Say what you will about those stupid "best of" golf course lists...

[Mac Plumart]

but awhile back I found this bad boy while checking out one of those useless lists...









I played it again today and had yet another wonderful time and hit one fun shot after another...and oh yeah, the greens fees are still less than $50!!

Stupid lists!!!!   

[David_Tepper]

Please tell us the name & location of this course. Thanks.

[Mac Plumart]

Longshadow in Madison, GA

[Ben Sims]

Mac!  Thanks for making me remember my day there.  I thought I played pretty well considering that The Dude, Mr Young, put on a mid and short iron clinic. 

You picked some great pics for the 2nd and 3rd shots.  Those were my two favorite on the back nine.  There is no way from that shot that anyone can tell how big the 17th green is, or how much slope is on the back of that green.  It's the most unique par three in the state most likely.

BTW, where in hell is Mike Young?  He's been in hiding ever since the Georgia-Georgia Tech game last year. 

[Mac Plumart]

Ben...

That green on 17 is mind-bottling!!!    As is the bunker!  My friend actually faded his tee ball into that thing...ugh!  It is HUGE!  The green is amazing.

The knock on the course over the last few years or so has been maintenance.  Not the case anymore.  It was in great shape.  Greens rolled pure and true.  It was really a treat.

The course has moments that I will never forget...stepping to the first tee box and seeing the pot bunker style of the bunkers.  Totally cool for middle Georgia.  Walking to the 4th tee box and seeing that bunker guarding the par three's green.  Seeing that DAMN tree right in the middle of the 5th fairway which is a par 5 playing into a small green guarded by a small stream in front!!!!!!!  



10 and 11 have such a great links-ish feel to them.  17, as we've discussed.  And then the par 5 18 is such a great finishing hole.  You know tha bunker right in the middle fairway?  I was in that darn thing today.  Hit a nice wedge out of it and got up and down for par...great fun!!

Anyway, my point is that without these top 100 type lists I never would have found that course.  And that would have been a shame.

[Ben Sims]

Mac,

I agree with what you said.  It's a fantastic course that is better than all but just a handful of courses in the state.  In fact, I think Golfweek has it at 4th in the state.

I am glad to hear the maintenance is getting better.  It was close to getting sketchy last summer.  I think the owner is starting to understand what he's got there.

[Tim Bert]

Longshadow is super-terrific.  That being said...

I find it really hard to believe that as much as you hang around this site and with some of the guys you've played golf with in the past year you wouldn't have heard about this course sooner rather than later without the help of a list.  

[Mac Plumart]

Tim...

no doubt about that.  Being on this site has opened my eyes to much more than any Top whatever list could ever do.

But I found Longshadow before I knew of this site and I took a friend out there today (and met another GCA'er) because he found it on Golfweek's list and asked me about it.  That is my point.  But you are totally correct in your statement. 

[Phil_the_Author]

So who's the other GCA'er?

[Tim Bert]

This is one of my favorite photos of the 17th.  One of the best holes on a course loaded with good ones. 

[Link Walsh]

So who's the other GCA'er?

I met Mac out there this morning.  Had a great time, especially seeing him hit the old hickories around the course.  Boy those greens are fun. 

[John Moore II]

So, not to take away from the course in question in this thread, but to add onto the original idea, I too have found some very interesting golf courses by looking on different lists. The Golf Digest Top 100 public list led me to play Mattaponi Springs, a course that I would not have even heard of otherwise. Hopefully I can say the same thing about a few other courses in the future.

[Mac Plumart]

John...you are not taking anything away from the course listed or this thread.  That is exactly my point.  I posted the pictures only to show how amazing a course listed by only one rating entity on a best of the public GA courses list was.  Your add on comment bolsters that point.  There are gems out there to be found that people are overlooking and these lists help.  They are not perfect...there have flaws...but they are pretty good.

We like to debate that courses, say for instance Pebble Beach, is over-rated.  We vehemently argue that it should be ranked as the 21st best course in the US not the 11th (or whatever).  But isn't the over all point that the course is amazing, be it the 21st most amazing or the 11th most amazing?

But there are gems out there that I think people would like to see, but they don't get a lot of national publicity...but they can bring a lot of joy to a lot of golfers...and maybe at a very affordable price.

Anyway, that is the value of these lists in my opinion.  Finding the hidden gems.

If anyone else has a hidden gem...please post away...I, for one, would love to hear about it.

[Ryan Admussen]

Still regret not making it to Longshadow and Cuscowilla when I was down there, oh well another reason for a return trip.

Regarding the top 100 lists, I always take a look at them when going on a trip, but the best recommendations/suggestions I've gotten are from this site.

[Daryl David]

Let me pile on and add my praise for Long Shadow.  Each time I play I am more impressed and equally worried that the course is not getting enough play.  I imagine they are struggling a bit in this economy.  If you are going to Cuscowilla, Reynolds or just in Atlanta for a day, do not hesitate to spend a round or two at LS.  You will not be disappointed and the outside play will go along ways to help sustain the course until the housing market comes back.

[Sean_A]

Its really the only reason I look at lists - I am looking for outlier courses not much talked about.  It is also why I enjoy reading favourites list of folks on this site.  Same goes for the picture threads - the best info on this site for my purposes. 

Ciao