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David Stamm

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Ross's best
« on: September 24, 2009, 09:56:04 PM »
What would you consider Ross's best courses? Obviously Pinehurst is always in the running, but what are some ones that are personal favorites of yours?
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"The object of golf architecture is to give an intelligent purpose to the striking of a golf ball."- Max Behr

Chris_Blakely

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Ross's best
« Reply #1 on: September 24, 2009, 10:25:14 PM »
Some of my personal favorite Ross Courses are:

The Balsams Resort - Panorama Course (Ross course built on top of a mountain in Northern New Hamshire)

Granville GC (Granville, OH)

Manakiki GC (Cleveland, OH)

Sagamore Resort (Lake George, NY)

French Lick - Hill Course (French Lick, IN)

Chris
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Patrick_Mucci

Re: Ross's best
« Reply #2 on: September 24, 2009, 10:38:32 PM »
Plainfield,
Mt Ridge
Wannamoisett (sp?)
Charles River
Belmont
SEMINOLE
Aronomink
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jonathan_becker

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Ross's best
« Reply #3 on: September 24, 2009, 10:43:04 PM »
My all-time personal favorite is Canton Brookside.

The Ross I wanna see next is Holston Hills.
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Sean Leary

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Ross's best
« Reply #4 on: September 24, 2009, 11:07:00 PM »
Winchester
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Ed Oden

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Ross's best
« Reply #5 on: September 24, 2009, 11:51:01 PM »
Plainfield is the best of the 20 or so Ross courses I have played, followed closely by Oak Hill East and Pinehurst #2.  Pine Needles just keeps getting better and better but, in my opinion, doesn't quite have the je ne sais quoi of the aforementioned three.  Personal favorites among the remainder (of which there isn't a stinker in the lot), include Monroe and Carolina.
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Tim Bert

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Ross's best
« Reply #6 on: September 24, 2009, 11:56:23 PM »
I have not played many Ross courses.  I'd certainly like to play more.

Those that I really enjoyed:
Pinehurst #2
Holston Hills
Beverly CC

Only one that was underwhelming to me (had very high expectations going in):
Balsams Panorama
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Kevin Pallier

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Ross's best
« Reply #7 on: September 25, 2009, 12:46:39 AM »
I haven't seen any of Ross' work (yet) but could any of you please tell me what Seaview Dolce Resort (Bay) in NJ is like ? I'm staying there because I'm seeing a course in Galloway the next day...

Plainfield was on the list to try and see but try as I might - I couldn't get access to view his work there ? Aronimink on the other hand were more than accomodating.
« Last Edit: September 25, 2009, 02:59:59 AM by Kevin Pallier »
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ed_getka

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Ross's best
« Reply #8 on: September 25, 2009, 12:53:35 AM »
Plainfield is the best Ross I have played. Just a gem of a course that is perenially underrated.
Holston Hills. Probably the best use of piece of land I have seen. Not the greatest land, but Ross seemed to utilize every possible square inch ingeniously.
French Lick. I will never forget the impression those greens made on me. I had never seen so many buried elephant greens on one course in my life. There was clearly a proper side of the green to put your approach shot depending on the pin position, otherwise you had to putt over or around the "elephant".
Brookside has unbelievable land whose vistas have fortunately been recovered to some extent with the restoration a few years back. I haven't played it post -restoration, but it is a very good course that I'm sure is even better now.
   There are a ton of Ross courses in this region so I am going to enjoy the next few years exploring in North Carolina and surrounds. Meanwhile I am reading Brad's book on Ross.
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Sean_A

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Ross's best
« Reply #9 on: September 25, 2009, 03:06:11 AM »
I spose Pinehurst & Oakland Hills are the two best Ross courses I have seen.  Though my favourites are still Grosse Ile and Mid Pines.  In truth, I have time for every Ross course I have seen.  I would really like to see Plainfield, Seminole, White Bear Yacht, Essex, Franklin Hills, French Lick, Holston Hills and a few others in NC and RI.  

Ciao
« Last Edit: September 25, 2009, 03:08:26 AM by Sean Arble »
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Steve Kline

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Ross's best
« Reply #10 on: September 25, 2009, 07:49:46 AM »
I haven't seen many that I didn't like. Off the top of my head I really Pinehrust #2 (prior to current mowing patterns especially), Inverness (except for the newer holes that stick out like a sore thumb), Pine Needles (fabulous course but agree that it lacks a certain mystique to make it truly great), Mid Pines (fun course but haven't played it in a while), Hyde Park (Ross makes tremendous use of the land which has many ravines running through it and since they restored the greens to more original widths it is darn good). I played Holston Hills years ago in a tournament back during my college golf days. It was prior to my days on GCA and maybe I just didn't get it. I think I need to go back and play it again.
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PCCraig

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Ross's best
« Reply #11 on: September 25, 2009, 07:54:37 AM »
Essex is the best one no one talks about.

French Licks greens were awesome and a ton of fun.

Pinehurst is the safe bet.

My problem with some Ross Courses is that unless you know the clubs exact history, it can be tough to figure out how much Ross is left or how much he contributed.
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H.P.S.

Dan Boerger

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Ross's best
« Reply #12 on: September 25, 2009, 08:00:17 AM »
Tops of those I've played ... in no particular order:

Aronimink, Seminole, Franklin Hills, Winchester, Gulph Mills

Special mention to Teugega, a really interesting course, although in need of a few chainsaws IMO.
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"Man should practice moderation in all things, including moderation."  Mark Twain

hick

Re: Ross's best
« Reply #13 on: September 25, 2009, 08:34:33 AM »
Sakonnet, RI

Whitinsville, MA

Orchards,MA
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Phil McDade

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Ross's best
« Reply #14 on: September 25, 2009, 08:46:40 AM »
Anyone familiar with Salem CC? I really enjoyed watching the US Senior Open recently played there. GCA review here:

http://golfclubatlas.com/courses-by-country/usa/salem
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jonathan_becker

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Ross's best
« Reply #15 on: September 25, 2009, 09:14:41 AM »
ed_getka,

If you get the chance to go back to Brookside, do it.  Silva took out 600 trees, rebuilt all 18 teeing areas, added some original fw bunkers back into the course, and actually expanded some of the greens back to their original design.  It's a true Ross gem and underrated imo.  The first time out, most people are shocked at the putting challenge that awaits them.
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Jim Franklin

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Ross's best
« Reply #16 on: September 25, 2009, 09:22:28 AM »
Northland CC in Duluth MN is fantastic and deserves to be considered. I was not familiar with this course at all but was blown away at how good it was.
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Mr Hurricane

Pete Wendt

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Ross's best
« Reply #17 on: September 25, 2009, 09:30:20 AM »
Seminole
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Mike Hendren

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Ross's best
« Reply #18 on: September 25, 2009, 09:37:59 AM »
I'm an unabashed Ross fan.  Holston Hills rightly gets props as I suspect it remains as genuine as any of his work.  Like anyone else I'd most like to see Seminole, just to see how he handled a windy and sandy site.  I'm  really interested in Plainfield as well given the comments on this site.

That said,  Augusta CC and Idle Hour are surprisingly good and could be thrown in the same hat with Beverly and Pine Needles even though the renovations likely reflect a little artistic license.  Memphis CC remains below the radar and is a must see if for no other reason than the brilliant routing.  I would not include LuLu or French Lick among his best list, but the former is charming and the latter a blast.  

Ross heavily populates Golfweek's Classic Top 100, but I suspect he would absolutely own the second hundred.  

Mike
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Two Corinthians walk into a bar ....

PCCraig

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Ross's best
« Reply #19 on: September 25, 2009, 09:55:52 AM »
Quote from: Phil McDade on September 25, 2009, 08:46:40 AM
Anyone familiar with Salem CC? I really enjoyed watching the US Senior Open recently played there. GCA review here:

http://golfclubatlas.com/courses-by-country/usa/salem

I enjoyed it a ton the one time I went down there to play it. A couple guys I know who have a lot of experience on top golf courses like it better than TCC-Brookline. I don't agree with that but it's not as distant as many would think.
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H.P.S.

Mark Pritchett

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Ross's best
« Reply #20 on: September 25, 2009, 09:56:40 AM »
I'll throw in Chattanooga G&CC and Athens CC as two courses I enjoy and would be happy to play on a regular basis.  

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mark chalfant

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Ross's best
« Reply #21 on: September 25, 2009, 11:22:19 AM »
Metacomet,  RI     magnificent par fours on about 93 acres

CC of Buffalo , NY

Longmeadow , MA     many remarkable holes over exceptoinal ravine- laced property

Essex County, MA

Brookside, Ohio      splendid rolling terrain. and some of the neatest greens in America

Franklin Hills, Michigan
« Last Edit: September 25, 2009, 11:35:22 AM by mark chalfant »
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Jimmy Muratt

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Ross's best
« Reply #22 on: September 25, 2009, 11:27:45 AM »
Two very good Ross courses that don't get much national attention:

Monroe Golf Club  (Rochester, NY)
County Club of Rochester

Gil Hanse has done recent restoration work at both and they are quite impressive.
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Kenny Baer

  • Karma: +0/-0
Ross's best
« Reply #23 on: September 25, 2009, 11:48:43 AM »
Highlands Country Club is very charming coursel; 14 holes at Granville GC are very similar and pretty darn good, 1-13 and 18 reminded me quite a bit of Highlands CC, charming courses in a great setting; that being said they are not big enough or bold enough to be his best.

My favorite Ross I have played is Scioto; a big golf course worthy of the multiple Championship's it has hosted, it is an ultimate test.

Not far behind if behind at all would be Augusta CC, the green's are awesome, the strategy offered off the tee is plentiful, just a fun golf course to play.  If I had to describe it in one word I would say FUN.

« Last Edit: September 25, 2009, 11:51:09 AM by Kenny Baer »
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hick

Re: Ross's best
« Reply #24 on: September 25, 2009, 12:46:25 PM »
Phil, Salem is a great ross course with some the best set of greens i have played.  I should have put it on my list as my Uncle has been a member at Salem since the 70s . one of my favorite club logos as well.
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