What Are 10 Courses You Want To Play (and haven't) To Learn Something About

[Niall C]

MACHRIE - one of the last of a dead breed of Old Time Golf.

Sean

I don't know that it's as dead as you think and I'm also not sure Machrie is the best example of "Old time" golf given its had quite a bit of revision over the years although from what I heard it's a very good course. If you ever decide to make the trip perhaps taking the Loganair flight from Glasgow let me know as I could very easily be persuaded to join you.

Niall

[Scott Warren]

I've tried to buck my usual style and think a bit about this one before posting!

It's too obvious to say I'd want to see CPC, Shinnecock, Sunningdale and Muirfield, we all would - here's 10 that I would want to see, if I had to select only 10 more new courses to see in my life.

And I've selected a knowledgeable guide who is also a great bloke for each course, knowing how much the experience was enhanced seeing Yale with Tom Dunne, Riviera with Michael Robin, Kingston Heath with Rich Macafee, Dornoch with Rihc Goodale, Alwoodley with Nick Leefe, etc.

In alphabetical order:

Chantilly
France is my favourite of all countries and Tom Simpson is my God of golf designers. A long summer's day playing both main courses with a quality lunch in between is the #1 priority next time I visit.
Tour guide: Mike Clayton

Desert Forest
The original desert course - the one genre of course I've never played and really, really want to. Appeals to the eye in pics and comes highly recommended. Also sounds like a really cool club populated by great people.
Tour guides: Dave Givnish, Brian Stewart and Dan Moore

Dismal River (White)
John Lyon, Eric Smith and Mac Plumart have seen some great courses and they love it - others who are similarly-travelled could not have been more disparaging in their (private) reviews. That, I gotta see!
Tour guides: one vocal lover and one vocal hater!

Elie
16 par fours and it doesn't get monotonous, they say. Old world engaging and pretty.
Tour guide: Mark Pearce and his sons (they'll let us play in a five-ball if we keep moving, won't they?)

Garden City
A course filled, it seems, with that old English sportiness from the days when golf was an adventure and things like length and fairness weren't even considered. Also, it tugs at the patriotic heartstrings as the work of the first great Australian designer and pro - Walter Travis.
Tour guide: who else but Mucci!

Holston Hills
I've never played a Donald Ross course, and I love low-key courses and clubs. The bunkering looks smart and the greens decptive, so I'll need 36 holes with some southern BBQ in between.
Tour guide: Mayhugh

National (Moonah)
The best "Mod Oz" course that I've not played and also maybe Norman/Harrison's best. The brutal finish sounds interesting - would be interested to see if that aspect is overplayed, as it can be with Deal.
Tour guides: Brian Walshe and David Elvins

Port Fairy
Australia has very few genuine links courses and this one has that draped look that lets the land star. And judging by the @gurngunja Twitter feed, there's some XXX golf porn out there, too.
Tour guide: Shane Gurnett

Ridgewood
Kingston Heath has maximised its potential in recent years with smart management of the "one-percenters" - rough, vegetation, trees and, recently, bunkering - and following on GCA and elsewhere it seems Ridgewood has undertaken a similarly impressive revitalisation and "tightening". I'm also impressed by the way the club communicates its work with members (so many clubs, my own included, get this horribly wrong and underestimate how much it matters).
Tour guides: Mike Policano and Todd Raisch

Rustic Canyon
Looks like great fun, and some have said it's too extreme in spots - sounds like fun to me! And at such a good price, I can afford three or four laps.
Tour guide: David Kelly

[Carson Pilcher]

In no particular order:

1 - Augusta National - I was born and raised there.  Rae's creek actually creates the border for my parent's home.  I would like to experience the creative touch shots around the greens.
2 - Shinnecock - The open terrain and shots demanded.
3 - NGLA - I would like to create the shots needed for each hole, and see if I could pull it off.
4 - Sand Hills - Wade S. said I would love it.  He knows my tastes.
5 - Royal Country Down - played all over Scotland.  Let's go see what all the hubbub is about.
6 - Merion - I fell in love with their traditions as a membership.  I would like to go experience the course and feel that energy.
7 - Oakmont - I want to see if the greens are really THAT fast.
8 - Any course one of my golfing buddies says, "You HAVE to go play there".

Two replays.....

9 - Cypress Point - I had an epic day there 20 years ago.  Shot 74 and loved every minute of it.  I would love to do it again.
10 - The Old Course - I have been blessed to play there many times.  I would go back and play tomorrow if I could.  I LOVE everything about the Old Grey Toon.

[Jud_T]

1.  Askernish-  Old Timey Golf in the raw.  Bring the hickories and a flask of the good stuff...

2.  NGLA-  I'm a huge template fan.  The pilgrimage to Mecca must be made.

3.  North Berwick-  If I was scheduling my Scotland trip today, this would be at the top of the list.

4.  Ullerberg-  We know Frank Pont is already perhaps the world's leading restorer of Colt & Alison tracks.  A new REVERSIBLE 9-holer?  I gotta see this.

5.  Cape Whickham- Mike DeVries may be the best GCA working beyond the Big 3.  This looks like it has the potential to vault him to the next level.  The property looks so good I can't wait to see what he can do with it.

6. Wolf Point- Perhaps a landmark in Modern U.S. design.  Furthermore it was while reading Mike's Pretty, Fun or Challenging essay where the lightbulb first went off.

7. Maxincuckee-  Original Langford I wasn't aware of makes a beeline for the top 10.  Hell, I just want to see it before Dan Moore.

8.  The Sacred Nine-  Tops my England list.  Subtlety of design and brilliance of routing.

9.  Westward Ho!-  I'm either going to join immediately or throw myself on the rushes....Just the pictures of those rumpled fairways gives me goose bumps..

10.  Paraparaumu Beach- Forget the other Kiwi big names, this is the course I'm dying to see.  Just looks like a phenomenal piece of golfing property.  I'd love to see how those dunes are worked into the routing.

[James Boon]

Sean,

I've been thinking on this one for a while. I realise that I'm going to learn a lot from playing new courses, but cant help but think there is more of an element of the "experience" I'd be initially after for many of the GB&I courses that I could list. Additionally I'd probably learn or discover (maybe thats a better word) so much from many of the great courses in the US as I've played very little over there and it would just look like a somewhat usual suspects list. I would however love to experience golf in Japan. I'm more likely to be heading to the US, Canada, NZ or Aus before then, but I'm pretty certain if and when I get back to Japan it will be quite something playing golf.

The one course though that I will list, and its a massive hole in my golfing CV is The Old Course at St Andrews. From everything I've studied, seen and read, even walked the course as a spectator, I just know I will learn so much when I finally manage to play it!

Sean - I'd like to play:
Notts - to have a round of golf and a pint in your company, and learn

PP, you are welcome any time at Notts, though if you are after the full Arble experience (though it pains me to suggest taking Notts from the list) Beau or Burnham are the courses I've had the most fun playing with Sean, where his real passion for the game and its architecture comes to the fore.

Notts Seems it may be in a league of its own? I want to see what that means. Hopefully in the company of the estimable, Mr. Boon.

Well I'd be doing something seriously wrong if you made it here and I wasn't around to join you!!!

Cheers,

James

[Sean_A]

A lot of interesting responses thus far.  I am intrigued by Old Mac, Port Fairy and Ullerberg.  Wolf Point was definitely a poor omission on my part which will be rectified.  The biggest problem is getting to see these courses.  I can certainly imagine playing Machrie and Apache Stronghold someday, not so much the others.  

Eric, if I hadn't already played Kington it would make my top 10 for sure.  I know the course and the pix still beguile me.

Niall, by dead breed I meant nobody builds courses like Machrie anymore and haven't done in many year.  

APACHE STRONGHOLD - always looked to me like the most interesting of a genre of courses which I generally have no interest.

AUGUSTA - how can one not want play here?  Way too much history to walk away with nothing.

BALLYNEAL - I always thought the photos suggested Doak may have turned a corner with this design.  It somehow seems simpler than pix I have seen of other big name Doaks.

CPC - I am very curious as to how well Dr Mac's principles have held up over the years with a club that can spend a ton of money to maitenance wise modernize a course.

MACHRIE - one of the last of a dead breed of Old Time Golf.

MORFONTAINE - 9 Holer - greens look way to good to never see.

MYOPIA - I am very interested in the integration of 19th century architecture into 20 century designs.

NGLA - looks like it could be the best course on the planet.  Plus, the idea of such deliberate architecture devolved from "past masters" is very appealing.

ROYAL HAGUE - a bit of a flyer based on comments of those I trust.

ROYAL MELBOURNE WEST - one of very few inland man-made strategic designs on sand.  I have never been convinced I would fall for the course, but one has gotta see for himself.  

WOLF POINT - I always imagined this is what TOC would like if built today.  I am in awe of design/maintenance approach which ticks all my important boxes.

Garden City - very close call to keep out of top 10
Pine Valley - like Garden City, very close call to keep out
White Bear Yacht Club - very close call as the golf looks severe, but on the sensible side of excellent
Old Mac - interesting concept for design in creating a homage, but I already have a few Doaks on the list
Port Fairy - this course has always intrigued me, but I am not sure it is much different than many very good 2nd tier links in GB&I
Ullerberg - wow, what a concept for a 9 holer.  I could see this hitting the top 10 some day

Ciao

[Nigel Islam]

1.  Askernish-  Old Timey Golf in the raw.  Bring the hickories and a flask of the good stuff...

2.  NGLA-  I'm a huge template fan.  The pilgrimage to Mecca must be made.

3.  North Berwick-  If I was scheduling my Scotland trip today, this would be at the top of the list.

4.  Ullerberg-  We know Frank Pont is already perhaps the world's leading restorer of Colt & Alison tracks.  A new REVERSIBLE 9-holer?  I gotta see this.

5.  Cape Whickham- Mike DeVries may be the best GCA working beyond the Big 3.  This looks like it has the potential to vault him to the next level.  The property looks so good I can't wait to see what he can do with it.

6. Wolf Point- Perhaps a landmark in Modern U.S. design.  Furthermore it was while reading Mike's Pretty, Fun or Challenging essay where the lightbulb first went off.

7. Maxincuckee-  Original Langford I wasn't aware of makes a beeline for the top 10.  Hell, I just want to see it before Dan Moore.

8.  The Sacred Nine-  Tops my England list.  Subtlety of design and brilliance of routing.

9.  Westward Ho!-  I'm either going to join immediately or throw myself on the rushes....Just the pictures of those rumpled fairways gives me goose bumps..

10.  Paraparaumu Beach- Forget the other Kiwi big names, this is the course I'm dying to see.  Just looks like a phenomenal piece of golfing property.  I'd love to see how those dunes are worked into the routing.

Is Maxinkuckee the course Alice Dye grew up on?
Great calls on the Sacred Nine, Paraparaumu, and North Berwick. Those are definitely three that I would love to see.

[Tom Birkert]

In no particular order...

Fishers Island - top of the list as I have been to the Hamptons many times but this one has eluded me. I love Raynor's courses and think this would be a real treat to see. Still hopeful of swinging an invite for the upcoming trip but if not, I will return one day!

Crystal Downs - Quick greens have always been a favourite, and I have heard amazing things about the green complexes.

Bandon - not going to narrow it down to specific courses. I want to see what looks an amazing set up of courses in a gorgeous, remote setting.

Royal Melbourne + Kingston Heath – would love to see how these compare to the heathland courses around London.

Royal County Down – I haven’t played as much links golf as I would like, and this is widely considered the best, so I’d love to see it.

Sand Hills – middle of nowhere, pure golf, what’s not to like?

Cape Kidnappers + Kaori Cliffs – the pictures look absolutely mesmerising and I would love to see how the architecture interacts with the scenery / ground

Augusta National – simply because it’s on TV every year and I’d love to see the topography and if the slopes are as dramatic as I’ve been told they are

[jonathan_becker]

.
Royal Melbourne + Kingston Heath

Many of us here have done this 36 hole combo in the same day and it's about as good as golf gets.  Go do it!

[Bill Crane]

Here we go:

1.   Shinnecock Hills, NY – William Flynn’s best and highest rated.
2.   Sand Hills Golf Course, Nebraska – to see this natural inland links, and I am becoming an avid fan of C & C.
3.   Cypress Point, Cal -  Just gotta play this course!  How to get on ?? Living in NJ I know at least two dozen PV members, but no one who is a CP member.
4.   Muirfield ,Scotland -  A classic, Open Rota course.
5.   N G L A, NY  -  A seminal design in US golf course design.  I am also becoming familiar with the McDonald/Raynor style from Yale and Yeamans Hall.
6.   Royal Portrush, N Ireland  -  H Colt classics ( play both !!).
7.   Kennemer,Netherlands  - an H Colt Dutch masterpiece.  My sister lives in the Netherlands and I am becoming knowledgeable about Dutch having played three courses including Royal Hague (awesome!)  Need to get to De Pan as well
8.   Swinley Forest,UK – H Colts favorite design.
9.   Prestwick, UK - an early golf super site with unique holes.
10.   Pinehurst # 2,NC -  tried to play it this winter, but the members I met were unavailable.  Of course – the D Ross classic and I am dying to see the restoration effects.  Loved Mid Pines on March 1 after 20 year hiatus, will probably love # 2.
11.   The Golf Club, Ohio – Seminal Pete Dye design near my son’s college – Denison.  Highest rated course designed between 1938 and 1970.  Whoops – 11 (  12 with Portrush Valley)

Would also like to play or play again ( and again ) : Flynn courses – Cherry Hills, Indian Creek,the Country Club (Ohio), Lehigh, Phila Country Club,       Crystal Downs again only had one round,  Myopia Hunt, Maidstone, Seminole. Riviera – one of the few great courses visited by the Tour.   Loved R Dornoch after 3 rounds last year – gotta go again worth getting to know well.  Played the Old Course, St Andrews last year but once is just not enough.  Wish I had time to play it many times.  Royal Ashdown forest – sounds like a charming fascinating course.   Also:  more links courses – RCP,  Royal St. Georges,        Woking ( Ran favorite), OH NO forgot – AUSTRALIA !  Royal Melbourne etc. etc.  So many courses.  So little time.  Might need more $$.

Wm Flynnfan

[Jud_T]

Is Maxinkuckee the course Alice Dye grew up on?

Yes, I believe it is.

[Steve Salmen]

From a purely architectural standpoint:
Oakmont for the greens
RM for the bunkering
NGLA/Fishers Island to see the best of Macdonald/Raynor
Ballybunion for the dunes
Seminole because I've heard it described as Royal Dornoch with palm trees
Merion for being on such a small piece of land
Highlands Links to see the work of Thompson
Trump Scotland to see how a new links course plays.  I'm also interested to see first hand why Ran prefers it to Muirfield
Augusta National for the size of the property and size and severity of the greens

[Brian Finn]

Prestwick
The Old Course
Valley Club
Pasatiempo
Shinnecock
NGLA
Royal Melbourne
Sunningdale
Barnbougle Dunes
Friars Head

[BHoover]

Royal Melbourne
TOC
North Berwick
Royal County Down
Barnbougle Dunes
NGLA
Old Town Club
Oakmont
Camargo
Shinnecock

[Sean_A]

Trump Scotland to see how a new links course plays.  I'm also interested to see first hand why Ran prefers it to Muirfield

Huh? 

Ciao