Recommended courses in the San Fran/Monterrey Area

[Kalen Braley]

Huck,

I don't think any reasonable person would think of LA or the entire state when you say San Francisco area...but I would think they would think the bay area.

Either way, we've both made out points. 

Phillip, good luck in planning your trip and never mind us anal bayarea-ites who love to quibble over every last word of your post!!  

[Mike Benham]

... and never mind us anal bayarea-ites who love to quibble over every last word of your post!!   

Whoa there, don't include me, and a host of others, as "anal-bayarea-ites" in the daily Kalen v. Huckaby debate ...

[Tom Huckaby]

Kalen:

No reasonable person would include a course more than 30 miles from the city of San Francisco in a request for courses "in the San Fran area (within 30 miles)."  THus if one does include courses more than 30 miles from the city, where does one stop?  How does one define "San Fran area"?  Since one really can't define that, using the city itself as the center seems logical and reasonable.  30 miles from what?  So yes, you would need to include Rustic Canyon.

Just do understand that the whole purpose of this, for me, is to be a hardass.  If we really want to recommend fine golf courses within a reasonable drive from SF, then of course Chardonnay does count and is a good one.  

If Phillip is still reading this, well... he deserves a medal.

And I am anything but ANAL.  Hardass just for today, yes.  Anal, NEVER.

TH

[Bill_McBride]

The point is, other than a small handful, no access no gems.  Comprende?

[Tom Huckaby]

The point is, other than a small handful, no access no gems.  Comprende?

Hmmm... in general yes.  Our best courses are our private courses.  But that's the case damn near everywhere - no?

[Bill_McBride]

I dunno. Michigan, great publics.  Long Island / SF Bay area, not so many.  That might be a good thread, metro areas with best public courses.

[Tom Huckaby]

I dunno. Michigan, great publics.  Long Island / SF Bay area, not so many.  That might be a good thread, metro areas with best public courses.

Oh I think we've covered that, many times.

What would be interesting is to name places in the USA where there are more great public courses than private clubs.  I'll trust you re Michigan.  Hawaii is likely another.  But they will certainly be few and far between.

TH

[Andy Troeger]

I dunno. Michigan, great publics.  Long Island / SF Bay area, not so many.  That might be a good thread, metro areas with best public courses.

Oh I think we've covered that, many times.

What would be interesting is to name places in the USA where there are more great public courses than private clubs.  I'll trust you re Michigan.  Hawaii is likely another.  But they will certainly be few and far between.

TH

Ding ding ding!!! New Mexico applies there in a landslide. Granted, I haven't seen Las Campanas yet, but the quantity and quality of the publics win out here even if LC is #1 in the state (which I'll judge I guess when I get there).

Ok...back to California 

[Bill_McBride]

I dunno. Michigan, great publics.  Long Island / SF Bay area, not so many.  That might be a good thread, metro areas with best public courses.

Oh I think we've covered that, many times.

What would be interesting is to name places in the USA where there are more great public courses than private clubs.  I'll trust you re Michigan.  Hawaii is likely another.  But they will certainly be few and far between.

TH

Ding ding ding!!! New Mexico applies there in a landslide. Granted, I haven't seen Las Campanas yet, but the quantity and quality of the publics win out here even if LC is #1 in the state (which I'll judge I guess when I get there).

Ok...back to California 

Las Campanas, the 18 I played with Lou Duran 4 years ago, ranks behind both Black Mesa and Pa'ako Ridge IMO.   I don't know what else there is that's strictly private.

Alabama of course has the RTJ Trail but opinions are mixed there! 

[Wayne_Freedman]

Philip,

Where are you staying, and how mobile will you be?

[Dan King]

Tom Huckaby writes:
Both Dan and JSP give great suggestions, but neither follow the rules of the question.

I see nothing wrong with answering a question that wasn't yet asked.

Cheers,
Dan King

To every answer you can find a new question.
 --Yiddish Proverb

[Tim Bert]

I dunno. Michigan, great publics.  Long Island / SF Bay area, not so many.  That might be a good thread, metro areas with best public courses.

Oh I think we've covered that, many times.

What would be interesting is to name places in the USA where there are more great public courses than private clubs.  I'll trust you re Michigan.  Hawaii is likely another.  But they will certainly be few and far between.

TH

Bandon, Kohler, and maybe Gothenburg?

[Bill_McBride]

How many in Gothenburg?  I think we're looking for quantity as well as quality!

[Andy Troeger]

Ding ding ding!!! New Mexico applies there in a landslide. Granted, I haven't seen Las Campanas yet, but the quantity and quality of the publics win out here even if LC is #1 in the state (which I'll judge I guess when I get there).

Ok...back to California 

Las Campanas, the 18 I played with Lou Duran 4 years ago, ranks behind both Black Mesa and Pa'ako Ridge IMO.   I don't know what else there is that's strictly private.

Bill,
You're not the first person I've heard say that (in fact everyone I know that's played both likes the two public options better, but I want to keep an open mind since I can be unpredictable). I'm playing both Las Campanas courses this fall I think.

The rest of the top ten in the state is public. Four Hills in ABQ might be top 15 in state, but that's about it.

[Bill_McBride]

Ding ding ding!!! New Mexico applies there in a landslide. Granted, I haven't seen Las Campanas yet, but the quantity and quality of the publics win out here even if LC is #1 in the state (which I'll judge I guess when I get there).

Ok...back to California 

Las Campanas, the 18 I played with Lou Duran 4 years ago, ranks behind both Black Mesa and Pa'ako Ridge IMO.   I don't know what else there is that's strictly private.

Bill,
You're not the first person I've heard say that (in fact everyone I know that's played both likes the two public options better, but I want to keep an open mind since I can be unpredictable). I'm playing both Las Campanas courses this fall I think.

The rest of the top ten in the state is public. Four Hills in ABQ might be top 15 in state, but that's about it.

Andy, please let us know your thoughts after playing Las Campanas.  I don't think you'll rank them above BM or PR, but will be interesting to get your impressions.

Black Mesa is a really special golf course and could be the best value for money public course east of Rustic Canyon 

[Tim Bert]

How many in Gothenburg?  I think we're looking for quantity as well as quality!

I just thought Tom used the word more.  Now, I don't know enough about Gothenburg golf, but if there aren't any high quality private courses then it seems like this would qualify.  If there is a high quality private there, then I stand corrected.

Mine were just suggested as possibilities; not intended to be fact.

While we're at it, how about Santa Cruz?

[Wayne_Freedman]

I played TPC Stonebrae for a second time, today.
Gotta tell you...the place is growing on me.

All interesting holes with many angles and options.
Greens were superb...as perfect as any on which I have ever putted. .

So, put that on the list if you can wangle a time, Philip.

[Philip Spogard]

Hi guys.

Thank you for the many replies! I appreciate all the input!

The post was really meant to try and get some (local) knowledge from all of you on some great courses in the area. I did not want to write too long of a post - in case I scared people off and got few replies! (Instead, it seems, it was actually too short!)

The idea was for me to stay some time in San Fran (hence the 30 miles which I found a reasonable distance to travel from a SF hotel) and then travel down towards Monterey. Any courses along the way to Monterey can be fitted into the plan.

I have been to California on two other occasions - on one of them I managed to play Pebble, Spyglass, Poppy and The Links at Spanish Bay (which is why I would not include them as I know them all ready.)

Thank you for all the replies – please keep posting!

Philip

[Mike Kosak]

Sonoma Golf Club....Sonoma, CA....50 minutes from downtown SF

[Bill_McBride]

Sonoma Golf Club....Sonoma, CA....50 minutes from downtown SF

Sonoma, one of my favorite courses in the Bay Area for the last 50 years, is no  longer public.  It is accessible only by staying at the Sonoma Mission Inn or by membership.

Bummer.   

[Wayne_Freedman]

I agree re: Sonoma. Wonderful outside, then inside circular routing. A consistent course. Not, neccessarily, worth the drive and effort, however.