I just got back from a golf trip to Eastern Long Island, where I played Atlantic, Shinnecock, National and Maidstone. I enjoyed all of them, especially Shinnecock, which I have played a few times before and consider one of the five best courses I have played in this country. It was glorious despite the unusually high wind.
While I was there, I heard from three or four separate people that they had just played Friar's Head, and all of them raved about it. Some said it was better than any other course on Long Island. I have obviously heard about it before, and many people I know say it is Crenshaw/Coore's best. But I have never played nor seen it. I know it has been discussed on this site many times before.
My questions are--Is it really that good? Really better than Shinnecock? (Hard to believe.) Is it worth a trip back across the country just to play it? How hard is access to get on it? Impossible without a member? Any other thoughts?