America's Top 15 Public Courses to go Private on January 1st!

[Peter Pallotta]

You have less that 6 hours to join. You get to join only one.
The good news is that your membership is guaranteed -- but only if you decide and act right away.
I can't tell you your business or what should be important to you, but remember: membership means that you can play the course every single day, while in this case "private" means really, really private. Outside play will be extremely limited.
The list of the Top 15 was culled from Golf's Top 100 in America (taking only the currently-public and leaving off the many already-private courses).
Here's the list. Membership awaits you, along with everyday play at your favourite (currently) public course. But for the other 14 courses that you don't pick, well, you might not be able to play them again for a long long time. 
Good luck with your decision. Remember: you may want to pick a course that you would be happy to play every day.
Best to you for a happy and healthy new year.
Peter

Pebble Beach
Pinehurst No 2
Pacific Dunes
Bethpage Black
Kiawah Island (Ocean)
Whistling Straits (Straits)
TPC Sawgrass
Bandon Dunes
Harbour Town
Bandon Trails
Streamsong Red
Sand Valley
Pasatiempo
Old Macdonald
Streamsong Blue

[James Brown]

Assuming I actually lived near enough to take advantage, I would choose Pebble Beach.  You left it off. 

[Peter Pallotta]

Oops. Thanks - corrected. Pebble on, Torrey Pines South off (to stat at 15).
You're in at Pebble.

[JMEvensky]

TPC - Sawgrass. Every time I've played it I thought it would make a perfect members' course--if it was taken back to the original idea of large un-maintained/manicured areas. Not too long,not a hard walk,a fun set of greens,and a course with enough wind that it wouldn't get boring.

[John Kavanaugh]

Without even discussing price none of the above beat the reality of Prairie Dunes.

[jeffwarne]

1.because it's an hour and 15 from my house-Bethpage Black (and it would be actually enjoyable without the hassle of sleeping on your car for the priviledge of a 6 hour round.


2.Pac Dunes (to say nothing of the attraction of home and home with Bandon Trails.old Mac, and Bandon Dunes members)


Pebble next (Cypress home and homes)


For winter play-Streamsong Blue (Red home and homes)

[Joe Bausch]

So hard, P2, as I've not played them all.  Not complaining too loudly (!), since I've seen 8 of them.


But I'll go all Barney on you and change the rules of the game and state that if I'm Super of the World and can present BPB to my liking, it is the winner.

[Ira Fishman]

I will also hypothesize that I have a private jet and that joining the newly private Bandon Golf Club includes all four courses.


Ira

[Ronald Montesano]

Can't lose at any of them, since Torrey is now off!!

[John Kavanaugh]

According to the rules if you join one Bandon course you can't play any of the others. Of course you could just send Golfweek $250 and play them all.

[Ira Fishman]

According to the rules if you join one Bandon course you can't play any of the others. Of course you could just send Golfweek $250 and play them all.

It is New Year’s Eve and a bunch of us are posting and many more are lurking. There are no rules.


Ira

[Terry Lavin]

Pacific Dunes without question. I’d happily retire there.

[Kalen Braley]

I suspect many would put Chambers above a few on this list...

[John Kavanaugh]

Kemper Lakes held a major and was a highly regarded public course that went private. Has that been a success? Are there any other better examples?

[John Kirk]

Probably Pacific Dunes.

I like the lower 9th green / lower 10th tee considerably more than the upper combo.

Second choice might be Pasatiempo.  I have a number of friends there.  A generally underrated golf course and club.

[John Kavanaugh]

Concerning Bandon, can't you already become a resident of Oregon and pay rates equal to monthly dues of any great club. Is getting rid of the resort stigma what makes joining so appealing? Is there a market for retirement homes in Coos Bay?

[Buck Wolter]

I've never played Streamsong but would like to be a member of a Doak so I'll take the Blue -- what are the warm winter options that are comparable? Augusta, Seminole, Mountain Lake? Plus I could probably afford to live close without winning the Lottery.

[Tom_Doak]

I've never played Streamsong but would like to be a member of a Doak so I'll take the Blue -- what are the warm winter options that are comparable? Augusta, Seminole, Mountain Lake? Plus I could probably afford to live close without winning the Lottery.

Yes, I would say so.  The closest home to Streamsong that's currently for sale according to Trulia is a 3-bedroom, 1-bathroom house in Bradley Junction, asking $55,900:


https://www.trulia.com/property/5033478695-6771-Grand-Central-Ave-Mulberry-FL-33860

[Frank M]

Pinehurst No. 2 for me. Pretty much year round play, southern charm, awesome golf course, I love the place.

[John Kavanaugh]

If Streamsong went private could all three courses survive with 1000 members paying $12,000 per year?

[David Wuthrich]

Pebble for me.


I would never get tired of playing the course, not overly difficult, beautiful views.


But probably most important, Carmel is my wife's favorite place.


A happy wife makes for a happy life on the golf course!!!

[Eric Smith]

I think I’d have to choose Harbour Town. Firstly because I love it and secondly because it’s the course I get to fairly regularly on this list and I can’t imagine having to grovel to play it when I visit the island.

[James Brown]

Would Pebble ever get old?  Who here has played it the most?  I’ve only been around twice.

[archie_struthers]

 


Tough one , Pebble undeniably beautiful , weather pretty good in Carmel.  Prairie Dunes off the hook , but I can't live that far from the Ocean . Streamsong looks cool, but too hot in Florida in summer .


That leaves Pinehurst , right ?  Love the place but too quiet for me in N.C. , so I'm gonna go to Pasatiempo . 

[John Kavanaugh]

You can buy a membership at Pinehurst already. I was jealous of the members playing without caddies last time I visited.