List 1.
"My favorite courses I've played that I'd happily play every day for the rest of my life"
1. The Old Course, St. Andrews-If you haven't played it more than once, you really have only seen the Old Gal in passing at a cocktail party. If you've played her twice like me, you've just taken her out for a coffee and have just begun to get a sense of how interesting she really is...
2. Pacific Dunes-Most here know the drill. But this track is deserving of every acolade. If RGD surpasses this track I will genuflect in the direction of Traverse City daily. Perhaps the only course I've played where the stunning views are simply secondary to the quality of the golf.
3. Ballybunion Old- I'd have to develop a low lefty draw to handle the home stretch along the water but it'd be worth the effort. Fantastic dunes, wonderful routing. The 6th is one of my favorite short par fours in the world.
4. Prestwick- When you look up "Old School" in the dictionary, there's a picture of Prestwick. Holes they'd never build today, but should.
5. Portmarnock- Just love how understated the course is yet works perfectly with the land. Some great bunkering as well.
6. Lahinch- Played it twice right before the Irish Open and the rough was up, but what a spot. Classic Holes, Huge Dunes hard against the sea in a wonderful little town.
7. Fisher's Island- What's not to like? Raynor classic where you can see the water from virtually every tee and every green.
8. Kingsley Club- I liked the place so much I became a Member! Although if I played it every day they'd probably have to put a standing order in to keep the mailbox stocked...
9. Shoreacres- Classic Raynor course with some inspired use of ravines and a certain je ne sais qua. Matt Ward's only serious error IMHO..
10. Lost Dunes- Yes there's a highway running through it, but this is really a wonderful piece of sandy property that RGD made maximum use of. Some of the greens have to be seen to be believed.
11. Lawsonia Links- If you don't get it by now, make every effort to join in the fun at the Midwest Mashie. A textbook on how to take an average piece of rolling farmland and build fantastic green complexes and Voila....
12. Westhampton- Just love the laidback beach feel of this old classic. Have to get back out there post-renovation.
13. Baltray- Underrated IMHO based on 1 play.
14. Bahia de Los Suenos- See my ongoing photo thread. And when's the last time another member at Cypress, Augusta, Chicago, Shinny or Seminole offered you some fresh Yellowtail Sashimi that they just reeled in an hour prior?
15. Rustic Canyon- Played it a few weeks ago with a rental set on a business trip to see what all the fuss is about. All the fuss is well deserved. Why aren't there a ton more public courses like this around the country?
16. Tamarack Country Club- Old Banks classic. The Punchbowl 11th, Biarritz 12th, #7 Redan as well as the scope of some of Steamshovel's bunkering are must sees for anyone here...I'll try to get a photo tour together next summer.