Is your 1st still in your top 10?

[Jim Colton]

My first was World Woods Pine Barrens, which I played as a freshman in college in 1993 thanks to a very generous grandfather.  Everything up to that point was muni's and local courses that I played growing up and in high school.  The next big course for me was Blackwolf Run River in 1996, which stayed at #1 until I played the Old Course in 2000.  Now it's the Old Course, Pac Dunes or Ballyneal vying for the top spot depending on which day of the week it is.

World Woods is probably just outside the top 10, while BWR is still comfortably in.

[George Freeman]

The first "ranked" course I played was the Ocean Course at Kiawah when I was 13 or 14 , and it would still be in my 10 (I've played it more recently)

My 10 favorites (in no specific order other than the tiers):

Tier 1
Oakmont (2008)
Kingsley (2004)
St. Andrews - Old (2008)
Franklin Hills (2008)
Pacific Dunes (2008)
Crystal Downs (2008)

Tier 2
Bandon Trails (2008)
Bandon Dunes (2008)
Indianwood - Old (2008)
Ocean Course - (1997)


Obviously they are all pretty recent...hopefully I'll have an updated list in a few years

[David Stamm]

Eric,


   My first experience of playing ranked courses was when I played Pebble, Spyglass and Pasatiempo on the same trip about 5 years ago. I've played more since then and Pasa for me is still in my top 5, Pebble is just outside my top 5 and Spyglass is outside my top 10 and possibly my 15. I have played other courses that I like better or worse than these that are ranked and unranked. 

[Eric Smith]

David,

See here is where I'm probably attaching more sentimentally to my memory of the experience at some of these places.  Take for instance your examples of Spyglass and Pasatiempo.  I played them both in the same week, 1992 US Open week with my dad, my grandpa and my uncle.  I of course knew these were supposed to be great courses and they did not disappoint.

My uncle knew a lot of the history of Pasa so I soon became fascinated with Dr. Mac.  I loved that day at Pasatiempo and remember how absolutely perfect those views of Monterey bay were.  You guys in California have got it made.

Again, my favorites list is weighted with some great experiences with my family a while ago; fortunately shared on some really great golf courses.  But make no mistake, on that same trip with the same foursome we played rounds at Sunol and Alameda and those didn't rank up there as even slightly memorable.  So it is the golf course mostly, I think.

[Ari Techner]

My first ranked course on any list would have been Franklin Hills when I was quite young maybe 12-13 Id say for my first 18.  It does not make my current Top 10 (stiff competition) but it holds a very special place in my heart and I would be extremely happy if I had to play there every day.  

Current Top 10 List in alphabetical order:

Crystal Downs  (1997)
Friars Head  (2008)
National GL  (2008)
Oakmont  (2007)
Pacific Dunes  (2003)
Pine Valley  (2008)
Royal County Down  (2007)
San Francisco GC  (2006)
Sand Hills  (2007)
Shinnecock Hills  (2008)

[Eric Smith]

My first ranked course on any list would have been Franklin Hills when I was quite young maybe 12-13 Id say for my first 18.  It does not make my current Top 10 (stiff competition) but it holds a very special place in my heart and I would be extremely happy if I had to play there every day.  

Current Top 10 List in alphabetical order:

Crystal Downs  (1997)
Friars Head  (2008)
National GL  (2008)
Oakmont  (2007)
Pacific Dunes  (2003)
Pine Valley  (2008)
Royal County Down  (2007)
San Francisco GC  (2006)
Sand Hills  (2007)
Shinnecock Hills  (2008)

Ari,

That is a heavy duty list.  From the photos I've seen on golfclubatlas, Friar's Head looks incredible.  Just curious, would you rank it in your top 3?

[rchesnut]

My first ranked course was Pinehurst #2 in 1987.  I've played it a number of times over the years, most recently last year...it would not be in my top 10 today. 

In alphabetical order:

Ballyneal (2007) 
Barnbougle Dunes  (2006)  More than a great golf course, this is an experience that should not be missed. 
Cypress Point (2007)  I had high expectations, and they were exceeded. 
Gullane (2008)
Kiawah Island (Ocean) (2007)
Kingsbarns (2008)
Pacific Dunes  (2002)  Opened my eyes and changed the way that I looked at golf courses forever.
Pasatiempo (1999)   My home course, so I'm biased.  But particularly after the restoration, it's not a stretch for anyone to have this in their top 10.
Royal County Down  (2006)
San Francisco Golf Club  (2005) 

10 more that could be in my Top 10 on a given day:  Royal Melbourne W (2006), Kingston Heath (2006), St. Andrews Old Course (2008), Oakmont (2007), Olympic Club (2004), North Berwick (2008), Pebble Beach (2005), Spyglass (2002), Pinehurst #2 (1987) and Carnoustie (2008). 

[Kyle Henderson]

10 Lakota Canyon Ranch (2005)
9 Tot Hill Farm (2005)
8 Riviera (2008)
7 Rustic Canyon (2006)
6 Pasatiempo (2008)
5 MPCC- Shore (2007)
4 Black Mesa (2006)
3 Tobacco Road (2005)
2 Sand Hills (2008)
1 Ballyneal (2008)

Lakota was my first "nationally ranked" course and it is still in my list of 10 favorites. Given my imminent visit to Bandon (1 more week!), I expect it will soon be displaced.

[tlavin]

First ranked course was Cherry Hills in Denver.

Top Ten I've Played:

Sand Hills
Pacific Dunes
Cypress Point
Prairie Dunes
LACC North

Bandon Dunes
Riviera
Pebble Beach
Butler National
TPC Sawgrass

[Anthony Gray]

Much better, Eric.  The bombs have been recalled.


TH

            Tom,

         I am golfing with Eric next month at a GCA outing. We'll send you some pictures.


                                     Anthony

[Cory Lewis]

Very interesting exercise, like others on here my first "ranked" course was Pinehurst No.2, it's still barely in my top ten after all these years most likely because it was my first big time golf course experience.  If I had played it for the first time in the past three years I doubt it would make my top ten.

1. Royal Dornoch Golf Club(1997)
2. Royal County Down(2000)
3. Cypress Point(2005)
4. Pebble Beach(1995)
5. Royal Portrush(2000)
6. St. Andrews Old(1997)
7. Fishers Island(2003)
8. North Berwick(1997)
9. National Golf Links of America(2003)
10. Pinehurst No.2(1994)

[Matt Bosela]

Thankfully, you clarified that we could use ANY ranked list!  Since I've only played 24 golf courses in the US up to this point, my top ten list would be pretty weak! 

Therefore, I'll also incorporate Canadian courses that are or have been ranked on the ScoreGolf Top 100 in Canada list.

Using that criteria, the first 'ranked' course I ever played would have been Stanley Thompson's Whirlpool GC in Niagara Falls, Ontario.



It's still a solid, fun test of golf but it wouldn't even be on my top ten in Canada that I've played, let alone my top 10 overall.  I imagine others feel the same way, as Whirlpool fell off the ScoreGolf Top 100 list for the first time in 2008.

The first world-class course I played as a youngster was another Thompson gem, St. George's GCC in Toronto.  However, I played in a tournament there as a 15 year old and couldn't properly appreciate the architectural genius of that course at that point in my life.  20 years later, I still haven't played it again but I did get the elusive invite to play this fall, only to turn it down because it was a bit too close to my wife's due date with our first child.



I hope to get there next year to see it again!

The first ranked course I played in the U.S. was Cog Hill - Dubsdread in 2000.  Boy, were we excited to play a nationally ranked golf course but ended up slightly disappointed in the experience.  Overgrown trees crowding fairways and very poor course conditions somewhat marred what was turning out to be a wonderful trip.



We were saved a day later, when we happened upon a relatively new course in Indiana that we had heard nothing about.  We walked into the clubhouse and asked if it was a private course, as there was pretty much no one playing.  We were told that the course was indeed public so we cancelled our tee time at the other golf course in the area and teed it up here.



Now this might be cheating, since I haven't seen this course on any national rankings but it must be on a best-in-state list.  Our day at Warren GC at Notre Dame was one of the finest golf experiences of my life...no one on the course but us and the ranger followed us around that day sharing history on the development of the course and stories about famed Notre Dame alumni.  What a day!

That said, the best two golf courses I've had the pleasure of playing came within two months of each other late in 2007.  First, on a trip to the West Coast, I had the good fortune of playing the wonderful Riviera CC in Pacific Palisades in addition to staying at the club for a few nights with my wife.



Not a bad view from our room, either!

Then to top it off, I was lucky enough to play Oakmont late in the fall that year in a charity event.  What a golf course!  A lot of people call it a brute but the photo I took below, probably my favourite golf course photo I've ever taken, just proves to me how beautiful a course it really is!



Breaking it down, here would be my personal top ten lists of ranked courses played both in Canada and in the U.S.

Canada (in alphabetical order)
- Bigwin Island (2002)
- Brantford GCC (2008)
- Eagles Nest GC (2008)
- Glen Abbey GC (1991)
- Lookout Point CC (1990)
- Muskoka Bay GC (2006)
- Osprey Valley - Heathlands Course (2003)
- Oviinbyrd (2008)
- St. George's GCC (1988)
- Thornhill GCC (2008)

Honourable Mention: Angus Glen - South Course (2001); Deer Ridge CC (2005); Osprey Valley - Hoot (2003); Rosedale GCC (2003); Taboo (2002)...and yes, I need to desperately get out of Ontario!

United States (in alphabetical order)
- Cog Hill - Dubsdread Course (2000)
- Hammock Beach Resort - Ocean Course (2008)
- Oakmont CC (2007)
- PGA Golf Club - Dye Course (2006)
- PGA Golf Club - South Course (2006)
- Poipu Bay GC (2006)
- Princeville - Prince Course (2006)
- Riviera CC (2007)
- Tanglewood Park - Championship Course (2003)
- Warren GC at Notre Dame (2000)

Honourable Mention (not sure if they are ranked): Cascades GC (Michigan - 2000); Hammock Beach Resort - Conservatory Course (2008); Niagara Falls CC (Tillinghast - 2008)

[Michael Wharton-Palmer]

My first favourite course was Royal Birkdale...when I was 15, still very much in my top ten
1.Pine Valley
2.Merion
3.CyressPoint
4.Royal Birkdale
5.Sand Hills
5.Ballyneal
6.The Old Course
7.Ballybunion...old
8.Western Gailes
9.Pacific Dunes
10.Garden City

[Brian Cenci]

I don't know if anyone has said this yet on this post but the first top 10 I played was Crystal Downs at age 15 when I worked there from 1994 to 1999 and it is still my #1.  My top 10 would be something like this:

Crystal Downs (1995)
Kiawah - Ocean Course (2007)
Whistling Straits - Straits (2006)
Prairie Dunes (2005)
Oakmont (2008)
Bandon Dunes (2005)
Pacific Dunes (2005)
Pete Dye Golf Club (2008)
Kingsley Club (2005)
Kinloch (2008)
Wolf Run (2005)

[Jason Connor]

My first highly ranked course was probably Oakmont at age 27.

Needless to say, it's still in my Top 5.

[Andrew Mitchell]

My first ranked course was North Berwick back in 1985.  It's still in a list of my favourite courses now.

That list currently (it changes regularly) is as follows (alphabetical order):
Alwoodley (first played 1990)
Kingsbarns (2007)
Muirfield (2007)
North Berwick (1985)
Royal Birkdale (2008)
Royal Dornoch (1999)
St Enodoc (2006)
The Old Course (1986)
Turnberry (2007)
Woodhall Spa (2005)

[Michael Mimran]

Dornoch (2008)
Turnberry (2008)
Kingsbarns (2008)
St Andrews Old (2008)
Prestwick (2008)
Royal Troon - Old (2008)
Machrihanish (2008)
Bethpage (Black) (2000)
Western Gails (2008)
Pinehurst #2 (2001)

[Brad Tufts]

Hmm...first ranked course was probably Essex County Club or Myopia when I was about 14 or 15 (1996).  They are not in my top ten now, but are VERY good courses that are probably just outside.

Top ten?  I can't call this "official" as its off the top of my head, but:

Old Course (1999)
Prestwick (1999)
Merion (2001)
Newport (2002)
Pacific Dunes (2006)
Cypress Point (2007)
Royal County Down (2007)
Royal Portrush (2007)
Pebble Beach (2007)
Ballyneal (2008)?

I did a top 50 in January of 2007, but I just glanced at it and was surprised at how my attitudes have changed in 2 years, not to mention the great courses I've seen since then...

[Eric Smith]

My list does hold some courses generally-accepted as great, for sure.  But what kinda surprises me is how easily courses do break into the top 10... that is, play a new great course, boom, there it is.  I have less sentimentality in this than I would have thought.

TH

I did a top 50 in January of 2007, but I just glanced at it and was surprised at how my attitudes have changed in 2 years, not to mention the great courses I've seen since then...

My top 10 favorites played:

1. The Ocean Course 1992
2. Pasatiempo 1992
3. Kingsley Club 2007
4. Pinehurst #2 1983
5. Spyglass Hill 1992
6. Forest Dunes 2007
7. Olde Farm 2008
8. Long Cove Club 1993
9. Shoal Creek 1997
10. The Honors Course 1992

Thanks guys for sharing your lists along with the chronology.  What an incredible bunch of golf courses!

I liken this exercise to the saying, "They say that time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself".

So you gotta get out and see these great courses.  See as many as you can.  And then see some more.

Basically, my take is this:  I've played 6 new courses over the past 2 years and 3 of them jumped in to my personal top 10.  It's a fun exercise coming up with a personal top 10 list no doubt, but the real fun to me still remains the same - seeing something new, thus tearing up the list and starting anew.  I'd imagine we all feel about the same way on this.

That ole Ocean Course has been #1 on there a long while now.  I just have to get out to Bandon next year.  God willing I will. 

And also Sandwich and Kennemer and some more links courses across the way. 

Eric

[Mark_Rowlinson]

The first ranked course I played was Royal County Down. I fancy the next was The Old Course. It's been downhill ever since....

[Matt OBrien]

My first ranked golf course was Oakmont in the fall of 2007. That was also my first summer actually playing golf. Since then I have played a few others. I have a top 6 that I wont put one above the other but my bottom 4 I will rank.

Pine Valley (2007)
Oakmont (2007)
Merion East (2007)
Pacific Dunes (2008)
Shinnecock (2008)
NGLA (2008)

7. Huntingdon Valley CC
8. Eugene CC
9. Bandon Dunes/Trails
10. Hidden Creek

[PCCraig]

The first 15 ranked courses I have played with their comments;

Course   Year   2008 Rank   Comments
Blackwolf   1997   69                   First ranked course, very intimidating for a 13 year old.

Medinah   1998   11                   I didn't remember many of the holes then, don't remember many of them when I play there now.

Cypress Point   1999   4   Loved it when I was 15, probably more so for the Ocean being right there, would love to go back.

Whistling Straits   1999   24   The first time I played it I shot 37 from the blue tees and felt like a stud, then I shot 44 on the back.

Spyglass                   1999   52   Same trip as CP, played it the next day.

Sawgrass                   1999   79   I just remember it not being that hard from the middle tees. I was expecting tougher.

Canterbury   1999   94   Don't remember much.

Butler National   2000   21   It was hard then, and harder now. But even when I played in a tourney I wasn't crazy for it.

Milwaukee   2000   50   Loved Milwaukee. It was like the courses back home in Chicago, but with hills.

Double Eagle   2000   70   Cool place, would rank it highly, but probably not in my top 10.

Oakmont   2001   5   Hard.

Oakland Hills   2001   17   Not quite as hard as Oakmont, but getting there.

L. Dunes                   2001   63   Awesome greens.

Shoreacres   2001   88   Played there yesterday in the snow/sleet. It takes a hell of a golf course to make me want to play 27 in that kind of weather.

[Eric Smith]

My first ranked golf course was Oakmont in the fall of 2007. That was also my first summer actually playing golf. Since then I have played a few others. I have a top 6 that I wont put one above the other but my bottom 4 I will rank.

Pine Valley (2007)
Oakmont (2007)
Merion East (2007)
Pacific Dunes (2008)
Shinnecock (2008)
NGLA (2008)

7. Huntingdon Valley CC
8. Eugene CC
9. Bandon Dunes/Trails
10. Hidden Creek

Matt,

You've had quite a first year playing golf!  I had a good laugh thinking back to my first year playing, so I made a list of those courses where I first played.  I had to stretch it to 2 1/2 years in order to get to 10 courses (none ranked in the top 200,000).

Here they are 1978 to 1980:

Lake Tansi
Crossville Municipal - NLE
Druid Hills
Dripping Springs
Whittle Springs
Dead Horse Lake
Sparta
Dayton
Southwest Point
Harriman

Thanks for the memories. 

[George Freeman]

My first ranked golf course was Oakmont in the fall of 2007. That was also my first summer actually playing golf. Since then I have played a few others. I have a top 6 that I wont put one above the other but my bottom 4 I will rank.

Pine Valley (2007)
Oakmont (2007)
Merion East (2007)
Pacific Dunes (2008)
Shinnecock (2008)
NGLA (2008)

7. Huntingdon Valley CC
8. Eugene CC
9. Bandon Dunes/Trails
10. Hidden Creek

Matt,

That's a hell of a list for only picking up the game a year ago.  Congrats!

- George

[Kyle Henderson]

The first ranked course I played was Royal County Down. I fancy the next was The Old Course. It's been downhill ever since....

This scenario frightens me. I'll have to start planning/begging for arrangements to play Cypress Point and Pine Valley right before I turn 60, after which I'll throw in the towel and switch to shuffle board.

It's better to burn out than to fade away. -Mark Twain

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