What makes your favorite course your favorite course?

[Anthony Gray]

  ?

[Tim Bert]

I have three, and they are all my favorites for different reasons.

One is my favorite because I've only played it once, probably will never play it again, it is one of the best courses in the world, I loved every minute I was on the property, and I think about it all the time.

One is my favorite because I've played it more times than I've played any other world class course, I loved it from the first time I played it, I have a different favorite hole every time I play it, it taunts me with blow-ups and teases me with birdies, I can return whenever I have the time and money to do so, and I think about it all the time.

One is my favorite because it was special to me the instant I struck the first tee shot the first time I played it, I over-value it relative to almost all other golfers' rankings and compare it favorably to the best in the country, I now call it home, and I think about it all the time.

[Scott Warren]

Tim,

Cypress, Pacific Dunes and Kingsley?

[David_Elvins]

Bias and prejudice.

[Dan Smoot]

Unique, memorable, options, thought provoking, visually appealing, challenging and changing conditions --- somewhere on the southern Oregon Coast.

[Alex Miller]

Everything

Though I don't think I've played it yet...

[Sean_A]

My favourite courses are a rare blend of beauty, terrific golf shots which rarely over-power the golfer, good conditioning, controversy, comfortable walk, a well designed house blending with the course, in a lovely setting close to/in a nice town/city, accessiblity and which delivers excellent value.   I am very lucky to live in the UK where there are many candidates to take one's fancy.  To date, St Enodoc is comfortably my favourite course.  Its a bit more expensive than I would like and the house could do with some tweaking, but the added bonus of weekend access goes a long way to making up for this.  Lahinch, Kington, Woking, Cavendish, Enniscrone and Universty of Michigan are lurking in the wings as other candidates.

Ciao

[Jim Eder]

Strategy, history, atmosphere (the bunker shapes, the green complexes, the beauty of the surroundings/views, the ability to see the shot needed, etc - things like that).

[JNC Lyon]

Stone walls, the Firth of Forth, and great short par fours.

[Melvyn Morrow]

It’s there in public view, yet hidden from the outside world. More than a joy to play, to come back time after time and still find it more or less as it has been for a well over a Century.  Not my course but ours, yet it’s safe to leave your golfing spirit until you play again. On each visit you will find it well, refreshed and willing to rise to the challenges of that Royal and Ancient Game of Golf.

What makes my favourite course my favourite, simple its hidden depths starting with its location and its always there waiting.

Melvyn

[Jim Eder]

I was thinking about this a bit more. I was thinking of adding "the course I am on at the time". I don't have A favorite, I have favorites. When I am on Pine Valley it is my favorite then when I am on Cypress it is my favorite, then St. Andrews and on and on.  When I am at home thinking of these great experiences they are all my favorites. Another topic for another thread on another day would be "is it possible to have a favorite course?".

[Dan Kelly]

I'm not sure what course it is, but ...

it's fun, every time ...

it's in a place where the wind blows regularly, in various directions, and the course plays very differently in different winds ...

it has an abundance of interesting hole locations, which make the course different every time ...

it allows ground-game approaches on many holes ...

it's never crowded ...

it always feels like Home.

I am sure what course it is. It's Sutton Bay. I only wish that it were a better walk -- and hours closer to where I live. Then it would be perfect.

[Garland Bayley]

I have three, and they are all my favorites for different reasons.

One is my favorite because I've only played it once, probably will never play it again, it is one of the best courses in the world, I loved every minute I was on the property, and I think about it all the time.

One is my favorite because I've played it more times than I've played any other world class course, I loved it from the first time I played it, I have a different favorite hole every time I play it, it taunts me with blow-ups and teases me with birdies, I can return whenever I have the time and money to do so, and I think about it all the time.

One is my favorite because it was special to me the instant I struck the first tee shot the first time I played it, I over-value it relative to almost all other golfers' rankings and compare it favorably to the best in the country, I now call it home, and I think about it all the time.

Is there not a woman in your life that can get you over this golf course obsession? Or for that matter women in general?

[Garland Bayley]

Lack of a penal nature, but yet very challenging shots and conditioning.

[Anthony Gray]

  Very good topic.

  What about Cruden Bay that makes it my favorite course is everything.

  Anthony

[Mark Johnson]

for me...

1) A course that embraces precision as much as distance
2) Variety of hole layouts
3) Variety of shots required
4) Several memorable holes
5) Playability by most handicaps
6) A course that embraces its terrain/ regionality

[Mark Saltzman]

My favorite golf courses are all ones I'm not sure I could be a member at. They are difficult, but fair.  They keep me constantly thinking and giving me a variety of options of play on every hole.  I know I have played a good golf course when I walk off mentally tired. My favorites keep me awake the night before I play them, wondering how I should play each hole the next day (not that I'll pull it off).