What is the worlds top public golf destination?

[Mark Chaplin]

Greg - thats what we call public golf in the UK. A St Andrews resident can play all of the courses for that sum per year, I believe it's a similar figure at Carnoustie. My local municiple does an annual ticket for under £300pa

Kalen - you maybe right.

[Jon Wiggett]

I'll ask an earlier question again; Does Bandon, Pebble or Myrtle Beach offer unlimited golf to local residents for $300 a year?

Why would they?

Because public golf means affordable access to all. Pebble is definitely out, too expensive. St.Andrews must surely be the best destination re: quality of courses for the money

[Greg Tallman]

I'll ask an earlier question again; Does Bandon, Pebble or Myrtle Beach offer unlimited golf to local residents for $300 a year?

Why would they?

Because public golf means affordable access to all.

I do not agree with that definition.

Furthermore there is not a fee you could present that would fall under your definition. Not even $1 as there are millions upon millions who could not afford to pay one dollar to play golf. 

[Garland Bayley]

Bethpage State Park. Just count the number of customers when they're open.

[Joe_Tucholski]

I agree the choice is not even close...

Other than maybe Spanish Bay...name one other "Public" course in the area that is even remotely in the league of any of the 4 courses at Bandon?

P.S.  This reminds me of an NBA trade where you give away one bona-fide star in exchange for 4 solid to decent players...it never works out for those teams.  Quantity never matches up to Quality!

Kalen it can be debated whether an hour drive is within the same area but given the fact that the course I play 50% of my home games at is an hour drive I'm going to say it is...so Pasatiempo is another course in the same league.

Mark Chaplin I assume you know the courses do not offer unlimited golf at the price you listed.  Bandon used to have Oregonian rates, Pebble occasionally offers NCGA discounts and I assume many courses in Myrtle Beach offer local discounts.  That being said I don't really care if the courses give locals a discount, we're talking destination so that means traveling to play and therefore not local.  Public destination to me means I can play it without having to "know" someone.  I certainly don't care that Torrey Pines, Chambers Bay, Bethpage or the myriad of UK courses charge locals a relatively small amount all I care about is the fact that they charge me $200+.

To answer the question I could basically copy what Justin Sadowsky said for an American perspective.

[Jim Franklin]

Bandon and it is not even close. I love Pebble, but the Bandon offerings are top notch from 1-4 and now a par 3 course. It is a guy's retreat. Now if I am bringing the wife...nevermind, that's not happening.

[Terry Lavin]

For me, in the States, in order:

Bandon
Pinehurst
Pebble
Hilton Head

[Jeff_Brauer]

I would love to see actual tourists visits data. I would guess that Myrtle Beach and Florida somewhere would be the biggest volume golf tourist destinations, even if not favorites here.

[Stewart Abramson]

I'm surprised that there hasn't been even one mention of the greater Phoenix area. For the average destination golfer there are as many choices in close proximity as Myrtle Beach or any other locale. For those interested in GCA there are a number of interest, even if not in the Bandon/Pebble class. Southern Dunes, Vista Verde, both We-Ko-Pa courses, Talking Stick, Troon North and others often get props here. If you include lodging choices, restaurants, scenery, off course activities and ease of travel, which some have done re: other destinations, it should be in the mix.

Re: the resident fee for St Andrews: I don't see the relevance on this thread. The question was  regarding a destination, not a as place to live.

[John Foley]

John - what did you find expensive at St Andrews? With the exception of the Old and Castle the courses - all 5 - are great value and whilst expensive TOC is world class. Good twin accommodation is around £80 a night and being a university town plenty of cheap eats and drinks.

Does Bandon, Pebble or Myrtle Beach offer unlimited golf to local residents for $300 a year?

Mark - to an American it's the air fare. What are the green fee's for a visitor? Your $300 is for a local not a visitor from the states in on Holiday.

I'm not looking for an argument, it's just the costs for true travel golf to the places listed above is out of line what many lovers of the game can afford.

I go away every fall with a pretty diverse group of golfers. Two are CEO's - Two sales exec's - Two teachers - an accountant & a hardwood floor finisher -  We're never getting to those places listed and if we go to say a Pinehurst - we ain't playing at the namesake resort. Those are the facts.

[Sven Nilsen]

Semantics.  How are we defining "top" here?

Top to me means the destination I'd choose to go to for my once in a lifetime golf trip.  

Top in the world - St. Andrews

Top in the States - Bandon

[Keith Phillips]

I would take East Lothian over Pebble any day

so many good choices, but I second East Lothian, if 'variety' and 'culture' count (the latter won't for some/many) - if the goal is a boys golf trip with the focus on 36-a-day and cards at night, it is very hard to beat Bandon...phenomenal golf and all right there - I love Bandon, but St. Andrews and East Lothian are tied for #1 in my book, assuming 'public' is defined as public-ACCESS, which virtually every course in Scotland offers the golfing tourist - frankly those spots may only be beat by suburban LONDON, where access to Sunningdale, Walton Heath, Swinley Forest, The Berkshire, Woking, Worplesdon, West Hill, etc etc etc is available to anyone with a sub-20 handicap and an email address...and the west end is a 30-minute train ride away!

[Andy Troeger]

I have to admit that if you stick to the public courses then Bandon wins over Pebble in fairly convincing fashion, although if you factor in Pasatiempo you've got a reasonable argument I suppose. I give Pebble the note as the single best course, but then Trails, Pacific Dunes, and Bandon Dunes for me are ahead of Spyglass and Pasatiempo and Old Mac isn't far behind. Spanish Bay isn't in that league at all. They're all pricey if you're traveling very far to get there, but Bandon is the best golf experience to me.

I don't think Phoenix belongs in the discussion. The golf isn't really that great on a national or world-wide scale if you only include the public courses. You could do better in Indianapolis, and their peak season rates are a lot better.

[Joe Bausch]

John - what did you find expensive at St Andrews? With the exception of the Old and Castle the courses - all 5 - are great value and whilst expensive TOC is world class. Good twin accommodation is around £80 a night and being a university town plenty of cheap eats and drinks.

Does Bandon, Pebble or Myrtle Beach offer unlimited golf to local residents for $300 a year?

Mark - to an American it's the air fare. What are the green fee's for a visitor? Your $300 is for a local not a visitor from the states in on Holiday.

I'm not looking for an argument, it's just the costs for true travel golf to the places listed above is out of line what many lovers of the game can afford.

I go away every fall with a pretty diverse group of golfers. Two are CEO's - Two sales exec's - Two teachers - an accountant & a hardwood floor finisher -  We're never getting to those places listed and if we go to say a Pinehurst - we ain't playing at the namesake resort. Those are the facts.

And I'm guessing you represent 99% of the golfers in this country.

[Gary Slatter]

Value-wise St Andrews is world's best for public golf.  The Old, Kingsbarns and Carnoustie at the high end, with dozens of other really good courses for a lot less.

[William_G]

Bandon, Oregon and still in it's infancy, love it, best in the world.

Monterey Peninsula is awesome as well, just different, less rugged perhaps.

St. Andrews is the home of golf of course.

I love Ireland as well.

I think more golfers make more repeat golf trips to Bandon, Oregon than any other golf destination in the world.

thanks

[Ally Mcintosh]

St Andrews and East Lothian.

I've never been to Pebble Beach or Bandon but I'd be hard pushed to believe they would provide me more overall enjoyment than staying in those two areas.

For the majority of golfers who don't participate in this forum, Myrtle Beach or Vilamoura.

[Philip Spogard]

In my mind nothing gets close to the total experience of visiting St. Andrews - arguably there are a few better courses out there - but for the charm and history of it, it is in its own league.

[Kevin Pallier]

Barnbougle surely should be in the mix particularly in terms of value for money.

[David_Elvins]

Barnbougle surely should be in the mix particularly in terms of value for money.

Other than the fact it only has two courses, Barnbougle beats Bandon and Monterey by a long way. 
-Courses are better.
-Clubhouse view is better
-a sportsbar where you can bet  on the horses and football after your round.
-cost is 1/3 of the price, making it very accessible. 

[Jud_T]

I don't know that I have to be saying that.  I think Pacific Dunes and OM are very good, Bandon OK and Trails average.

Trails average?  I just got back and if anything it's even better than I thought previously.  It's not even close Jim, Bandon crushes Pebble in terms of golf and value.  In addition, the food's better than it used to be...

[Jud_T]

Barnbougle surely should be in the mix particularly in terms of value for money.

-cost is 1/3 of the price, making it very accessible. 

You mean aside from the 24 hour commute and the crushing jetlag for most of us?

[Sean_A]

I wouldn't consider east Lothian public
The courses are private members clubs which generously offer public tee times
I have not seen public course or resort which knocked my socks off but I suspect barnbougle might
St Andrews is certainly the best I have seen on terms of the course and city
Kiawah has a certain charm
Pinehurst misses the Mark by quite a bit with the messed up club house and twee town

Ciao

[David_Elvins]

You mean aside from the 24 hour commute and the crushing jetlag for most of us?

Oh yeah, the other advantage, not overrun with complaining, self-obsessed Americans.  

EDIT: Of course, I mean financially accessible.  The crowds at Bandon and Pebble are quite a bit more homogenous, which is to their detriment, IMO.

[Greg Clark]

Bandon is pretty tough to beat.  The only knock on it is that it is a pain to get to for many of us here in the States, and adds an extra day of travel to the trip for many.  That being said, once you are there the golf and convenience are stellar.  I haven't been across the pond to play yet, but when I do go, I'd much rather head to SW Ireland than to St. Andrews.