Need your advice

[Stewart Naugler]

Stu,

If you were my son I would tell you to do the favor and tell the gentleman that you can't take any payment in return. You will be a better and far richer man for it. Promise.

John- I usually don't take anything in return but these guys will be making all these trips whether I'm with them or not. Honestly, I get invited to trips like this all the time but I'm usually to busy with work. I'm going on this one because I look up to these guys and they're truly a pleasure to be around. I value their knowledge and advice far more than what golf courses they can get me on. They understand what good architecture is and the true meaning of the game.

I've gotten more friends on top 100 clubs than I can count, without taking anything but a "thank you" in return.

[Mike_Young]

IMHO, Augusta is not at the top of my list of the courses mentioned but you have to pick it.  The other three guys you are taking are going to expect it and are probably going to rate that experience above the others just because of the "not knowing what they don't know" factor.
Pine Valley is a place where ,IMHO, you stay there and play there for a couple of days.  It's not as much fun to leave there and go play Merion and come back.  All of the trips you mention can be put together much easier than Augusta.  JMO

[Anthony Gray]

Cruden Bay or nothing

[Stewart Naugler]

Cruden Bay or nothing

Hahaha!

[Tim Gavrich]

Get them to throw in Palmetto GC on top of Augusta and you have your winner.

[Anthony Gray]

Need a caddy Stu?

  Anthony

[JR Potts]

Go with exclusivity...Augusta, hands down.  The others are doable with a phone call...Augusta is not.

You never know when/if you're going to get that call again.

[Bob_Huntley]

Stu,

If you were my son I would tell you to do the favor and tell the gentleman that you can't take any payment in return. You will be a better and far richer man for it. Promise.

John,

For once in a long time, I agree with you.

Bob

[Mark Chaplin]

A good mate was a senior exec in the US and has done all of these clubs (bar the newbie) many times including a quarter of a century worth of annual 3 night 4 round trips to Augusta. He'd take Augusta again and lots of my mates have been there and all enthuse on the experience so I'd go there.

Staying at National sounds neat.

[Chris Roselle]

ANGC would be the one that I would pick because, like so many others have said, it is probably the toughest one of all of these to get invited to play.  But as someone who has done the Pine Valley/Merion tandom in one day I will just say that that is the greatest golfing day I've ever experienced. 

[Jud_T]

In terms of access, go with Augusta, even though that would be third on my list...Kind of like dinner with Charlize Theron,  the opportunity simply doesn't come along very often...

[Mike Hendren]

Interesting how exclusivity and "the experience" take priority when the access doors are fleetingly flung wide open.

Over the years I've come to believe that Augusta National Golf Club has the best golf course in the world.  That's why I'd choose it.

Mike

[Kalen Braley]

 As tempting as ANGC would undoubtedly be....

...I'm guessing I would go with Pine Valley/Merion if such an amazing array of choices were presented.

As has been suggested, ANGC seems to be a lot about the manufactured/the who's who experience..whereas PV and Merion seem to be about a pure golf experience.

And if I could pick 2 out of 3, I'm guessing the NGLA/shinny/Friars Head combo would be second...

[Kevin Pallier]

Stu

A nice problem to have 

Whatever you choose you cant go wrong - so no need to worry about whatever one you make.

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