News:

Welcome to the Golf Club Atlas Discussion Group!

Each user is approved by the Golf Club Atlas editorial staff. For any new inquiries, please contact us.

Pages: 1 [2]   Go Down

cary lichtenstein

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:How about courses that exceed expectations
« Reply #25 on: February 03, 2006, 06:39:33 PM »
On the public side:

The Quarry at Giant's Ridge

Tobacco Road

Coghill #4

Tothill Farm

Lakota Canyon

Redlands Mesa

Black Mesa

Pinon Hills

Mission Inn

Arcadia Bluffs

Logged
Live Jupiter, Fl, was  4 handicap, played top 100 US, top 75 World. Great memories, no longer play, 4 back surgeries. I don't miss a lot of things about golf, life is simpler with out it. I miss my 60 degree wedge shots, don't miss nasty weather, icing, back spasms. Last course I played was Augusta

Glenn Spencer

Re:How about courses that exceed expectations
« Reply #26 on: February 03, 2006, 09:36:20 PM »
Aidan,

Great Pictures, seems safe to say that Lahinch would exceed my expectations, even though they are very high.
Logged

Wayne Freeman

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:How about courses that exceed expectations
« Reply #27 on: February 04, 2006, 12:27:45 AM »
Courses I played last year that exceeded my expectations:
       Worcester-  loved the layout and the green complexes. Lots of great variety and a fun finish.
        St. Louis-  very private and hidden under the radar, a superb MacDonald gem-  to short for a U.S. Open today, but every hole is great with marked elevation changes and awesome greens.
         Shoreacres-  I just love Raynor courses and after the first hole, it just keeps getting better and better. Great angles and strategic shotmaking.
Logged

Jordan Wall

Re:How about courses that exceed expectations
« Reply #28 on: February 04, 2006, 12:28:31 AM »
Kapalua Plantation

WOW
Logged

Glenn Spencer

Re:How about courses that exceed expectations
« Reply #29 on: February 04, 2006, 01:20:50 AM »
Wayne,

Those are three of the courses that are not in the typical bunch that I would like to play most. All three just look so great, yes they are all too short for majors, but they would be really high on my list also.
Logged

Michael Robin

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:How about courses that exceed expectations
« Reply #30 on: February 04, 2006, 01:22:04 AM »
Here's one that caught me by surprise. Kansas City Country Club. I knew it was Tillinghast and was the course that Tom Watson grew up on, but it didn't seem to have much of a national reputation. But, wow, this is a great golf course! Not in the Top 100 US, but I sure thought it should be.
Logged

Wayne Freeman

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:How about courses that exceed expectations
« Reply #31 on: February 04, 2006, 12:52:18 PM »
Glenn-  you certainly couldn't go wrong with any of those- they are memorable for a lifetime.  Some others from last year that bear consideration:
   1. Onwentsia- grand old (1896) Foulis design-  very few members and ultra exclusive. The linksy front nine is a masterpiece.
    2. Glen View -another course in Ill. ( Golf, Ill.) that flys under the radar.  Impressively manicured with a beautiful flowing style and several great holes.  Flynn 1897.
     3. Cascata-  Rees Jones' splashy course in Boulder City for all the high rollers at Ceasar's in Vegas.  Blasted out of half a mountain it is awesome to behold.
     4. Old Sandwich-  shows what the super rich can do nowadays. A couple of megamillionaires found this private hunting reserve an hour from Boston near the Cape and got C and C to design a pure walking only course, "big" in scope, that required almost no dirt moving. Just the walk to the first tee from the clubhouse along a small lake is enough to do it for you.
Logged

Mike_Cirba

Re:How about courses that exceed expectations
« Reply #32 on: February 04, 2006, 02:18:31 PM »
Heartily agree with Jason Blasberg on Boston GC.

But, at the risk of drawing more wrath from this group, the "Poster Child" of recent courses that exceed expectations is....drumroll please...

Trump National in Bedminster, NJ
Logged

Andy Troeger

Re:How about courses that exceed expectations
« Reply #33 on: February 04, 2006, 02:26:30 PM »
Sultan's Run and Rock Hollow (T. Liddy) in Indiana

Tullymore (J. Engh) in Michigan.

Paa-Ko Ridge (K. Dye) in New Mexico.
Logged

Gene Greco

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:How about courses that exceed expectations
« Reply #34 on: February 04, 2006, 02:32:18 PM »
Mine for 2005 was Laurel Links on the North Fork of Long Island.
« Last Edit: February 04, 2006, 02:32:39 PM by Gene Greco »
Logged
"...I don't believe it is impossible to build a modern course as good as Pine Valley.  To me, Sand Hills is just as good as Pine Valley..."    TOM DOAK  November 6th, 2010

Joel_Stewart

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:How about courses that exceed expectations
« Reply #35 on: February 04, 2006, 02:36:24 PM »
I played Seminole recently and it exceeded my expectaions.   I can't understand the people who don't see the brilliance of it.   18 different and unique holes, a real "feel" golf course that leaves alot to your imagination, something very different in todays architecture.
Logged

Tony Petersen

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:How about courses that exceed expectations
« Reply #36 on: February 04, 2006, 02:37:19 PM »
 ;D Here's a couple of surprises from 2005 that opened my eyes and made me smile more than once:

Windsong Farms (MN) Alot of hype with Reed McKenzie and the Lehman brothers on board. Bottom line it is a fantastic golf course, plenty of shot value, great use of the land, perfect for national championships.

Mirabel (AZ) Thought I play across the street at Desert Mountain, I had never had the opportunity to playing the Fazio design at Mirabel. I had a great time, and played like sh*t! Wide off the tee's, interesting bunkering, solid par-3's and it may have been the pins, but the greens were straight out of Engineers back in the 20's. Throw a wedge to 5 feet, only to discover that the false front on the back left left you with a 20 footer ;D  

Other than that, played a ton of golf in '05, and regardless of private or public, parkland or desert, fast or slow, I always had a great time!

Hope to see you guys in Palm Desert come June ;D                
Logged
Ski - U - Mah... University of Minnesota... "Seven beers followed by two Scotches and a thimble of marijuana and it's funny how sleep comes all on it's own.”

Dan Moore

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:How about courses that exceed expectations
« Reply #37 on: February 05, 2006, 07:55:06 AM »
Southern Dunes (Steve Smyers) Hainesville, Fla 40 minutes south of Orlando.  Didn't know what to expect in the middle of Florida.  What I found was something unique with a distinctive personality;  elevation changes galore, fantastic bunkering and some great holes that were a blast to play.  If you can overlook the housing on few holes on the opening 9, definitely one of the best courses in the Orlando area, one I have returned to many times since.  
 
Logged
"Is there any other game which produces in the human mind such enviable insanity."  Bernard Darwin

wsmorrison

Re:How about courses that exceed expectations
« Reply #38 on: February 05, 2006, 09:52:22 AM »
Pine Needles:  I liked it more the first time I played it than I did Pinehurst #2.  In my mind they are near equals.

Southern Pines:  A course owned by Elks?  But after all, it is Ran's home course.  It was a lot of fun and exceeded my admittedly low expectations...by a lot.
Logged

Steve_ Shaffer

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:How about courses that exceed expectations
« Reply #39 on: February 05, 2006, 09:58:56 AM »
Wayne

I'm shocked that you omitted Talamore, PA from your list!!!

Steve
Logged
"Some of us worship in churches, some in synagogues, some on golf courses ... "  Adlai Stevenson
Hyman Roth to Michael Corleone: "We're bigger than US Steel."
Ben Hogan “The most important shot in golf is the next one”

wsmorrison

Re:How about courses that exceed expectations
« Reply #40 on: February 05, 2006, 10:09:07 AM »
Steve,

What I remember best is the comaraderie and the pain in my shoulder.  I have to admit I am not fond of courses such as Talamore.  My expectations were rather low beforehand and were well met.  I find it hard to maintain any focus at all on courses that are so contrived.  Nice practice facilities though and challenging greens.  A few nice par 3s as well.  I'll meet you at LuLu anytime though  ;)
Logged

PThomas

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:How about courses that exceed expectations
« Reply #41 on: February 05, 2006, 11:09:53 AM »
I second Southern Dunes

Bluemound in Wisconsin
Logged
199 played, only Augusta National left to play!

Tim Bert

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:How about courses that exceed expectations
« Reply #42 on: February 05, 2006, 11:45:03 AM »
I really enjoyed Newport National.  It doesn't receive much attention here, I'm guessing for one of three different reasons (or a combination of the three)

1.  Everyone focuses on the "other" slightly less public Newport course.
2. Many people here haven't played it
3. People just don't like it

I have some pictures I can post if anyone is interested.

At the risk of being called a Doak butt-boy, I'm also at odds with Jaka's opinion of PacDunes not meeting expectations.  It may have simply been due to a difference of expectation level since I was not a regular participant here in 2003 when I first visited Bandon.  I did, however, go in with the expectation that one of those two courses would probably be my favorite course played at the time (so certainly a lofty expectation) and it blew me away.  Three years later, I'm still searching for a course I would rather play.  A few on the slate for 2006 may provide the answer, but I'll have to wait and see.    
Logged

Craig Van Egmond

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:How about courses that exceed expectations
« Reply #43 on: February 05, 2006, 12:35:31 PM »

For me, both Crystal Downs and Prairie Dunes both exceeded my already high expectations.  I couldn't stop the silly grin or quit saying wow.  I could play either of them every day without any problems.

Wildhorse was another one that exceeded high expectations, I've never played a course like that before or since.


Logged
Pages: 1 [2]   Go Up
Tags:
Tags:

An Error Has Occurred!

Call to undefined function theme_linktree()
Back