Personal Course Favorites That Are NOT GCA.com Favorites

[Charles Scalzott]

Huntingdon Valley – Flynn’s wild “Nascar” track of a golf course is an examination in shot-making. There are few finer examples of the impact of cross-slope and green pitch to play. I love the place, but I may be alone.

You most certainly ARE NOT alone!

One of my very favorites as well.  Haven't heard it put quite that way before..."Nascar Track"...perhaps a road course...Nascar is all left hand turns correct?  That is a great visual of the front 9 banking...reverse that a bit and start to turn right for the back 9.  Some of the most fun golf you could ever play.

[Jimmy Muratt]

A few of my favorites that don't get a lot of love on GCA:

Farmington Country Club       Charlottesville, VA
Monroe Golf Club                    Rochester, NY
Palmetto Golf Club                  Aiken, SC
Members Club at Four Streams     Beallsville, MD

[K. Krahenbuhl]

Arcadia Bluffs
Medinah #3

[Sean_A]

Its difficult to know what favourites are as my discussion with Tom D indicates.  Here are some that don't seem to get that much attention.

Without a shadow of a doubt, KINGTON is top of the class in this category.  Everytime I play it, the course seems less quirky and just downright good architecture.  This has to be the my favourite course which is so neglected by knowledgeable folks. 

OLD TOWN - though I believe this oversight is merely due to a lack of exposure.

LAKEWOOD SHORES - I love the course and am almost afraid to go back and discover reality.

BEAU DESERT - its an exposure deal again.

I know I am out on a limb with HARLECH, but the bunkering alone warrants making time for this place.  I spose a lot of folks measure greatness in the quality (or do they really mean height?) of the dunes and it pisses them off to see empty (protected) duneland sitting next door. 

Does ADDINGTON qualify?  Perhaps its a closest favourite for some, but I often don't see it mentioned by those who have played in the heathlands.  Same goes for TENBY & SOUTHERNDOWN for those who have been to S Wales.  Thinking about it, the whole of Wales is largely ignored and there is scarcely a better place to visit for high quality affordable golf. 


A few that are not at the top of my favourites, but which I have a lot of time for:


CASTLETOWN - may be the biggest known/unplayed wonderful course mentioned on this site. 

PRINCES - I think I must be out in left field with this one because few share my enthusiasm for this type of low lying architecture.

DONEGAL - gets few mentions and I think it is superior to some of Rudy's other efforts such as TEC. 

DUNBAR - doesn't get too much attention, but its a lovely course and a good example of balancing challenge, views and funk.

BURNHAM - this is an unusual one for me to pitch, but I really like the mix of old & new/flat & dunesy.


Ciao










 

[Andrew Mitchell]

I would second Sean's nomination of Beau Desert, a delightful course with some funky greens which never seems to get a mention either on here (other than when Sean brings the subject up) or in UK course rankings.

Birkdale doesn't seem to get much love on here but I thoroughly enjoyed my round there earlier this year.

Similarly Lytham doesn't get big raps but is an excellent test.  Is that because of its rather lacklustre setting?

Finally Silloth on Solway is a great old fashioned links.  It probably suffers from its remore location and lack of other quality courses in its surrounding area.

[Michael Wharton-Palmer]

I to will go along with Beau Desert and would add Little Aston from the similar area.
Similar style I would mention Blackmoor in Hampshire..love it.

[Chuck Brown]

The one that was a revelation to me early this year when I played it for the first time was Firestone CC South.  I had to go back to my copy of the Confidential Guide, and found that Tom Doak had been denied the chance to walk it back when he was writing the book.  I presume he's been there since.

I was fully prepared to 'dis' Firestone when I went.  Instead, I found a great, mature golf course in the Trent Jones tradition (a tradition which stands in opposition to everything that is GCA, perhaps), with extremely high-quality greens that were as interesting as any links course I've ever played.

[Tom Huckaby]

Though the now-gone Redanman always loved it... and Ran did see it and a profile is apparently in the works... and others have posted pictures here... well... it's hard to call CALIFORNIA GC a GCA "favorite."  It still tends to fly under the radar, primarily due to proximity to so many other great courses, plus the fact that it's painfully private meaning few do ever play it....

But I got to play it awhile back (NCGA rating), and I can say with full confidence that it's the #2 course in that tight area.  My rankings would go SFGC, Cal Club, OClub Lake, Lake Merced, OClub Ocean, Harding.  Surpassing the Lake is no small thing. But to me Cal Club as it stands now is really that good.

TH

[Peter Nomm]

Dare I suggest Geronimo at Desert Mountain??

A lot of fun holes - risk/reward shots, great views.  Although I really hate that the original #14 was re-routed for housing.  The mystery second shot on the old hole was cool. 

And the Par 3 18th hole - hit the green or else!

[Scott_Burroughs]

Long before Redanman 'discovered' it a year or so ago, I had lauded the merits of Deerfield GC (formerly known as Louviers Course @ Dupont CC) in Delaware on here a number of times.

Kauai Lagoons (Kiele) surprised me how good many of the non-signature holes were.

Boulder Creek near Las Vegas is pretty darned good (architect:  Mark Rathert)

Just played Mountain Branch near Baltimore on Thanksgiving (after a frost delay) and it was a pleasant surprise.  I thought I had heard some not-so-good things about it.  Had never heard of the architect, either (Jeff Matthai).

[Ash Towe]

Andrew,
I am with you regarding Lytham.  It is a very good test but the surrounds do detract from the experience.
Likewise I think Birkdale is one of the best in the UK.

[John Goodman]

Courses I very much enjoyed that get more hate (or at least criticism) than love on here:

Old Head
Doonbeg
St. Andrews (Castle)
Ventana Canyon
The Boulders (both)
Dye Fore
King's North
Bay Hill
Spanish Bay
Bandon Dunes

[Charles Scalzott]

Seaview Resort - Bay (Ross)

[Gene Greco]

    The Gallery North Course (not the tournament course)

    Desert Mountain (Chiricahua) 

[Mark Bourgeois]

Quail Hollow: anybody out there played it?

Truly embodies the principles of "strategic" golf. Tons of angles in both directions, width, big segmented greens with great contour, a nice set of risk/reward holes, lots of decisions through the round, variety in terms of length and terrain, enjoyable for the club golfer while able to present a test to the worlds best - when a course does all this, that puts it in select company, wouldn't you say?

If Rye is the poster child for international ignorance, IMHO QH goes on the domestic milk carton.

It's cliche, but all they really have to do to get this course ready for the pros is shine up the greens. The other 51 weeks it remains not merely playable but enjoyable and challenging for the club golfer.

Of all the excellent courses played for the first time this year, this is the one I most want to get back to and study.
 
This course deserves a LOT more love on GCA.com!

And while it is private, it hosts a very public tournament every year and the tourney website has a hole by hole that is amply descriptive for purposes of discussion.

Additional courses I wish more of us had seen: Rockport, Royal Adelaide, Palmetto, Links at Hope Island, Royal Golf Club of Belgium, Mimosa Hills.

Mark

[Ed Oden]

Quail Hollow: anybody out there played it?

Truly embodies the principles of "strategic" golf. Tons of angles in both directions, width, big segmented greens with great contour, a nice set of risk/reward holes, lots of decisions through the round, variety in terms of length and terrain, enjoyable for the club golfer while able to present a test to the worlds best - when a course does all this, that puts it in select company, wouldn't you say?

Mark, I have played Quail many times and generally agree with your assessment.  It is a very good course worthy of discussion.  The problem is that, in my opinion, they can't keep from tinkering with the course and the changes have not always been for the positive.  For example, #8 is not the hole it used to be.  So while I am a fan of the course, I can't help but feel it has regressed recently and will confess that I am less enamored with it now than the first time I played. 

Ed

[Mark Bourgeois]

Thanks, Ed. Next time I'm in Charlotte we will have to grab a beer convene a meeting of the What's-Up-With-8-Green Debating Society.

Yeah, that one's different.  At least they made it interesting though, huh?  I doubt they realized it, but it's like a lesser version of the 3rd hole at Royal Adelaide. (Any hole that resembles RA 3 is going to be a "lesser version.")

What exactly have they done to the hole?

FYI I enjoyed your prior posts on the course.

Probably some of my enthusiasm is down to expectations. I confess to thinking any course the pros like must stink, plus it was built during a period not known for great architecture -- which goes to show the value of prejudgment.  It is the kind of architecture I would like to play more of.

Mark

[Bradley Anderson]

This is more of a list of my favorite places in the Midwest - I haven't played anywhere else yet.

Glen Flora in Waukegan Illinois is a great layout with absolutely amazing greens.

Big Foot in Fontana Wisconsin has an incredible stretch of holes from 11-18.

Franklin Hills in Detroit - of all the Ross courses I have seen, in the midwest, I think this one may be the best.

Bonnie Brook in Waukegan is the best older public club in Chicago with most of the original Foulis bunkers intact.

Shepherds Crook in Zion - the director of parks took Kieth Foster to Shoreacres and told him to build our course just like this one.


 

[Jon Spaulding]

Personal favorites, not GCA favorites:

Ass Kickers : Prince Course, Oakland Hills

Hidden Gems : Claremont, Green Hills, Wilshire, Cal Club (well, not for long), Victoria, LA South

Unloved architect tour : Lake Merced, Ghost Creek, Spanish Bay

Laffable "please restore me" tour: Bel Air, Rancho Santa Fe

[Ronald Montesano]

The Heather at Boyne Highlands I think is one of the better courses in N. Mi and doesnt get much of any love on here.  I could be biased after 100s of rounds here while in college but I think this course is great and the stretch from 8-17 is really special. 

Ari,
Is this the RTJ Senior course at Boyne?  If so, I'll have to disagree.  I found it to be not special at all, just redundant punishment, culminating in a typically-poor RTJ Senior 18th.  The Arthur Hills course was much more representative of the terrain and offered so many more options than most RTJ courses (Crag Burn being one exception.)

[Phil McDade]

Brad:

Any pics of Big Foot? It's a course several of us on the Discussion Board would like to see, but haven't had the opportunity to play.

Agree on Bonnie Brook, although GCA poster Dan Moore has an old aerial that suggests several bunkers have been lost over time, including what looks to be a cool series of cross bunkers on the downhill-ish par 4 10th.

I'm hoping to get to Shepherd's Crook next year and do a photo essay for the discussion board; it looks and sounds from others as pretty interesting.

[Jeff Shelman]

I guess my list of courses I like, but don't get a lot of love includes:

- Hazeltine National. I have a soft spot here because it was the first major championship course I ever played and I spent a college summer working here. It is really hard, but I also think there are some cool/interesting holes.

- Troy Burne. A Lehman course just over the Wisconsin border from Minneapolis-St. Paul. I think it is the best public course in the Twin Cities and there are some good holes here.

- Trilogy at Vistancia. Gary Panks course in the NW part of the Phoenix metro. I think this is way underexposed because of geography. I think it's a very good course that will give you all you need. If it was in the East Valley, it would attract much more attention. Playing here this week again and looking forward to it.

- Hope Valley. Classic Ross course that is kind of under the radar in Durham, NC. Played there earlier this year and really, really liked it. Some cool holes and a very nice routing.

- I also think there are a number of second tier clubs in the Twin Cities that are fun to play. They don't get nearly as much attention as the top handful, but I enjoy them. The list includes: Mendakota (my home course), Midland Hills, Stillwater, Minnesota Valley, Olympic Hills.


In regards to Shivas' comment on Itasca. Most of my Chicago travel over the years has been between November and April. I connected at ORD this summer and flew right over Itasca. Saw it from the plane and immediately had to look it up on google maps. Looked very interesting and in good shape.

[Marty Bonnar]

I liked the Magnolia at WDW.

Sure, it has zero architectural merit, but I played it on my 40th birthday with a good friend, we smoked a couple of very nice cigars, had a couple of fine adult beverages, saw/met a ton of Florida wildlife (alligators on the fairway), got to play from the Mickey-shaped bunker and got to see the perspex-windowed Payne Stewart locker.

Sometimes crap can be good.

Boy, I wonder if I'm beginning to channel JakaB.

FBD.

[Deucie Bies]

I am a biased, but for an everyday course, my home course, Lake Nona is a lot of fun.

I also think Bay Hill is a fun layout.

[Jeff Fortson]

One of my favorite courses that gets almost no talk on here is Mission Hills Country Club (Dinah Shore Course) in Rancho Mirage, CA.  It's the course the LPGA plays the Nabisco Dinah Shore Tournament on.  It is a fantastic parkland-style course with great green compexes and the ground movement from tee-to-green is awesome.  It's very challenging and has some of the best 4-pars anywhere.


Jeff F.