[Mark Smolens]

I played 36 at Bear Slide in Indianopolis on Friday (prior to watching the Purdue 8 -- 5 players and three refs -- brutalize my Wildcats).  $45, and only $22 for the replay.  Greens were in surprisingly good condition and the layout was very nice.  If the course plays hard and fast it would be awesome, and very difficult if the heather grows in for those who spray the ball at all. . .

[Richard Hetzel]

IMO, Cincinnati does NOT have a single resort course (unless you count the casino courses in nearby Indiana). I am surprised at how many courses around here can be had for $25-$35 with a cart, even less if you like to walk. I bet I could rattle off 30 + of them....This is great if you don't like to spend money to golf, but bad if you enjoy nicer, and more enjoyable/memorable golf courses like I do. The BEST courses in Cincinnati are private....soon I will break down and join one....

I think Indianapolis has a TON of excellent top notch courses, all under the $100 threshold. I can name a few; The Fort, Bearslide, Brickyard, Plum Creek, Trophy Club, Prairie View, Purgatory, et al....

PS:  You would be hard pressed to find a golf course in Myrtle Beach for less than $100 now....

[Kalen Braley]

Salt Lake City, San Antonio, and Baltimore

I have to second SLC (Surprised Kalen hasn't commented). But of the two courses I've played there, both were very solid and very affordable. Thanksgiving Point was the most expensive at $65 I think (don't remember, I didn't pay since I was a humble guest of the pro). And from what I understand, there are a good number of other very good courses in the area.

JKM,

I'm right here.  I would defy anyone to find a city with so many quality layouts where all except 1 are easily had for under $40. 

[Dan Herrmann]

To parallel the other "best" city thread, what city do you consider tops for quality non-resort public golf?  

Portland, Oregon.  You have the 2 at Heron Lakes, Eastmoreland (hosted the Publinx), Rose City, and the other course out by Beaverton.  All are city of Portland munis.

It's cheap too...

[Mike Benham]

Any city that you can not play golf 12 months a year should be eliminated unless of course you want a "Best for a 8-month golf season" ...

You should also compare the cost of living / median income of the city to the green fees, and no fair using twilight rates and other discounts, only the rack rates ... and you might as well consider what they charge for non-residents ...


And with those caveats in mind, I suggest Los Angeles ... $ 39 non-resident weekend rate at Balboa, Encino, Rancho Park and Woodley Lakes, $ 34 if you are a resident ($ 31 / $ 26 weekdays).  Twilight rates are less then $ 20 ...

[Ronald Montesano]

Sheeeet, Herrmann Munster, I can't believe you didn't mention Buffalo .  Here goes:

Buffalo...Arrowhead, Diamond Hawk, Harvest Hill, Glen Oak, Sheridan Park, Buffalo Tournament Club, Elma Meadows...five independents and two munis, all to be had for under 30 walking and under 50 riding.  Within 40 minutes drive you pull in at least five more...Concord Crest, Ironwood, Byrncliff, Terry Hills, Holiday Valley


Outside of New York, I volunteer Columbus, Ohio.

And Mike Benham, piss off...take your 12-month prejudice elsewhere...how myopic.

[Kirk Gill]

I'll throw in some support for the City of Denver Municipal courses as well. City Park, Willis Case, Overland, Evergreen, and Wellshire were all built in the "golden age," and are satisfying plays for a lot of people. In particular they provide low-cost entry-level courses, something that seems more and more rare. I have a lot of great memories playing those courses. $25 Weekdays, $33 Weekends. All except Evergreen are easily walkable (and I regularly walked Evergreen when I wasn't so old and fat). Sorry to bring them up in the rarified air of this forum, but they ARE affordable.

And I've played golf in every month of the year here, but not every year !

[Matthew Sander]

I'm another supporter of the Indy golf scene...most of the courses have been listed already and the quality in the area is really high. I'm partial to The Fort (Dye) and The Trophy Club (Liddy).

It may not be "the best", but the Lexington, KY area has some really good affordable public golf.

-Kearney Hill ($26/30) is a good Pete Dye layout that would be quite good if it was on more acreage.
-Old Silo (about 40 min. east of Lexington, play all day for $59/74), One of Graham Marsh's first US projects. Fun layout on a fairly severe site.   Unfortunately, it would be a really difficult walk (if walking is allowed at all)
-Cherry Blossom ($26/34), a well thought of Clyde Johnston design that has been ranked #1 in KY (public) by Golfweek for several years. A little over-rated IMO because of some repetition among par 3's and several front 9 par 4's, but a pleasant round. If I remember correctly, the playing conditions were firm and fast for a couple years after it opened. I'm not sure whether or not that has remained the case.
-Houston Oaks ($26/36), A low profile rural course with several dynamite holes and a few snoozers.
-Golf Club of the Bluegrass (no green fees on their site ), A pretty good site that has changed owners several times and been retooled. I haven't been there (or to any of these courses) in several years so I don't know its current situation. It always had the bones of a really good course if they could solve some maintenance issues.
-University Club of KY (Wildcat course $45/52), A 36 hole complex with one public track and one private. The entire complex was private when I lived there so no first hand experience, but it looked interesting from the road .
-Gibson Bay ($14/22) Maybe the best value course I've experienced. It is a Hurdzan design that doesn't exhibit any groundbreaking architecture, but it makes the best of a somewhat hilly and open site. When you consider the green fee it is outstanding... 

Now I don't think these courses would find their way on anyone's list of best of the best, but for value they are tough to beat.

 

[Richard Hetzel]

All I  have played in the Lexington area Kearney Hill, Old Silo and Cherry Blossom, and The Bull (which for housing and cart golf I liked the BEST of these) all GOOD. I am going to jump out of the car on the way to SC in afew weeks and walk 18 at Gibson Bay.....looks to be nice...

Is there a major difference between the courses at the UK Club???

[Ted Cahill]

Rockford, IL.  In a town of 150,000 residents- there are FOUR 18 hole muni park district courses (Aldeen is a daily fee caliber) and one par 35 delightful 9 holer.  Plus, the county runs THREE 18 hole muni courses as well.  They are all available for under 40 dollars on the weekends- 30 dollars on weekdays.  I believe Golf Digest had a mention about Rockford a couple of years ago.

[rjsimper]

Did someone really just nominate Buffalo?

[Mike Wagner]

Bremerton, WA (ok, let's include University Place too for good measure

[Sean Leary]

Any city that you can not play golf 12 months a year should be eliminated unless of course you want a "Best for a 8-month golf season" ...

You should also compare the cost of living / median income of the city to the green fees, and no fair using twilight rates and other discounts, only the rack rates ... and you might as well consider what they charge for non-residents ...


And with those caveats in mind, I suggest Los Angeles ... $ 39 non-resident weekend rate at Balboa, Encino, Rancho Park and Woodley Lakes, $ 34 if you are a resident ($ 31 / $ 26 weekdays).  Twilight rates are less then $ 20 ...

Do you get a senior discount too?

[Sean Leary]

Did someone really just nominate Buffalo?

Myopically, yes.

[Bill Hyde]

Grand Rapids

[Tim Leahy]

Any city that you can not play golf 12 months a year should be eliminated unless of course you want a "Best for a 8-month golf season" ...

You should also compare the cost of living / median income of the city to the green fees, and no fair using twilight rates and other discounts, only the rack rates ... and you might as well consider what they charge for non-residents ...


And with those caveats in mind, I suggest Los Angeles ... $ 39 non-resident weekend rate at Balboa, Encino, Rancho Park and Woodley Lakes, $ 34 if you are a resident ($ 31 / $ 26 weekdays).  Twilight rates are less then $ 20 ...

the weather is great in LA but you have 6 hr rounds routinely on weekends and holidays and horrible conditions on the pulblic courses you mentioned.

[Jason Connor]

I agree wholeheartedly with Indianapolis.

I'd also add Cleveland.   Pete Dye, Stanley Thompson and Donald Ross have public courses -- the later two very inexpensive city owned courses.

[Richard Hetzel]

I agree wholeheartedly with Indianapolis.

I'd also add Cleveland.   Pete Dye, Stanley Thompson and Donald Ross have public courses -- the later two very inexpensive city owned courses.

Sleepy Hollow and Manakiki are BOTh excellent municipal golf courses. Two of my favorites!

[Kalen Braley]

We only had a two month gap this year in the SLC area in terms of not being able to play....   

Although last year it was 5 months...    

[Evan Fleisher]

Just mentioned here above...THE CLEV!

[RJ_Daley]

Well, take away the quality criteria above a Doak 3 or 4, and go for affordable as main criteria, I'd say Madison WI is pretty darn good.  3 18 hole tracks and two 9 holers with an unlimitted play city pass of 1150 single or 1850 couple, and several surrounding area courses all under $50, makes it a city of good and plenty.  My town of Green Bay is not bad either, but only one course for the muni pass (1250) of a Doak 5ish, and many area enjoyable courses under $40.

But Indy does sound very good for quality and price...

Oh yeah, Gothenburg NE is right up there! 

[John Moore II]

We only had a two month gap this year in the SLC area in terms of not being able to play....   

Although last year it was 5 months...    

Must be nice to have only a 2 month gap per year. I have a 2 month gap every other 2 month period of the year these days. Bummer.

And was it really 5 months last year? I mean, yeah it snowed on you guys like Oct 11, but we played just a couple of days before that. Did you really go until Mid-March without playing at all?

[Kalen Braley]

We only had a two month gap this year in the SLC area in terms of not being able to play....   

Although last year it was 5 months...    

Must be nice to have only a 2 month gap per year. I have a 2 month gap every other 2 month period of the year these days. Bummer.

And was it really 5 months last year? I mean, yeah it snowed on you guys like Oct 11, but we played just a couple of days before that. Did you really go until Mid-March without playing at all?

John,

It was closer to beginning of November to beginning of April last year....so a bit longer than normal.  On any given year, I'm guessing the average is going to be likely be 4 months for the valley courses, Decemeber thru March....and about 7 months for the mountain courses, November-May

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