This discussion group is best enjoyed using Google Chrome, Firefox or Safari.
I know this topic has been discussed previously, but I always enjoy hearing about places folks have played that may not be in the Top 100 but hold a special place in your personal rankings. For me, three come to mind:Blue Mound - hard to find many places where the architect has done more with less. Just pure fun, playable, and masterful Raynor on an otherwise rather bland piece of property.Brookside (Canton, OH) - Had the pleasure of playing this summer, so maybe some recency bias here. I was floored by the green complexes and incredible elevation changes. The property could use some more tree removal, but I wouldn't get tired of playing this place on a regular basis.Culver Academy - if this place had a locker room with good shower pressure (or whatever else helps rankings) and 9 even mediocre holes, I firmly believe this would be a top 100 contender. I've been lucky enough to play here quite a few times as it's less than an hour from me and absolutely love it every time. The super (Mike Vessley) does an oustanding job and posts incredible pictures on Twitter and Instagram as well.
Sand Hills
It doesn't say underrated courses only, so I'm going with conditions.I've been playing lately on a course clearly built on an old farm field. Probably clay underneath it, the turf can be a bit patchy, but they keep it a little longer and drier and that gives it an excellent bounce and roll. The greens are usually open at the front and I almost always bounce it short and roll it on. It goes to show that they can give you firm and fast conditions on almost any soil, as long as you can accept slower greens and longer turf in the fairways. I really like it! At this point, the spin I lose on irons from the fairway doesn't matter to me at all, I'd rather run that thing on anyway!
Quote from: Will Thrasher on September 18, 2024, 09:18:26 PMI know this topic has been discussed previously, but I always enjoy hearing about places folks have played that may not be in the Top 100 but hold a special place in your personal rankings. For me, three come to mind:Blue Mound - hard to find many places where the architect has done more with less. Just pure fun, playable, and masterful Raynor on an otherwise rather bland piece of property.Brookside (Canton, OH) - Had the pleasure of playing this summer, so maybe some recency bias here. I was floored by the green complexes and incredible elevation changes. The property could use some more tree removal, but I wouldn't get tired of playing this place on a regular basis.Culver Academy - if this place had a locker room with good shower pressure (or whatever else helps rankings) and 9 even mediocre holes, I firmly believe this would be a top 100 contender. I've been lucky enough to play here quite a few times as it's less than an hour from me and absolutely love it every time. The super (Mike Vessley) does an oustanding job and posts incredible pictures on Twitter and Instagram as well. Will, Darryl, Jeff, Thanks for the kind words regarding BMGCC. As you may know we are completing our restoration as we speak. Bruce Hepner has done a terrific job along with our world class Supt Alex. 2025 will be a very special year as the completely restored course is revealed. It's no longer a hidden gem......
Cape Arundel, Kirtland, Barton Hills, Battle Creek, Streamsong Blue (T53 Modern but deserves more praise imo), Old Barnwell, Huntercombe, Deal (RCP) and De Pan.
Quote from: Ryan Taylor on Yesterday at 11:07:53 PMCape Arundel, Kirtland, Barton Hills, Battle Creek, Streamsong Blue (T53 Modern but deserves more praise imo), Old Barnwell, Huntercombe, Deal (RCP) and De Pan.Am simply astounded that it took 37 posts for someone to mention Deal (RCP), with apologies if I missed it earlier.Would also add Hollywood in NJ
Quote from: Charlie Goerges on Yesterday at 10:51:22 AMIt doesn't say underrated courses only, so I'm going with conditions.I've been playing lately on a course clearly built on an old farm field. Probably clay underneath it, the turf can be a bit patchy, but they keep it a little longer and drier and that gives it an excellent bounce and roll. The greens are usually open at the front and I almost always bounce it short and roll it on. It goes to show that they can give you firm and fast conditions on almost any soil, as long as you can accept slower greens and longer turf in the fairways. I really like it! At this point, the spin I lose on irons from the fairway doesn't matter to me at all, I'd rather run that thing on anyway!I've enjoyed reading each and every one of the replies, but absolutely love out of the box answers like this. Now I'm curious...what's the name of this place?
Does Ekwanok count as underrated? That is my favorite.
Quote from: Paul Jones on Yesterday at 01:54:38 PMDoes Ekwanok count as underrated? That is my favorite.I don't know if it's underrated as much as it is unknown. Very few people get the chance to play it, but I think those that do rate it very highly. I agree with you ... it's one of my favorites as well. I think Longmeadow CC is underrated, often overshadowed by all the other great Ross courses in New England. Other than hosting the Junior Am a while back, it doesn't get mentioned much but is a really fun course.
Quote from: Will Thrasher on Yesterday at 08:25:46 PMQuote from: Charlie Goerges on Yesterday at 10:51:22 AMIt doesn't say underrated courses only, so I'm going with conditions.I've been playing lately on a course clearly built on an old farm field. Probably clay underneath it, the turf can be a bit patchy, but they keep it a little longer and drier and that gives it an excellent bounce and roll. The greens are usually open at the front and I almost always bounce it short and roll it on. It goes to show that they can give you firm and fast conditions on almost any soil, as long as you can accept slower greens and longer turf in the fairways. I really like it! At this point, the spin I lose on irons from the fairway doesn't matter to me at all, I'd rather run that thing on anyway!I've enjoyed reading each and every one of the replies, but absolutely love out of the box answers like this. Now I'm curious...what's the name of this place?Sure, it's a mom & pop 9-holer in Mankato MN called Terrace View (it also has a par 3 course I haven't played). To be clear, there's not much for architecture there, not much contour either. But most of the time when I play this type of course, there isn't much bounce and roll, but this one has it, which makes the game more fun for me. Partially because the ground game is just fun, and partially because the extra bounce and roll gives me back some of the distance I've lost. Many courses that are better than this one would benefit from scragglier conditions that allowed for more bounce and roll in my opinion. More cushion under the ball in the fairway generally, but even when the grass is patchy, you put the ball back in your stance (maybe hit it a little thin), and the bounce/roll takes care of the rest.And I emphasize Bounce and roll, because the bounce on a drier substrate is really where the forward momentum comes from when the turf is kept longer (these things aren't billiard-table fast for roll).
Dan-I like Longmeadow also but given one play would pick it’s neighbor the Orchards. Both are fun Donald Ross courses.
Bit of a loaded question, since so many of the underrated by others (and ignored by the media) are rated quite highly here.For me, in these United States:Gulph MillsTeugegaYahnundasisUK:New ZealandWoking