Whip it Out: Post your Top 25 Courses Played

[Ben Sims]

My Top 25 done quickly. 


1.  Sand Hills  (50+)
2.  Pine Valley  (   
3.  Muirfield  (2)
4.  Royal County Down  (2)
5.  National GL  (1)
6.  Shinnecock Hills  (3)
7.  TOC  (2)
8.  Oakmont  (3)   
9.  Merion  (1)
10.  Chicago GC  (2)
11.  Pacific Dunes  (250+)
12.  Crystal Downs  (5)
13.  SFGC  (4)
14.  Lahinch  (10)
15.  Ballyneal  (10)
16.  North Berwick  (1)
17.  Yale  (4)
18.  Carnoustie  (1)
19.  Pebble Beach  (2)
20.  Pinehurst #2  (3)
21.  Shoreacres  (10)
22.  Bandon Trails  (25)
23.  Old Macdonald  (3)
24.  Franklin Hills  (500+)
25.  Lookout Mountain  (100+)

So what you're saying is that I need to start a golf company?

If that's in order, I'm surprised at Old Mac's positioning.  What are the numbers in parenthesis?

[Gene Greco]

My Top 25 done quickly. 


1.  Sand Hills  (50+)
2.  Pine Valley  (   
3.  Muirfield  (2)
4.  Royal County Down  (2)
5.  National GL  (1)
6.  Shinnecock Hills  (3)
7.  TOC  (2)
8.  Oakmont  (3)   
9.  Merion  (1)
10.  Chicago GC  (2)
11.  Pacific Dunes  (250+)
12.  Crystal Downs  (5)
13.  SFGC  (4)
14.  Lahinch  (10)
15.  Ballyneal  (10)
16.  North Berwick  (1)
17.  Yale  (4)
18.  Carnoustie  (1)
19.  Pebble Beach  (2)
20.  Pinehurst #2  (3)
21.  Shoreacres  (10)
22.  Bandon Trails  (25)
23.  Old Macdonald  (3)
24.  Franklin Hills  (500+)
25.  Lookout Mountain  (100+)

So what you're saying is that I need to start a golf company?

If that's in order, I'm surprised at Old Mac's positioning.  What are the numbers in parenthesis?

Maybe the number of times that course was played??

[Ben Sims]

Maybe the number of times that course was played??

Gene,

That makes sense.  Now I'm super jealous; as unbecoming as that emotion can be. 

Any progress on your answer about your first and last times up at Sand Hills?  Not to bother.

[John Kirk]

Geez, Ari.  That adds up to approximately 1000 rounds played at your favorite 25 courses.  How many rounds do you play each year?

[Steve Kline]

Ranked in tiers (based on how quickly I would want to go back) (modifications in red:

Pine Valley

Ballyneal
Bandon Trails
Camargo
Pebble Beach
Pinehurst #2
Riviera
TOC

Bandon Dunes
Cruden Bay
North Berwick
Pine Needles
Royal Aberdeen
Royal Dornoch

Country Club of Columbus (GA)
Kohler-River Course
Muirfield Village
NCR South
Prestwick
Spyglass Hill
TPC Sawgrass
Western Gailes

Bel Air
Donegal
Holston Hills
Hyde Park
Nairn
Tobacco Road

Others considered:
Point o' Woods
Carne
Enniscrone
Turnberry
Royal Liverpool
Royal Birkdale
Royal Troon
Crail
Nairn
Tobacco Road

By the way...this is extremely hard to do.

[John Moore II]

My top 25 courses played, now ranked numerically. I had to change it like this given the volume of courses I am about to play that are sure to take spots in this list and I wanted to know for sure which courses were coming out first.

1. Old Town Club (1)
2. Eagle Point (2)
3. Pine Needles (5)
4. Golden Horseshoe (Gold) (1)
5. CCNC (Dogwood) (1)
6. NCSU Lonnie Poole (1)
7. Forest Creek (North) (1)
8. Mattaponi Springs (1)
9. Thanksgiving Point (1)
10. PGA (Dye) (3)
11. Moose Run (River) (1)
12. Tanglewood Park (Champions) (1)
13. Bryan Park (Champions) (3-5)
14. Bear's Best Atlanta (1)
15. The President  (Eagle) (1)
16. Tobacco Road (5)
17.Nansemond River Golf Club (1)
18. Tot Hill Farm (somehow omitted from earlier lists)  (1)
19. Duke Golf Club (1)
20. TPC Wakefield Plantation (3)
21. Pensacola Country Club (1)
22. Mid South (25+)
23. Riverfront (5)
24. Southern Pines (5)
25. Pinehurst #5 (1)

Original courses in Black
April 11 updates in Red.
June 24 updates in Blue.
July 16 update in Green.
And I am actually ranking them as of July 16.
July 26 update in Orange.

New lists appreciated from anyone willing to put them down.

And since Ari listed how many times he'd played the courses, I will do the same. Lots of One-and-Done trips up here.

[Ari Techner]

My Top 25 done quickly. 


1.  Sand Hills  (50+)
2.  Pine Valley  (   
3.  Muirfield  (2)
4.  Royal County Down  (2)
5.  National GL  (1)
6.  Shinnecock Hills  (3)
7.  TOC  (2)
8.  Oakmont  (3)   
9.  Merion  (1)
10.  Chicago GC  (2)
11.  Pacific Dunes  (250+)
12.  Crystal Downs  (5)
13.  SFGC  (4)
14.  Lahinch  (10)
15.  Ballyneal  (10)
16.  North Berwick  (1)
17.  Yale  (4)
18.  Carnoustie  (1)
19.  Pebble Beach  (2)
20.  Pinehurst #2  (3)
21.  Shoreacres  (10)
22.  Bandon Trails  (25)
23.  Old Macdonald  (3)
24.  Franklin Hills  (500+)
25.  Lookout Mountain  (100+)

So what you're saying is that I need to start a golf company?

If that's in order, I'm surprised at Old Mac's positioning.  What are the numbers in parenthesis?

Being in the golf industry definitely helps!  Most of the top courses I have played have been while on business trips for Scratch. 

I did my list quickly and I may have rated Old Mac a little lower than I should have but not by alot.  I loved parts of the course and really enjoyed it overall but if I am nitpicking my issues with the course was that it seemed to have a lack of interesting tee shots.  Most holes you could hit it anywhere and be fine.  I think it will grow on me with repeated plays and as it grows in.  I will tell you one thing, I want to love the course more than anything.  I absolutely LOVE Bandon and have spent a ton of time there and I am a HUGE Macdonald/Raynor guy. 

As Gene said, the numbers in parenthesis are the number of times I have played there as requested by someone in this thread. 

[Ari Techner]

Geez, Ari.  That adds up to approximately 1000 rounds played at your favorite 25 courses.  How many rounds do you play each year?

John,

I have never actually counted the number of rounds that I play in a year.  These days I dont play much during the week when I am home but my son and I play atleast once early in the morning on the weekend and sometimes twice.  But that is only when I am in town which I am often not.  When I am out of town I try to play every chance that I get and that usually means working during the day and getting in a round at a local course in the afternoon.  Occasionally I will take a long weekend and just play golf without working but only a few times a year. 

[John Moore II]

Ari-You've played Pacific Dunes more than 250 times? Well on that note, you can pucker up and kiss my rear...   I'm jealous.

[Mark Chaplin]

Ari - you should have played Deal less but that cheeky win on the 19th from dormie 4 down got you out again  !!

[Ari Techner]

Ari-You've played Pacific Dunes more than 250 times? Well on that note, you can pucker up and kiss my rear...   I'm jealous.

Living in Oregon for 10 years definitely had its benefits!   

[Ari Techner]

Ari - you should have played Deal less but that cheeky win on the 19th from dormie 4 down got you out again  !!

Ah yes, the greatest first round Brassie match comeback in the long history of the Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club lol.  I can't remember who my opponent was, do you recall perhaps? 

[Mark Chaplin]

I'm told in 1903 Capt The Hon. Percy Waugh-Smythe was 6 down with 7 to play against Rev Diggery Pickleton. My therapist tells me to hold onto that thought!!

[Scott Warren]

Chappers, just thank God you weren't the daft bugger who butchered the deciding match of this year's Halford Hewitt... or the engraver who jumped the gun and etched the wrong name on the trophy!

[Mark Chaplin]

The engraver was only following orders, the hon secretary of the Hewitt take full responsibility and knows his gaff will go into Hewitt lore!!

[Bruce Wellmon]

By location

Scotland: The Old Course
               Kingsbarns
               Royal Dornoch
               Castle Stuart

Ireland: Ballybunion
           Lahinch
           Waterville
           Doonbeg

Oregon: Bandon Trails
            Pac Dunes
            Bandon Dunes

California: Pebble
              Olympic (Lake)

NC/SC: Pinehurst #2
           Grandfather
           Old Town
           The Ocean Course
           Yeaman's Hall
            Pine Needles
            Palmetto

Other: TPC Sawgrass
           Whistling Straits
           Blackwolf Run
           The Honor's Cpurse
            Cabo Del Sol (Ocean)
    

[Chris Shaida]

No Mac it isn't.  I can't even mention it publicly .  It's too perfect.  Thank god it is among the most exclusive private clubs in America but nearly the lowest in profile.  The last thing it or my love for it need is for people to say, "it stinks...they should do this..." or words to that effect.

The greatest thing it has going for it, is that it doesn't care to change or alter one little bit and it plays almost the same today with hot equipment as it did 30 years ago with persimmon, balata and those Wilson Staff wedges.

I will tell you privately if you inquire.

cheers

vk

Does it begin with a 'p' and end in an 'o'?

[Stephen Perkins]

Here goes...

Cypress Point
Royal County Down
Pebble Beach
Chicago Golf
San Francisco
Winged Foot West
Peachtree
Winged Foot East
Alotian Club
Honors Course
Cherry Hills
Southern Hills
Muirfield Village
Plainfield
Boston Golf
Olympic
Ocean Forest
Old Sandwich
Old Town
Dallas National
Pinehurst No. 2
Colonial
Spyglass Hill
Ballybunion
Portmarnock

[Andrew Cunningham]

Cypress Point
Oak Hill East
Oakmont
Winged Foot West
Pebble Beach
Pete Dye GC
Oakland Hills South
San Francisco
Riviera
Ocean Course
National Golf Club of Canada
Sebonack
Olympic Club
Whistling Straits
St. Georges GC
Pinehurst No. 2
Sagebrush
Olympia Fields North
Los Angeles North
TPC Sawgrass
Butler National
Plainfield
Medinah No. 3
Kittansett
Spyglass

[William_G]

FWIW, the top course is always the one I'm presently playing!

St. Andrews
Cypress
Pebble
Pacific
Pinehurst #8
Bandon
Old Mac
Waterville
Spyglass
Trails
Bayonet
Eugene
Pasatiempo
Gleneagles Kings
Oak Tree
Cordevalle
Pinehurst #2
East Lake
MPCC
Crosswater
Pumpkin Ridge
Torrey Pines
Martis Camp
Plantation
Olympic Club
 

Thanks, thats 25!

[John Moore II]

FWIW, the top course is always the one I'm presently playing!

St. Andrews
Cypress
Pebble
Pacific
Pinehurst #8
Bandon
Old Mac
Waterville
Spyglass
Trails
Bayonet
Eugene
Pasatiempo
Gleneagles Kings
Oak Tree
Cordevalle
Pinehurst #2
East Lake
MPCC
Crosswater
Pumpkin Ridge
Torrey Pines
Martis Camp
Plantation
Circling Raven
Banff Springs
 

You listed 26 courses, good Sir.   

[jim_lewis]

delete

[Jud_T]

Jim, 

Great list, but how about a real ranking!

[jim_lewis]

delete

[Bill Brightly]

I have refrained from posting my top 25 for two reasons. First, I have trouble leaving out some excellent courses that I can’t fit into my top 25. Second, I don’t want to have to defend my reasons for omitting some courses that most everyone would expect to be included. My answer to the latter is to just not mention courses that I left out. I will say that one course that is conspicuously absent is Cypress Point. Reason…I have never played it.

So here goes, in no particular order except I list Pine Valley first because that is where it belongs.

Pine Valley
Pinehurst #2
Augusta National
Shinnecock
Merion
Oakmont
Pebble Beach
Sand Hills
Pacific Dunes
Chicago Golf Club
The Old Course
Carnoustie
Muirfield
Royal Melbourne
Kingston Heath
Ballybunion
Prairie Dunes
Royal Dornoch
Crystal Downs
Royal County Down
St. Louis CC
Seminole
Wannamoisett
Fishers Island
Winged Foot

Jim,

That is a helluva list.  Wonder which one or two gets the boot if you play some place like Cape Kidnappers or Old Macdonald?