I always look forward to the Yank awards. Sean’s reviews have been key references for my trip planning over the last several years, so it is especially interesting to hear his superlatives. Plus, I don’t reflect on or write about my own experiences enough, and this offers a nice platform to do so.
Most Surprising New Play Course – Carnoustie Burnside
When visiting a particular region, I used to struggle on whether to play only the biggest names. Having attended the Warne School of golf travel, I’ve discovered many of my best experiences are on the lesser-known courses. Burnside is among the best 2nd courses I’ve played. While there are a handful of less interesting holes, I found a lot to love, including highlights such as the 6th, a strategic short 4, and the 14th, a long par 3 that rivals the 16th on the Championship. The variety of holes was impressive, including a few brutish par 4s that you may not expect when you see 5,943 from the tips, but at par 68, that’s just not as short as you think. If I were a member, I believe I’d play this course often.
Most Disappointing New Play Course – Arcadia Bluffs
While this course has mixed reviews among design nerds, I went in with relatively high expectations, based on some stunning photos, near-universal praise among non-nerds, and the waterfront location. Yes, I am a sucker for views. I had fun playing the course, and thought several holes were quite good, but I could not get over the disjointed routing and severity of the greens. It also felt like a few holes were crammed in. When I return to the area, I’ll likely go back to spend some time in an Adirondack chair with few drinks, but I don’t think I’ll play it again, particularly when I can play 2 rounds at Belvedere for the same cost. Based on the crowds I saw at Arcadia, they won’t miss me.
Best New Play Inland – The Loop Red & Black
I consider this one golf course that can be played in two directions, and it is probably the most unbelievable achievement in golf architecture that I’ve seen firsthand. The fact that it flows so naturally, playing in either direction, with hazards and greens positioned and designed to work well either way is beyond my comprehension. I only got to play each direction one time, but I walked away astounded that the puzzle pieces could be put together in such an ingenious manner. For me, routing a course to maximize a property’s potential is the most difficult aspect of design for non-professionals to understand, so to do it in both directions seems near impossible. I will return just to play the Loop a few more times.
Best New Play Links – Carnoustie Championship
There is nothing I can say about Carnoustie that will break new ground. Of course I knew it was a great “championship” course, but I expected to walk off 18 dejected, when in fact, I wanted to run straight back to the first tee for another crack at it. Beyond challenge (and I played it in a healthy wind), I found a lot of interesting features and tremendous variety throughout. The greens were outstanding, which isn’t the case on every top links. I thought it was quite playable, and the 3 guys from Florida with whom I played agreed. I wish I had visited Carnoustie sooner, and can’t wait to return.
Most Surprising Repeat Play Course – Mimosa Hills
For years, I have read here on gca that good courses reveal themselves over time, and with repeat play, one will learn and appreciate more every visit. While this concept seems obvious, I’ve only had the good fortune to truly experience it at a handful of courses. I liked Mimosa Hills the first time I played it, but I didn’t recognize how good it is until I had played it at least 6 or 7 times, and each time I go back, I encounter a few new features that make me like it even more. Like most of the Ross courses I’ve played in NC, Mimosa is a course I would gladly call home, and I always look forward to the drive up from Charlotte.
Favorite New Play Links – Elie
Elie is a unique course on the whole where you can forget about par and just try to take the fewest strokes possible. There is something liberating about that feeling, and I am not totally clear on why Elie allows it, but I enjoyed every second on the grounds (except for burning the roof of my mouth on scalding hot soup). What seemed to forever be a secret among real aficionados, the word of Elie’s quality had clearly spread far and wide, as it was packed with visitors on a chilly April afternoon. I spoke with two different groups of Americans, a family from France, and played behind a large team of long-hitting Germans. For whatever reason, I tend to love holes of extreme lengths for their par (ok, I guess I can’t totally forget about par), and Elie is full of them. 252, 284, 288…439, 440, 466! Half par holes intermixed with many strong holes of more conventional yardage. Elie is a course and club I would love to get to know better. While I also found a lot to love about Panmure, Montrose, Kingsbarns, and a few others, Elie somehow stood out.
Favorite New Play Inland – Belvedere
The closest to the “UK model” of members club and unaccompanied guests that I have seen in the states, I feel fortunate that Belvedere allowed me to visit. The course is a total throwback, in the best ways possible, where to my untrained eye, it seems little dirt was moved and the most was made of a nice piece of land for golf. The well-situated greens were among the best I saw all year, employing a challenging mix of slope and significant humps and bumps. Firm conditions permitted me to really appreciate some of the large ridge and slopes that played a pivotal role on many holes, and the handful of blind or semi-blind shots (some strictly caused by my erratic play) were exciting to attempt. I wish I could have stuck around for the hickory tournament taking place later that week, as this would be a wonderful place to play with the old equipment.
Best Affordable (under $55) – Aiken GC
While I played a couple of links that I believe cost less than the limit, Aiken GC takes the prize. It is the type of place every town should have. What it may lack in terms of design, it makes up for in charm and value, and the history of the course makes me really appreciate that it is there. They could probably charge double and still get almost as much play. At $35 to walk on weekends, there aren’t many courses that offer such incredible bang for the buck.
Best Moderate (under $80) – Hyland GC
Not too long ago, Hyland would have competed for best affordable, but being surrounded by courses with mostly astronomical fees, they have been able to raise rates a bit and still keep the tee sheet packed. It’s a fun course on a sandy site, and while I am sure it will be bought and renovated soon enough, I selfishly hope that doesn’t happen. Not every course has to be a design marvel, even if its rating could be a point or two higher. Hyland is very solid golf on good turf, where you will receive a warm welcome, and can still buy a few beers without breaking the bank.
Best & Favorite Course Played – Old Barnwell
If Old Barnwell isn’t worth a special trip to see, then I am not sure another course in the Southeast US is. After my first visit in late ’23, I started a thread to discuss the design, which I believe is among the best in the country. On subsequent visits, my view has been solidified. Prairie Dunes was long atop my personal list, and in a year when I was fortunate to return to Hutchinson after a few years off, it’s tough for me to vote anything else, but that is just how engaging, innovative, and fun I find Old Barnwell. Plus, this is all just concerning the course itself. The strong, positive culture established by Nick and his incredible team, bolstered by the missions focus makes the pace simply unbeatable from my perspective.