[Peter Ferlicca]

Here is the list in the New Golf Digest Index Magazine
1 Pine Valley
2 World Woods
3 Pinehurst
4 Bandon
5 TPC Sawgrass
6 Whisper Rock
7 Muirfield Village
8 Caves Valley
9 Desert Mountain
10 PGA GC
11 Shadow Creek
12 Flint Hills National
13 PGA West
14 Sea Island
15 Kinloch
16 Berkeley Hall
17 Alotian
18 Estancia
19 Dallas National
20 Augusta National
21 Calusa Pines
22 Club at Carlton Woods
23 Whistling Straights
24 Cascata
25 Orange County National
26 Oakmont
27 Belfair
28 Rio Secco
29 Broadmoor
30 Boot Ranch
31 Lake Nona
32 Olympic Club
33 Pine Needles
34 MPCC
35 Southern Highlands
36 Shoal Creek
37 Bears Club
38 Victoria National
39 Stanford U (I thought this was supposed to be amazing)
40 Pronghorn
41 TPC Scottsdale
42 Grayhawk
43 Madison
44 Bighorn
45 GC of Scottsdale
46 Quarry at La Quinta
47 Friars Head
48 Isleworth
49 Grand Cypress
50 Vaquero Club
51 Boulders Club
52 Gozzer Ranch
53 Whispering Pines
54 Reynolds Plantation
55 Sherwood
56 Championsgate FLA
57 RTJ golf trail Capitol Hill
58 PGA National
59 Ritz Carlton GC Palm Beach
60 Rich Harvest Farms
61 Karsten Creek
62 Briggs Ranch
63 Hualalai resort
64 Sycamore Hills
65 Champions GC
66 Preserve GC
67 Doral
68 Mountaintop
69 Concession
70 Stone Caynon
71 Old Palm
72 Southern Hills
73 Pumpkin Ridge
74 Colorado GC
75 Butler National

Dominated by Desert Courses with all the open land they have

[PCCraig]

And how are they rating these?

I will say World Woods and PGA in FL are impressive.

But I'll take Shoreacres any day! 

[Anthony_Nysse]

About 25 course from the list are Fazio designs. Does he design the best practice facility?

[Dan Herrmann]

Metedeconk National Golf Club is the best I've ever seen.

I think it's better than #4 Bandon.

[Kalen Braley]

I'll get the template fired up guys, just copy and paste:

"I'm shocked and appaled that <insert course name> didn't make this list.  Its at least as good as <insert alternative course name>.  Clearly the guys at <insert publication name> don't have the first clue what they're talking about."

 

[Yancey_Beamer]

Fazio designs very complete practice areas.

[J_ Crisham]

Too bad the raters didn't visit Knollwood in Lake Forest or Bob O Link . Both of these clubs have very nice practice areas.   
                                                  Jack

[Robin Doodson]

ok, so what makes a great practice facility?

[Ronald Montesano]

My guess is that this is less a comprehensive list and more a way to satisfy advertisers.  I can also presume that it is lower 48, only.  The PF at Legends on the Niagara (I've sung its praises in another thread) near Niagara Falls, Ontario, is pheeeeeenomenal.

[John Moore II]

I haven't seen most of these, but I can say that the practice facility at Bryan Park in Greensboro is as good as the facilities at Pine Needles and Pinehurst.

And as far as PGA Golf Club being at #10, they have a typo. The range at the actual golf club sucks, its tiny to have 3 courses playing off it. Now, the PGA Learning Center at PGA Village right up the street deserves to be at #10. (I understand they are talking about the Learning Center facility, but that facility is not part of the 'PGA Golf Club' any more than PGA Country Club a little ways farther up the road is)

Oh, and IMHO, the facility at PGA Learning Center is worlds better than the facility at Pinehurst Resort.

[Mike Benham]

 "If I can't practice, I can't practice. It is as simple as that. It ain't about that at all. It's easy to sum it up if you're just talking about practice. We're sitting here, and I'm supposed to be the franchise player, and we're talking about practice. I mean listen, we're sitting here talking about practice, not a game, not a game, not a game, but we're talking about practice. Not the game that I go out there and die for and play every game last it's my last but we're talking about practice man. How silly is that?

Now I know that I'm supposed to lead by example and all that but I'm not shoving that aside like it don't mean anything. I know it's important, I honestly do but we're talking about practice. We're talking about practice man. (laughter from the media crowd) We're talking about practice. We're talking about practice. We're not talking about the game. We're talking about practice. When you come to the arena, and you see me play, you've seen me play right, you've seen me give everything I've got, but we're talking about practice right now. (more laughter)

[Kalen Braley]

Mike,

THanks for pointing that very subtle point out.  I think I finally figured out why i'm a 17 capper.....we're talking about practice!! 

[Joel_Stewart]

And how are they rating these?

A few months ago we recieved a request to submit courses with the best practice areas.   About a month later we recieved a second email asking to vote on the courses that had been submitted.  I believe it was a 1 to 10 scale, maybe 1-5.   Possibly we voted on our own top 10, somebody is going to have to remind me?

It's to a certain extent is hap hazard since when I go to a course I normally hit a few balls and then play.  I really don't concentrate or focus on the range.

With that said I voted Stanford #1 which is technically the best range I have ever seen.   There is not one other practice facility that has 3 different types of grass (Bermuda, bent or fescue), bunkers with different types (fine or rough grain) of sand and 6 different types of bunker styles to practice at.   

[Michael Powers]

Grand Cypress at 49?  With three practice holes par 3, par 4, and par 5 that are maintained to the same level as the other 45 holes, it should be much higher.  I would put it ahead of any practice area that does not have 3 practice holes and there are very few of them.

One of the coolest practice areas I have seen was at Canyon Country Club in Palm Springs.  The members use the range at the public facility across the street, so they built 3 short par three practice holes around the course.  Great place to teach/practice short game.

[Mike_Trenham]

"If I can't practice, I can't practice. It is as simple as that. It ain't about that at all. It's easy to sum it up if you're just talking about practice. We're sitting here, and I'm supposed to be the franchise player, and we're talking about practice. I mean listen, we're sitting here talking about practice, not a game, not a game, not a game, but we're talking about practice. Not the game that I go out there and die for and play every game last it's my last but we're talking about practice man. How silly is that?

Now I know that I'm supposed to lead by example and all that but I'm not shoving that aside like it don't mean anything. I know it's important, I honestly do but we're talking about practice. We're talking about practice man. (laughter from the media crowd) We're talking about practice. We're talking about practice. We're not talking about the game. We're talking about practice. When you come to the arena, and you see me play, you've seen me play right, you've seen me give everything I've got, but we're talking about practice right now. (more laughter)

Philadelphia does have some of the worst practice facilities in America.  Best arround here are Philly Cricket is also quite good, similar to PVGC.

[Mike_Trenham]

Many of these practice areas are far from the first tee.  Should you not get some points deducted for not being able to hit a few warm-up shots before you tee off.

Two of the best things I have ever seen are

The small tee off the back tee at Stonewall for hitting a few drives before you tee off.  I think this was the idea of one of the founders.

Saucon Valley at one time had the first tee conditioned like a putting green and the tee markers were holes for practice putting.

[Ronald Montesano]

Points deducted from what?  From the course rating?  Ludicrous.

By the way, what did this mean:  " Best arround here are Philly Cricket is also quite good, similar to PVGC."

[Mike_Trenham]

Points deducted from what?  From the course rating?  Ludicrous.

By the way, what did this mean:  " Best arround here are Philly Cricket is also quite good, similar to PVGC."
[/quote

No from the rating of a practice area, not the course rating.  This list has nothing to do with the course ratings.

How are so many of the best practice areas in the world not even close to the first tee in an era when many people are saying the game is shrinking because it takes too long.  Many golfers just want to hit a dozen balls to get loose before they tee off.  Location should matter.

Sorry about the typos.  I was going to compliment another club but then I thought about it and did not think it's practice areas in total are up to the caliber of those listed.

[Anthony_Nysse]

And how are they rating these?

A few months ago we recieved a request to submit courses with the best practice areas.   About a month later we recieved a second email asking to vote on the courses that had been submitted.  I believe it was a 1 to 10 scale, maybe 1-5.   Possibly we voted on our own top 10, somebody is going to have to remind me?

It's to a certain extent is hap hazard since when I go to a course I normally hit a few balls and then play.  I really don't concentrate or focus on the range.

With that said I voted Stanford #1 which is technically the best range I have ever seen.   There is not one other practice facility that has 3 different types of grass (Bermuda, bent or fescue), bunkers with different types (fine or rough grain) of sand and 6 different types of bunker styles to practice at.   

Doesnt Isleworth have several different bunker styles and several differnt turfgrasses on theis practice area? A request because they have so many pros that play out of their?

Tony Nysse
Asst. Supt.
Colonial CC
ft. Worth, TX

[C. Squier]

When at Whisper Rock earlier this year, an asst pro walked past me on the putting green and we had the following conversation:

Pro: "you're going to LOVE the Lower Course"

Clint:  "we're actually playing the Upper"

Pro:  "you're on the wrong practice green then"

Clint:  "?!?!?"

Definitely a first for me seeing paired practice greens. 

[John Moore II]

And how are they rating these?

A few months ago we recieved a request to submit courses with the best practice areas.   About a month later we recieved a second email asking to vote on the courses that had been submitted.  I believe it was a 1 to 10 scale, maybe 1-5.   Possibly we voted on our own top 10, somebody is going to have to remind me?

It's to a certain extent is hap hazard since when I go to a course I normally hit a few balls and then play.  I really don't concentrate or focus on the range.

With that said I voted Stanford #1 which is technically the best range I have ever seen.   There is not one other practice facility that has 3 different types of grass (Bermuda, bent or fescue), bunkers with different types (fine or rough grain) of sand and 6 different types of bunker styles to practice at.   

PGA Learning Center has 9 different bunkers with different sand in each. Different shapes, sizes, grain textures, etc.

[PCCraig]

Does this include practice / short holes? Explaining why PVCC is #1?

I really don't pay attention to ranges all that much, but Pine Needles wasn't all that great when I was there...I think I hit off mats in the middle of the summer.

[John Moore II]

Does this include practice / short holes? Explaining why PVCC is #1?

I really don't pay attention to ranges all that much, but Pine Needles wasn't all that great when I was there...I think I hit off mats in the middle of the summer.

Yeah, they do use mats some of the time. I think I've played there 4 times and hit off mats 2 of those. I guess as far as the overall facility goes its good. The upper range (the public range) is pretty good, the lower range where the golf schools are is very good and the 5 hole practice course is good as well. That is likely why their range is on the list, though most of these 'best of' lists are a bunch of handshaking and politicing anyway.

[PCCraig]

Does this include practice / short holes? Explaining why PVCC is #1?

I really don't pay attention to ranges all that much, but Pine Needles wasn't all that great when I was there...I think I hit off mats in the middle of the summer.

Yeah, they do use mats some of the time. I think I've played there 4 times and hit off mats 2 of those. I guess as far as the overall facility goes its good. The upper range (the public range) is pretty good, the lower range where the golf schools are is very good and the 5 hole practice course is good as well. That is likely why their range is on the list, though most of these 'best of' lists are a bunch of handshaking and politicing anyway.

My bad. I had no idea there was 5 practice holes. I've only been there and played once.

The course is far better and memorable than the range IMO.

[John Moore II]

Does this include practice / short holes? Explaining why PVCC is #1?

I really don't pay attention to ranges all that much, but Pine Needles wasn't all that great when I was there...I think I hit off mats in the middle of the summer.

Yeah, they do use mats some of the time. I think I've played there 4 times and hit off mats 2 of those. I guess as far as the overall facility goes its good. The upper range (the public range) is pretty good, the lower range where the golf schools are is very good and the 5 hole practice course is good as well. That is likely why their range is on the list, though most of these 'best of' lists are a bunch of handshaking and politicing anyway.

My bad. I had no idea there was 5 practice holes. I've only been there and played once.

The course is far better and memorable than the range IMO.

Well, I think thats true of anywhere. Surely the course is more memorable than the range, otherwise there might be a problem 

However, I must say, I remember more about the Learning Center at PGA Village than I do about the 2 Fazio designed golf courses; I remember a great deal about the Dye course though.

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