If you could only play...

[Mike_DeVries]

I guess I will have to stay with L.I. Muscle (mini) although taking out The National does almost make me want to go abroad to The Mecca known as DORNOCH!!!!Mini Muscle it is.  "Settling" for Maidstone and Shinnecock is a slice of golf heaven.

[Gib_Papazian]

As long as we are all hallucinating here, how about using the Starship Enterprise to beam me on command to:NGLA Mon-Wed-FriCounty Down Tues-SatCypress Point Thurs-SunYes, that is cheating, but there is no way to choose from that list without tearing your hair out.

[Bill Vostinak]

After much thought, the mini-muscle wins by a nose.  Or does it?Dornoch wins over Maidstone. Muirfield and Shinnecock are as much of a toss-up as exists. Fraternal twins separated at birth. I like the Lothians and the Highlands better than Long Island except for the food....(But that shouldn't countThis presupposing that we have tossed out NGLA and the Old Course.....Sorry, I still have a Walker Cup type halved matchMLIM 1/2  Halfway Home 1/2Still playing off!

[GeoffreyC]

I'll still go with ROYAL Dornoch and Muirfield. I havn't seen Maidstone but it's hard to believe that it's the equal of Dornoch.  Shinnecock and Muirfield (as the Redanman said) are as equal as you can get. Happy to be at either one on a regular basis.Just the thought of the traffic in the Hamptons during golf season is a tie breaker for me!

[Dan Boerger]

Well, I certainly haven't played all these places, so the adventurer in me would be to choose those I haven't been to. But, as they say, the devil you know ... I'll go with American Classics. Simply not a bad shot anywhere on those courses, IMO. Royal Dornach however is becoming an obsession with me so perhaps a different answer tomorrow.

[JESII]

Whatever you all decide is least appealing, I'll take...

[JESII]

by the way...did you notice how the subject line was formatted? Mucci has been getting crap about doing the same recently...

[Tommy Williamsen]

Sean, I saw this thread yesterday and thought about bringing it forward.  what is that they say about great minds?

I thought of a lot of courses that I like.  Royal County Down, Pine Valley are courses I love.  They can also beata you up.
If I had to choose one it would be Cypress Point.  I have only payed it once, twenty years ago. I not only remember every hole, I remember every shot I hit and every shot my buddies hit.  It has it all: towering pines, sand dunes, lonely cyress trees the ocean and a desing that is alomost flawless.  It has short par fours, rechable par fives, two of the most exciting par threes in the world and no play.

[JohnV]

Should we add #6 - Bandon Beauties?

I'll still stick with Homeward Bound.

[Andy Scanlon]

Wow, very difficult choices...after much deliberation I'll go with American Classics -- if for no other reason than 2 of the 3 are "local" for me.

[Geoffrey Childs]

In over six years since the inception of this thread I've had a chance to play NGLA and Maidstone along with other LI gems (Friars Head, Bethpage, Engineers etc.) I've also been to Ireland since then. Royal Dornock still trumps Maidstone (now that I've played it and can make the comparison) but Friars Head can make up the difference.

My vote changes to LI.  NGLA alone breaks the tie for my tastes. This is interesting and I'm interested to hear what newcomers (since 1999) feel about this choice.

[JESII]

I'm interested to hear what newcomers (since 1999) feel

Is this like asking people in the real world an opinion, but only if they are under 100 years old?

I know I took you a bit out of context, but it I found it funny to highlight (since 1999). Sorry.

[ANTHONYPIOPPI]

Ran,

I'll take the Scottish triumvirate. In fact, seriously, I'd take just the Old Course over any of the other groups.

Anthony

[ForkaB]

Swapping Friars Head for Maidstone makes LI more tempting, but if I can substitue Carnoustie for the Old Course, I'll stick with Scotland.

[Joel_Stewart]

I'll go American Classics.  Never give up a chance to play Pine Valley.

[Gary Slatter]

Only because of the weather, I'd take the California Dreaming courses while I wait for the Cape Breton Trio to be added.
Ran, maybe we need an "all season trio" while we wait for Al Gore's weather pattern to finalize.

[tlavin]

... one of these groups of three for the rest of your life, which would it be and why?1. California Dreaming: Pebble, Cypress, and Riviera2. American Classics: Augusta, Pine Valley, and Merion3. Long Island Muscle: Shinnecock, National, and Maidstoneor4. Homeward Bound: St. Andrews, Dornoch and Muirfield5. Irish Eyes are Smiling: Ballybunion, County Down, and PortrushI have tried to make it a tough call; I hope everyone will respond as I think the final tally would be quite interesting.Cheers,

I've only played the California trio, so I guess I'd vote for that.

[Doug Ralston]

And of course no peaceful 'Mountain, Lake, &Forest' set to vote on.

Sorry to say that in my deprived career I have not yet played a single course listed. Cannot possibly vote, except by guess. I certainly think I would enjoy them all.

Doug

[Tim Leahy]

I have played Pebble and Riviera, and dream of playing Cypress as well as being a Californian and not having played any of the others so I am biased and could argue for any of the groups on pictures and history alone, but I would choose the Cali package for life and always be satisfied. One, I feel Cypress Point has the most visually stunning holes on the planet. Two, both Pebble and Cypress integrate the ocean and cliffs into holes the way no others do and for me the meeting of land and sea is something special even when a golf course doesn't exist there. Three, Pebble and Riviera have the history to reflect on while you play. Fourth and finally all three have historical design elements that give you the challenge of playing golf against the course as well as yourself.

[cary lichtenstein]

The choice is so easy, based on weather alone, you got to go with the Cypress group, you can play it 365 days a year

[Mike Policano]

I am going with the American Classics.  I can play Pine Valley and Merion May through October then head off for opening day at The National.  If the weather is bad from October through March, I will walk up from one of the "cottages", have a drink, steam and a swim.

Plus, I can play two different par 3 courses for a change of pace and to support Tony Pioppi's cause.

[wsmorrison]

I actually like that some of these destinations are not regularly visited and don't mind looking forward to occasional visits; it makes the experience more enjoyable in my mind.  So I'll keep the California courses, Ireland, Scotland in that category along with England/Wales, New England, the Great Plains and Australia.

So that leaves me the American Classics or the Long Islanders.  Shinnecock is my favorite course of all.  So that gives that group a fast start.  I have an exceptionally high regard for NGLA, but not enough to sway the decision much.  I have only walked Maidstone, albeit with Tom Paul.  It fascinates me, in some ways more so than NGLA.  The 9th hole is a wonder, even more so knowing how it came to be.  

Then there is the mostly local selection of Merion, Pine Valley and Augusta.  Merion is my second favorite course and Pine Valley my third favorite.  Two out of the top 3 in one group.  That would be hard to top.  Throw Augusta National in there and that is the end of story.  Honestly though, you could change Augusta to TCC, Kittansett, Indian Creek, Crystal Downs, Prairie Dunes and several others and I would still choose the American Classics.  I wouldn't even mind that much if it was only Merion and Pine Valley  

But then again, Shinnecock does beckon strongly.....

[Scott Coan]

The beauty of the Australian classics is that each and every one of us can actually walk up and play them any week of the year and they boast the weather that allows year-round play.  Royal Melbourne West, Kingston Heath, Barnbougle Dunes.  Access plus weather and you give nothing away in class.  

[Tony_Muldoon]

Can you really play golf in Monteray 365 days a year?

Well on average 3 London Lovelies are open 364.

1  Royal st Georges
2  Sunnigdale Old
3  The Addington


All less than 1.5 hrs from my front door, so you get to sleep in your own bed after each. (Multiple property owning magnate's are henceforth d/q'd from voting on this thread.)

[Tom Huckaby]

Tony - obviously each of those CA courses would have days one wouldn't want to play there; and Riviera and Pebble would be off-limits for stretches at a time due to events being held.  I think Cary's point is the days one couldn't or wouldn't play due to weather are few.

I also must say I like the staying within 1.5 hours of home.  Each of PB and CPC works that way for me, and heck Riviera is just a bit of a drive and my parents live relatively near it.  So put me down for CA, thanks.

Of course I could also certainly live with any of these choices as well.