The most exciting course to open in California in the last 25-50 years is?

[Joel_Stewart]

The renovations at LACC North, The Cal Club, and Monterey Peninsula....by far

Too bad you said 50 years and not 51 or we could have included Spyglass! Excitement-wise, I would assume PGA West or Spanish Bay when they opened. But I like Steve's answer.

I think it has to be Spyglass as a new course.  They didn't have the PR to promote it like today but given the location and architect it must have been significant.


I don't discount what some of these major renovations have done but it seems like the road was paved by Valley Club, Pasatiempo and Meadow Club.

[Tommy Williamsen]

The renovations at LACC North, The Cal Club, and Monterey Peninsula....by far

Too bad you said 50 years and not 51 or we could have included Spyglass! Excitement-wise, I would assume PGA West or Spanish Bay when they opened. But I like Steve's answer.

I think it has to be Spyglass as a new course.  They didn't have the PR to promote it like today but given the location and architect it must have been significant.


I don't discount what some of these major renovations have done but it seems like the road was paved by Valley Club, Pasatiempo and Meadow Club.

Joel, I've played Spyglass only a few times. The first five holes are all world and the rest of the course difficult and interesting. It is not, however, endearing and I do not find it exciting. It is more like a long slog. I have no desire to play it again. I remember a quote from Nicklaus, "Pebbel Beach makes me want to play golf. Spyglass makes we want to go fishing."

[Michael Wharton-Palmer]

Saddest California course closing......Stevinson Ranch.

+1

[Scott Weersing]

I can think of more courses that flopped than became "exciting".


Flops are courses that were anticipated but now are only worth one play. For example, the Classic Course in Indio.


I would say most exciting would be Rustic Canyon, and..... Gee this is hard especially when you compare California to Oregon.


So why no exciting courses in California? I would guess no Doak, Strantz or cutting edge designers.

[Matt_Cohn]

So why no exciting courses in California? I would guess no Doak, Strantz or cutting edge designers.

Well, we do have a Strantz — the Shore course at Monterey Peninsula Country Club. And if you discount the accessibility factor, it might well have been the most exciting course to open in California in the last 50 years.

[Tom_Doak]

So why no exciting courses in California? I would guess no Doak, Strantz or cutting edge designers.

I've built two courses in California:  Stone Eagle and Aetna Springs.  And I'm very happy with both of them, even though neither is "exciting" in the way Pebble Beach or SFGC or Riviera is.


FWIW, the reason there aren't more exciting modern courses in California has a lot to do with how difficult it is to get permits, if a site is attractive.  Our failed project in Napa County and Coore & Crenshaw's rejected project in Santa Barbara would be two examples of that; I'm sure there are many others.


P.S. to Joel Stewart:  Spyglass "didn't have the PR to promote it like today"??  They played the Crosby on it from the first year it was open -- back when the Crosby was still a big deal!  I've never built a course with a PR opportunity like that.

[Tommy Williamsen]

So why no exciting courses in California? I would guess no Doak, Strantz or cutting edge designers.

I've built two courses in California:  Stone Eagle and Aetna Springs.  And I'm very happy with both of them, even though neither is "exciting" in the way Pebble Beach or SFGC or Riviera is.

Tom, I agree that Stone Eagle isn't Pebble etc. it was, however, exciting. Between the shot shots into and around the greens and the setting, made for a great day. It is one of my favorite new courses in California.