The Next Five - What are yours?

[Kenny Lee Puckett]

In keeping with the spirit of "The Next Fifty", name the "Next Five" courses that you want to, or are going to play.  Editorial reasoning behind your decision is encouraged.  Unlike "The Next Fifty", these can be courses that you are looking forward to playing, even if you have already played them.  

Remember not to fish for invites or use this list/board for wrangling/weasling.

My Next Five (If all of the planets align):

Stanwich (Team match there next week - love the challenge)
Friar's Head (Enchanted by the pictures)
NGLA (Always a special treat)
Westhampton (Just love the strategic 1/2 shot penalty bunkers)
PVGC (Too long since my last trip - nothing better, even if you aren't playing your best.  FYI, too long could also be defined as yesterday, IMHO)


The Dream Five (MINO and Time Permitting * MINO = Money is No Object - All new courses to me):

Cypress Point Club - (Never get tired of looking at the pictures trying to figure out what it looks like and how to play it)
Royal Dornoch - (Need to spend some serious time here)
Cape Kidnappers - (Can this setting be this spectacular?)
Royal Melbourne - (As long as I am in the neighborhood...)
Sand Hills - (I hope to get to play here while I still have a game)

The Improbable Five:

Augusta National - (Don't expect this one to happen)
Seminole - (Can't ever seem to free up some time in Feb-Apr)
Maidstone - (So little time/so many places in such a small area - Would gladly drop Shinnecock/NGLA off of a trip for a lap here)
Kittansett - (Would be nice)
Fisher's Island - (Maybe they would let me on if I could swim...from the 3rd green at Kittansett!  ;>)

Goal and dreams are what keep us alive.  What are yours?

JWK

[John_Conley]

I have just set up a trip to Western Mass.  I plan on seeing LONGMEADOW for the second time.  THE ORCHARDS and WINTONBURY HILLS are on my must-see list, with the last round at either THE RANCH or CRUMPIN-FOX.

As far as others, my Florida list is pretty short since I've seen quite a bit.  My wish list is as follows.
CALUSA PINES
SHARK'S TOOTH
SANDRIDGE MUNICIPAL
ORANGE TREE
HIDEOUT
PABLO CREEK
WINDSOR
INDIAN CREEK
KEY BISCANYE

My Minnesota wish list won't be filled 'til I get back, but here are a few I might see in 2005:
DAKOTAH RIDGE
LEGENDS
TROY BURNE
WINDSONG
the JEFF BRAUER TRAIL
DEACON'S LODGE

Worldwide "we can dream" list?
CASA DE CAMPO (TEETH OF THE DOG)
GOLDEN PEBBLE BEACH
TURNBERRY (AILSA)
BALLYBUNION (OLD)
CARNE
CRUDEN BAY
ROYAL MELBOURNE
NEW SOUTH WALES
anything in England's sand belt
THE ABACO CLUB

American "we can dream" list:
FRIAR'S HEAD
the NATIONAL GOLF LINKS
SHINNECOCK HILLS
PACIFIC DUNES
the DUNES CLUB
CRYSTAL DOWN
PRAIRIE DUNES
CYPRESS POINT
SHOREACRES
PINE VALLEY

[THuckaby2]

Very cool, shivas.  And I like the direction you've taken this in.  Hell yes, if these are the last 5 rounds of my life, the playing partners are gonna hold more importance to me than the venue.  Oh, I won't skimp on the venues mind you, but I'll want my Dad and certain other long-time friends/foes along for the ride.

But leaving that out, and just listing the next five courses that are holy grails for me to play....

1. Augusta.  It's always gonna be top of the list.
2. Rye.  Some dork I know calls it the best in the world, or close to that.  I really need to see why.
3. Pine freakin' Valley.  No explanation necessary.
4. Royal Melbourne.  Then when I'm down there, I'd knock off a bunch of others.  But that's the top grail down under for me.
5. Merion.  So I too can participate in two or three pissed-off hundreds of posts long battles every year.

This list is subject to change upon a moment's whim, btw.

[wsmorrison]

My US next 5 are:
York CC
Sunnehanna
Oakmont
TCC Pepper Pike
Pepper Pike Club

I expect to visit some and hope to visit the others on my late September trip to TCC Pepper Pike for the 2nd annual Flynn Invitational.

My global next five are:
Swinley Forest
Deal
Addington
Alwoodley
Royal Liverpool

Turns out they were a phone call away.

My "a boy can dream" ten are:
Royal Melbourne
Cypress Point
Seminole
Prarie Dunes
Crystal Downs
Augusta National
Myopia Hunt
Maidstone
Somerset Hills
Fisher's Island

Five US courses I've played that I would drop everything to play again are:
Pine Valley
Shinnecock Hills
Kittansett
Merion
Indian Creek

Six global courses I've played that I would drop everything to play again are:
Royal Dornoch
The Old Course
North Berwick
Turnberry Ailsa
Muirfield
Prestwick but it has to be with Bob Crosby

The two courses I'd most like to play with my oldest son again:
Western Gailes
Cruden Bay  
These are where I've had the most fun ever in golf

My "a boy can dream foursome" would include:
Elle McPherson
Kate Beckinsale
Meg Ryan

My favorite golf foursome would include:
My twin brother, David
Tom Paul
Bill Dow
The dream finish would be my partner Bill Dow sinking a putt on 18 at Merion to beat Dave and Tom one up.

[THuckaby2]

Great, cool, whatever - it's all the same to me.  But anyway, the way you rave about it, and have for so long, it remains in my top 5 wish list.

TH

[THuckaby2]

How does one convey salivating in an internet post?

Man I need to see this course.  Too many people have said too many great things about it, and there is just too much history there.  Some day....

[Brian_Gracely]

I've got a Honda with 135K miles that I'll be driving from Raleigh to Chicago in about a month, and so my "Next 5" is the roadtrip and hoping that the car doesn't break down.

Holston Hills (hopefully Hendren will join us)

Muirfield Village (Huck - I'm going to work the Kimmie angle with Jr. there, if possible)

Angels Crossing / Warren Course (ND) / Lost Dunes / The Dunes - This is where the uncertainty begins, because I'd like to play something by Doak, but I doubt that'll happen.  Angels Crossing sounds very cool and it's got an GCA affiliation, so that would be fun.  And while I am not an ND football fan, I'd love to see the campus and maybe even the stadium.

Olympia Fields - Mr.Goldman's write-up (along with the North Course write-up) have got me excited about being on the South-Side of the City with Big Shoulders.

Jans National - Shivas said we've got to play here, even for a few holes.  Not sure if we'll be exploring any other Chicagoland haunts as well.

Dream 5 (or 7)
===========
Cypress Point - the greatest place on earth

Valley Club - because Bob Huntley said it would be the kind of place he'd like to belong

Grandfather Mountain - nothing like peaceful golf in the NC mountains

Kingsley Club - summer in Northern Michigan, and the place encourages hickories...it just sounds right

Sand Hills - if you're going to travel that far, you know the other people there are as dedicated to the simplicities of the game as you are.  I whole-heartedly believe that the pictures don't begin to do it justice.
 
Newport CC - don't think I could handle hanging around with mumsie, buffy, biff and poopsie, but something about that clubhouse on the edge of the bluff just looks incredibly cool....and I looked at Scott's AOTD the other day and audibly asked myself, "Why doesn't anyone build bunkering like that anymore?"

[THuckaby2]

Brian, great calls, all of that.  And I was remiss to leave out Jans National myself.  That too is on the someday must list.

Mr. Huntley is right on re Valley Club, btw.  I truly believe one could live forever there and never want to leave.

Now of course most importantly, you must play MV WITH Jr., with Kimmie riding along.  Now that is dream golf.  

TH

[michael j fay]

Rye has come up again in this thread and I cannot resist giving a very strong second to the recommendation of Shivas.

The one and only time I played Rye I went off the first tee and played what can only be described as a weak and dull par five, It set my mind for another disappointment.

The following 17 holes are certainly among the best par threes and fours in the world and to have them all on the same course is unbelievable.

Rye is fair, Rye is challenging and at times Rye is evil. The short holes are no easier than the long holes and the use of the dunes is magical.

Frankly, south and southeast of London offers some of the very best courses in the UK. I would have no problem returning to Rye, St. Georges and Cinque Ports and sample a few new ones on the way.

[Joel_Stewart]

I guess I have been real lucky since I have played many of the great courses.  In reading some of the posts, some people want to go back to really great courses because they are so outstanding. My short list is,

US new courses,
The Country Club- feel the history
Oakmont- feel the history and the challenge
ANGC-Promised to me this year?
Seminole-Rained out once, had to cancel twice

Need to go back-
Merion
Winged Foot
Crystal Downs
Plainfield

Outside of US
Ireland (all)
Australia (all)
New Zealand (all)
Scotland (most)
England (few)

[THuckaby2]

Just more fuel for my fire - but thanks, Michael.

And hmmmmm... plans are in the works for the 2nd GCA Ryder Cup, to take place next May at Littlestone & RCP.  Seems like it would be a pretty easy - and mandatory - add-on to get to Rye, and for that matter, RSG, no?

Dare to dream... how the heck am I gonna sell this one to the family?  

TH

[Wayne Wiggins, Jr.]

I'm going bi-coastal, with one stop in the middle, for both my real and dream US tour.

My next five:
Olympic (Lake)
Harding Park
NGLA
Prairie Dunes
Aronimink

Dream US five:
Merion (East)
Pine Valley
Chicago GC
San Francisco GC
Seminole

Dream International five:
Hoylake
Sunningdale (Old)
Old Course
Royal Melbourne
Kingston Heath

And, being from Philadelphia originally, there's a Philly dream 5 also (with some repeats from above):
Merion (East)
Pine Valley
Huntington Valley
Wilmington (South)
Gulph Mills

[Michael Dugger]

Realistic "local" list

1. Bandon Trails
2. Pronghorn (Nicklaus)
3. Sunriver Crosswater
4. Aspen Lakes
5. TPC @ Snoqualmie

[Cory Lewis]

My Next Five involve completing what I like to call the Flynn project in Pennsylania:

Rolling Green
Manufacturers
Huntington Valley
Lancaster
Forsgate(not a Flynn but next on the list after the other 4)

The Flynn project started when I played Lehigh a few months ago and resumed when I played Philly CC yesterday, outstanding golf course in fantastic shape, par 3's blew me away!

International five involve potential trip to Ireland next year

Ballybunion
Lahinch
Tralee
Old Head
Portmarnock

Dream Five: maybe I'll get to play one of these in my lifetime

Cypress
Augusta
Crystal Downs
Pine Valley
Sand Hills

Five I've Played that I really want to play again

Fishers Island
NGLA
Royal Dornoch
Royal County Down
Myopia Hunt

[John Foley]

My five I hope to see soon (as long as I can fit them in on my next trips):
Purgatory
Trophy Club
Bulle Rock
Eagles Nest
The Quarry @ Giants Ridge


The dream five:
Royal County Down
Royal Portrush
Ballybunion - Think I need to plan that Ireland trip!
National
Friars Head

[Jfaspen]

Hopeful 5

1. Oakland Hills South (grew up with it in my backyard, havent played it yet, walked it for the 96 open)
2. Eagle Eye (Pete Dye Design in East Lansing, will play it in a couple mths
3. Crystal Downs (going to write the letter suggested in the course review comments and aim for this october.)
4. Pebble (Trying to get to San Fran in late feb on a school related function, going to bite the bullet, pay the cost and play )
5. Arcadia Bluffs (heading back over my fall break).

Dream 5

1. Cypress Point (Replaced Augusta because of this board, every picture I look at makes me want to play it more)
2. Pine Valley (probably the best course in the world, but I love the ocean , so Cypress gets the nod.
3. NGLA (Heard and read enough about it get me really curious
4. Augusta National ( I wanna hit the approach to 13, the tee shot on 12, the drive on 18)
5. Valley Club (the few pictures on this site just enchant me and I love Mackenzie's designs).

Worldwide-

1. Royal Melbourne
2. Muirfield
3. Cape Kidnappers
4. St. Andrews
5. Troon

Great thread btw

[erichunter]

Next 5
PVGC, Chicago, Dunes Club, Austin Golf Club, Olympia Fields

"Royal" 5
Melbourne, County Down, New Kent (VA), St George's, Aberdeen

Fantasy 5
Valley Club, ANGC, Friars, Crystal Downs, Sand Hills

Play again 5 (knowing what I know now)
CPC, Dornoch, Shoreacres, Kapalua, Sawgrass

[Ash Towe]

My next five are-
Wairakei-Need to get out of the wet Auckland winter.
Cape Kidnappers-Played there twice and will keep going back.
Kinloch-New Nicklaus course in Taupo.
Taupo Golf Club-Combine with the above.
Trip to Australia next April which will include-
Barnbougle Dunes
Kingston Heath
Royal Melbourne
St Andrews Bay plus 2 others still to decide.

Dream-Trip to New York and play some of the classics in the area.

[Kevin_Reilly]

I'm waiting for HamiltonBHearst's list.  

[Jim Franklin]

My next ONE is Sand Hills this weekend for 5 rounds and come back to earth on Tuesday.

Crystal Downs, The Kingsley Club, NGLA, Kinloch, and Valley Club of Montecito are hopefuls for my next 5.

A return trip to CPC, Friar's Head, Oakmont, San Francisco GC, and Victoria National would be awesome.

[Matt_Ward]

My next five (six) are on the "to play" list this winter ...

Kauri Cliffs
Cape Kidnappers
Barnbougle Dunes
St. Andrews Bay
New South Wales
Kingston Heath
Royal Melbourne

[George Pazin]

I'd be happy with Matt's list.

Other trip wish list:

Rye
Sandwich
St Enodoc
2 of Paul Turner's special finds

[Wayne Freeman]

My smokin' list in the next 2 months:
          Camargo
           Scioto
            The Golf Club
           Muirfield ( with any kind of luck)
           Oakmont
           Congressional
           Baltimore Five Farms
           Columbia
           Chevy Chase
My wish list with no hope of any immediate gratification:
            Chicago (was cancelled out twice)
            Augusta National

[Jack_Marr]

Ardee GC - a beautiful parkland in Ardee. Great condition. Routing all over the place - you never know where you are. Just playing a friendly game there.

Castlewarden GC - an ok golf course down the road from me. Nothing remarkable.

Rathsallagh GC - playing on Monday. Grand scale "new" parkland course. I love it, but I'm not sure what purists would think.

Citywest GC - just two minutes from my house. It has two courses. The new executive one is fun. Neither are anything special really.

Carne Golf Links - I am a member but haven't played there all year. Going next weekend. Love it there.

[Tom_Doak]

The five courses I am most looking forward to playing for the first time:

1.  Barnbougle Dunes
2.  St. Andrews Beach (Gunnamatta)
3.  Banff
4.  El Saler, Spain
5.  Jasper

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