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cary lichtenstein

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Top 20 Mountain Courses
« on: July 10, 2003, 06:04:57 AM »
It would be interesting to see what everyone think are the top 20 mountain courses. I'll start:

The Rim
Banff
The Summit
Chateau WHistler

I'm playing about 15 in Colorado and New Mexico starting in 2 weeks, I'll add to this list after I play
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Live Jupiter, Fl, was  4 handicap, played top 100 US, top 75 World. Great memories, no longer play, 4 back surgeries. I don't miss a lot of things about golf, life is simpler with out it. I miss my 60 degree wedge shots, don't miss nasty weather, icing, back spasms. Last course I played was Augusta

A_Clay_Man

Re:Top 20 Mountain Courses
« Reply #1 on: July 10, 2003, 08:21:14 AM »
Are we talking courses that happen to be in the mountains, or are we talking mountain golf.

I believe there should be a distinction since one implies a certain style or unwalkability. and the other is a proximity thang.

I can see many feeling the answer would/should be a mountain course that's walkable.

Quassi- WHere ya going?
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David Wigler

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Re:Top 20 Mountain Courses
« Reply #2 on: July 10, 2003, 08:31:47 AM »
1. Capilano

GAP

2. Cascata

HUGE GAP

3. Let the discussion begin

I interpreted the question to mean courses that play up and down mountains.
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And I took full blame then, and retain such now.  My utter ignorance in not trumpeting a course I have never seen remains inexcusable.
Tom Huckaby 2/24/04

ChasLawler

Re:Top 20 Mountain Courses
« Reply #3 on: July 10, 2003, 09:04:38 AM »
Cascades
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James Edwards

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Re:Top 20 Mountain Courses
« Reply #4 on: July 10, 2003, 09:20:20 AM »
There is a European Tour Event played at Crans sur Sierre, Switzerland which is probably the best we have to offer with respects to the question.

The course is surrounded by The Alps - stunning views.

James
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@EDI__ADI

david h. carroll

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Re:Top 20 Mountain Courses
« Reply #5 on: July 10, 2003, 09:25:55 AM »
No question, Cascades.
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Anthony_Nysse

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Re:Top 20 Mountain Courses
« Reply #6 on: July 10, 2003, 09:43:27 AM »
Does Wade Hampton count?
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Anthony J. Nysse
Director of Golf Courses & Grounds
Apogee Club
Hobe Sound, FL

John_Conley

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Re:Top 20 Mountain Courses
« Reply #7 on: July 10, 2003, 10:20:12 AM »
Kapalua Plantation
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Martin Del Vecchio

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Re:Top 20 Mountain Courses
« Reply #8 on: July 10, 2003, 10:25:22 AM »
Sugarloaf, in Maine.
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David Wigler

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Re:Top 20 Mountain Courses
« Reply #9 on: July 10, 2003, 10:31:28 AM »
Forgot Kapalua.  Revised List

1. Capilano
1a. Kapalua

GAP

2. Cascata

Huge GAP

3. All others
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And I took full blame then, and retain such now.  My utter ignorance in not trumpeting a course I have never seen remains inexcusable.
Tom Huckaby 2/24/04

Allan Long

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Re:Top 20 Mountain Courses
« Reply #10 on: July 10, 2003, 10:36:37 AM »
Somehow I can't associate Kapalua Plantation as a "Mountain Course" although the terrain may justify it, so I will have to go with Cascades.
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I don't know how I would ever have been able to look into the past with any degree of pleasure or enjoy the present with any degree of contentment if it had not been for the extraordinary influence the game of golf has had upon my welfare.
--C.B. Macdonald

henrye

Re:Top 20 Mountain Courses
« Reply #11 on: July 10, 2003, 11:09:59 AM »
Of the one's I've played.

1. Banff
2. Capilano
3. Jasper
4. Tryall (Hills, but I still look on it as a mountain course)
5. Kapalua Plantation
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Tom Davis

Re:Top 20 Mountain Courses
« Reply #12 on: July 10, 2003, 11:25:08 AM »
Grandfather Golf & Country Club, Linville, NC
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CHrisB

Re:Top 20 Mountain Courses
« Reply #13 on: July 10, 2003, 11:47:03 AM »
Quote from: David Wigler on July 10, 2003, 10:31:28 AM
Forgot Kapalua.  Revised List

1. Capilano
1a. Kapalua

GAP

2. Cascata

Huge GAP

3. All others

Wow--At least a gap and a huge gap between Capilano/Kapalua and Cascades? David, have you played Cascades? What does Cascades lack that makes Capilano and Kapalua so much better?

Quote from: David Wigler on July 10, 2003, 08:31:47 AM
I interpreted the question to mean courses that play up and down mountains.

Or are you excluding Cascades on this basis?
« Last Edit: July 10, 2003, 11:49:39 AM by ChrisB »
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Ben Cowan-Dewar

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Re:Top 20 Mountain Courses
« Reply #14 on: July 10, 2003, 12:36:50 PM »
Not to nit-pick. But is Capilano really mountain golf? It is close to sea level, plays on a hillside and is framed by mountains in one direction. Cape Breton is arguably more mountainous, but compared to Banff and Jasper I never thought of either as mountain golf.

Capilano and Kap share rugged pieces of land, but are they mountainous?
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john_stiles

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Re:Top 20 Mountain Courses
« Reply #15 on: July 10, 2003, 01:22:21 PM »
Since the list has not even approached a total of 20 ....... from the Appalachian Mountains, all playing with elevation change and on the 'mountains' ..... some of my top would be  :

Lookout Mountain
Highlands CC
Roaring Gap Club
Wade Hampton
Pete Dye Club

All the courses play with some elevation change and are in the hills,  'mountains',  of the eastern US coast and have views of the mountains (such as they are).

Lookout Mountain, Wade Hampton, and Pete Dye could make top 20.
 
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cary lichtenstein

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Re:Top 20 Mountain Courses
« Reply #16 on: July 10, 2003, 04:12:56 PM »
I think to define Mountain courses, first let me say what is not a mountain course and give a bunch of examples.

A course that is in the valley or flat lands of a mountain is not a mountain course. A course like Estancia is probably not a mountain course, although there are significant ups and downs, not rugged enough. It's probably a "foothills course".

Maroon Creek in Aspen is a mountain course, but not the first 4 holes. I love Capilano, but I don't think its a mountain course, the land moves too gently.

I don't think you can walk a mountain course.

A mountain course has dramatic hills and ravines, rocks, etc. Pelican Hills might be a mountain course, but probably not. Pine Hills is. Chapparal Pines is more a Valley course.

The White Witch in Jamica is a mountain Course.

Pete Dye's River Course at Blackwolf run has a number of mountain holes.
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Live Jupiter, Fl, was  4 handicap, played top 100 US, top 75 World. Great memories, no longer play, 4 back surgeries. I don't miss a lot of things about golf, life is simpler with out it. I miss my 60 degree wedge shots, don't miss nasty weather, icing, back spasms. Last course I played was Augusta

Doug Wright

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Top 20 Mountain Courses
« Reply #17 on: July 10, 2003, 04:27:03 PM »
Quassi,

By your definition and clarification of courses that are "in the mountains," there are precious few true "mountain" courses and very very few good ones IMO. Banff is not a mountain course by that definition--it plays along the river valley almost exclusively. I was thinking of Breckenridge GC, which is my favourite course in the Colorado mountains, but it too plays along a relatively flat area of the valley.  

Cordillera Summit? Red Sky Ranch? Haven't played those so don't know--guess you are going to and can advise. That course Matt Ward raves about in Nevada (Wolf Creek?)?

The Sanctuary is a mountain course in the foothills of Denver. Pretty good considering the brutal terrain Engh had to work with.

Kapaulua Plantation? Not a mountain course under any definition IMO.

All The Best,
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Twitter: @Deneuchre

cary lichtenstein

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Top 20 Mountain Courses
« Reply #18 on: July 10, 2003, 04:32:25 PM »
A Clay Man:

I'm starting my trip in Denver/Castle Rock, then on to Vail, Grand Junction, turning south thru Colorado, and into New Mexico, ending in Albuquerque. 23 days, 21 rounds of golf. 2 days off to sight see in Durango and Telluride.

Any GCA's want to meet up or play with me and my wife, please contact me.

Quasssi
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Live Jupiter, Fl, was  4 handicap, played top 100 US, top 75 World. Great memories, no longer play, 4 back surgeries. I don't miss a lot of things about golf, life is simpler with out it. I miss my 60 degree wedge shots, don't miss nasty weather, icing, back spasms. Last course I played was Augusta

Matt_Ward

Re:Top 20 Mountain Courses
« Reply #19 on: July 10, 2003, 04:46:10 PM »
quassi:

I like your sense of golf adventure.

Couple of recommendations --

In Colorado if you can get on the new Greg Norman Course at Red Sky Ranch (Wolcott -- 15 miles west of Vail)) it's got plenty of potential to be something special. *It also meets the "mountain" course requirement. The course is still maturing but it's worth a look as Greg has added a number of chipping areas to the greens.

If you should venture to Grand Junction you're likely going to play Redlands Mesa -- I would suggest venturing on Rte 50 south to Delta and play Rick Pehlps new effort at Devil's Thumb as well -- the split fairway 13th is a gem of a hole! There's really slim pickings after you leave Delta until you reach the Farmington, NM area for golf.

In New Mexico you should try to play any of the following:

Pinon Hills (Farmington) *forget playing Tamaron at Durango

Black Mesa (LaMesila) *just outside of Santa Fe (SUPERB!)

Twin Warriors (Albuquerque area) *hosted the National Club Pro

Paa-Ko Ridge (Sandia Park) just east of Albuquerque (Dynamite layout)

Santa Ana (next door to TW) play the Tamaya / Cheenya Nines

UNM (Championship) *next to the Albuquerque airport.

Enjoy your trip -- I hope your wife loves golf the way you do! ;D
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Jeff Fortson

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Re:Top 20 Mountain Courses
« Reply #20 on: July 10, 2003, 04:48:49 PM »
The Mountain Course at La Quinta Resort and Club. ;)

Jeff F.
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Eric_Felker

Re:Top 20 Mountain Courses
« Reply #21 on: July 10, 2003, 05:11:41 PM »
Here are some of my favorites:

Vail GC, Vail, CO

Singletree GC, Avon, CO

Beaver Creek GC, Avon, CO

Mt. Washington Resort GC, NH

Stratton Mt. GC, Stratton, VT

Craig Wood GC, Lake Placid, NY

Diamond Players Club, Clermont, FL (Believe it or not)
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Andy Levett

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Re:Top 20 Mountain Courses
« Reply #22 on: July 10, 2003, 05:33:59 PM »
Quote from: quasssi on July 10, 2003, 04:12:56 PM
I don't think you can walk a mountain course.
Exactly
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Doug Wright

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Re:Top 20 Mountain Courses
« Reply #23 on: July 10, 2003, 05:43:34 PM »
Eric,

Singletree (now Sonnenalp)--wellll, maybe...

Vail and Beaver Creek? You should add your parenthetical(believe it or not) to those also because there's not much redeeming value to either course IMO.

PS, Welcome to GCA!
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Twitter: @Deneuchre

A_Clay_Man

Re:Top 20 Mountain Courses
« Reply #24 on: July 10, 2003, 06:09:23 PM »
Quassi- I'm in Farmington and would meet up at any nearby(200 mi) venue.

The Rio Grande in South Fork is gaining and gaining in my estimation of what good mountain golf can be. Don't get me wrong, It is probably nothing like the mountain golf found in Mesquite. It is a course that I think every man to a soul in this forum would find to be well balanced and classic. there are no super super long carries but accuracy is demanded. This courses ability to inspire the senses while testing your golf makes it a must see in my book. But walking the course is just not done. Every hole is however walkable. It is the getting to the hole that the buggy arises.

Contact me and I'll see if our schedules can collide.
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