Courses played in 2012 that were Surprisingly Very Good

[Mark Pearce]

Silloth on Solway - England

Glad you liked it. Still, it shouldn't have been a surprise,with everything Scott, Niall andI had said about it!

[Ronald Montesano]

Country Club of Troy, near Albany (NY) has the coolest woodland entrance to any course I've played. The course itself is better than the entry-way. The piece of land is so important and Travis had a diverse property over which to etch a remarkable golf course.

Old Town Club in Winston-Salem (NC). When I played it in 1983, the guys on the WFU varsity called it "Cold Town" because it always seemed colder than the other tracks they accessed. I remember its trees inhaling a number of my drives. I had the DW3 cart tour in September and could not get over how much I had forgotten, how uneven the land is and how many corridors and vistas were opened by its tree removal program. Recent news of bunker work is exciting.

Springville Country Club in Springville (NY) south of Buffalo. Tom Doak pegged this as a 3 when he visited it in CGTG days. Since then, they've eliminated three silly holes and replace them with three improved ones. The course has embarked on a tree maintenance program and has seen an improvement in turf quality result. I'd suspect it is now a 4, which is pretty good for a low-key course with zero architectural pedigree.

[Michael Whitaker]

Silloth on Solway - England

Glad you liked it. Still, it shouldn't have been a surprise,with everything Scott, Niall andI had said about it!

True enough. I knew it would be good... but, not quite that good! I'd like to turn back the clock and do that Buda all over again!!!

[Tony_Muldoon]

Nothing I saw was a complete surprise but 3 exceeded expectations.

1
Based on it’s reputation (on here!) I’d pretty much written off The Cashen, but  I had a lot of fun on it.  Now that they know what works and what doesn’t it could do with a rethink, it seems like they’ve altered bits but not considered the whole thing.   Some awkwardness re layout could be solved by better signage and the Scoresaver was rubbish, visitors deserve better.  However along with Portrush this has to be the best 36 hole links complex outside of St Andrews?

2
Again hadn’t expected that much from Tralee but we had a blast.  There may be a couple of bland holes on the front 9,  but it is an exhilarating ride home.  The 12th is amongst the most thrilling holes I’ve played; think ‘Calamity’ as a par 4.  Seems to me there’s enough room to play it long iron, mid iron and wedge but who’d want to try that.
http://traleegolfclub.com/index.php/course/hole-by-hole/42/

3
Orsett may mean nothing on here but it's a Braid course and was an Open Qualifier for many years.  It’s in the Essex badlands, close to the M25 and Thames. Like The Sacred 9, or Woodhall Spa there’s an oasis of heathland in the middle of hectres of Clay. Starts with a few flat holes but then finds some interesting terrain. Great set of Par 3’s and I already have a date set for a return.
http://www.orsettgolfclub.co.uk/ 

[Scott Warren]

Spring Valley on the Melbourne sandbelt.  Really fun course with some great greens and bunkering. That it doesn't get more love is a travesty, and probably just function of location (on the same road as Kingston Heath).

Pasatiempo. I expected it to be good. I didn't expect one of the best 10-12 courses I've ever played. Walking three back nine before I played was breathtaking.

Prince's Grant. A resort course north of Durban. A surprisingly walkable routing and some awesome greens. Lots of fun.

[Tom_Doak]

Based on it’s reputation (on here!) I’d pretty much written off The Cashen, but  I had a lot of fun on it.  Now that they know what works and what doesn’t it could do with a rethink, it seems like they’ve altered bits but not considered the whole thing.   Some awkwardness re layout could be solved by better signage and the Scoresaver was rubbish, visitors deserve better.  However along with Portrush this has to be the best 36 hole links complex outside of St Andrews?
 

I just had a coughing fit after reading this.

[Sean_A]

Based on it’s reputation (on here!) I’d pretty much written off The Cashen, but  I had a lot of fun on it.  Now that they know what works and what doesn’t it could do with a rethink, it seems like they’ve altered bits but not considered the whole thing.   Some awkwardness re layout could be solved by better signage and the Scoresaver was rubbish, visitors deserve better.  However along with Portrush this has to be the best 36 hole links complex outside of St Andrews?
 

I just had a coughing fit after reading this.

I wondered if Spangles got a bit of salt rather than sugar in his spangles.  While I was surprised The Cashen was better than I anticipated, its a seriously flawed course.  So much so that I can only see it in terms of shots rather than a course proper. 

No, I would take Saunton's 36 over Balllybunion's.  There is a place called Bandon which is meant to be decent as well.

Thinking of multiple course venues, I thought of another course which surprised me.  Rye's Jubilee course.  I think it will get better as well.  If it continues to improve I wouldn't be surprised to find it ranked top 100 GB&I one day.

Ciao

[Jeff_Mingay]

Maple Downs, Toronto and Waverley, Portland.

[Tony_Muldoon]

Careful Tom don't choke. (OK I haven’t been to Bandon or Melbourne so let’s think GB&I (PS are they links?)

Anyway I'd rather take one great course and one rollercoaster over two nice courses.  Similarly Walton Heath doesn’t earn extra credit from me for having two such similar courses.


Rye's Jubilee would have made a longer list. I can see it being a personal favourite , but any course which is neither a true 9 or 18 holes, will never feature on ANY Top 100 lists.


PS

Anyone else see this?

http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/shouts/2012/12/the-hundred-best-lists-of-all-time.html

[Jud_T]

Sean,

If you were a local member at Ballybunion, how many rounds out of 10 would you play at the Cashen vs. the Old?

[Ronald Montesano]

Tony, I would add these two pyramids to the 100 lists and eliminate a couple.

http://thethingaboutflying.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/ron-swanson-pyramid-of-greatness-wallpaper-2560x1600.png?w=1024&h=640

http://tobefree.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/pyramid_lg.jpg?w=1024&h=662

[Mike Hendren]

Pleasant Surprise for me this year:

Hurstbourne in KY.  I believe Keith Foster did the re-do, solid routing with no weak holes.  Par 3 18th finisher with the clubhouse behind is very memorable.

Forsyth had some of the most fun and enjoyable green complexes I have seen in a while.

Chapparal Pines in AZ surprised me.  I thought I would like The Rim more, but I liked how the course moved with the elevation, no silly elevation changes like you see in some mountain courses.

Cory, did you find Chapparal Pines a little clostrophobic in places?  I recall a snaking par five in particular.

Mike

[Mark McKeever]

Topping my list of surprises in 2012 was Morris County GC in NJ.  A really neat Raynor overshadowed by some of its neighbors.

Mark

[Mike Hendren]

Idle Hour in Lexington, KY - Really great, relatively unknown Donald Ross course that's received a fantastic renovation recently from Ron Pritchard. Reminds me of a tougher Lawsonia with a more compact routing.

ArborLinks in Nebraska City, NE - A very solid Arnold Palmer effort that's really only held back by some unplayable native areas.

Honorable Mention to Prairie Club (Dunes). Obviously it's been discussed quite a bit here, but it also gets a lot less attention than other courses in the Nebraska Sandhills. I expected a good course, but wasn't prepared to spend the next few months debating whether I had a new favorite.

Jason, glad you liked Idle Hour - a very demanding Ross course that continues to fly under the radar.  I find your comment that the routing is compact interesting,  as I rarely have experienced a Ross course that enjoys a larger piece of land.  The par fours there are unrelenting.  Which green was in play at the par three second?

Mike

[Ivan Morris]

At home in Ireland, the course that surprised me most (pleasantly) when I played it for the first time was Bantry Bay in West Cork. Christy O'Connor Junior is a very underrated architect. For those who like to play COC's hidden gems in Ireland - you could also try his Headfort, Knightsbrook, Mount Wolseley and PGA National at Naas - all excellent tracks, I promise you.   

[Cory Lewis]

Cory, did you find Chapparal Pines a little clostrophobic in places?  I recall a snaking par five in particular.

The only time I really felt that way was on the long par 3 on the back, 13 I believe.  It seemed very claustrophobic with the trees on both sides, especially for such a long hole.  If the hole you are thinking of is 14, well I made eagle on that hole, trees didn't bother me at all

[Sean_A]

Sean,

If you were a local member at Ballybunion, how many rounds out of 10 would you play at the Cashen vs. the Old?

Jud

Its hard to say.  I reckon The Cashen would be a relief course if the Old was busy.  I assume the club gets tons of visitors in the summer so I would probably play The Cashen more than I would like.  That said, it would probably be the cart n' beer course. 

Ciao

[Ed Brzezowski]

Orange County outside of Orlando. was expecting a typical resort type course. Very pleasantly surprised by the quality of the two courses. Great green complexes and some nice rolling terrain.

Trump National Va., a very nice track that just needs some green work. Some nice driving holes and choices, two very nice short par fours.

Biggest dissapointment, Bella Collina. Once you leave the clubhouse the rest is downhill.

[Bob Jenkins]

Not a lot of new courses for me this year but two stand out, Harding Park and Wine Valley. I expected both would be good but each far exceeded my expectations.

The routing at HARDING PARK with the back nine circling the front, is outstanding. There is a great variety of holes, an easy walk and just plain pleasant. The only downside to the place was the never ending sound of gunfire from the San Francisco Police shooting range which was across the lake!

WINE VALLEY in late September was also a treat and I would love to go back. Several holes allow you to bounce the bill in from different angles, the greens all have considerable movement but not too severe and, a great walk.

[Daryl "Turboe" Boe]

what were your surprises this season?

I liked The Concession more than I thought I would  the turf was great for golf. And although it was tough, it has options and was playable.

Wexford Plantation was really good.

Mac,

Without going back though them all (which I may do here later) I was quickly struck by the fact that we might share one brain, because these two were two that had jumped out in my mind of courses that exceeded my expectations this year when I read this title.  Then I saw you posted the exact same two.  Scary!

[Daryl "Turboe" Boe]

Idle Hour in Lexington, KY - Really great, relatively unknown Donald Ross course that's received a fantastic renovation recently from Ron Pritchard. Reminds me of a tougher Lawsonia with a more compact routing.

On my "to do" list for 2013.  I didnt know much about this place, but talked with someone about it this fall, and put it on my radar screen.  Now I see your comments as well.  Guess I need to find a way to make that happen this year.

[Ivan Morris]

Jud - As a member of Ballyb, I'd say the ratio might be a bit more than 10:1. I only go onto the Cashen when there's no option and play it exactly as Sean sees it - a few shots here and a few, (extra) shots there but never as a seamless round of golf with one ball and a scorecard. As for BB  being the best 36-holes in Ireland, Tony, now you have me spluttering and coughing! Lahinch, Rosapenna and Ballyliffin leave it for dead - as does Killarney. Come to think of it what about Dunluce and The Valley - there's your No. 1 X 36 holes, surely? I am looking forward to playing a few 'surprisingly good' courses in the PNW and BC in 2013.   

[Garland Bayley]

Fircrest, which is probably Macan's most intact work. It is the best Pacific northwest parkland course I have seen.


EDIT: I realized that Bandon Trails is the best Pacific northwest parkland course I have seen.

[Jason Thurman]

Idle Hour in Lexington, KY - Really great, relatively unknown Donald Ross course that's received a fantastic renovation recently from Ron Pritchard. Reminds me of a tougher Lawsonia with a more compact routing.

ArborLinks in Nebraska City, NE - A very solid Arnold Palmer effort that's really only held back by some unplayable native areas.

Honorable Mention to Prairie Club (Dunes). Obviously it's been discussed quite a bit here, but it also gets a lot less attention than other courses in the Nebraska Sandhills. I expected a good course, but wasn't prepared to spend the next few months debating whether I had a new favorite.

Jason, glad you liked Idle Hour - a very demanding Ross course that continues to fly under the radar.  I find your comment that the routing is compact interesting,  as I rarely have experienced a Ross course that enjoys a larger piece of land.  The par fours there are unrelenting.  Which green was in play at the par three second?

Mike

Mike, we played to the lower right green. I thought the short transitions gave the routing a compact feel in spite of the "unrelenting" length of the par 4s that you allude to. I've also been told by one of their assistant pros that the course only occupies around 100 acres. That seems insanely low to me, but I do think the property seems much bigger than it is because of the way the routing winds around itself and uses the entirety of the perimeter. I suspect that if we learned the exact acreage, it would be over 100 but still remarkably low for a course that plays over 7100 yards and never feels cramped. It’s a big, bold course. I compare it to Lawsonia because I think the shaping of the courses is pretty similar looking in a lot of places and the interest around the greens is tremendous at both. Lawsonia is a more sprawling parcel, while Idle Hour is much longer and tougher. I’m not sure which course is better or which has the better set of greens.

Turboe, it’s a real treat and a must-play if you get the opportunity. You won’t be disappointed.

[Greg Gilson]

I enjoyed a lot of great courses in 2012 but none really "surprised" in a psitive sense....i had high expectations that were ,generally, met.

I know this is a parallel topic (or should be) but the one that surprised the other way was Oitavos Dunes in Portugal. Top 60 in the World? I didn't really get it.