Would ratings by fixed dollar amount be helpful for most public players ?

[Tony Weiler]

Matt, some of these are on the GD top 100 Public by cost as listed by Jim C, but I'd put in:

Hawktree, $70 (ND)
Links of ND, $64
Bully Pulpit, $79 (includes cart) (ND)
Old Works, $50 (Mt.)

Now, I'd like to know how much Vista Verde (AZ) is in peak season.  I can't find that on the web, but I've played it in April for $75 with cart. 

Looks like Bully Pulpit has gone to the overpricing model just like everything else in Medora!

Garland, I think they'll let you walk for around $60, but you are correct.  Have to charge that I guess to make ends meet.  Plus, on a weekend, you are looking at a 5 plus hour round.  I like it, but I'd play HT and Links over it any day. 

[Garland Bayley]

Matt, some of these are on the GD top 100 Public by cost as listed by Jim C, but I'd put in:

Hawktree, $70 (ND)
Links of ND, $64
Bully Pulpit, $79 (includes cart) (ND)
Old Works, $50 (Mt.)

Now, I'd like to know how much Vista Verde (AZ) is in peak season.  I can't find that on the web, but I've played it in April for $75 with cart. 

Looks like Bully Pulpit has gone to the overpricing model just like everything else in Medora!

Garland, I think they'll let you walk for around $60, but you are correct.  Have to charge that I guess to make ends meet.  Plus, on a weekend, you are looking at a 5 plus hour round.  I like it, but I'd play HT and Links over it any day. 

I guess I don't understand Medora, but it seems North Dakotans love it (at one time my sister went every year). $120 for a $20 motel room. A theater production that probably easily be beaten by just attending theater productions at UND or NDSU. Steaks that can be better done on your own backyard grill. And, now Bully Pulpit trying to get more than LND and HT.

[Matt_Ward]

A couple of other nominees -- this time from the Northeast ...

*Tallgrass (Shoreham, NY)

*Crumpin-Fox (Bernardston, MA)

*Lederach (Harleysville, PA)

*P.B. Dye (Ijamsville, MD)

*Stow Acres / North (Stow, MA)

*Bethpage / Red (Farmingdale, NY)

Three that didn't make the list because of price ...

Bethpage Black (NY)
Ballyowen (NJ)
Twisted Dune (NJ)

[Phil McDade]

Matt:

A few from Wisconsin:

-- Pete Dye's Big Fish, near Hayward in the lakes region northeast of the Twin Cities (peak rate $59), and Troy Burne, a Tom Lehman effort near Hudson right on the MN-WI border (peak rate $79, and it's unclear if the $17 cart is mandatory). The Twin Cities GCA contingent can probably discuss the merits of these -- I haven't played either, but have heard very good things about Big Fish.

-- Wild Rock, the new (two years old) Hurdzan-Fry effort in Wisconsin Dells that earned some "best of" awards among new courses when it opened (peak rate now $89 -- several GCA contributers have played).

-- University Ridge, the UW-affiliated course by RTJ Jr., just west of Madison -- $94 with or without cart. I'm not wild about it, but it makes most top public course lists for this area.

[jeffwarne]

Ok here are a few non obvious public courses I love for $99 bucks and under that would be in my top 30 or so publics in the Northeast.  Many would merit some consideration for a top 100 list in the US per Matt's criteria.

1) Seven Oaks Golf Course - Colgate University, Hamilton, NY   - RTJ  $80.00.
2) Shennecossett Golf Course - Groton, CT - Donald Ross - $47.00
3) Fox Hopyard Golf Club - East Hamden, CT - $45-$99 ($99 on weekends)
4) Radisson Greens - Baldwinsville, NY $25.00  RTJ
5) Wayne Hills, Lyons, NY  $50.00
6) Sodus Bay Heights Golf Club, Sodus Point, NY $52.00
7) Bristol Harbour, Canandaigua, NY  $69.00

Enjoy!

I played Shennecosset on a recent trip to Fisher's Island
$40 cart inc. was the weekday special
Great place(fun restaraunt/bar), great course-firm and fast conditions

[Matt_Ward]

Phil:

No doubt Wisconsin is one of the best places to play public golf in the USA -- and I mean beyond the likes of just WS and the ones tied to Kohler and Erin Hills.

Love the name "Big Fish."

How long has Troy Burne been opened ?

Gents:

Couple of others to add ...

*Lakota Canyon Ranch (New Castle, CO)

*Wintonbury Hills (Bloomfield, CT)

*The Hideout (Monticello, UT)

[Phil McDade]

Phil:

No doubt Wisconsin is one of the best places to play public golf in the USA -- and I mean beyond the likes of just WS and the ones tied to Kohler and Erin Hills.

Love the name "Big Fish."

How long has Troy Burne been opened ?

Matt:

Lehman worked with Hurdzan and Fry in designing Troy Burne -- it opened in 1999. It's about 30 minutes east of the Twin Cities, and the course is really designed to tap into the Twin Cities golf market. But, we still call it ours in Wisconsin.

Agree on the public golf side -- the high-profile stuff gets all the attention, but there are some very good mid-level courses and just some solid old tracks that are worth seeing.

[Matt_Ward]

Phil:

Yes, I agree w you -- in the several times I have visited WI it clearly has a deep roster of top tier public courses that won't break your bank account. Clearly amazing stuff -- especially when you see such private-course dominated states like Pennsy and The Empire State which are really piss poor in terms of overall public course quality -- more so when price points are factored.

Beyond WI I would also include the likes of IN and CO for superior affordable public course options. It just seems they have no less than 4-5 courses that would easily make a top 100 for $99 and less stellar public courses.

Gents:

Another course to include -- UNM / Championship in Albuquerque. Really well done Red Lawrence design that often gets little attention.

Devil's Thumb in Delta, CO is another good find for the $$ -- Rick Phelps did a wonderful job with a very tight budget. Has one of the best split par-4 fairways I have seen on a public course with #13.

[Matt_Ward]

One of the better RTJ layouts just happened to have its genesis as a private layout but now is open to the public --

Hominy Hill in Colts Neck, NJ

I also like what George Fazio did with his very first layout (I believe that is correct) with the likes of Ocean County at Atlantis in Tuckerton, NJ. I admit the course needs a bit of work but for those who want a golf alternative near the Jersey Shore both courses are good designs from their respective creators and within the price range point.