Grade your state/county

[Jason Way]

I think Boston and its surrounds would be a solid A-.


New courses: Boston Golf Club and Old Sandwich are both excellent. TPC Boston (built in 2003) is substantially better after the Hanse redesign.


Positive changes: Obviously George Wright stands out as a darling on this site. The Country Club has undergone a massive tree clearing program which to my mind has been very successful. I like the new tees and playing the 2nd as a par 3 for tournaments, as well. Many other area clubs (Belmont, Dedham and Pine Brook) have been taking trees out and restoring greens to their original pads, too. Finally, little Fresh Pond (9 hole muni in Cambridge) has substantially improved its conditioning and added some good new strategic bunkering.


What could get better? The other municipal courses around Boston have potential. Franklin Park is crying out for some more love. I heard Ponkapoag has had work done to it, but I haven't been to see it yet.

Add to the above the restoration work at Kittansett, which is outstanding.  And just on tree clearing alone, the work done by Eric Richardson et al at Essex County is A+.

[Jason Way]

Texas.
We have had threads in the past about my home state--and the reasons there are so few truly outstanding courses in the state--terrain, soil, weather, etc.  Yet we are one of the three or four best golf states in the nation in terms of outstanding golfers--both professional and amateur.  And I hate to concede that our golf courses are bound to remain just pretty mediocre forever.
We have had some moderately good, new courses in the past few years.  And, hopefully, Trinity Forest in Dallas, future home of the Byron Nelson, which is now open, will turn out good.  But, having said all that, I'd reluctantly give our state a solid C in recent course development.  I hope I'm wrong looking forward.

I haven't played down there yet Jim, so you would know better than me, but I think you might be selling your state short.  In the time frame that Ran specified you have:
* Whispering Pines opens
* Austin Golf Club opens
* Wolf Point opens
* Austin Country Club gets a facelift
* Bluejack National (Tiger's first domestic project) opens
* OCCM begins work at Shady Oaks, which looks very promising and is their first work in the US, I believe
* Ben Crenshaw jumps into the community golf fray with the Save MUNY initiative


There are others down there that I know I am forgetting.

[Brad Tufts]

I'd give Boston a solid A.

Great golf for decades and decades, and pretty much ALL of the golden age layouts have been updated in the last 15-20 years.  After a brief scan, I can't think of any club of note that HASN'T seen the light on some level.

Add two US top 75s in BGC and OS, and a couple secondary projects like TPC/Turner Hill/Renaissance/Butter Brook and I think we get an A!

[Sean_A]

WORCESTERSHIRE...incomplete!  To be honest, just having courses stay open is a positive.  There hasn't been a significant opening or restoration/redo in the county these past few decades.  There must be a few courses built in that time, but they didn't alter the golf landscape at all so I won't bother to look up opening dates. 


Ciao

[Eric LeFante]

Great topic Ran.
 
I’m an easy grader but I give New Jersey an A.
 
Some of New Jersey’s best Golden Age courses improved dramatically due to well executed restorations:
 
Somerset Hills
Ridgewood
Plainfield
Mountain Ridge
Hollywood
Essex County CC
 
I don’t think Pine Valley, Baltusrol Upper and Lower, and Forsgate changed as much as the courses above but each certainly is better than it was in 1999.
 
New Jersey had a good number of top quality private clubs open since 1999:
 
Bayonne
Liberty National
Hidden Creek
The Ridge at Back Book
Trump Bedminster Old and New
Hamilton Farm
 
Donald Trump has had a large impact on NJ golf since 1999. He built the two courses at Bedminster and he bought two courses that were in financial trouble (Trump Colts Neck and Philadelphia). Trump is very generous to the state and regional golf association with regard to hosting tournaments at his club. It’s one thing giving up your golf course to host prestigious national championships that get a lot of publicity, but it’s another to give up your course to host the state mid-amateur or a USGA local qualifier. Trump does both.
 
Public golf has also improved since 1999. Tom restored Atlantic City Country Club in 1999 – 2000. Neshanic Valley opened in 2004 and is a great county owned facility. The course hosted the 2012 US Women’s Amateur Public Links. The Lake nine is very good. Charleston Springs is a very good 36 hole county owned facility, with the North course opening around 1999 and the South course opening a few years after that. Galloping Hill underwent a renovation in the past few years. Golfers really get their money’s worth on these county courses.

[BCrosby]

I would give GA a C, and I'm being generous.

Notable courses that have been changed for the worse:

ANGC
East Lake
Sea Island
Augusta CC

Notable courses that have been improved:

Brunswick GC, though I'm not sure BGC is a notable course.

Notable new courses:

Cuscowilla

Lots of courses have closed in GA, but I don't have a number. I can't think of any that will be missed.

[jeffwarne]

.

[JMEvensky]

I would give GA a C. And I'm an easy grader.

Notable courses that have been changed for the worst:

ANGC
East Lake
Sea Island
Augusta CC

Notable courses that have been improved:

Brunswick GC, though I'm not sure it is a notable course.

Notable new courses:

Cuscowilla

Lots of courses have closed in GA, but I don't have a number.

How did the work at Atlantic Athletic turn out?

[BCrosby]

JME -


I haven't been out to AAC for a couple of years. I always liked the Riverside course better than the Highland side. I'm anxious (in all senses of the word) to see what they did.


Bob

[Jason Topp]

Minneapolis area - B+

Public Courses
- In the 1990s my group of 4 would all get on the phone at 7 am on the day tee times opened and call repeatedly until one of us got through in order to get a weekend tee time.  Often it took 45 minutes and 20 minutes was quick.  The course was a pretty basic municipal course in good condition that was one of the best courses in the area at the time.  Now it is probably outside of the top 10 and there are more tee times available than people to fill them and the new courses built in the late 90's/early 2000 time frame have generally been high quality additions.  A few courses have closed which have been the lower end public courses.  Those closures have not had a negative impact because plenty of affordable golf remains.  Richard Mandell did a terrific job restoring Keller golf course and is working on a complete rebuild of a fairly pedestrian public course in Edina.

Private -Minnesota has a nice variety of golden age designs on nice rolling terrain for golf.  In the late 90's Ron Prichard performed a terrific renovation/restoration of Minikahda that demonstrated the value of tree removal and bunker restoration.  Nearly every other private club has removed trees and a large percentage have done additional restoration work.  The scope of the work has varied from very extensive - such as nearly complete rebuilds of Edina Country Club (Bendelow) and Olympic Hills to tree removal and green size restoration at nearly every club.

[David Wuthrich]

I'll jump in on Texas.  Agree we don't have many wonderful courses, we have made progress since 1999. 


14 of the Top 20 ranked courses are new since 1999. 


For those that have not experienced Wolf Point, it is very special and a great addition to golf in Texas!

[Ian Mackenzie]

Chicago/Illinois-


Lots of good work done and being done at the classic and semi-classic privates- Shoreacres, Old Elm, Beverly, Olympia Fields CC, Glenview, Bob'O'Link, Skokie etc.  Interesting new courses with Medinah #1 and Black Sheep.  The appreciation of the benefits of tree removal is having an impact across the region. Many privates outside the big names and the best suburbs are struggling however.

Publics are still a bit sketchy from a design standpoint (i.e. the disaster reno at Cog Hill!) albeit plentiful.  However Ravisloe turned public, and there's now places like Shepherd's Crook and the Highlands of Elgin.  There's also a bit more appreciation for places like Langford's Kankakee Elks for those who get good gas mileage.  If there's anything really interesting happening downstate I'd love to hear about it. 


But the bottom line is the vast majority of the state is still essentially dead flat with heavy clay soils and the climate can be challenging.  Hence clubs spend a lot of money on maintenance to approximate conditions found naturally elsewhere.  Those without the resources and connections for the pricy local privates, and those who simply seek better turf, topography and variety, head to Michigan and Wisconsin to weekend, vacation and play. Whistling Straights, Erin Hills and now Sand Valley, not to mention Lawsonia and all the great summer options in Harbor Country and Northern Michigan, now have greater pull on local golfers.  So even though we have perhaps GCA's largest contingent and a dedicated hard-core golfing population, there's still only 2 courses in the state that anyone should consider getting on a plane to see- Chicago Golf and Shoreacres.


B+

Agree with almost everything Jud said re: Chicago golf in the past 17 years, with a few amendments/additions:


For me, with the changes Kevin Marion, Curtis James, Drew Rogers, and Dave Zinkand have made at Old Elm, it now belongs on the must see list for North Shore visitors.  More great stuff in the works there that will make it even better.  Other courses on the north side that have also made significant improvements are Onwentsia Club (Bruce Hepner and Scott Vincent) and Bryn Mawr CC (Jim Nagle and Brian Bossert). 


I'm not sure if the opening of the Youth Links at Cantigny falls within this time frame, but that facility continues to lead the way with youth programs - youth golf, the First Tee, and a caddie program are all alive and well there.


More recently, the project by Dave Esler at Mt Prospect brought classic architecture to the masses here in Chicago that wasn't previously available.


Mike Benkusky's work here in IL spans a very interesting range since 2001.  That is the year that Canyata opened - as exclusive as they come.  This year, Mike's rework of Arlington Lakes opened featuring a rerouting of the course in 3,6,9,18 hole loops to accommodate the time constraints of modern family golfers. 


Ray Hearn completed a renovation of Mistwood.  I have not been back yet since they reopened, but feedback seems to be good. 


Rich Harvest Farms opened in 1999, and Chicago Highlands opened in 2007.  While those courses are not everyone's cup of tea, they do have their fans.  I think that there are a few really cool holes out at Chicago Highlands. 


And finally, with the project at South Shore / Jackson Park getting underway, and the good Lord willing, our project at Canal Shores moving forward meaningfully in 2017, there are interesting options on the horizon for IL golfers.


At this 17-year mark, I would give IL a B- for GCA changes.  If the current trends continue though, at the 20-year mark, I could see us earning an A-, or even an A.

Jason, Jud - great stuff and agree on all fronts.


I think what truly separates Chicago from other areas is the ample availability of affordable public golf courses.Now, these courses would not be "GCA-worthy" and most with be Doak Scale 3s and 4s....but if you showed up here with "no access" and a budget, you would have some great options. I believe there are 200+ courses within 50 miles of the city of Chicago.


Another noteworthy "muni restoration" was at Wilmette Golf Club where Wadsworth did excellent work.

[Jim Hoak]

Jason and David--On Texas--I don't disagree that there have been some pretty good courses built recently.  That's why I'd grade us a C--and not lower.  I just am troubled that, as one of the best golf states in the nation by most measures, we don't really have any "great" courses.  I guess Colonial is generally the highest ranked course in most thinking, but it is a stretch to call it "great."  I know the reasons that are usually given for where we are, but I would think with modern architecture we should be better.

[CJames]

For Chicago, I'd add Ray Hearn's renovation/restoration of Herbert Tweedie's Flossmoor Country Club, which occurred roughly a decade ago.  I believe Jud T. and Jason Way, who is a veritable encyclopedia, missed this one. 

[John Kavanaugh]

As a resident of Illinois for the first 55 years of my life I might ad that 20 years ago Chicago was considered the center of the golfing world. It today barely makes also ran status. Out of respect for a state that has treated me to a fine life I won't submit a grade for either their golf or their bonds.

[Matthew Petersen]

I would give Arizona a B.


The rankings would argue for a C, frankly. Of the 25 courses on Golf Digest's best in state rankings, 12 are pre-1999. Of the 30 courses on Golfweek's best public offerings in the state exactly half are from pre-1999.


Now, I give the state higher marks because, subjectively, I much prefer the work done post-1999. It's an interesting cutoff for AZ, actually. C&C's Talking Stick courses opened in 1998 and Doak's Apache Stronghold opened in 1999. The first WeKoPa course opened in 2001 and the C&C course came in 2006. There's been plenty of other good work in that time period as well, both new courses and renovations.


Now, is this stuff great? Nah. It's still desert golf with all the limitations that entails, and there's an awful lot of housing and cartable here. But still, I would argue AZ has made strides since 1999. There's more reason to come play golf here than just the outstanding winter weather.

[Ryan Hillenbrand]

In Missouri it is a tale of two cities.

On the St. Louis side the strength is in the privates. St. Louis CC has continued to restore it to the CB MacDonald original, after changes made in the 40s by Robert Trent Jones. They've continued to top dress the bent grass to make it play firmer. Old Warson has cleared a lot of trees and the course is much better than when it was ranked a Top 100 in the 80s and 90s, yet now can't seem to scratch its way back in to the  Top 200. Bellerive is your typical major championship course renovated by Rees Jones, but not tremendously different from his Dad's design. Under the radar courses like Westwood, Norwood Hills and Glen Echo and Algonquin are great old school courses. On the modern side Persimmon Woods was built in 1998 and is a really good Keith Foster design.

On the Kansas City side the crown jewel is Kansas City Country Club by Tillinghast, who also did Indian Hills. I've heard good things about Mission Hills, while Milburn is a good Langford course that some consider the 2nd best in KC.  On the public side Stone Canyon, Shoal Creek are good moderns, with a Donald Ross in Hillcrest and John Kavanaugh's new favorite Swope Park by AWT being some good golden age choices.

Elsewhere in the state Dalhousie in Cape Girardeau, Porto Cima in Lake of the Ozarks, and Old Hawthorne in Columbia have been added since 1999 I believe and are all worth playing.

Finally Branson is shaping into a golf destination dominated by Big Cedar lodge buying Fazio's Branson Creek, and building 2 other courses currently, one by Coore & Crenshaw.

Was thinking of giving Missouri a solid C, but might be a B- considering what's going on in SW Missouri.

[Ian Mackenzie]

As a resident of Illinois for the first 55 years of my life I might ad that 20 years ago Chicago was considered the center of the golfing world. It today barely makes also ran status. Out of respect for a state that has treated me to a fine life I won't submit a grade for either their golf or their bonds.

Since 1999, Chicago has held and hosted:


1. a PGA Championship
2. 2 US Opens
3. Ryder Cup
4. Walker Cup
5. US Women's Open
6. USGA Mid-Am
7. Solheim Cup
8. Western Amateur - 4 times
9. FedEx Cup playoff - 3 times
10. US Amateur Public Links


200 courses within a 50 mile radius when 50% of that "radius" is actually water in Lake Michigan.


Chicago Bonds: Junk


Chicago golf: A-

[Chris_Blakely]

[quote author=Phil McDade link=topic=63924.msg1521785#msg1521785

Sorry -- can't include Sand Valley in this assessment. Has anyone played a full 18 yet on the first course? I'm not sure how we can evaluate its impact on the state's golfing scene without that. Potential -- yes. But the question isn't about the future of our state's golf offerings.



I've played all 18 holes at Sand Valley.  I believe all 18 holes were open for September and November.


Chris

[Mark Pritchett]

As a resident of Illinois for the first 55 years of my life I might ad that 20 years ago Chicago was considered the center of the golfing world. It today barely makes also ran status. Out of respect for a state that has treated me to a fine life I won't submit a grade for either their golf or their bonds.

Since 1999, Chicago has held and hosted:


1. a PGA Championship
2. 2 US Opens
3. Ryder Cup
4. Walker Cup
5. US Women's Open
6. USGA Mid-Am
7. Solheim Cup
8. Western Amateur - 4 times
9. FedEx Cup playoff - 3 times
10. US Amateur Public Links


200 courses within a 50 mile radius when 50% of that "radius" is actually water in Lake Michigan.


Chicago Bonds: Junk


Chicago golf: A-

I think you mean one US Open and 2 PGAs.

[Kalen Braley]

Utah is a tough one.  Can't imagine its very high up the list....a C at best.


But it does have a bunch of really good cheap muni/public courses that are easy to get on, especially on Sundays. 


And We have Sand Hollow and a few decent privates!! 

[Tommy Williamsen]

I now live in the Shenandoah Valley in VA. For sake of argument I will extend north to Harrisonburg and South to Bristol. This area has done well with private clubs. I am not certain if all were built post 1999 but they a certainly newish: Pikewood national, Greenbrier Sporting Club, Ballyhack, and Olde Farm. On the resort side, The Highland Course at Primland is nothing short of stunning and renovation of Old White was terrific. We'll see how it turns out after its last iteration.


For our location I'll give it an A. All are pretty high quality courses and clubs. On the public side I have to give it a D. There is not a shortage of decent public courses that are not expensive to play, they just have not built in the last 20 years.

[Paul Jones]

Louisiana is at the Top of the list... wait, I have the list upside down  .  We have a few good courses but no really good or great ones.


Grade  C-


No particular order...


Oakbourne
Golden Nugget
The Bluffs
CC of LA
Squire Creek
Southern Trace

[David Wuthrich]

Jim,


I agree, Texas is not where it should be and we really don't have a GREAT course, which is sad for our state!

[Carl Nichols]

Utah is a tough one.  Can't imagine its very high up the list....a C at best.


But it does have a bunch of really good cheap muni/public courses that are easy to get on, especially on Sundays. 


And We have Sand Hollow and a few decent privates!! 

But haven't many of Utah's better courses been built since 1999?