What is the worlds top public golf destination?

[Jud_T]

So rate them in several categories:

A. Overall Quality of Golf  
    2. Bandon
    4. Monterey/Pebble
    1. St. Andrews
    3. Cabo
    5. Hilton Head (?)

B. Convenience (Let's assume for Mr. "Middle America")
    2. Monterey
    1. Hilton Head
    4. Bandon
    3. Cabo
    5. St. Andrews

C. Weather / Playable Days
    1. Cabo
    5. Hilton Head
    2. Monterey
    3. St. Andrews
    4. Bandon

D. Relative Value
    2. St. Andrews
    4. Hilton Head (?)
    1. Bandon
    3. Cabo
    5. Monterey

[Greg Tallman]

So rate them in several categories:

A. Overall Quality of Golf  
    2. Bandon
    4. Monterey/Pebble
    1. St. Andrews
    3. Cabo
    5. Hilton Head (?)

B. Convenience (Let's assume for Mr. "Middle America")
    2. Monterey
    1. Hilton Head
    4. Bandon
    3. Cabo
    5. St. Andrews

C. Weather / Playable Days
    1. Cabo
    5. Hilton Head
    2. Monterey
    3. St. Andrews
    4. Bandon

D. Relative Value
    2. St. Andrews
    4. Hilton Head (?)
    1. Bandon
    3. Cabo
    5. Monterey

Harbour Town, May River... sure why not?

[Jud_T]

I only ? it because I haven't been there...

[Greg Tallman]

I only ? it because I haven't been there...

Next level is a drop but still decent and enjoyable.

[Greg Tallman]

Just trying to dismiss the notion that Cabo is ridiculously expensive.

What other winter destination can you think of that guarantees perfect weather 80° and excellent to great golf?

[David Kelly]

So rate them in several categories:

A. Overall Quality of Golf  
    1. Bandon
    2. Monterey/Pebble
    3. St. Andrews
    4. Cabo
    5. Hilton Head

This ignores a lot of destinations.

As Justin mentioned earlier, I think the Sandhills of North Carolina has better golf than most of the above.  Pinehurst #2, Pine Needles, Mid-Pines, Southern Pines, Tobaccos Road, Dormie Club, etc.

Inverness, Scotland has Royal Dornoch, Castle Stuart, Brora, Nairn, Tain, Fortrose & Rosemarkie, Moray, Golspie, Skiboo Castle. 

East Lothian has Muirfield, North Berwick, the Gullane courses, Dunbar, Luffness New, etc

I'm not even sure that Hilton Head or Cabo have better golf than Phoenix, Kohler, Kiawah or many parts of Ireland and England.

[Tony_Muldoon]

I'm not one to bash the US on this site but you are all answering from a US perspective.


For Golfers around the world there is but one top public golf destination and that's St Andrews. FACT.



If the thread were titled What's your top public golf destination?, the answers would be more accurate.

[Greg Tallman]

So rate them in several categories:

A. Overall Quality of Golf  
    1. Bandon
    2. Monterey/Pebble
    3. St. Andrews
    4. Cabo
    5. Hilton Head

This ignores a lot of destinations.

As Justin mentioned earlier, I think the Sandhills of North Carolina has better golf than most of the above.  Pinehurst #2, Pine Needles, Mid-Pines, Southern Pines, Tobaccos Road, Dormie Club, etc.

Inverness, Scotland has Royal Dornoch, Castle Stuart, Brora, Nairn, Tain, Fortrose & Rosemarkie, Moray, Golspie, Skiboo Castle. 

East Lothian has Muirfield, North Berwick, the Gullane courses, Dunbar, Luffness New, etc

I'm not even sure that Hilton Head or Cabo have better golf than Phoenix, Kohler, Kiawah or many parts of Ireland and England.

I said from "Middle America" as a qualifier... as in Jud is sitting home on a sub zero February Wednesday and just has to get away and play golf.

[cary lichtenstein]

Bandon
Pebble
Kohler

[William_G]

Sorry folks but Spyglass is better than three of the four courses at Bandon.  Also, you can take a cart with all of Monterey's public courses which makes them more accessable.

carts do suck, of course 

[Bill_McBride]

I'm not one to bash the US on this site but you are all answering from a US perspective.


For Golfers around the world there is but one top public golf destination and that's St Andrews. FACT.



If the thread were titled What's your top public golf destination?, the answers would be more accurate.

I was thinking the same thing, Tony.   St Andrews has been and still is, the Mecca for golfers from all over the world.   

I wonder what the total annual rounds are at the courses owned by the Links Trust (not to mention neighboring and very accessible courses), versus the total annual rounds at Bandon's four courses. 

What's depressing is how many will say that Bandon is best and never take the trip to Scotland or Ireland.   As great as Bandon is, and I do love it, it's a very predictable experience.   There is so much more to several days in St Andrews than just the golf.   

[Carl Johnson]

Looking at it from a "should be" standpoint, I'd say St. Andrews, Fife, Scotland, hands down.  Looking at it from a numbers standpoint, I'd guess Myrtle Beach, SC, USA.  But that's only a guess.

[Kevin Pallier]

3 night golf junkets

Cabo
Airfare: $650
Hotel: $600 (On site at Cabo del Sol)
Golf: $1000 (5 rounds, 4 at Cabo del Sol, 1 at Diamante - includes 2 replays at CDS)
F&B/Other: $450 ($150 per day... drinks et al)
TOTAL: $2,750

Bandon
Airfare: $650
Hotel: $950 (On Site at Bandon - average rate)
Golf: $900  (5 rounds on any of the courses including 2 replays)
F&B/Other: $450
TOTAL: $2,950

For domestic rates...

Barnbougle
Airfare: $500 (+ Car Hire)
Hotel: $250 (On site - twin share)
Golf: $390 (Day Ticket rounds BD / LF)
F&B/Other: $300 ($100 per day... drinks et al)
TOTAL: $1,440

One could go for another couple of nights and still come out on top.....

[David_Elvins]

3 night golf junkets

Cabo
Airfare: $650
Hotel: $600 (On site at Cabo del Sol)
Golf: $1000 (5 rounds, 4 at Cabo del Sol, 1 at Diamante - includes 2 replays at CDS)
F&B/Other: $450 ($150 per day... drinks et al)
TOTAL: $2,750

Bandon
Airfare: $650
Hotel: $950 (On Site at Bandon - average rate)
Golf: $900  (5 rounds on any of the courses including 2 replays)
F&B/Other: $450
TOTAL: $2,950

For domestic rates...

Barnbougle
Airfare: $500 (+ Car Hire)
Hotel: $250 (On site - twin share)
Golf: $390 (Day Ticket rounds BD / LF)
F&B/Other: $300 ($100 per day... drinks et al)
TOTAL: $1,440

One could go for another couple of nights and still come out on top.....

You are being generous with the airfares and car hire too, Kev.  A friend just booked a three day trip in March next year.  Airfares were $18 return from Melbourne!  As far as I am aware, you will not get great special airfare deals to Bandon.

I think David Kelly had a thread earlier in the year as to whether it was cheaper, from L.A. to go to Bandon or Barnbougle.  

[Kevin Pallier]

Agree David

Unbelievable how cheap Barnbougle is = A$130 for a day ticket at either course !!!

My only dissappointment with Bandon is the cost to stay & play there. Yeah its a good experience - but they dont miss your wallet.....

[David_Elvins]

Agree David

Unbelievable how cheap Barnbougle is = A$130 for a day ticket at either course !!!

My only dissappointment with Bandon is the cost to stay & play there. Yeah its a good experience - but they dont miss your wallet.....

Not wrong.  Rough calculation would be that, in peak season, Bandon is about $700 a day, all up.  Barnbougle a bit under $300.  The new Lost Farm clubhouse (and sports bar) really is amazing too.  One of the best clubhouse views in golf. 

[John Mayhugh]

 
-a sportsbar where you can bet  on the horses and football after your round.

How did I miss out on this??

I think St. Andrews is the top public destination in the world, and Barnbougle gets my vote for second. The only thing Barny is missing is a decent logo. 

[David_Elvins]

How did I miss out on this??

It is down with the pro shop and wasn't open yet when you were down. 

It is a great place for boys to be boys.  Lots of TVs with sport,  free pool table, sportsbetting, pizza menu, beer on tap, etc etc.  Compliments the Lost Farm and Barnbougle clubhouses very well. 

[Pete Lavallee]

Beer on tap; I had to gasp, drink my beer out of a bottle at the BD clubhouse.  I take it that the tap beer is offered at Lost Farm?

[Roger Wolfe]

I know the word "public" might disqualify this trip.  But after last year
(and Bandon not being an option), I vote for Traverse City, MI.  Stay
at The Kingsley Club... play Kingsley, Crystal Downs and Arcadia.  I hear
Forest Dunes is wonderful but I've never played it.

I could play those three (modern Kingsley, classic Crystal, otherwordly Arcadia)
and die a happy man.  I hate hot weather, and Michigan in late May is
heaven.

[David Kelly]

I think David Kelly had a thread earlier in the year as to whether it was cheaper, from L.A. to go to Bandon or Barnbougle.  

Here it is:
http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,48328.0.html

Basically golf and lodging are at least twice as expensive at Bandon as at Barnbougle. The costs become close when you add in airfare from Los Angeles.

I'm very happy that I missed out on the racebook.  Nothing good would have come of it for me.

[Tim Leahy]

Sorry folks but Spyglass is better than three of the four courses at Bandon.  Also, you can take a cart with all of Monterey's public courses which makes them more accessable.

carts do suck, of course 

So do kids and wives, but you don't seem to have a problem with them!

[Ulrich Mayring]

Coming back to the thread title: the world's top public resort.

I'll assume if it is to be the world's best, then we need to look at the one resort where people from all over the world travel to, just to play there perhaps once in a lifetime.

None of the American destinations even remotely qualify under that assumption, as hardly any Europeans, Asians etc. ever go there. If it's to be the "once in a lifetime trip" for most of the world, it's St. Andrews, period. Nowhere else will you hear more different languages around the first tee.

Ulrich

[Jud_T]

Can anyone name a public golf resort with 4 higher rated courses by any of the magazines or general GCA concensus than Bandon? Yes St. Andrews is a better "destination" when you toss in all the non-golf stuff, history, culture etc. and you overlook paying DEARLY for a guaranteed time on the Old Course, but seriously guys, aside from the occasional rediculous winds and a couple of mediocre holes on Bandon Dunes, nothing comes close for most of us...

[Terry Lavin]

Coming back to the thread title: the world's top public resort.

I'll assume if it is to be the world's best, then we need to look at the one resort where people from all over the world travel to, just to play there perhaps once in a lifetime.

None of the American destinations even remotely qualify under that assumption, as hardly any Europeans, Asians etc. ever go there. If it's to be the "once in a lifetime trip" for most of the world, it's St. Andrews, period. Nowhere else will you hear more different languages around the first tee.

Ulrich

Fair enough. I'm not sure Mike Keiser himself would quibble much over that assessment. In fact I will ask him and report back.