[Joel Zuckerman]

I know this group is well-traveled, well-connected, and worldwide...but I'm curious to find out just how extensive is this unique golf-travel network.

So-Why don't you list your favorite courses you've played by country--just one course per nation.  I'm sure the the results will be quite interesting.

Personally----

USA--Pine Valley
Mexico--Cabo Del Sol--Ocean
Canada--Banff
Bermuda--Port Royal
Ireland--Royal County Down
Scotland--Royal Dornoch
DR--Teeth of the Dog

So many holes in my resume..never played in Australia, NZ, France, Germany, Wales, Japan..not even England!

[Ash Towe]

NZ-Cape Kidnappers
Australia-Royal Melbourne West
Scotland-Muirfield
England-Royal Birkdale
USA-Cypres Point

[Patrick Glynn]

Scotland - TOC
Republic of Ireland - Lahinch
Northern Ireland - RCD
USA - Pine Valley
Portugal - Quinta do Lago

[Anthony Gray]

.

  Joel,

  Great question. And congratulations to have the gutts to pic Royal Dornach over The Old Course.

  Scotland I say Cruden Bay until the day I die.

   Domincan Republic the land of my family I strongly agree TEETH.

   In the US,sorry PB but links golf is always better Pacific Dunes rules.

   Anthony

 

[Joel Zuckerman]

Scotland - TOC
Republic of Ireland - Lahinch
Northern Ireland - RCD
USA - Pine Valley
Portugal - Quinta do Lago

I failed to make the distinction between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland in my original post...so let me add the European Club to my original list of favorite courses by country..

[Tommy Williamsen]

Northern Ireland---RCD (to my way of thinking the best in the world)
Ireland-------------European Club/Ballybunion Old
England------------Sunningdale Old
Wales--------------Royal Porthcawl
Spain---------------Valderrama
Portugal------------San Lorenzo
Morocco------------Dar-Es-Salam Red
Canada-------------Highland Links
Netherlands--------Kennemer

Oops forgot USA and Scotland
USA---------------Cypress Point/Pine Valley
Scotland----------The Old Course

 

[astavrides]

US-pebble
australia-royal melbourne west
ireland-royal county down
scotland-the old course
mexico-cabo del sol (ocean)
spain-valderrama
Argentina-Jockey Club
Canada-Angus Glen (south)

[Matt_Ward]

Be curious to know how those who see European Club as the best in Ireland (not counting any of the layouts in Northern Ireland) when held against the likes of Ballybunion / Old and Lahinch, to name just two more obvious choices.

I don't even see European Club being tied w Ballybunion / Old because the former is more hype than actual reality for the bulk of its holes. Candidly, I think one can make an excellent case that the totality of Lahinch is even better than the other two.

[Joel Zuckerman]

Be curious to know how those who see European Club as the best in Ireland

Matt--Not the best in Ireland...but the best I've played myself.  (Hence--Port Royal my selection on Bermuda, because I've never had the chance to play Mid-Ocean.)  Now--I'm also quite fond of Ballybunion, Waterville, and Enniscrone, but I gave the nod to European Club in part because of my admiration for it's founder--Pat Ruddy.

[Paul Jones]

US - Cypress Point
N. Ireland - Royal County Down
Ireland - Lahinch (Portmarnoch close 2nd)
England - Sunningdale - Old
Scotland - Royal Dornoch

[Tommy Williamsen]

Be curious to know how those who see European Club as the best in Ireland (not counting any of the layouts in Northern Ireland) when held against the likes of Ballybunion / Old and Lahinch, to name just two more obvious choices.

I don't even see European Club being tied w Ballybunion / Old because the former is more hype than actual reality for the bulk of its holes. Candidly, I think one can make an excellent case that the totality of Lahinch is even better than the other two.

 

Matt, I have not played Lahinch since 1993.  I know that there have been some changes made.  I have played Ballybunion Old maybe a half dozen times and the European Club over a dozen times.  All told I have played about thirty courses in The Republic of Ireland and about ten in Northern Ireland.  Lahinch is certainly one of my favorites.  Ballybunion is as well.  When I think of all the holes of each of the three courses, I felt that The European Club and Ballybunion have about as many wonderful holes and about the same number of weaker holes.  I hesitated in citing The European Club because it generates so much controversy. 
I just happen to think it has evolved into a great course.  I have never understood why folks think it is "more hype than reality."  Pat Ruddy has a right to proud of his life achievement. I enjoy the course and its challenge and beauty.  I especially like the front nine.  The back nine is very good but still shake my head at 18.  It has been a few years since I have been there and wonder if that little burn is still meandering in front of the green.  The par threes are brilliant and the par fours are strong.

The courses I think are "over hyped" are Old Head and Doonbeg.  I have played Old Head and think that it is the most beautiful place I have ever played golf, but the golf itself did not live up to its billing.  I have not played Doonbeg but there certainly has been an abundance of publicity about it. 

If I were to play only two courses in Ireland it would be Ballybunion and TEC.  Too bad they are so far away from each other.

[Mike Erdmann]

USA - Pine Valley
Canada - Banff Springs
New Zealand - Cape Kidnappers
Scotland - The Old Course
N. Ireland - Royal County Down

[Pat Burke]

So we're going with favorites right?
USA-----CPC
Australia------Kingston Heath
New Zealand-----Titirangi
Scotland------TOC
England-----Royal Lytham
Canada------nothing yet

[RichMacafee]

Australia - RM West
Scotland - TOC favourite (Dornoch best)
England - Hoylake
Ireland - Portmarnock
Nth.Ireland - R.C.Down
USA - Harbour Town (had a choice of 2 )
South Korea - Nine Bridges
Wales - Conway

[Andrew Hastie]

Sorry can't agree on Kennemer as the best course from the Netherlands.

Netherlands- Royal Hague
Belgium- Royal Zoute
Germany- Hamburger (Falkenstein).

[Sean_A]

Not quite sure what you are asking so I will give a mix of best/favourite

England: Sandwich
Wales: Pennard
Scotland: North Berwick
N Ireland: Portrush
Ireland:Enniscrone
USA: Old Town
Canada: No favourite or best
Spain: No favourite or best
Portugal: Praia de'l Rey
France: No favourite or best
Italy: Circolo Golf Venezia
IoM: Castletown
Hungary: No favourite or best

Ciao

[Ed Tilley]

Runners up in brackets

England - Royal St. Georges, (St.Enodoc)
Scotland - Royal Dornoch, (Turnberry)
Wales - Pennard, (Royal St. David's)
N. Ireland - Royal County Down, (Portrush)
Ireland - Ballybunion, (Enniscrone)
France - Belle Dune, (Seignosse)
USA - Pebble Beach, (none)

Ed

[Andrew Mitchell]

Scotland - Royal Dornoch
England - Royal Birkdale
Ireland - Ballybunion Old
Portugal - San Lorenzo
Spain - Torrequebrada (only played four courses though)

[Bill_McBride]

USA - Cypress Point
England - Hoylake
Scotland - St Andrews Old
Wales - Royal Porthcawl
Northern Ireland - Royal Portrush (just walked Royal County Down)
Philippines - Wack Wack
Canada - Capilano
Mexico - Las Palomas
Portugal - Estoril (my one and only)
* forgot Bermuda - Mid Ocean

[Bob_Huntley]

The best I have played, not the best in the country.




USA                   Pine Valley       
Canada             Banff
Mexico               El Dorado
Jamaica             Tryall
Barbados          Sandy Lane
Bermuda           Mid Ocean
Australia           Royal Melbourne West
New Zealand    Titirangi
Tahiti                Atiomono
Scotland           The Old Course, St. Andrews
Ireland              Ballybunion
No. Ireland        Royal County Down
Wales                Royal Porthcawl
England             Royal Birkale
France               Morfontaine
Belgium             Royal Zoute
Holland              The Hague
Germany           Hamburg-Falkenstein
Italy                  Circolo di Roma
Madeira             Santa da Serra
Switzerland       Crans sur Sierre
South Africa       Durban Country Club
Zimbabwe         Chapman
Zambia              Nchanga   
Congo                Elizabethville
Botswana          Francistown  http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3913547.stm


Take a peep at the link to the Botswana course, it opens your eyes to think that when I played this, it was the best course in the country.


Bob

[Joel Zuckerman]

The best I have played, not the best in the country.




USA                   Pine Valley       
Canada             Banff
Mexico               El Dorado
Jamaica             Tryall
Barbados          Sandy Lane
Bermuda           Mid Ocean
Australia           Royal Melbourne West
New Zealand    Titirangi
Tahiti                Atiomono
Scotland           The Old Course, St. Andrews
Ireland              Ballybunion
No. Ireland        Royal County Down
Wales                Royal Porthcawl
England             Royal Birkale
France               Morfontaine
Belgium             Royal Zoute
Holland              The Hague
Germany           Hamburg-Falkenstein
Italy                  Circolo di Roma
Madeira             Santa da Serra
Switzerland       Crans sur Sierre
South Africa       Durban Country Club
Zimbabwe         Chapman
Zambia              Nchanga  
Congo                Elizabethville
Botswana          Francistown  http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3913547.stm


Take a peep at the link to the Botswana course, it opens your eyes to think that when I played this, it was the best course in the country.


Bob

Now THAT'S what I'm talking about people---Mr. Huntley has been around (and around...) the block.  Very impressive, and furthermore--you are exactly right---the purpose of this little exercise is to ID the courses you have personally played in any given nation...not just the name of a GC you heard was best in that country...

[John Goodman]

No course in a country that hasn't been named yet, other than the Youth Garden GC in Vientienne, Laos.  Unplayable in monsoon season. 

[Lou_Duran]

Canada- Beacon Hall
USA- tie- Shinny/CPC
Mexico- Cabo del Sol
Dominican Republic- Teeth of the Dog
Argentina- Jockey Club
Scotland- Carnoustie
Spain- Sotogrande- "Old"

Bob Huntley,

How would you rate Tryall?

Of the courses you listed, what are your top five and where would they fit in your top 25 worldwide?

[Matt_Sullivan]

I'll throw up a few for Asia

China -- Spring City Lake Course (RTJ)
Singapore -- Laguna National Masters Course
Indonesia -- Nirwana Bali
Thailand -- Blue Canyon (Canyon Course)
Malaysia -- Saujana (Cobra)

Unfortunately, the only one I would go out of my way to play is the Spring City course, but the others are all worth a hit if you're in town

[Bob_Huntley]

Canada- Beacon Hall
USA- tie- Shinny/CPC
Mexico- Cabo del Sol
Dominican Republic- Teeth of the Dog
Argentina- Jockey Club
Scotland- Carnoustie
Spain- Sotogrande- "Old"

Bob Huntley,

How would you rate Tryall?

Of the courses you listed, what are your top five and where would they fit in your top 25 worldwide?

Lou,

In no particular order my top five would be Pine Valley, The Old Course, Royal Melbourne, Royal County Down and a toss up between Mid Ocean and Morfontaine. Where they would come in my top 25 will take a bit of sorting out.

Bob

[Tags:]

Tags:

[Tags:]

Tags:

Call to undefined function theme_linktree()