[John Moore II]

I envy these lists.

  Keith,

  Just stick around on the site.......your list will get better.

  Anthony

Whew!  That's good to hear.  I only have two courses that I feel comfortable posting, and they were both on the same trip.

1. Crystal Downs
2. Kingsley Club

Just go ahead and post a full top 25 list. Don't be worried. Just look at my top 25, nothing special there. I'm not ashamed of it, just how it works, some people have better connections than others. I personally have basically no connections...

[Wyatt Halliday]

*

[Matthew Petersen]

This is quite sad compared to the marvelous places so many here have played, but nonetheless ... off the top of my head and not necessarily in any order ...

Challenge at Manele
Princeville Prince Course
Kapalua Plantation
Bear Dance
Eisenhower Blue
Southern Dunes
Reflection Bay
Grayhawk Raptor
Ventana Canyon Mountain
Mt. Woodson
WeKoPa Saguaro
WeKoPa Cholla
Raven Verrado
Murphy Creek
Saddle Rock
Green Valley Ranch
Emerald River [NLE]
Wildfire Faldo
Troon North Pinnacle
Wailea Gold
Stone Ridge
Troon North Monument
Talking Stick North
del Lago
Estrella

[Tony_Chapman]

Let me see if I can even get to 25 on this thing....

1. Sand Hills
2. Ballyneal (I'd probably put Ballyneal #1 if I'd have grown up in Colorado, but I'm Husker through and through)
3. Prairie Dunes
4. Pebble Beach
5. Pinehurst #2
6. Pasatiempo
7. Wild Horse
8. Tobacco Road
9. Mid Pines
10. Firethorn

(Others in no order: Caledonia Fish Club, Raliegh CC, Sand Creek Station, Pinehurst #8, Pinehurst #7, Hawktree, Red Hawk Ridge, Breckenridge GC, Chaska Town Course, San Juan Oaks) That's enough....I need to expand my horizons a little bit.

[Jason Topp]

What's interesting in observing the listing of courses people have posted is that with the exception of the really elite old time classic courses the bulk of what is being mentioned are newer layouts. Candidly, I see the range of newer courses getting more air time on this thread than you see being outlined by the major mags themselves.

I think there are way too many courses from the bygone era -- deemed to be "great" that are frankly only "great" because they happen to reside in the same general vicinity as more legitimate big brother and sister layouts.

Matt - I suspect the biggest reason you do not see the US classic courses on lists is the difficulty involved in getting access to them.  When I check, I usually have played more courses on the world top 100 lists than the US lists.

I probably could figure out a way to play many of the US courses but have almost no interest in making the necessary effort.

[Simon Holt]

Not sure if I can get to 25......in fact I am going to throw caution to the wind and list them in order of how much fun I have/had playing there.  Some may be 'better' courses in terms of GCA but these put a smile on my face which is what its all about.

In paranthesis my top 10 in GCA terms

1. North Berwick  (6)
2. Cypress Point  (2)
3. Royal Dornoch  (5)
4. Pine Valley  (1)
5. TOC  (4)
6. Muirfield  (3)
7. Pasatiempo (
8. Renaissance Club  (7)
9. Kingsbarns (10)
10. Royal Troon (9)
11. Spyglass Hill
12. Hoylake
13. Bethpage Black
14. Gullane No. 1
15. Loch Lomond
16. Kilspindie
17. Leven
18. Dunbar
19. Champions
20. Shadow Hawk
21. Brora
22. Elie
23. Crail (Balcomie)
24. Leven
25. Stanwich

I need to play more courses!!!

[Scott Warren]

I need to play more courses!!!

It's not a bad Top 10 as it is!

[Simon Holt]

From where I am sat typing I can see about 4 of those (albeit some across the Firth of Forth!!) and if I stood on my roof with binos I could probably see 11!!  Local bias going on...

[Bill Shamleffer]

St. Andrews, New Course   (St. Andrews, Scotland) (municipal)
St. Louis C.C.   (St. Louis, Mo.) (private)

Westwood C.C.   (St. Louis, Mo.) (private)
Fox Run   (St. Louis, Mo.) (private)
Crooked Stick   (Carmel, Ind.) (private)

Algonquin G.C.   (St. Louis, Mo.) (private)
A.L. Gustin   (Columbia, Mo.) (University of Missouri course)
Swope Park   (Kansas City, Mo.) (municipal)
Annbriar   (Waterloo, Ill.) (within St. Louis metropolitan area) (public)
Cog Hill   (Lemont, Ill.) (public)

George Wright   (Boston, Ma.) (municipal)
Normandie   (St. Louis, Mo.) (public)
Alvamar   (Lawrence, Kan.) (public)
Brackenridge   (San Antonio, Tex.) (municipal)
Crescent Farms   (St. Louis, Mo.) (private)

Norwood C.C.   (St. Louis, Mo.) (private)
Waveland Golf Course   (Des Moines, Iowa) (municipal)
Seminole Golf Course   (Tallahassee, Fl.) (Florida State University course)
Forest Park Golf Course   (St. Louis, Mo.) (municipal)
Crystal Highlands   (Festus, Mo.) (within St. Louis metropolitan area) (NLE)

Hulman Links   (Terre Haute, Ind.) (municipal)
St. Johnsbury C.C.   (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) (public)
Eagle Creek   (Indianapolis, Ind.) (municipal)
Oak Hills   (Jefferson City, Mo.) (municipal)
Highland Links   (Truro, Ma.) (municipal)

[12 government owned, with six other daily fee courses]


On an additional note, I would love to spend a summer in the UK playing only the courses on Sean Arble's list.  Also, I am very surprised than only a couple of lists included St. Andrew's New Course.

[Joel Zuckerman]

St. Andrews, New Course   (St. Andrews, Scotland) (municipal)
St. Louis C.C.   (St. Louis, Mo.) (private)

Westwood C.C.   (St. Louis, Mo.) (private)
Fox Run   (St. Louis, Mo.) (private)
Crooked Stick   (Carmel, Ind.) (private)

Algonquin G.C.   (St. Louis, Mo.) (private)
A.L. Gustin   (Columbia, Mo.) (University of Missouri course)
Swope Park   (Kansas City, Mo.) (municipal)
Annbriar   (Waterloo, Ill.) (within St. Louis metropolitan area) (public)
Cog Hill   (Lemont, Ill.) (public)

George Wright   (Boston, Ma.) (municipal)
Normandie   (St. Louis, Mo.) (public)
Alvamar   (Lawrence, Kan.) (public)
Brackenridge   (San Antonio, Tex.) (municipal)
Crescent Farms   (St. Louis, Mo.) (private)

Norwood C.C.   (St. Louis, Mo.) (private)
Waveland Golf Course   (Des Moines, Iowa) (municipal)
Seminole Golf Course   (Tallahassee, Fl.) (Florida State University course)
Forest Park Golf Course   (St. Louis, Mo.) (municipal)
Crystal Highlands   (Festus, Mo.) (within St. Louis metropolitan area) (NLE)

Hulman Links   (Terre Haute, Ind.) (municipal)
St. Johnsbury C.C.   (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) (public)
Eagle Creek   (Indianapolis, Ind.) (municipal)
Oak Hills   (Jefferson City, Mo.) (municipal)
Highland Links   (Truro, Ma.) (municipal)

[12 government owned, with six other daily fee courses]


On an additional note, I would love to spend a summer in the UK playing only the courses on Sean Arble's list.  Also, I am very surprised than only a couple of lists included St. Andrew's New Course.

Bill,

Considering where you live, and the lack of "all-stars" on your list, I'm surprised Crumpin-Fox isn't on your list..

[Joel Zuckerman]

Seany:

You're right -- that's life in the cowards's city -- nothing like extending oneself ...

*****

Jim F:

Here was my States listing ...

will include my foreign side of things too -- mostly from the UK / Ireland and possibly a few other locations as well.

First Five

Shinnecock Hills -- the first among equals for me
Cypress Point -- just pure magic and beauty
Merion / East -- nothing packs as much design punch as this layout
Oakmont -- should be a major host every 7-8 years whether US Open or PGA. Just the supreme parksland layout of first rate
Sand Hills -- surreal setting with golf at its core. nuff said.

Second Five

Pine Valley -- needs to get rid of some trees and the underbrush to move up for me.
Ballyneal -- pure fun, entertainment and never a dull moment -- only measurably so-so element for me was the final two par-4's.
Rock Creek -- simply loved the layout -- only weak hole for me the finale. the best collection of Doak par-4 holes I have ever played
NGLA -- any design student needs to see it -- awesome in all senses of the word for the scope of what it provided. citizen kane golf
Winged Foot / West -- the most intense and discerning course that elicits the least amount of love.

Third Five

Crystal Downs -- the toughest short course one can play.
Prairie Dunes -- when wind is up -- the yardage becomes immaterial -- great greens and the 8th is on my short list for great holes.
Pebble Beach -- when firm and fast and the wind up it's everything and more. still has a few so-so holes that keep it down for me.
Fisher's Island -- hard to beat on a sunny summer afternoon -- the best of the Raynor layouts for me.
Pinehurst #2 -- when firm and fast and with ample fairway widths works for me -- takes more than one play to "get it"

Fourth Five

Black Mesa -- just a superb public facility for those unable to get to the ones listed above it. Superb scenery and range of holes.
The Kingsley Club -- likely should be higher but would need a second visit to confirm my original lovefest for it.
Riviera -- love when the course plays firm -- incredible range of decisions for player to decide upon. 18th is everything they say & more.
The Ocean Course / Kiawah -- often thought of as a unrelenting beast -- the course has such a range of elasticity and even playability
Pacific Dunes -- wonderful setting and the best ending with a par-4, par-3 and par-5 closing.

Fifth Five

Plainfield -- one of the most underrated layouts in the metro area and flies way too low nationally.
Bayonne -- just totally man created and works well even when in tight quarters -- goes beyond shadow creek in such a similar category
Mauna Kea -- great upgrade from Rees Jones and likely the best RTJ course I have played. The 11th is one of the best long par-3 holes
Bethpage / Black -- don't like many of the post changes -- the 18th especially -- but still a top notch design and test.
Red Ledges -- gets little attention but Jack's most striking layout with UT scenery and design elements that are first rate.

Matt---I assume you've played more GC's than pretty much anyone on this site, and you put Red Ledges on your Top 25 All Time??  Amazing stuff!  Top 25 in greater Park City, definitely.  Top 25 in Utah, without a doubt.  Top 25 in the Rockies, more than likely.  But Top 25 on the peripatetic Matt Ward's all-time list of best courses??  Hard to believe.  The mind strains to find an appropriate analogy...perhaps Christian Laetner's inclusion on the Original Dream team??

You gotta be on their payroll.....

[Harvey Dickens]

Jason,
It's bad enough to see the top 25 list. Now your gonna rub it in by telling us the courses that didn't make your top 25!

[Bill Shamleffer]

St. Andrews, New Course   (St. Andrews, Scotland) (municipal)
St. Louis C.C.   (St. Louis, Mo.) (private)

Westwood C.C.   (St. Louis, Mo.) (private)
Fox Run   (St. Louis, Mo.) (private)
Crooked Stick   (Carmel, Ind.) (private)

Algonquin G.C.   (St. Louis, Mo.) (private)
A.L. Gustin   (Columbia, Mo.) (University of Missouri course)
Swope Park   (Kansas City, Mo.) (municipal)
Annbriar   (Waterloo, Ill.) (within St. Louis metropolitan area) (public)
Wintonbury Hills   (Bloomfield, Conn.) (municipal)

Cog Hill   (Lemont, Ill.) (public)
George Wright   (Boston, Ma.) (municipal)
Normandie   (St. Louis, Mo.) (public)
Alvamar   (Lawrence, Kan.) (public)
Brackenridge   (San Antonio, Tex.) (municipal)

Crescent Farms   (St. Louis, Mo.) (private)
Norwood C.C.   (St. Louis, Mo.) (private)
Waveland Golf Course   (Des Moines, Iowa) (municipal)
Seminole Golf Course   (Tallahassee, Fl.) (Florida State University course)
Forest Park Golf Course   (St. Louis, Mo.) (municipal)

Crystal Highlands   (Festus, Mo.) (within St. Louis metropolitan area) (NLE)
Hulman Links   (Terre Haute, Ind.) (municipal)
St. Johnsbury C.C.   (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) (public)
Eagle Creek   (Indianapolis, Ind.) (municipal)
Highland Links   (Truro, Ma.) (municipal)

[12 government owned, with six other daily fee courses]


On an additional note, I would love to spend a summer in the UK playing only the courses on Sean Arble's list.  Also, I am very surprised than only a couple of lists included St. Andrew's New Course.

Bill,

Considering where you live, and the lack of "all-stars" on your list, I'm surprised Crumpin-Fox isn't on your list..

Joel:

Since I have moved to Springfield, Mass. from St. Louis I have been very busy with my family, work and night classes in graduate school, so my golf has greatly suffered.  Some of the big must plays for me in the next few years include Crumpin-Fox, The Ranch, Taconic, Hotchkiss, and Shenecossett.

I actually should add to my Top 25 played list Wintonbury.  It should go in my third 5 and I would probably drop Oak Hills from my bottom 5.

[Tom_Doak]

What's interesting in observing the listing of courses people have posted is that with the exception of the really elite old time classic courses the bulk of what is being mentioned are newer layouts. Candidly, I see the range of newer courses getting more air time on this thread than you see being outlined by the major mags themselves.

Matt:

Is this not partly a function of advertising?  The new courses get a lot of press when they open.  An older, private course like Canton-Brookside or Camargo gets none, so people tend to forget those when compiling a list off the top of their heads.

I'm not saying there aren't a lot of modern courses that are very good, I just think there are an equal number of older ones which get overlooked.

[Mac Plumart]

Chris R...

Which course at Atlanta Athletic are you putting in your top 25.  Just curious.

[jonathan_becker]

.

[Brian Cenci]

#1  - Crystal Downs
#2  - Kiawah (Ocean Course)
#3  - Whistling Straits (Straits)
#4  - Prairie Dunes
#5  - Oakmont
#6  - Bandon Dunes
#7  - Pacific Dunes
#8  - Pete Dye Golf Club
#9  - Bandon Trails
#10 - Kingsley Club
#11 - Arcadia Bluffs
#12 - Kinloch
#13 - Wolf Run
#14 - Greywalls
#15 - Holston Hills
#16 - Lost Dunes
#17 - The Honors Course
#18 - Dunes Club
#19 - Yeamans Hall
#20 - Pine Needles
#21 - Inverness Club
#22 - Pinehurst No. 2
#23 - Blackwolf Run (River)
#24 - Harbour Town Golf Links
#25 - Black Diamond (Quarry)

HM's:
* Franklin Hills
* Forest Creek (North)
* Wolf Creek
* World Woods (Pine Barrons)
* Cuscowilla
* Bull’s Bay
* Oakland Hills
* Victoria National
* Tobacco Road
* Crooked Stick

[Steve Strasheim]

If you don't mind, I'll take this opportunity to try to make my first ever ranking list.

1. Sandhills
2. Turnberry
3. Wild Horse
4. Blackwolf Run River
5. Whistling Straits
6. Queensltown NZ
7. St. Andrews New
8. Muriwai Beach NZ
9. Blue Canyon, Phuket
10. Waireki NZ
11. St. Mellion
12. Vista Verde
13. Star Pass
14. La Paloma
15. Firethorn
16. Arbor Links
17. Tiffany Greens
18. Baker National
19. Links at Northfork
20. Old Kinderhook
21. The Wilds
22. Bayside (should be about 10, but forgot for a moment)
23. Champions Club Omaha
24. Quarry Oaks
25. Woodland Hills

Rating based on overall enjoyment as well as course quality.

[Chris Roselle]

Chris R...

Which course at Atlanta Athletic are you putting in your top 25.  Just curious.

Mac, the Highlands Course is my favorite of the two.  They are both great but I like Highlands alittle more.  It was in alittle better condition compared to Riverside.

[Bill Shamleffer]

Not one Augusta National yet...

Augusta National finally made a couple of later lists.  However, in my reading of these lists it does appear that August National may be the hardest great course to obtain playing access.

[David Amarnek]

Let me preface this list with the fact that I have yet to take advantage of the opportunity to play on Long Island, which I am confident would alter it substantially.

Geographically speaking:

Oakmont  #3
Pine Valley #2
Merion  #4
Gulph Mills
Huntington Valley

St. Andrews Old  #5
Prestwick  #9
Muirfield  #10
Turnberry
North Berwick
Carnoustie

Pebble Beach
Pasatiempo

Royal County Down #1

Portmarnock
The Island

Mid Ocean

Sunningdale Old  #6
RSG  #7
RCP
Swinley Forest  #8
Rye

St. Louis
Westwood (Home course)
Old Warson

[Mike Kosak]

Top 25 played:

1.  Cypress Point
2   San Francisco Golf Club
3.  Brook Hollow
4.  Pebble Beach
5.  Secession
6.  Cape Kidnappers
7.  Pacific Dunes
8.  Northland Country Club
9.  Pasatiempo
10.  Forest Highlands (Canyon)
11.  Wade Hampton
12.  Interlachen
13.  Whistling Straits (Straits)
14.  Olympic Club (Lake)
15.  Cherry Hills
16.  Desert Highlands
17.  Atlanta Athletic Club (Highlands)
18.  Bandon Trails
19.  Shadow Creek
20.  TPC Sawgrass
21.  Sonoma Golf Club
22.  Jack's Point
23.  Bandon Dunes
24.  Preston Trail
25.  Hazeltine

[erichunter]

The favorite (for various reasons) 25 golf courses I have played:

Augusta National
Cypress Point
Royal Dornoch
Pinehurst # 2
Pine Valley
Pebble Beach
Old Course - St. Andrews
Shoreacres
Cabo Del Sol - Ocean
Dunes (MI)
Canterbury
Baltusrol - Lower
Palmetto
Waterville
TPC Sawgrass
Mid Pines
Pine Needles
Austin Golf Club
Harbour Town
Tobacco Road
Point O' Woods
Sage Valley
Cog Hill - Dubs
Old Head
Lundin Links

[Sean Leary]

Not necessarily in order, more by tiers:

Pine Valley

Cypress Point
Royal County Down
Royal Portrush
Merion
Pebble Beach
Prairie Dunes
Lahinch
Ballybunion
Royal Dornoch
TOC St Andrews
Pacific Dunes

Ballyneal
LACC
SFGC
Portmarnock
Turnberry

Bandon Trails
Bandon Dunes
North Berwick
Eastward Ho!

Pasatiempo
Banff
Jasper Park
Kiawah (Ocean)

[Steve Salmen]

I originally did not want to read this post because I thought it would be exactly that: "Whip it out".  However, if everyone is honest there can be really good debate and a lot can be learned through discussion.  When I have time, I'd like to read everyone's thoughts, ask questions and make comments.  After a glance, I did a few, "Oh Yeah, that's a really good course I've played".  I liked the idea of posting the number of rounds played because multiple experiences makes the evaluation more honest.  I am fortunate to play the game and humbled by it.

1.   Muirfield (20)
2.   Royal Dornoch (200+)
3.   Chicago Golf Club (4)
4.   Dunes Club, MI (3)
5.   Pinehurst #2 (1)
6.   San Francisco Golf Club (2)
7.   Machrihanish (10+)
8.   North Berwick (6)
9.   Pacific Dunes (6)
10. Shoreacres (6)
11. Prestwick (3)
12. Elie (4)
13. Sheep Ranch (1 day)
14. Formby (2)
15. Askernish (2)
16. Carnoustie (6)
17. The Old Course (4)
18. Yale (1)
19. Meadow Club (6)
20. Olympic Lake (1)
21. Nairn (3)
22. Crosswater (2)
23. Skokie (1)
24. Beverly (4)
25. University of Michigan (2)

I had to ask myself this question: If you could be transported to a first tee of any course you've played, which would it be?  This is what I came up with today.  If you ask for this exercise tomorrow, it would probably be a little different.  If anyone thinks I'm smoking low grade crack, I'd love to hear why.

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