Palmer's best course design?

[Matthew Petersen]

I've played seven Palmer courses, most of which I cannot recommend at all. My favorite is probably the original 18 at Starr Pass in Tucson, which was built as a TPC and was one of the hosts for the Tour stop there for a few years, except that the pros didn't like it. A tough course, but in a nice area and with some excellent, natural holes. (Even those original holes have been changed notably, but I don't know if Palmer did the work.)


Bear Creek in Denver is also good. Really, really hard but hey it's a men only club for players, so it fits. Again, some holes that really nicely use the land.

[Bill_McBride]

My favorite of those I've played is May River.   Half Moon Bay has two good holes, one of which is spectacular.

[Anthony Gholz]

An appropriate thread for my earliest golfing hero.



I'll include a Michigan course: The Legend at Shanty Creek Resort.  Back in the early '80s the Michigan resort course comparison's were Trent Jones Heather at Boyne Highlands, Jack's The Bear outside Traverse City, and AP's The Legend.  Everyone wanted to play The Bear as it was the "toughest," but once was enough.  The Heather is a very good late '60s Jones, but The Legend, built shortly after, is still the most fun to play with wonderful downhill holes, great views through forested "up north" Michigan rolling countryside, and very few houses in the way.  This group would say over treed.  I agree, but typically there's room to play, it is after all a resort course.  The up hill 2nd hole is a disaster with not enough land and not what Seay/Palmer designed (a take off on Pebble's 8th), but you just hit an iron off the tee and a wedge in, enjoy the surroundings, and move on.


Anthony

[Matthew Rose]

I like Bay Hill, but how much is his and how much is Wilson?


I haven't played too many others. One was the Village course at Kapalua which I believe no longer exists.


 The one I've played the most is probably Lone Tree.... I actually don't mind it, although there is one hole on the back nine that I really don't care for. It's also impossible to walk... I don't know how my older brother made it through the US Open qualifier they had there. I was exhausted just following him around and I never hit a shot.


I've heard good things about Arbor Links and would like to take a side trip to play it the next time I get over to Lincoln/Omaha.

[Bob Jenkins]

Arnold's designs in the northwest U.S. and the Vancouver B.C. areas .were with Ed Seay who passed away a few years ago. I have no idea how involved Arnold may have been in the design of those courses but have been told it was not insignificant.


Semiahmoo GC in Blaine Wa., is right across the border from Canada and is generally well regarded. The routing is interesting and there are some fine holes but the back nine in particular is very much exposed to the housing.


Palmer / Seay designed the two courses at Northview GC in Surrey B.C. The Ridge course was host to the Greater Vancouver Open which became the Air Canada Championship between 1995 and, I think, 2000 when Air Canada had financial problems. The Ridge course is excellent, again with a fine routing and some very interesting holes. The comments from the tour players were positive but they were down on having to play in the suburbs, in a farming area well away from the mountains and sea that make this area interesting. The Canal course is a good course, too much water, but a good test and an interesting variety of holes.


My favourite Arnold course around here, ie. the Vancouver area, is Whistler Golf Club. Many others I know have the same opinion of the Whistler course. It was the original course in Whistler and was built on the fairly flat valley floor. It is a very pleasant walk with wonderful scenery and again, a good routing which is out and back around the valley. I prefer to play it over Nicklaus North and the Chateau Whistler course which was designed by RTJII. The latter two are good courses in their own right, with the Chateau having considerable elevation changes but  not nearly the fun one feels playing the Whistler GC, which is City owned.


None of the courses mentioned would disappoint if you are in this area.


Good memories of Arnold all around this part of the world!


Regards

[Mark Greer]

I've played seven Palmer courses, most of which I cannot recommend at all. My favorite is probably the original 18 at Starr Pass in Tucson, which was built as a TPC and was one of the hosts for the Tour stop there for a few years, except that the pros didn't like it. A tough course, but in a nice area and with some excellent, natural holes. (Even those original holes have been changed notably, but I don't know if Palmer did the work.)


Bear Creek in Denver is also good. Really, really hard but hey it's a men only club for players, so it fits. Again, some holes that really nicely use the land.

I think Starr Pass was done by Bob Cupp.

[Joe Sponcia]

Except for the 9th hole, Rivers Edge in Shallote, NC is one of the more scenic courses I've ever played period.  It is a fun round with strategy playing a big role in multiple shots.  Wind plays a huge role. 

[Matthew Petersen]

I've played seven Palmer courses, most of which I cannot recommend at all. My favorite is probably the original 18 at Starr Pass in Tucson, which was built as a TPC and was one of the hosts for the Tour stop there for a few years, except that the pros didn't like it. A tough course, but in a nice area and with some excellent, natural holes. (Even those original holes have been changed notably, but I don't know if Palmer did the work.)


Bear Creek in Denver is also good. Really, really hard but hey it's a men only club for players, so it fits. Again, some holes that really nicely use the land.

I think Starr Pass was done by Bob Cupp.

Mark, you're right. The original 18 was Cupp (with Craig Stadler as pro consultant), but the facility is managed by Palmer's group and always marketed as an Arnold Palmer Signature facility (they even had "Palmer" tees back when I first played it).


But Palmer's group actually did do the new nine holes, plus the redesign of the original 18.


But that definitely changes my opinion of it w/r/t to being good Palmer, because I'm not a fan of the new nine holes at all.