Best course you played for the first time this year?

« **on:** November 04, 2015, 06:49:21 PM »

The Running or staying home thread got me thinking. What was the best course you played this year for the first time?

I really enjoyed Bethpage Red. I thought it had some really strong holes and was a really fun course to play. Playing another Red on Monday and hoping that lives up to the hype.....

« **Reply #1 on:** November 04, 2015, 07:25:35 PM »

Wilmington Municipal.

Pinion Hills was really good, too.

WW

« **Reply #2 on:** November 04, 2015, 07:32:55 PM »

I tend to think more in terms of favorite, rather than best. Essex County Club (MA) was my favorite first-timer of the year. It might be my favorite course ever. I could play there every day for the rest of my life and die a happy man. Beautiful, fun, challenging with intricate little secrets that would take years to unlock.

« **Reply #3 on:** November 04, 2015, 07:35:58 PM »

Four firsts for me this past year...Bethpage Red, Worcester, Wannamoisett, Siwanoy...all tremendous! All were challenging, fun, and had amazing green complexes.

« **Reply #4 on:** November 04, 2015, 07:38:48 PM »

A tie in Scotland for me, between the Eden course in St Andrews and Leven. Solid links courses played with good friends.

« **Reply #5 on:** November 04, 2015, 07:52:19 PM »

Gullane 1 and Golf Club of Tennessee. Not sure two pieces of property could be more different but loved the routing of both.

« **Reply #6 on:** November 04, 2015, 08:06:43 PM »

Another vote for Wilmington Muni. Loved it.

« **Reply #7 on:** November 04, 2015, 08:12:16 PM »

Royal Dornoch-All that I heard and read about it was true.

Castle Stuart not far behind.

« **Reply #8 on:** November 04, 2015, 08:16:47 PM »

Pinehurst #2. Toughest course from 30 yards and in I have seen.

« **Reply #9 on:** November 04, 2015, 08:31:21 PM »

I think the best new course this year has to be Castle Stuart by some distance. Roaring Gap and Orchard Lake are runners up.

Favourite new course is Leckford. Mimosa Hills is a close runner up.

Ciao

« **Reply #10 on:** November 04, 2015, 08:36:59 PM »

Quote from: Sean_A on November 04, 2015, 08:31:21 PM

I think the best new course this year has to be Castle Stuart by some distance. Roaring Gap and Orchard Lake are runners up.

Favourite new course is Leckford. Mimosa Hills is a close runner up.

Ciao

I played Castle Stuart for the first time in August after many rounds at Dornoch in the last couple of years, It was really good, but also felt extremely 'modern' by comparison. Don't mean that as a bad thing. Just different.

« **Reply #11 on:** November 04, 2015, 08:40:01 PM »

Franklin Hills greatly exceeded my expectations- a course you rarely hear about on GCA- arguably as good or better than Oakland Hills South.

« **Reply #12 on:** November 04, 2015, 08:43:33 PM »

Cabot Cliffs and Somerset Hills

Runners-up...Cabot Links, Highlands Links, Worcester CC, Maidstone, Dunes Club

« **Reply #13 on:** November 04, 2015, 08:49:36 PM »

Friar's Head

Spent an incredible afternoon there four weeks ago and I'm still daydreaming about the place. I recall someone on here once called it the Cypress Point of the 21st Century (Ryan Farrow, maybe?) Anyway, I am with him on this - it really is that kind of special.

« **Reply #14 on:** November 04, 2015, 08:56:38 PM »

Royal St. George's - was never sure what to expect - but those greens were as good as any I've ever seen.

« **Reply #15 on:** November 04, 2015, 09:06:06 PM »

Gullane #1 and Willie Park's Berkshire in PA.

For the life of me I can't understand how both fly largely under the radar.

« **Reply #16 on:** November 04, 2015, 09:13:29 PM »

Laurel Links

« **Reply #17 on:** November 04, 2015, 09:47:16 PM »

Barona Creek. I loved how playable and fun it is for all levels while being a serious test from the back tees by just changing the angle of a lot of the holes.

« **Reply #18 on:** November 04, 2015, 09:52:34 PM »

Even with the brutal bermuda rough, I would give the nod to Holston Hills for my favourite first timer of 2015.

TK

« **Reply #19 on:** November 04, 2015, 09:57:34 PM »

Cal Club - totally blown away.

« **Reply #20 on:** November 04, 2015, 10:08:15 PM »

Ooops...forgot about Arrowhead Pointe in Georgia.

Some terrific holes on a beautiful site and I would defy anyone to tell me how they even got it built in modern times given environmental considerations.

Hon mentions...Miacomet on Nantucket Island and the old nine hole course at West Chester in PA.

And...Royal Lytham doesn't get nearly the love it deserves here.

« **Reply #21 on:** November 04, 2015, 10:29:40 PM »

Spring: Kankakee Elks. What a piece of land and a perfect routing. Get a few more trees out...

Fall: Mount Prospect. A muni done perfectly. Not hard, but virtually every hole worthy of an argument after the round.

« **Reply #22 on:** November 04, 2015, 10:37:53 PM »

Cabot Cliffs. Legit!

« **Reply #23 on:** November 04, 2015, 10:41:08 PM »

Quote from: Rob Collins on November 04, 2015, 09:57:34 PM

Cal Club - totally blown away.

+1. And that was in a year where I also played Pasatiempo for the first time. I don't want to be a fan boy but my goodness was Cal Club incredible.

« **Reply #24 on:** November 04, 2015, 10:45:09 PM »

Quote from: John Connolly on November 04, 2015, 10:41:08 PM

Quote from: Rob Collins on November 04, 2015, 09:57:34 PM
Cal Club - totally blown away.

+1. And that was in a year where I also played Pasatiempo for the first time. I don't want to be a fan boy but my goodness was Cal Club incredible.

John, I'm no fan of competitive rankings, but really wonder how you would compare Pasatiempo and the new Cal Club. Full disclosure, I haven't played Cal since the late '80's.

News:

Rob Marshall

Wade Whitehead

Jason Way

Cob Carlson

Bill_McBride

GLawson

Tom Fagerli

Ash Towe

James Brown

Sean_A

James Brown

J_ Crisham

Brad Tufts

Eric Smith

Ian Andrew

MCirba

Jeff Evagues

Philip Caccamise

Tyler Kearns

Rob Collins

MCirba

John McCarthy

Ron Csigo

John Connolly

Bill_McBride

An Error Has Occurred!