Whip it Out: Post your Top 25 Courses Played

[Ash Towe]

Darryl David,


Congratulations on your list.


You must be one of the few people to have played Cape Wickham and Cabot Cliffs.  I would be interested to hear your comments about both courses.  How do they compare?  Strengths and weaknesses etc.


Thanks in advance, Ash

[Ben Baldwin]

This is my 25... Personal ranking.

1 - California Golf Club of San Francisco
2 - Gamble Sands
3 - Pasatiempo
4 - Desert Forest
5 - We-Ko Pa Cholla

6 - Southern Dunes, AZ
7 - Poppy Hills
8 - Trump Golf Links Ferry Point
9 - We-Ko Pa Saguaro
10 - Whirlwind Devil's Claw

11 - The Rim Golf Club
12 - Paako Ridge
13 - Grand Cypress - New
14 - Twin Warriors
15 - Abilene Country Club -Fairway Course (fka -Fairway Oaks CC)

16 - Troon Country Club
17 - Troon North Monument
18 - Desert Highlands
19 - Trump Doral - Blue Monster
20 - Bayonet

21 - Pacific Grove Golf Links
22 - Club Campestre - Juarez Mx
23 - El Paso Country Club
24 - Country Club of Darien
25 - Sonoma Ranch

[Daryl David]

Darryl David,


Congratulations on your list.


You must be one of the few people to have played Cape Wickham and Cabot Cliffs.  I would be interested to hear your comments about both courses.  How do they compare?  Strengths and weaknesses etc.


Thanks in advance, Ash

Ash,


I believe I was the first to have played both and the only one for at least a week or so.  Darius was right behind to come in second.  No award for the distinction, but still pretty cool.


Both courses are spectacular. Both serious top world 50 material. Since I played them when they were very immature, it is difficult to predict how they will turn out when they have aged a bit. I really like the 666 par routing of Cliffs.  Having the extra 3s and 5s is a hoot. I believe CW has more opportunities for the ground game which appeals especially to me, but so much will depend on how firm the course will be as it matures. From a strategy standpoint, I think Cliffs presents more choices. 17 at the Cliffs is unlike anything I have played on a modern design. It is one of those holes on a classic someone would say you could not build in this day and age due to quirk factor.


I am hair splitting to find differences. Should just shut up and say they are both phenomenal.  Can't wait to get back to both as soon as practical.

[Josh Tarble]

My top 25, I hadn't really put it down as a list, I think it turned out pretty as a pretty good reflection of my taste

1.  Cape Kidnappers
2.  Crystal Downs
3.  Whistling Straits
4.  Harbor Town
5.  Medinah #3
6.  Kauri Cliffs
7.  TPC Sawgrass
8.  Pasatiempo
9.  Streamsong Blue
10.  Streamsong Red
11.  Holston Hills
12.  Hyde Park - Cincinnati
13.  Kingsley Club
14.  Blackwolf Run (River)
15.  Lost Dunes
16.  Jack's Point
17.  Valhalla
18.  Erin Hills
19.  Wolf Run
20.  French Lick Donald Ross
21.  Beverly
22.  Chechessee Creek
23.  Talking Stick North
24.  Secesssion
25.  Butler National

[Ash Towe]

Darryl,


Thanks for the reply. Really appreciated.  Great that you were the first to play them both. Well done.


Both courses must be really enjoyable.  I can see myself getting to Cape Wickham less so Cabot.


Also looking forward to Tara Iti which is opening at the same time.  If you get down this way put it on your list, it will be worth it.

[Chris Luce]

[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961)]Not the most impressive list, but some great memories....GC, WFW, FH and BPB were all in the same long weekend thanks to a very benevolent host. [/color][color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961)][/size]

Sand Hills[/color]
Prairie Dunes
Southern Hills
Austin Golf Club
Pebble Beach
PH #2
Dormie Club
World Woods Pine Barrens
Pine Dunes
Harbour Town
Garden City
Winged Foot West
Bethpage Black
Friars Head
Streamsong Blue
Streamsong Red
TPC Sawgrass
Kapalua Plantation
Dallas National
Waterwood National
Granville
Riverdale Dunes
Camp Creek
Blackwolf Run
Whistling Straits
Erin Hills
Talking Stick

[Angus Moir]

No right or wrong on this topic but here goes...


Pine Valley..by a mile
Royal Dornoch
Shinnecock
Augusta
Royal Melbourne
Morfontaine
Seminole
Sunningdale New
Cruden Bay
North Berwick
Pacific Dunes
Chicago gc
Merion
Royal County Down
European Club
Valderamma
Falsterbo
Cypress point
Western Gailes
Waterville
Crystal downs
Birkdale
Carnoustie
Portrush


All great rounds in their own way

[Terry Lavin]

Angus,

That's a great list!

[Chris Haspell]

In No Order
Royal Dornoch
Royal county Down
Castle Stuart
Kingsbarns
Pine Valley
Portrush
Royal Lytham
Royal Liverpool
Birkdale
The Old Course
Turnberry
Royal copenhagen
The Hague
Rungsted
Bandon Trails
Pacific Dunes
Old Mac
Chambers Bay
Sage Valley
Brora
Purdis Heath
Royal Aberdeen
Crail
Gullane 1
Rungsted

[Josh Bills]

Also my favorite 25 updated (Since Dec. 30, 2013), in alphabetical order...


Bold are new:


Ballybunion Old (Ireland)
Bandon Dunes (OR)
Bayonne Golf Club (NJ)
Bethpage Black (NY)
Brookside CC (North Canton, OH)
Dismal River, Red (NE)
Dismal River, White (NE)
Kingsley Club (MI)
Mauna Kea (HI)
Muirfield Village (OH)
National Golf Links of America (NY)
Oakland Hills CC, South (MI)
Ocean Course at Kiawah Island (SC)
Old Head (Ireland)
Pacific Dunes (OR)
Pasatiempo (Santa Cruz, CA)
Pebble Beach (CA)
Point Chautauqua Golf Club (9 holes) (Dewittville, NY)
Sand Hills Golf Club (NE)
Shinnecock Hills (NY)
Scioto Country Club (OH)
The Golf Club (OH)
Tobacco Road (NC)
Tralee (Ireland)
Urbana Country Club (OH)


Those replaced:


Bandon Trails (Oregon)
Gold Canyon Resort- Dinosaur Mountain (AZ)
Harding Park (San Fran)
Maketewah CC (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Mid Pines Golf Club (NC)
Moonbrook Country Club (Jamestown, NY)
OSU Scarlet (OH)


Played since this list, but did not make it on my favorites:


Arcadia Bluffs (MI)
Wild Horse (NE)
Awarii Dunes (NE)


Hoping 2016 brings a bunch of new ones to this list…

[Eric Smith]

My 25 favorite 10s
(I refuse to be a critic!)
 
St Andrews 10
National Golf Links 10
Cypress Point 10
Friar's Head 10
Sand Hills 10
Old Macdonald 10
Dismal River White 10
Pebble Beach 10
Sebonack 10
Machrihanish 10
Prestwick 10
Bandon Trails 10
Wolf Point 10
North Berwick 10
Prairie Dunes 10
Pacific Dunes 10
Ballyneal 10
Renaissance 10
Pennard 10
Dismal River Red 10
Shinnecock Hills 10
Kingsley 10
Pinehurst No.2  10
Merion 10
Sleepy Hollow 10

[Tim Martin]

My 25 favorite 10s
(I refuse to be a critic!)
 
St Andrews 10
National Golf Links 10
Cypress Point 10
Friar's Head 10
Sand Hills 10
Old Macdonald 10
Dismal River White 10
Pebble Beach 10
Sebonack 10
Machrihanish 10
Prestwick 10
Bandon Trails 10
Wolf Point 10
North Berwick 10
Prairie Dunes 10
Pacific Dunes 10
Ballyneal 10
Renaissance 10
Pennard 10
Dismal River Red 10
Shinnecock Hills 10
Kingsley 10
Pinehurst No.2  10
Merion 10
Sleepy Hollow 10

Now your just showing off.

[jonathan_becker]

....

[jonathan_becker]

Let me try this again....this list is for Eric!


If I'm on any of the first 4 courses, I'll tell you that's my top course played.  Those are all #1.  However, I could tell you that Canton Brookside is my #1 and that would be true, too!  The rest is in reasonable order as of today and tomorrow could be different.  The challenge of just 25....


Cypress Point
Royal Melbourne
Shinnecock
NGLA


Friar's Head
Oakmont
Barnbougle Dunes
Seminole
LACC
The Golf Club
Kingston Heath
Camargo
Garden City
Old Macdonald
Rock Creek Cattle Company
Merion
Pacific Dunes
Pebble Beach
Valley Club
Riviera
Maidstone
Somerset Hills
Wolf Point
Lost Farm
Kiawah Ocean

[Brian Joines]

I don't think I've ever posted my list. Here it goes, in rough order.

Crystal Downs

Pacific Dunes

Ballyneal

San Francisco Golf Club

Cal Club

Pebble Beach

Old Macdonald

Eastward Ho!

Maidstone

Winged Foot (West)

Pasatiempo

Plainfield

Boston Golf

Dormie Club

Pinehurst #2

Yale

Orchard Lake

Kingsley Club

The Ocean Course

Bandon Trails

Whistling Straits

Wannamoissett

Bethpage (Black)

Olympic Club (Lake)

Shadow Creek

[Eric Smith]

Now your just showing off.

Guess I fit right in here then - eh, Timmy?

Let me try this again....this list is for Eric!

Great list, JB. Still daydreaming about NGLA? [I know I am!]

[Ryan Taylor]

This thread is hot today! My list in tiers w/ comments.


St. Andrews Old...10 (Holy)
Sand Hills...10 (#Doak11)

Royal Dornoch...9 (Ross's inspiration)
Royal County Down...9 (Best front 9 in golf)
Crystal Downs...9 (MacKenzie & Maxwell masterpiece)
Pacific Dunes...9 (Modern day Cypress)

Sunningdale New...8.75 (Favorite sleeper)
Carnousite...8.75 (Hardest)
#2...8.75 (Playing twice in 2016 and reserve the right to move)
Sunningdale Old...8.75 (Is it as good as the New?)
Pebble Beach...8.75 (Turf removal, less irrigation and bunker reno makes it a ?)
Lahinch...8.75 (Most fun)
Kingsley Club...8.75 (Second most fun)
Royal Portrush...8.75 (Colt greens!)
Old Town Club...8.75 (Unbelievable restoration)

SS Blue...8.5 (Royal Melbourne in central FL)
Milwaukee CC...8.5 (Favorite locker room and a pretty good gc)
Old Macdonald...8.5 (Homage)
Mid Pines...8.5 (See Old Town Club)
Orchard Lake...8.5 (When plans come together)

Inverness...8.25 (Old school with a finesse finish)
Holston Hills...8.25 (Great golf culture)
SS Red...8.25 (Really enjoyed #7, #8 and #9)

Oakland Hills South...8.0 (2nd most potential behind PB)
Lawsonia Links...8.0 (Best value)
Bandon Trails...8.0 (My mind was on PD / Need to replay)

[Mark Chaplin]

I wonder how PV will be post refurb?

[Tyler Kearns]

In alphabetical order;


Barnbougle Dunes
Capilano
Dismal (White)
Dormie Club
Essex (Mass.)
Gamble Sands
Holston Hills
Kingsley Club
Kingston Heath
Koninklijke Haagsche
Marquette (Greywalls)
Meadow Club
Mid Pines
National (Moonah)
Old Sandwich
Pasatiempo
Pinehurst (No. 2)
Royal Melbourne (East)
Royal Melbourne (West)
Sand Hills
St. Andrews Beach
Tobacco Road
Wine Valley
Utrechtse De Pan
Woodlands


TK

[Josh Bills]

Great list, JB. Still daydreaming about NGLA? [I know I am!]





I know this was directed at a different JB, but I enjoy daydreaming about NGLA as well. 

[jonathan_becker]

Great list, JB. Still daydreaming about NGLA? [I know I am!]





I know this was directed at a different JB, but I enjoy daydreaming about NGLA as well.

I think everyone does....

[Chris DeToro]

My favorite 25, in tiers of 5...




St Andrews Old
Royal County Down
Prairie Dunes
Cabot Cliffs
Muirfield


Pinehurst #2
Crystal Downs
Pacific Dunes
Old Macdonald
Piping Rock


Ballyneal
Quaker Ridge
Winged Foot West
Winged Foot East
Eastward Ho!


Wannamoisett
Kingsley
Boston GC
Pebble Beach
Streamsong Red


Ekwanok
Streamsong Blue
Pasatiempo
Engineers
Yale

[Jason Thurman]

I'll play. Ranked purely based on how excited I would be to play there this afternoon (disregarding weather, cost, or travel time).


1.   Pebble Beach
2.   The Prairie Club (Dunes)
3.   Prairie Dunes
4.   Crystal Downs
5.   Ballyneal
6.   White Bear Yacht Club
7.   Pinehurst No. 2
8.   Colorado Golf Club
9.   Erin Hills
10.   Idle Hour
11.   Lawsonia Links
12.   Wolf Run
13.   Cherry Hills
14.   Pete Dye Golf Club
15.   Whistling Straits - Straits
16.   Kingsley Club
17.   Blackwolf Run – River
18.   Kirtland
19.   Canterbury
20.   Holston Hills
21.   The Beverly Country Club
22.   The Harvester
23.   Wild Horse
24.   Pine Needles
25.   Rustic Canyon


Honorable mention to: Valhalla, Tobacco Road, Town & Country, Ballyhack, and Blackwolf Run - Meadow Valleys. Any of those could jump into spots 20-25 on any given day.

[AChao]

The first ones that come to mind ... my favorite that I've played ... not necessarily best architecturally ...

1  Cypress Point
2  Shinnecock Hills
3  Wade Hampton
4  Shadow Creek
5  The Country Club
6  Whistling Straits - Straits
7  Pebble Beach
8  Royal Melbourne - West
9  Sand Hills
10 TPC Sawgrass
11 The Quarry at La Quinta
12 Valley Club of Montecito
13 Kiawah - Ocean
14 Riviera
15 Los Angeles - North
16 Pinehurst - #2
17 San Francisco GC
18 Cal Club
19 Victoria National
20 Bandon Dunes
21 Somerset Hills
22 Blackwolf Run - River
23 Winged Foot - West
24 Merion - East
T25 The Old Course at St. Andrews (should be higher, but I'm not sure where -- weather was tough the 2 times I played it ...)
T25 Erin Hills
T25 Monterey Peninsula - Shore
T25Quaker Ridge
T25 Plainfield CC
T25 Southern Highlands
T25 Calusa Pines
T25 Congressional - Blue
T25 Kittansett
T25 The Preserve
T25 Medinah - #3
T25 Baltusrol - Lower
T25 Spyglass Hill
T25 Garden City
T25 Olympic Club - Lake
T25 Bethpage - Black
T25 Dallas National

Notables that I need to play / see ...
Pine Valley
Augusta National GC
Oakmont
National Golf Links
Fishers Island Club
Seminole
Crystal Downs
Chicago GC
Muirfield Village
Oak Hill - East
Oakland Hills - South
Pacific Dunes
Friar's Head
Prarie Dunes
Alotian
Southern Hills

[Alex Miller]

I suppose it's time for an update

My 10's

1. NGLA
2. Cypress Point Club
3. TOC
4. North Berwick
5. LACC North

My 9's

6. Pacific Dunes
7. Ballyneal
8. Bandon Trails
9. Muirfield
10. Pinehurst #2
11. Riviera
12. Cal Club
13. Sebonack
14. Pasatiempo

My 8's

15. Dismal Red
16. Rustic Canyon
17. Elie

My 7's

17. Wolf Point
18. Wilshire
19. Pine Needles
20. Bandon Dunes
21. Stone Eagle
22. St. George's
23. Old Mac

My 6's
24. Exmoor

25. Crail