[Ronald Montesano]

Happy Birthday, Donald Ross...11/23/1872

I love CCBuffalo and cannot wait for the restoration, especially since we'll be able to describe it to the kids we coach as it progresses, and why it is important. That said, my favorite of the few that I've played (since I only saw #2 in its 1982 state, it wasn't the course that Ross built then) would be Mark Twain in Elmira, NY. While a friend of mine poo-poos some of the clientele as "men in jeans who don't know the respect that golf deserves," MTGC is a wondrous course of the people. Routed up and into the side of a hill, it makes use of putting locations that offer hidden breaks and massive turns. The winding of the fairways this way and that affords public golfers a chance to face the blind, the horizon and many other turns of the green that a lesser architect (whether Ross visited the site or not) might not have found/utilized. I could go on, but I'd like to get back there and do a true photo essay on the place.

[Scott Sander]

French Lick - and not because it was just re-profiled!

I played there for the first time last month and was absolutely smitten.  There's little new or insightful I can add to the recent discussion of it, but I will say that of all the Golden Age courses I've played, it was the one that most made me feel as if I was -in- the Golden Age for a few hours.

A second for me would also be in Indiana:  Broadmoor.  The greens are a delight.  It's also interesting as a teaching tool for friends who don't mind me droning on about design; the work done there brought back a great deal of Ross that was hidden, but it's still short of the more radical deforestation that's probably needed.  So it's really easy to walk around and point to a bunker that's back in play (or not!) and talk about tree-planting.

I have a soft spot for Wellshire in Denver, too - for some of the same reasons you celebrate Mark Twain, Ronald.  Admittely, you have to look through several different layers of later and likely lesser work at Wellshire, but the bones are still the bones.

I've only played 9 courses that I know to be Ross, so my experience is limited.  But propelled by French Lick, I will seek out and play more.

[JNC Lyon]

Mountain Ridge

Why?  The routing is excellent on what amounts to a mediocre piece of property (most architects wouldn't know how to deal with a hillside like that).  The bunkering, restored by Ron Prichard, is fearsome and brilliantly placed.  Most of all, the greens are out of this world.  These are still the most fearsome greens I've ever putted, and the recovery shots the golfer is asked to hit around them are endless.

Most Ross courses have the great routing, great bunkers, and wild greens, but Mountain Ridge has them to a greater degree.

Of course, with some tree work and continued restoration, Teugega would win this competition going away.

As an aside, Donald Ross's birthday is a good time to note that I've seen Donald Ross's birthplace in Dornoch, Scotland.  If that's not a GCA dork landmark, I don't know what is.

[Ronald Montesano]

Nerd, not dork...we're politically correct 'round these parts.

[Tim Martin]

As an aside, Donald Ross's birthday is a good time to note that I've seen Donald Ross's birthplace in Dornoch, Scotland.  If that's not a GCA dork landmark, I don't know what is.

John-That`s the height of dorkishness(word?) in a good way of course.

[Joel Zuckerman]

Tie at the top:

Longmeadow CC--2 minutes from the house I grew up in back in WMass...Bobby Jones still has a piece of the course record

Salem CC---Great pedigree, wonderful setting, good routing and elevation changes...best logo in golf!

[Ronald Montesano]

Tim, the proper word is "dorkicity."

[Tim Martin]

Tim, the proper word is "dorkicity."

Teach-Is dorkification a word?

[Ronald Montesano]

Absolutely, from the etymological root dorkus, dorci meaning "my pant legs are too high? my belt doesn't go above the belly button?"

[Jud_T]

Pinehurst #2.  End of thread.

[Tim Martin]

Pinehurst #2.  End of thread.

Killjoy

[Ronald Montesano]

Your Royal Judness...

I realize it's difficult to allow others to participate in a thread, but perhaps you might deign to do so. Note the title of the thread...Your Favorite of his and why! Not "Jud's Favorite, At Which Point The Thread Will Cease Growing."

As you might have guessed, wizened old buzzard that you are, I chose "favorite" over "best" with intention. You, who extoll the need to play Kingsley multiple times  before wisdom is gained, must certainly appreciate that one's perspective (favoritism) might certainly differ from two's viewpoint.

In other words, don't end my threads or I'll have to invite you to western New York and have a beer with you!

Happy Turkey!

[Eric Smith]

Augusta. End of thread. 

Because it has a lot of what I've come to love about his golf courses, eg smart routing, multiple lines of attack, great greensites, strategic fairway bunkering,etc all in a lovely setting. My favorite aspect of this magical place, besides once running in three birdies in a row like a champion (11hcp ) is the friendly Bulldog who invites me out there. Oh, and the PUNCHBOWL is awesome!!

Happy birthday to Mr. Ross!

[Chris Johnston]

Scioto

Absolutely great track, Bobby Jones history, Jack Nicklaus home.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

[Tim Martin]

Certainly under the radar but one of my fav`s is CC of Waterbury in Connecticut which is a par 69 that tips out at 6556. Considering that there is only one par 5 this course is a brute with six par 4`s in excess of 425 yards. It is out and back with plenty of elevation change and some classic Ross greens with lots of tilt making anything above the hole treacherous. It also has a great collection of par 3`s measuring 227,150,180 and 234. Ross uses some cool natural landforms and gets you around with a feeling of intimacy on a good number of holes. Not unlike Yale in New Haven it is hard to believe that this property sits within the city limits of a very landlocked Waterbury.  

[Michael George]

Chris:

You must have never ventured up to Brookside.  Scioto is ranked higher solely due to Nicklaus connection - which is neat, but does not effect my rankings.

[Chris Johnston]

Been to Brookside, very good. 

For me, Scioto is a spectacular course.  But, with so many great courses, selecting one shouldn't diminish any of the others. 

Fortunately for golf, Donald Ross did so many great works.

[Tim Gavrich]

CCWaterbury is wonderful, but I have to say Sedgefield is my favorite Ross course (I could just as easily sat P#2, but I haven't played it in its current form).  Lee Trevino's (?) statement about it being "the best stretch of 18 par fours anywhere" is spot-on.  The feel of the place is very cozy; when I played it with a friend of mine who's a member back in May, it was kind of weird to think that they hold a PGA Tour event every year, because the place felt more relaxed than that.  I could hang out there every day.

[PThomas]

Essex County in MA must be a very strong candidate

[John Kavanaugh]

My favorite is Wannamoisett. The intimacy of the routing is delightful.

[Ronald Montesano]

Again, there are no candidates, no bests...just favorites here, terduckens.

[George Pazin]

I've only had the pleasure of playing one, but it was a great one, Mountain Ridge. Almost can't imagine liking #2 more... but I've only seen the next to most recent version on the tube during events in the last decade.

[John Kavanaugh]

I've only had the pleasure of playing one, but it was a great one, Mountain Ridge. Almost can't imagine liking #2 more... but I've only seen the next to most recent version on the tube during events in the last decade.

George, you would hate #2.  You would have to pick up on half the holes.

[Chris Johnston]

I've only had the pleasure of playing one, but it was a great one, Mountain Ridge. Almost can't imagine liking #2 more... but I've only seen the next to most recent version on the tube during events in the last decade.

George, you would hate #2.  You would have to pick up on half the holes.

#2 plays right into my strength - three putts!

[John Kavanaugh]

I've only had the pleasure of playing one, but it was a great one, Mountain Ridge. Almost can't imagine liking #2 more... but I've only seen the next to most recent version on the tube during events in the last decade.

George, you would hate #2.  You would have to pick up on half the holes.

#2 plays right into my strength - three putts!

Only because the third putt is good.

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