This has to be the hardest type of list to put together.  Given the responses here, there aren't many whose play-list overlaps.  Given that, I'm not sure how you rate one guy's favorite against another guy's.  I'm a little surprised that there aren't ANY courses from Michigan on the list

On the thrifty side Rustic Canyon deserves to be in the top five given the nature of what is generally charged for the slop that calls itself golf for much of SoCal.

Rustic is truly remarkable for what it provides and for how little it charges.

In the face of economic reality, perhaps GCA should have its own addendum to the list.  What are the 10 best $80-or-less courses in various high-rent districts around the country?   This would mostly be southern New England, mid-Atlantic and coastal Calif. courses... places where -everything- is expensive.

Jason

I've played three of these tracks,Rustic Canyon,Tokatee and Olympic at Gold Mountain.

How many Designer/Architects have multiple courses on the list?  Is it possible that local architects doing quality work at a reasonable price are future stars in course design?

I see that Tim Liddy has two courses on the list; The Fort and Rock Hollow, both in Indiana.

Brad Klein, I'm not advocating all of the Robert Trent Jones Trail courses, but I do like the two 18's at the Grand National at Auburn/Opelika.  They are a bit less over the top and have good lakeside terrain.  The greensites are not as large and elevated as many of the other courses.  I played 'The Judge' at Prattsville last spring and didn't care too much for it at all.  Too many virtually blind approaches because of elevation and size of the elevated green.  

Apparently the courses don't qualify because of maximum green fee consideration, but design wise, IMO, I think the Grand National courses should.

I've played 8 --- 4,6,11,15,23,27,34,42.  I have to find these good relatively inexpensive courses to be able to look my wife in the eye.  Thanks to this website,  I would not have played as many.

I've played 5. Couple comments:

-No way there are 3 better courses/deals than Wildhorse. Absolutley no way.

-Radisson Greens in Sytracuse is WAY over-rated for this list! Very un-memorable course. The public side of Drumlins CC is a better deal, but it still doesn't belong on this list.

-Hiawatha Landing is unbelievable secret. Drop this course in metro Chicago they would be charging $150 and have a filled tee sheet from May-Oct. I'll be back there in a few weeks and promise to get some more pics.

Additions:

-En Joie in Endicott, NY (5 miles from Hiawatha Landing) is probably the only PGA Tour stop anyone can play for sub $50.

-Greystone outside Rochester, NY. Fantastic place by Craig Schriener w/ some of the best greensites I've ever played.

Another I'll try to get some pics of. At $42 an absolute steal.

I was going to add Wintonburry Hills untill I checked the web site. It's pretty steep for a muni. Still a good deal.

Three I would add:
Oak Hollow in High Point NC. Best bargain of the century at $15.
Ravenwood in Rochester, NY. Haven't played Greystone, so I can't compare, but it is as good as Nearby Cobblestone Creek, which is supposedly comparable to Greystone.
Mark Twain in Elmira, NY. A Donald Ross Muni!

brian- i believe you are half right, for residents.

For the record, I can't remember ever being comped at ANY public course, nor do I mention that I'm a rater prior to showing up.  

I just pay the freight and get in line like everybody else.

John;

I've didn't say I didn't play them, including Whistling Straits, Blackwolf Run, etc...20 on the Golf Magazine Top 100 in all.

I just said I also paid to play them.

John;

I think Dick Daley mentioned the other day what we paid to play Whistling Straits.  That's the usual modus operandi and if one wants to see and play a lot of courses, it does get quite expensive.  I should be driving something nicer than my Toyota, but life is about trade offs.

You mentioned Pine Hill, and I did forget that I played that one comped through a game that another rater set up.  I would have been bummed to have payed a buck and half for that one, I must admit.
 
Probably 500 of the courses I've played have been public courses, many of far lesser pedigree than the one's you mentioned.    

You mentioned Pine Hill, and I did forget that I played that one comped through a game that another rater set up.  I would have been bummed to have payed a buck and half for that one, I must admit.

   

Looks like I might have to appeal my probation....how did I know that redanman wouldn't pay to see a Fazio he knew sucked before he ever set foot on the property.....I forgive you if it makes you feel any better about the experience but I would feel better about the constant bashing of the course if I knew you had paid.