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Phil McDade

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Nine-hole courses: the best
« on: July 19, 2006, 11:06:40 AM »
Several recent threads (Prairie Dunes, baby Yale among them) raise a question: What's the best nine-hole course in the U.S.? I'm looking for a stand-alone course, and not something that's part of a 27-hole complex. Is there anything in the U.S. remotely comparable to Royal Worlington and Newmarket? I've seen references to a good, linksy course on the coast of Maine somewhere, and my own local entry from these parts (Wisconsin) might be Eagle Springs, between Madison and Milwaukee, with its famous volcano par 3 designed by A.G. Spaulding of baseball fame.
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Geoffrey Childs

Re:Nine-hole courses: the best
« Reply #1 on: July 19, 2006, 11:12:37 AM »
Our own Tony Pioppi has an entire book devoted to the best nine hole courses in the US.

It is due out from the printers this fall. Perhaps he will give us a little tease on his subject matter so we can all preorder it.
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Craig Van Egmond

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Re:Nine-hole courses: the best
« Reply #2 on: July 19, 2006, 11:28:36 AM »
Phil,

       The Dunes, Mike Keiser's first course, is widely regarded as the top 9 hole course in the country. I think it even cracked one of the top 100 lists.

« Last Edit: July 19, 2006, 11:28:53 AM by Craig Edgmand »
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John_Cullum

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Re:Nine-hole courses: the best
« Reply #3 on: July 19, 2006, 11:31:13 AM »
Quote from: Phil McDade on July 19, 2006, 11:06:40 AM
Is there anything in the U.S. remotely comparable to Royal Worlington and Newmarket?


I have played Royal Whirl and given considerable thought to the matter, I don't see what all the ballyhoo is about.

I would say the original 9 at Hunter Army Airfield was a better course than Royal Whirl, but they have added 9 more so it it doesn't qualify anymore.

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Doug_Feeney

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Re:Nine-hole courses: the best
« Reply #4 on: July 19, 2006, 12:38:49 PM »
Quote from: Craig Edgmand on July 19, 2006, 11:28:36 AM
Phil,

       The Dunes, Mike Keiser's first course, is widely regarded as the top 9 hole course in the country. I think it even cracked one of the top 100 lists.



The Dunes Club is a very good course and a very special place.  Excellent conditioning, great caddies, all walking, no tee markers, and really hard to find!  They have a pretty good tournament there in the Fall as well - Dunes Invitational I believe.

There has been quite a bit of discussion about it on GCA - even some pics at one time if I remember correctly.  A bit narrow for some, but if it had 9 more comparable holes a lot of folks would be talking about it!
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Brad Tufts

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Re:Nine-hole courses: the best
« Reply #5 on: July 19, 2006, 02:15:31 PM »
Whitinsville Golf Club here in MA is excellent.  The 9th hole alone makes it worth a look.  

Also, a 2900-yarder in Windsor, VT is one of my favorites, called John P. Larkin GC.  It's old, quirky, and was a great surprise discovered while on a non-golf-centric vacation that became so after one play.  It was a great example of how little land is needed for a fun golf course.

There are several in Maine worth checking out as well, a couple of which I plan to explore in October.
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Jim Nugent

Re:Nine-hole courses: the best
« Reply #6 on: July 19, 2006, 02:48:02 PM »
Gleneagles in San Francisco is the best 9-holer I have played.  
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Steve_ Shaffer

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Re:Nine-hole courses: the best
« Reply #7 on: July 19, 2006, 03:06:51 PM »
Anyone ever play here?


 Rip Van Winkle Country Club -
Palenville, New York

The 9-hole "Rip Van Winkle" course at the Rip Van Winkle Country Club facility in Palenville, New York features 3,110 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 36.  Designed by Donald J. Ross,  the Rip Van Winkle golf course opened in 1917.
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Jim_Kennedy

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Re:Nine-hole courses: the best
« Reply #8 on: July 19, 2006, 03:12:05 PM »
Steve,
I play RVW several times a year. I think I remember Mike Fay saying that Ross never was there, it was built from his plans.
Even if that's true, it remains an enjoyable place to play and John Smith takes as good care of it as his budget allows.

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Brian Joines

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Re:Nine-hole courses: the best
« Reply #9 on: July 19, 2006, 04:34:25 PM »
Quote from: Doug_Feeney on July 19, 2006, 12:38:49 PM
Quote from: Craig Edgmand on July 19, 2006, 11:28:36 AM
Phil,

       The Dunes, Mike Keiser's first course, is widely regarded as the top 9 hole course in the country. I think it even cracked one of the top 100 lists.



The Dunes Club is a very good course and a very special place.  Excellent conditioning, great caddies, all walking, no tee markers, and really hard to find!  They have a pretty good tournament there in the Fall as well - Dunes Invitational I believe.

There has been quite a bit of discussion about it on GCA - even some pics at one time if I remember correctly.  A bit narrow for some, but if it had 9 more comparable holes a lot of folks would be talking about it!

Is there land adjacent to the Dunes Club that could be turned into a second nine if they wanted to? I've never been there (and only live 30 minutes away!) so I am not familiar with the land and it's surroundings. But I have heard a lot of great things about the course and the club from everyone who's been there.
« Last Edit: July 19, 2006, 04:35:12 PM by Brian Joines »
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Jim_Coleman

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Re:Nine-hole courses: the best
« Reply #10 on: July 19, 2006, 04:39:06 PM »
   The golf course in Maine is Highland Light, in Truro.  Fabulous!!
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Geoffrey_Walsh

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Re:Nine-hole courses: the best
« Reply #11 on: July 19, 2006, 04:47:32 PM »
Highland Links in Truro is on the tip of Cape Cod in Massachusetts, not Maine, but from what I have seen it is well worth the trip!
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Craig Sweet

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Re:Nine-hole courses: the best
« Reply #12 on: July 19, 2006, 05:02:39 PM »
"The golf course in Maine is Highland Light, in Truro.  Fabulous!!"

"Highland Links in Truro is on the tip of Cape Cod in Massachusetts, not Maine..."


I was gonna say...I know I haven't lived in New England for 23 years, but I hadn't heard they moved Truro to Maine...  ;D
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Craig Disher

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Re:Nine-hole courses: the best
« Reply #13 on: July 19, 2006, 09:59:58 PM »
Give a look at Ran's profile of the Langford/Moreau 9-holer at Culver Academy in Indiana.

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/culver1.html

The sand bunkers are gone but so what? With topography and shaping like that, who needs them?

Before I'd seen the pictures I would have suggested Annapolis Roads as the 9-holer with the most potential to be the best. I'm not sure now.
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Sean_Tully

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Re:Nine-hole courses: the best
« Reply #14 on: July 19, 2006, 10:09:31 PM »
Craig,

It gets my vote. Any chance of restoring the greens and bunkering?

That is just plain impressive. I played Lawsonia last year and I need another Langford fix! You are just adding fuel to my fire, thank you. Those were some deep bunkers when you consider that you would have to dig out a cavity still!

Tully
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Jim_Coleman

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Re:Nine-hole courses: the best
« Reply #15 on: July 19, 2006, 10:53:30 PM »
     Iceberg, Ginsberg; Maine, Mass, it's all the same.  (Punchline to an old joke.)  The Truro course is still awesome, whatever it's name and whatever state it's in.  
    My apologies.
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Mike_Sweeney

Re:Nine-hole courses: the best
« Reply #16 on: July 31, 2006, 08:08:12 AM »
There is a new 9 hole candidate.

North Haven Golf Club on the island of North Haven, Maine about 8 miles off the mainland town of Rockport near the Samosett Golf Resort. We were expecting your standard 9 holer, and were into the day more for the boating adventure than the golf.

It was an unbelievable piece of property with great vistas and water views. Wayne Stiles routed the course up over and around the property down to the rocky beach for the short 130 yard sixth hole and then back. It plays much longer than the Par 35 3040 yards on the card, as the property rolls  up and down. It finishes with a 233 yard down hill par 3 and has a 255 yard uphill par 4 #3 which has great risk reward.

To call this Baby Fishers or something similar does not do this course justice. With slightly bigger, slightly faster greens, this course borders on greatness.

Certainly one of the best 9 hole courses, certainly one of the great ferry/remote courses. Only a couple of bunkers on the course, but bunkers are not needed.

$40 for all day play, bring a lunch or if they are not mowing grass, the couple that run it will probably run into town and get a sandwich for you!

Our second course of the day was the Tom Paul grew up there Tarrantine Club on Isleboro Island. Rugged and nice, but not great, 9 holer. Very nice place and staff, just did not have a chance after the surprise of North Haven GC.

Michael Moore had the camera, and hopefully he will post pictures after his vacation.
« Last Edit: July 31, 2006, 09:35:32 AM by Mike Sweeney »
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wsmorrison

Re:Nine-hole courses: the best
« Reply #17 on: July 31, 2006, 08:41:09 AM »
I understand that the remaining 9 holes (of 18 though 36 were planned) at Gibson Island GC, a 1923 Raynor design with Frederick Law Olmstead's firm as master planner,were in deplorable condition when Tom Doak saw it prior to his Confidential Guide publication.  It is in much better shape today and is a lot of fun to play, especially the fininshing hole up a steep hill.  Some of the great template holes have been lost and the course is not among the best 9-holers in the world but the course is a real joy to play.

Thomas's 9-holes at Marion are not world-class but they are very quirky and worth a visit on the way to Kittansett or as a dedicated trip if you're in the area.

Here's Flynn's plan for a nine hole course on the estate of Robert Cassatt (Mary's nephew and one-time President of the Pennsylvania Railroad--America's first billion dollar company).  The course has 3 greens and 9 tees and is played over some pretty rolling ground.  Bill Dow and I took a look around the site which is now covered up by a housing development.

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M. Shea Sweeney

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Re:Nine-hole courses: the best
« Reply #18 on: August 01, 2006, 02:52:24 PM »
Hay Harbor on Fishers Island is pretty awesome.

or

Goat Hill, Shelter Island, New York. (minimum of 6 beers drank per 9 holes)
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John Keenan

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Re:Nine-hole courses: the best
« Reply #19 on: August 01, 2006, 04:42:26 PM »
I have not played it as of yet, but am scheduled to  the Cliffs at the Olympic club. Quite nice from what I have heard .

I have been expecting Mike B or David T to bring this one up but since they has not I stepped up.
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Evan_Green

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Re:Nine-hole courses: the best
« Reply #20 on: August 01, 2006, 05:52:55 PM »
Quote from: John Keenan on August 01, 2006, 04:42:26 PM
I have not played it as of yet, but am scheduled to  the Cliffs at the Olympic club. Quite nice from what I have heard .

I have been expecting Mike B or David T to bring this one up but since they has not I stepped up.

It certainly is in the running for best nine hole par 3 course. Can anyone think of a better one?
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John Keenan

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Re:Nine-hole courses: the best
« Reply #21 on: August 01, 2006, 06:06:52 PM »
Evan

What makes it so good ? All I have heard is that it is a great and I will like it no details.

John
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The things a man has heard and seen are threads of life, and if he pulls them carefully from the confused distaff of memory, any who will can weave them into whatever garments of belief please them best.

Tom Huckaby

Re:Nine-hole courses: the best
« Reply #22 on: August 01, 2006, 06:09:25 PM »
John K:

As an unabashed fan of the course, I'm sure
the owner of this site won't mind me
sharing the following:

http://www.benardiproperties.com/content/article.html?id=92747

Judge for yourself.

Golf isn't meant to be any more fun than it is
on The Cliffs.

TH
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Evan_Green

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Re:Nine-hole courses: the best
« Reply #23 on: August 01, 2006, 06:45:13 PM »
Mike's pictures do a fine job of showing why the Cliffs is such a great course. The bonuses of full-on ocean views, particularly at sunset and the exposure to the ocean winds make it a beautiful and challenging place to play that plays differently every time.
« Last Edit: August 01, 2006, 06:49:32 PM by Evan_Green »
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John Keenan

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Re:Nine-hole courses: the best
« Reply #24 on: August 01, 2006, 07:59:52 PM »
TH thanks for the link to MB great photos of a stunning course. I am now even more excited to play it on Friday

Evan I agree the photos appear to do a supperb job of showing the course

Just hope my game is up to the course!!

Thanks to all
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The things a man has heard and seen are threads of life, and if he pulls them carefully from the confused distaff of memory, any who will can weave them into whatever garments of belief please them best.
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