How many NLE courses have you played?

[Matt Schoolfield]

I only have a couple: Bluebonnet Hill in Austin (closed Jan 2020), and Fleming's version of GGPGC which had it's moments, even if the Blasi update is fantastic.

[Stewart Abramson]

I just took a look at Google Earth and  the NLE Sugarloaf Mountain Golf Course appears to still  be overgrown some 10+ years after it closed following the great recession. All of the residential streets and infrastructure in the neighboring residential development had been constructed in 2007, but it appears that  only six homes have been built in the community that I believe was planned to have 100+ homes. With the extreme residential growth in this part of Florida over the past  5-10 years I'm surprised that the Sugarloaf neighborhood has not been developed and with the busy tee sheets in central Florida area post- Covid, I wonder if there would be a way to resurrect the golf course. It was one of the best options in the area and several lesser courses that closed in the aftermath of the recession have reopened and are very busy.

[MCirba]

Mike:


You'll have to take High Pointe off your list; nine holes opened there last week, including the original 10th through 15th.  The rest of the new holes will be open in the fall.

Tom,


Very happy to take it off the dead list.   I'll now consider it a "restoration/redesign" many years in the making.   


Congrats!!

[Joe Zucker]

I only have a couple: Bluebonnet Hill in Austin (closed Jan 2020), and Fleming's version of GGPGC which had it's moments, even if the Blasi update is fantastic.

Closing Bluebonnet was sad.  I played there regularly in 2019 and it was always packed. One of the few walkable courses in Austin that is not a muni.  The city refused to renew their 30 year water rights from 1990 and they had no other options.

[Rob Marshall]

I only have a couple: Bluebonnet Hill in Austin (closed Jan 2020), and Fleming's version of GGPGC which had it's moments, even if the Blasi update is fantastic.

Closing Bluebonnet was sad.  I played there regularly in 2019 and it was always packed. One of the few walkable courses in Austin that is not a muni.  The city refused to renew their 30 year water rights from 1990 and they had no other options.

Was Bluebonnet formerly Circle C?

[MCirba]

ACE Club, designed by Rees Jones, died September 2, 2001. I worked there. I played it on its final day. The entire site was plowed under and a redesign by Gary Player (including an additional 50 acres or so) was put in its place. Player's design is wonderful in its current Union League identity but Jones' course, which replaced the original Eagle Lodge in the mid-1980s, was VERY good.

Mark,


There have been three different golf courses on basically the same site with likely a fourth in the making.


The course was first known as Roxborough Country Club (designed by Herb Jewson) in the 1920s, then later (1982) became Eagle Lodge, designed by Rees Jones (who used a number of existing hole corridors), and then the Ace Club built a new course in 1999 with Gary Player and Warren Henderson (with some additional land), and now the course is owned by the Union League and Gil Hanse/Jim Wagner have been engaged.   It will be interesting to see what gets done.

[Matt Schoolfield]

I only have a couple: Bluebonnet Hill in Austin (closed Jan 2020), and Fleming's version of GGPGC which had it's moments, even if the Blasi update is fantastic.

Closing Bluebonnet was sad.  I played there regularly in 2019 and it was always packed. One of the few walkable courses in Austin that is not a muni.  The city refused to renew their 30 year water rights from 1990 and they had no other options.

Was Bluebonnet formerly Circle C?

No, Bluebonnet Hill was on the way to Manor (pronounced: "May-nor") by Decker Lake (now pronounced: "Lake Walter E. Long"). You can find out the basic information for Bluebonnet Hill on the wiki: https://golfcourse.wiki/course/former_site_of_bluebonnet_hill_golf_club-austin

Circle C is now known as Grey Rock GC: https://golfcourse.wiki/course/grey_rock_golf_club-austin

More info from Golf Texas: http://www.golftexas.com/circlec1.htm

[Tim Gavrich]

Haven't seen a lot of representation of Connecticut's NLE courses here, so I'll list those that I've played:


Canton Golf Course (Canton) - Family-owned 9-holer built in the 30s I believe (run by Walter Lowell, who was a Hartford County golf legend) that is now a shopping center although the ghost of the old par-3 2nd hole still sits grown over across the street from the shops. Had a cool par 4 with a green in the sky and the 9th was a neat little drop-shot par 3.


Country Club of Woodbridge (Woodbridge) - Very solid Orrin Smith course that I only played once but enjoyed. I remember the greens being particularly good.


Pistol Creek Golf Club (Berlin) - Built in 2000, generally agreed to be too awkward a piece of property for a decent golf course. I used to have a t-shirt that said "I lost my [BALLS] at Pistol Creek."



Tower Ridge Country Club (Avon) - This one breaks my heart to this day because I played dozens of rounds there growing up. Originally called Cliffside, it was a 1950s Geoffrey Cornish course on the side of Avon Mountain that had some quirky and unique holes that overall worked pretty well. Some fearsome greens and thrilling downhill shots, including a 244-yard drop-shot par 3. The short par 4 that sat highest on the hill, #6, was a really interesting hole where you had to lay up in the right spot or you'd have a terrible angle into the green, even with a wedge. Anytime I'm back in CT I avoid driving past it because I don't want to see it growing over. Lots of happy memories there.


Tradition Golf Club at Windsor - Played a high school match or two here; don't really remember it.


Other NLEs I've played outside of CT:


- Cahoon Plantation (VA)
- Winyah Bay (SC) - I broke 100 for the first time there; one of several Myrtle Beach-area NLEs I've played
- Vista Links (VA) - Our secondary home course when I was in college; what a bizarre saga with the way the town financed it. Too bad; the 2nd hole was one of the best par 5s I've ever played.
- Doral Great White (FL) - Kooky but I thought it was pretty interesting because it was decidedly different than anything else at the resort/in the area
- The Balsams Coashaukee - Played it when I was 7 or so; it was the little executive course that went with the 18-hole Donald Ross Panorama course
- Paradise Point Scarlet (NC) - The sporty course at Camp Lejeune, where we played a college event each year. It had small upturned greens but was short and scoreable. Seemed like a perfect smaller course that would appeal to a lot of its clientele on/around the Marine base; a shame that it's not in operation...

[Pete_Pittock]

Updating my list from page 1.  Mostly in Oregon

Marysville    Oswego Lake GC (nor Lake Oswego Country Club)    Juniper (original location)    Ontario
Olalla Valley       Red Mountain       Bay Breeze      Kah-Nee-Ta       Reames

Also Lakeview Par 3 Challenge (WA)    (included in Confidential Guide)
Sheraton-Makaha (HI)


That is 38 of 600ish.  The cruelest thing is that I have two holes-in-one and both courses appear on this list - Colwood National (hole#4)
and Smith Rock ( hole #1) 

[Chris_Blakely]

Adding a few more to my list of courses that I have played that have closed:


The Natural at Beaver Creek closed end of 2023 underrated Jerry Mathews course
The Legends of Indiana – Dye Course par 3 (back 9 closed 2023)
Hawk’s Nest at ATI Ohio State closed end of 2022
Spuyten Duyval 2019 (27 holes sold to Secore Metroparks of Toledo Metroparks – not a welcome addition locally as they own too much land and can not afford to maintain without local tax levies)
Shawnee State Park closed in 2019, was part of Ohio State Parks system and was about as far south as one can go to golf in Ohio.  Jack Kidwell and Dr. Michael Hurdzan course.
Shawnee Lookout Jack Kidwell and Dr. Michael Hurdzan course.
Stonewall Germantown, NC
Blackhawk Galena, OH Jack Kidwell course sold for housing.
Rustic Hills Medina, OH, fun 9 hole course.
Glenn Dale George Cobb course in the DC suburbs that closed in 2019
Hunter’s Oak Queenstown, MD at one time was 27 holes
Whetstone Caledonia Caledonia, OH course built in 1971 closed and sold for farming
Links at Lake Erie (Monroe, MI) closed and sold to Amazon
Skyland Pines (Canton, OH) closed and sold to Amazon
Cherrywood PA closed in 2019
Chisolm Hills outside of Lansing, MI
General’s Ridge Manassas Park, VA
The Greens at Greenville, PA
Harland Glen, MI closed 9 holes
Hickory VFW, Hermitage, PA
Krendale, Butler, PA closed 9 holes
Mahoning Valley PA
Seven Hills OH
Bennington GC MI
Pine Lakes, Mount Gilead, OH closed and turned into campground
The Signature at West Neck VA near VA Beach; Arnold Palmer course
Lincoln GC Grand Rapids, MI built in 1922 and greens were very similar to several other 1920’s courses I have played in Michigan that have an architectural pedigree.  Only course I have played that also had a bowling alley
Oakland Hills (not that one) Battle Creek, MI
Nansemond River Suffolk, VA closed and sold for houseing
Silver Lake CC Rockford, MI closed 2019
The Brassie Chesterton, IN Jim Fazio course
South Shore Cedar Lake, IN built in 1928 allegedly by Chick Evans.
Tree Links Bellefontaine, OH course had a great hilly layout built on the highest elevation in Ohio
Gleneagles Red / White Lemont, IL 36 holes
Auman Timbers Dover, OH John F. Robinson course built on some of the wildest terrain that can be found in southeastern Ohio.
Vista Links Buena Vista, VA
Sanctuary North Canton, OH
Sweetbriar – Original closed 9 of 18 holes
Spring Valley Elyria, OH Harold Paddock course replaced by Nicklaus’ Valley of the Eagles
Hawthorne Valley Solon, Ohio closed 2019
Tanglewood Perrysburg Township, OH
Sleepy Hollow Clyde, OH build in 1961 sold and turned into campground
Mohican Hills Jeromesville, OH Jack Kidwell course closed end of 2023
Moundbuilders Newark, OH will close at the end of year.

Chris

[Jim O’Kane]

As an architect, nothing makes you feel older than having NLE courses on your resume.  I have three, a no fee par 3 in a subdivision, Centenial in Ackworth, GA (now under Pulte homes) and Great Southwest, a renovation now under warehouses in DFW.

Jeff, Centernnial was yours?!
When I first moved to Atlanta in 95, I lived in Little 5 Points. Centennial was my "home" track. I'd drive my butt up there a few times a month to play. I loved that course. Well done on that design. So many good holes and a lot of fun to play. I was crushed when it closed.

Thank you for building it and giving great memories in my head, that unlike the course, are still there.

[Joe Bausch]

In the Bausch Collection, it is 32 courses NLE for me. In my golf lifetime, it is probably close to 60 (15 or so from Myrtle Beach!).

[Ronald Montesano]

Chris, no course should ever let you play it. You are like a charm for bad days ahead!!


Westwood Country Club in Amherst, NY
The Pit in Pinehurst area
Goose Creek in Virginia beltway area
Pistol Creek in Middletown CT area
Dartmouth College course in New Hampshire


That's five for starters. I don't know that I've played that many more. I hope that no more close.

[Evan Fleisher]

Yowsers!...looks like 51 by my count.  Way more than I thought!

ASU Karsten Golf Course	Tempe	AZ
Vellano Country Club	Chino Hills	CA
Champions Club At The Retreat	Corona	CA
Empire Lakes Golf Course	Rancho Cucamonga	CA
Stevinson Ranch Golf Club	Stevinson	CA
Hillcrest Country Club	Hollywood	FL
Doral Golf Resort White Course	Miami	FL
Fontainebleau Park Golf Course West Course	Miami	FL
Miami Lakes Country Club Par3 Course	Miami Lakes	FL
California Golf Club	North Miami	FL
Presidential Country Club	North Miami Beach	FL
Grande Pines Golf Club	Orlando	FL
Raintree Golf Resort	Pembroke Pines	FL
West Palm Beach Country Club	West Palm Beach	FL
Makena Resort Golf Club North Course	Maui	HI
Ko'olau Golf Club	Oahu	HI
Indian Lakes Resort Sioux Course	Bloomingdale	IL
Spartan Meadows Golf Club	Elgin	IL
Mill Creek Golf Club	Geneva	IL
Timber Trails Country Club	La Grange	IL
Woodbine Golf Course	Lockport	IL
Bachelor Runn Golf Club (9-Hole)	Flora	IN
Lafayette Municipal Golf Club	Lafayette	IN
Par View Golf Club Par3 Course	West Lafayette	IN
Wolf Run Golf Club	Zionsville	IN
Beechtree Golf Club	Aberdeen	MD
Pomme Creek Golf Course	Arnold	MO
New Melle Lakes Golf Club	New Melle	MO
St. Andrews Golf Course	St. Charles	MO
St. Charles Golf Course	St. Charles	MO
Cherry Hills Golf Club	St. Louis	MO
Mid Rivers Golf Links	St. Peters	MO
Cedar Creek Golf Course (9-Hole)	Wentzville	MO
Crystal Springs Golf Club	Pineville	NC
Aurora Golf & Country Club	Aurora	OH
Tam O'Shanter Golf Course Dales Course	Canton	OH
Berkshire Hills Golf Course	Chesterland	OH
Walnut Run Golf Course	Cortland	OH
Spring Valley Golf & Athletic Club	Elyria	OH
Golf Club at Red Hawk Run	Findlay	OH
Skyland Golf Course	Hinckley	OH
Oak Knolls Golf Club	Kent	OH
Blue Heron Golf Club	Medina	OH
Wicked Woods Golf Club	Newbury	OH
Sanctuary Golf Club	North Canton	OH
Brandywine Country Club	Peninsula	OH
Hawthorne Valley Country Club	Solon	OH
Astorhurst Country Club	Walton Hills	OH
Cooper's Creek Golf Club	Pelion	SC
Ironwood Golf Course	Cookeville	TN
Pecan Valley Golf Club	San Antonio	TX

[Chris_Blakely]

Chris, no course should ever let you play it. You are like a charm for bad days ahead!!


Westwood Country Club in Amherst, NY
The Pit in Pinehurst area
Goose Creek in Virginia beltway area
Pistol Creek in Middletown CT area
Dartmouth College course in New Hampshire


That's five for starters. I don't know that I've played that many more. I hope that no more close.

Or I have played  that many courses that the percentage is not that great!


What's your favorite courses in the Buffalo, NY area many I'll seek some of the ones out I have not played!!


Chris

[Richard Hetzel]

Probabaly too many to list. I have played the most courses in the state of Ohio (where I unfortunately live); a total of 214 as of yesterday.


Of those 214, I counted 37 that are NLE. About 17%.

[Jude Thompson]

Only a few for me:

Wolf Run
World Woods Pine Barrens and Rolling Oaks

[MCirba]

As an offshoot to the "How Many Courses Have You Played?" thread, I thought it might be interesting and appropriate to take a virtual moment of silence to pay tribute to those courses from our past that no longer exist.

In my case, of 1089 courses played I would have thought I'd have a higher percentage of NLE's than only 70 (EDIT now 84)   I'm rather sure there may be some from my past I'm unaware have gone under, but I'm confident that this is probably at least over 80% of them.

Ashbourne (PA)
Bear Brook (NJ)
Beechtree (MD)
Belle Terre (Championship) (SC)
Belle Terre (Executive) (SC)
B.L. England (NJ)
Blue Heron Pines (East) (NJ)
Brandywine (DE)
Brantwood (MD)
Cedarbrook Hill (PA)
Cedar Run (DE)
Center Valley (PA)
Cherokee (PA)
Cherry Valley (PA)
City Park (Championship) (LA)
City Park (Wisner) (LA)
Cohanzick (NJ)
Concord (Monster) (NY)
Eagle Lodge (PA)
Eagle's Nest (NJ)
Edgmont (PA)
Evergreen Park (PA)
Farview Greens (PA)
Felicita (PA)
Green Hills (PA)
Harlem Valley (NY)
Hawk Lake (PA)
Heather Glen (SC)
Hershey Parkview (PA)
Hidden Springs (Professional) (PA)
High Pointe (MI)
Holly Hills (NJ)
Horsham Valley (PA)
Indian Creek (PA)
Island Green (PA)
Liberty Valley (PA)
Long Shadow (GA)
Marsh Harbour (SC)
Meadow Brook (PA)
Meadowbrook (PA)
Miry Run (NJ)
Montgomeryville (PA)
Mountain Manor (Blue/Yellow) (PA)
Mountain Manor (Silver/Orange) (PA)
Mount Pocono (PA)
Nemacolin Woodlands (Links) (PA)
Oak Ridge (NJ)Olde Masters (PA)
Pecan Valley (TX)
Perry (PA)
Philadelphia Quartette (PA)
Pine Shore (MD)
Pit (NC)
Pocono Manor (West) (PA)
Ponderlodge (NJ)
Riddell's Bay (BM)
Robber's Roost (SC)
Somerton Springs (PA)Stonehouse (VA)
Tallgrass (NY)
Tamcrest (NJ)
Tamiment (PA)
Three Little Bakers (DE)
Upland (MD)
Upper Perk (PA)
Valley Forge (PA)
Vandegrift (DE)
Wakefield Valley (MD)
Walnut Acres (PA)
Waterway Hills (SC)
Wild Wing (Falcon) (SC)
Wild Wing (Wood Stork) (SC)
Willowbrook (NJ)
Wiscasset (PA)
Wolf Hollow (PA)
Woodbridge (PA)
Woodland Hills (PA)
Woods (PA)
Woods (Pitch & Putt) (PA)
Wren Dale (PA)
Yorktowne (PA)

A quick look and update shows I'm now up to 150 NLE courses out of 1299 played.   A closer look would probably yield another 10% or so.


That being said, i have a tough time categorizing places like World Woods, or even the soon reopening High Pointe as NLE.   In the case of the former, I haven't followed closely enough to the details as to whether it's a complete destruction and re-do or whether parts and parcels of the original are still utilized.   In either case, it still exists even if redesigned and renamed.   How do others account for those type of changes?

[mike_malone]

Mike,


  It looks like all the ones I have played are on your list but I haven’t played many on your list.


I miss Three Little Bakers the most.

[MCirba]

Mike,


  It looks like all the ones I have played are on your list but I haven’t played many on your list.


I miss Three Little Bakers the most.

Mayday,


Only played it once but it was quite good on some interesting land, IIRC.   Ed Ault never built a bad golf hole.  Not a great one, but that's ok.

[Will Thrasher]

A group of us were talking about NLE courses in Northern Indiana


Racoon Run (IN)
Little Big Horn (IN)
Christiana Creek (IN) - this one was an actual loss. Bendelow/Langford
South Shore Golf Club (IN)
Old Orchard (IN)

[John Nixon]

A group of us were talking about NLE courses in Northern Indiana

Racoon Run (IN)
Little Big Horn (IN)

There's 2 courses I forgot to put on my list. Played both courses occasionally when we'd visit my in-laws in Warsaw.

[Will Thrasher]

Have a soft spot for Racoon Run. Owner gave me a steal membership when I was in college. All I could play during school year for $150. Quirky as all getout, but perfect for a college kid. Side note is the owner won Big Break VI and played on tour for a while. Bit of a Tin Cup situation.

[Adam Lawrence]

Hunter’s Oak Queenstown, MD at one time was 27 holes

I just saw this post. Hunter's Oak is now a nine hole course, but the reason for mentioning it is that it was originally designed by Ian Scott-Taylor, of whom many on this site will have fond memories