[Jason Thurman]

I get it. You made it rain in Monterey. Eagled 18 and then climbed into a private chopper waiting greenside where you sipped Louis XIII and sampled imported truffle oils. “Everybody’s like Cristal Maybach diamonds on your timepiece” and all that. And I’m very impressed and maybe even jealous of some of you.

But let’s talk about the other extreme. The courses where you feel out of place if you drive something nicer than an ’83 LTD and where you leave your Timex in the car so you don’t look too showy.

Dannebrog CC just north of Grand Island, NE is 5 bucks in an honor box. I loved it and would go back in a heartbeat, especially on a Thursday. A gallery (of cattle) followed me down the first fairway, and while I was bummed to get rained out on the sixth hole (by a torrential storm that the cows sensed before I did), it’s still one of my fonder golf memories.

Of course, Dannebrog’s isn’t really a “greens” fee since they have “browns” (sand greens) instead. So I’ll offer Wild Turkey Trace in Lawrenceburg, KY. It was the first course I ever played on as a child and even though it’s an old back-and-forth farmland course from the ‘60s with spotty conditions and really dull greens, it has about three or four holes that are pretty interesting and brings back some fond memories. At $14 to walk during peak times, it’s not even close to the best value I’ve played. But it is still worth the price once in a while. There’s a refreshingly simple joy in smashing driver on the 150 yard par 3 8th hole, ricocheting it off the driving range net and watching the ball settle 20 feet from the hole.

[Jason Topp]

This course is quite good.  I think we paid $23 with cart and $11 replay with cart a number of years ago:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEtRPRo4Fps

[Ally Mcintosh]

I really want to get out on Hazlehead again. This is a MacKenzie municipal course in Aberdeen. I grew up playing a lot of golf there and would love to cast a more experienced eye over it. Think green fee is about 11 or 12 quid.

[Joe Bausch]

Kimberton GC in the Philly 'burbs, George Fazio's first design, is 10 bucks after 4 PM during the golf season.  Middle of summer when it is just beginning to cool down in later afternoon, you can easily walk and finish 18 before dark.

[Mike Hendren]

Rolling Hills CC in Ripley where I grew up.  Still my favorite set of small pushed up greens in the world, dotting a former cotton field.  Monthly dues were $15 while I was pulling down $40/week as a lifeguard back in the 70's. 

It's been over 20 years and I plan to return and do a course profile next summer.

Bogey

[BHoover]

Does playing for free count?  If so, I'm happy to return to the courses that allowed me to play gratis.

I think Granville GC is about $30, which I will happily pay again.

[BCowan]

Ocala Golf club(muni), Ocala,FL.  There was a renovation done in 2009 and I think the course is a gem, in fact I am heading there now!  Hope to get some pics so I can post them on here at some point.  $24 to walk...  Besides the fee, i am obsessed with the course..

[Eric Smith]

19 (!) GBP at Goswick GC

[PCCraig]

I just paid $20 or so to play the Charleston Muni over Thanksgiving week. It's no CC of C or Yeamans but it has some cool old greensites and is a (literally) untouched Raynor on the water. The 12th hole there is just flat out really cool. I shutter to think how neat the place could be with a low-key renovation of the greens and bunkers. The staff there is also very welcoming and the 19th hole there is fun and full of locals.

[PCCraig]

I also paid $30 something dollars to walk and play Lawsonia Links on Columbus Day this year. That's a steal.

[Niall C]

I really want to get out on Hazlehead again. This is a MacKenzie municipal course in Aberdeen. I grew up playing a lot of golf there and would love to cast a more experienced eye over it. Think green fee is about 11 or 12 quid.

Ally

If you ever decide to do that, give me a shout. I went to play it one weekend last year when I was staying up in Elgin. On the drive through I got sidetracked and ended up playing Huntly for £12 or £15, can't remember which. A terrific, if modest in scale, front nine and quite nice back nine. Wouldn't mind playing there again however Hazlehead has still to be conquered so............

Niall

[Brian Finn]

I have a very long list of courses that would fall into this category.  Few would be considered good design, but for me, that is not always the point of playing golf.  While I love architecture and design, I also play for the camaraderie and just to be outdoors.

1.  Merrick Park GC (NY) - 9 holer on LI where I played sometimes as a kid, and where my Dad (not a big golfer until he retired) is part of the first group out more often than not (year round).  I have no idea what the fee currently is, because my Dad's buddy insists on getting me the senior resident rate (even though I am 36 and live in OH), which I think peaks at $9.75.  The course is on an inlet, next to an old garbage dump, but has some pretty views out into the bay, over towards Jones Beach.  The guys that play there are right out of central casting.  When I go back home, I look forward to playing here as much as with my HS buddies that have joined nice LI clubs.  Pretty much anywhere I can play with my Dad becomes my favorite course.

2.  Indian Springs GC (OH) - about 30 minutes West of Dublin, OH.  Really neat course designed by Jack Kidwell, who has done some nice stuff in central OH.  The property is more interesting than you would ever expect - it has some rolling hills and a bit of elevation change, although it is surrounded by dead-flat farmland.  I have never paid over $30 to play here, and I really enjoy it.

A few others, which would be better known to the gca crowd...

3. Bethpage Green (NY) - $43 max fee.  Yes, it is likely to take >5 hours, but I do love this golf course.
4. Granville GC (OH) - $42 to walk a terrific Donald Ross.
5. Balboa Park GC (CA) - $40 max.  We all know about Torrey Pines, and many also know Coronado.  Balboa is another pretty darn good city course in San Diego.  

[John McCarthy]

$25 walking at Shepherd's Crook in November.  Could ride for the same price.

[Jeremy Broom]

Shout out to our Ozzy friends.  Stumbled across Crescent Head Country Club back in 2002 when we were backpacking across Australia, back then it was $8.75 all day play.  6hole golf course right on the Pacific.  Must have gone around 10 times the day we were there.  Great fun with better views.

[Matt Bielawa]

Coronado Golf Course.  Haven't been back to San Diego since I played it, but I'd love to have another go at it.  No architectural gem, but it was fun and great views.  $30 during the week, $35 on the weekend.  $15 at Twilight!

[Brad Wilbur]

Your description perfectly matches Kahuku Golf Course on the north side of Oahu.  It's just a few miles from Turtle Bay, but a world apart.  I'm not sure if it's a "rain shadow" area of Oahu, but it was fast and firm beyond belief.  I think the only irrigation is for the greens on this nine hole course right on the ocean.  At $15 bucks or so, you spend the whole nine holes either on the ocean or with great views. The only downside was holding your breath before entering the port-a-potty.

[Jason Thurman]

Does playing for free count?  If so, I'm happy to return to the courses that allowed me to play gratis.

I think Granville GC is about $30, which I will happily pay again.

Respect the game. It's inevitable that someone is going to talk about the time they played some World Top 50 course at the generosity of a friend or a club pro on this thread. Avoiding that guy is exactly why I started this thread in the first place though.

[Keith OHalloran]

Oak Hollow is a cool Pete Dye course in High Pointe NC. When I was in college just over 10 years ago, it was 12$ to play and walk all day. I just checked the web site, It is now 17$ to walk during the week. I have never played a better value.
Well, I guess Bethpage Black pre US Open price increase was better, but that toothpaste is out of the tube.

[John Kirk]

Soule Park in Ojai, California is a very good course in an idyllic setting for a reasonable price.  I played it for something like $19, though I imagine they might charge as much as $35.

[Jordan Standefer]

5. Balboa Park GC (CA) - $40 max.  We all know about Torrey Pines, and many also know Coronado.  Balboa is another pretty darn good city course in San Diego.  

I always love seeing the course I grew up playing mentioned here.  I think the non-resident weekend green fee is now $50.  Still, anyone passing up Balboa to play a course like Riverwalk should think twice.

I paid around $30 to play Escena in Palm Springs in July last year.  Would do that again, for sure.

[Chuck Glowacki]

Indian Island, Riverhead, NY, county muni, $11 senior twilight rate, $17 weekday

[Thomas Dai]

£12 with a England County Card at Minchinhampton Old. And £20 to play all day on The Channel course at Burnham & Berrow.
ATB

[Thomas Dai]

I really want to get out on Hazlehead again. This is a MacKenzie municipal course in Aberdeen. I grew up playing a lot of golf there and would love to cast a more experienced eye over it. Think green fee is about 11 or 12 quid.

Was No 1 the Mackenzie course? There was also another 18-holer, would that be No 2 (?), that was by I think Huggett & Coles plus there was a 9-holer as well.
ATB

[BHoover]

Does playing for free count?  If so, I'm happy to return to the courses that allowed me to play gratis.

I think Granville GC is about $30, which I will happily pay again.

Respect the game. It's inevitable that someone is going to talk about the time they played some World Top 50 course at the generosity of a friend or a club pro on this thread. Avoiding that guy is exactly why I started this thread in the first place though.

Please tell me exactly how this is disrespectful to the game. It's a joke. Besides that, how is accepting the generosity of others a disrespectful act? Is it also disrespectful if one pays reduced fees or uses a coupon?

[Greg Chambers]

Very good call on Soule Park.  I'll add Rustic Canyon to the list.

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