I haven't heard of 80-90% of these courses, but I thought the group might like the link. It's not up on there website yet

www.golfdigest.com/bestnew

Eagle Eye #5 public is 5 minutes from where I live.  I have walked around it, but not played.  
The big claim to fame is an exact replica of #17 at Sawgrass.  It is spot on except the placement of it in a little pond instead of a lake..

It looks like an incredibly difficult course.  Deep rough, lots of mounding and tough bunkers.  Not a lot of trees so the wind really whips through.  Going to play this spring for sure.

jf

SPDB - thanks for posting the link.

And for those of you who have given me a hard time for "MY" Golf Digest list, well... not a single course I rated made ANY of the top 10s.  Bad year for the kid here, I guess.

 

George:

You're talking about Golfweek raters.  This is a Golf Digest list.

 

Andy - you got that other reference wrong.  Every time I keep score my team WINS.

Still want me to vote for your opponent?

TH

Andy, now you are getting the picture.

Come on out for THE KING'S PUTTER.  Well make a NorCal out of you one way or the other.

 

 
I'd have to say it's one big left from DC, in oh so many ways.

It is a California event, after all.

 

BTW, where is the hue and cry from everyone at how The Rawls course got screwed?  This is disappointing.  Typically we'd have 8 pages of Golf Digest-bashing by now....

TH

BTW, where is the hue and cry from everyone at how The Rawls course got screwed?  This is disappointing.  Typically we'd have 8 pages of Golf Digest-bashing by now....

TH

Yeah, I'm sure some swamp in Louisisana designed by an architect who isn't even in business anymore is better than the Rawls Course!  

The Gators and Skeeters must have upped the "resistance to scoring" factor.  Can you walk it, or do you need one of those hydroplane things with the fan on the back to get around?  

Just giving you crap, Huckaby.  

From the writeup on The Rock:
Faldo made only four visits to the course during its creation, including a ceremonial grand-opening round

What a architect     4 visits?  

I feel sorry for the real architects, David Moote and Brit Stenson.

Dan: You'd only feel sorry for David Moote until you've played one of his courses or taken a look at the routing for The Rock. Then you'd reconsider your position.

R

"Sadly though, I think the "O'Meara Course" seems pretty good because of the ultra-poor quality of the Muskoka courses in general. There are some good courses up there, but none are really that great. And I think a few could have been special."

I have to disagree with you Jeff.  I don't think there is another resort area in the country that can match Muskoka in terms of quality golf courses.  If by great, you mean top 100 in the world, than I think it's a little unfair as Canada may only have 2 or 3 courses that would fit that bill.

As for the Rock, the course is quirky, similar to Grandview and Seguin Valley, but at least the thing is walkable.  It's actually a very scenic place, but as a golf course I would have to agree with Robert that it's probably somewhere near #5 for the area.

Probably a little harsh, Jeff, but I recognize your general point.  Most of the courses up there a pretty decent and a few are pretty good; I think those of us in Southern Ontario are so sick of hearing about the "next big thing" being built up there and we've become a little put off by the constant marketing hype.

The Rock certainly has some excellent holes (2,9,11,14) but also has some simply awful holes (3,12,13,16).  From what I can gather, it seems that public perception of the course has been dismal at best and I'm very surprised, to say the least, that it was voted Best New.

Rob--Was Eagle's Nest on the ballot???
 

It's nice to see the Canadians highjacking a Golf Digest thread.  As for Eagle's Nest, I was amazed by this course.  To me it exemplified what a big budget golf course can be.  I don't think much of the site (next to the city's main landfill with flames rising 10 feet as the gasses are being burned off).  Imagine what could have been built with this budget at a different location.  I, for one, think it's a shame that they spent all that money, created a terrific, unique course and chose that site.  I wouldn't be surprised if it doesn't win best new.