Which of the major cities....

[Mark_Rowlinson]

....has the fewest (or even no) decent golf courses within easy reach?

Manchester (UK) must be a candidate with only Manchester GC and Reddish Vale of any merit of those within the M60 ring road. That said, the great courses of the Lancashire coast or Leeds are under an hour's drive distant.

[Tim Bert]

Not sure how big you need to be "major" but if 1 million metro will suffice, I'd throw Nashville into the mix for US cities.  The best golf courses for a Nashville resident are Holston Hills and anything in Chattanooga.

[J_ Crisham]

Memphis, New Orleans, and San Diego come to mind immediately. Must be more here in the states ?

[Bill_McBride]

Fort Lauderdale

[Sam Morrow]

Memphis, New Orleans, and San Diego come to mind immediately. Must be more here in the states ?

For San Diego could it be said that the LA area is easily reachable?

[Joel_Stewart]

Moscow, Havana, Pyongyang and maybe Lagos Nigeria.

[Mark_F]

Sydney.

The only place in Australia Eagle Ridge would be in the top ten courses in the city.

[Dale Jackson]

There are over 160 (!) cities in China with a population over 1 million and 43 in India.  I would think almost any of those 200+ cities would easily beat any city in the UK, USA or most other large cities one would care to mention.

[Alex Miller]

Memphis, New Orleans, and San Diego come to mind immediately. Must be more here in the states ?

For San Diego could it be said that the LA area is easily reachable?

Torrey Pines is decent. Barona is quite good. I nominate Nashville.

[Matt Kardash]

I live in Montreal and I'd say it is a design wasteland. There are very few courses that I would even call  somewhat interesting within a few hours of here. A lot of that has to do with the fact that Montreal is located in the Saint Lawrence valley, which is essentially flat, with a few exceptions.
When was the last time a world famous designer designed a course in this area? Willie Park like a 100 years ago??

[Jeff_Mingay]

I live in Montreal and I'd say it is a design wasteland. There are very few courses that I would even call  somewhat interesting within a few hours of here. A lot of that has to do with the fact that Montreal is located in the Saint Lawrence valley, which is essentially flat, with a few exceptions.
When was the last time a world famous designer designed a course in this area? Willie Park like a 100 years ago??

Matt,

I know you know this, but...

As far as "world famous" golf course designers working in the Montreal area, Dick Wilson (and Joe Lee) originally designed the Royal Montreal courses; and, of course, Rees Jones recently redesigned the Blue course there. These guys are somewhat (quote) world famous (unquote).

As you mention, I'd go with Willie Park Jr though: Mount Bruno - perhaps the only reason for a serious student of golf course architecture to visit the Montreal area to study golf course design.

[Ryan Admussen]

Calgary fits the description quite well, Vancouver is another city I would expect to have a higher number of quality courses than it does.

[Matt Kardash]

I live in Montreal and I'd say it is a design wasteland. There are very few courses that I would even call  somewhat interesting within a few hours of here. A lot of that has to do with the fact that Montreal is located in the Saint Lawrence valley, which is essentially flat, with a few exceptions.
When was the last time a world famous designer designed a course in this area? Willie Park like a 100 years ago??

Matt,

I know you know this, but...

As far as "world famous" golf course designers working in the Montreal area, Dick Wilson (and Joe Lee) originally designed the Royal Montreal courses; and, of course, Rees Jones recently redesigned the Blue course there. These guys are somewhat (quote) world famous (unquote).

As you mention, I'd go with Willie Park Jr though: Mount Bruno - perhaps the only reason for a serious student of golf course architecture to visit the Montreal area to study golf course design.

Yeah, I forgot about Royal Montreal. Probably because I don't consider it to be anywhere close to being a great golf course. So my bad,  instead of 100 years it has been only 55 years or so. 

[Ben Stephens]

Leicester - there is hardly any great courses within a 25 miles radius. Luffenham Heath is the nearest quality course.

There are some good courses such as Willesley Park (Ashby), Longcliffe (Loughboro) and the Leicestershire.

Leics Rutland Golf Union like taking their main championships to courses such as Birstall, Cosby, Kirby Muxloe, Rothley Park and Kibworth which are just 'above' average courses.

The country 1st team over the years is one of the strongest in the Midlands / England.


Cheers
Ben

[Brad Tufts]

Washington DC sort of fits this bill, although there are options within 50 miles that are sufficient.

[Gary Slatter]

Mark, and others - I really feel sorry for you all, I can find good to great courses close to every city mentioned.  Maybe not designed by ODGs, but what the rest of the world would consider good, well designed golf courses.  I'm glad I'm not perfect.

[JMEvensky]

Mark, and others - I really feel sorry for you all, I can find good to great courses close to every city mentioned.  Maybe not designed by ODGs, but what the rest of the world would consider good, well designed golf courses.  I'm glad I'm not perfect.

Agreed.It's not often that I stick up for Memphis,but if you can't find good(by anyone's definition) golf here,you're not looking very hard.

[Chris Cupit]

Atlanta is pretty sad architecturally, particularly given the sheer number of courses.