend and it's half way between SD and SF ... making it perfect.

[Brad Fleischer]

Pat k,

Sure there pulling my leg a LITTLE that's what makes debate fun,however we did go to bandon when it was only bandon. We were last there in 04 I think right before trails opened. It made for more debate bandon or pacific but I can assure you they would go back just for one or the other , which one well that depends on who you ask ......

Pat I have traveled to play just one course and hopefully I will be doing it again this summer. Hey I never said I was normal lol....

[Patrick Kiser]

I've done the same for Darkhorse in Auburn and I'm about to do it soon for Stevinson Ranch, but they're within driving distance.

I guess for me it comes down to "how bad" you're willing to travel.

I might travel for just NGLA 

Pat k,

Sure there pulling my leg a LITTLE that's what makes debate fun,however we did go to bandon when it was only bandon. We were last there in 04 I think right before trails opened. It made for more debate bandon or pacific but I can assure you they would go back just for one or the other , which one well that depends on who you ask ......

Pat I have traveled to play just one course and hopefully I will be doing it again this summer. Hey I never said I was normal lol....

[Rob Rigg]

If you want a taste of various types of courses with spectacular scenery it would be interesting to fly into Sea Tac and out of Redmond and play:

- Chambers Bay (Links)
- Ghost Creek (Parkland)
- Aspen Lakes (High Desert)
- Nicklaus at Pronghorn (High Desert)
- Tetherow (Heathland - Fescue base)
- Crosswater (High Desert with Parkland feel)

[Tom Huckaby]

Patrick:

Having made the drive down each of 101 and I-5 at least 100 times each, well... the drive won't get me to go to La Purisima.  But I get ya that it is remote, and unique in CA in that respect.  Still, would you really recommend to someone from far away to fly out here PRIMARILY just to play that course?

Drive a few hours to play it, sure.  But I don't think that's the standard asked for in this thread.

TH

[hick]

Just played newport national this morning and it would be a nice public to tie in with a round at newport and wanumetonomy although both are private. It has been a warm october and first week of november in newport.

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

The Publics for me which I would or have planned a trip or trips around would include.
TOC
Pebble Beach, Spyglass
Bandon Dunes, Pacific Dunes, Bandon Trails
Pinehurst #2 et al
Chambers Bay
I treated Cuscowilla as one even though really private
Barona Creek with rest of SD as extra
Whistling Straits but not again
Lawsonia Links and Erin Hills as prime draw with WS as extra.
Jones Sr Trail in ala if for no other reason that to trash the tide aka dead bear university at every stop along the way.

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