[Andy Troeger]

If value becomes part of the equation then New Mexico gets a big boost as well (as does Colorado I think from the prices I've seen). There's only one course in NM over $100 that I've seen, and its not that hard to find a way to get on that one for less $$$ too.

The downside is that there's a fair bit of travel involved, especially to get to Pinon Hills. Even Paa-Ko Ridge and Black Mesa aren't that close together (when compared to an area like Myrtle Beach). There's also just not that many courses compared to other areas.

[A.G._Crockett]

I'm surprized no one has done this:

CA

1. Pebble Beach Golf Links, Pebble Beach (No. 5 c)
2. Spyglass Hill, Pebble Beach (No. 15 m)
3. Pasatiempo, Santa Cruz (No. 33 c)
4. Rustic Canyon, Moorpark (No. 75 m)
5. Barona Creek, Lakeside (No. 93 m)
6. Callippe Preserve, Pleasanton (m)*
7. PGA West (Stadium), La Quinta (m)
8. Darkhorse, Auburn (m)
9. Saddle Creek, Cooperopolis (m)
10. Links at Spanish Bay, Pebble Beach (m)


SC

1. Ocean Course at Kiawah Island, Kiawah Island (No. 18 m)
2. Harbour Town, Hilton Head (No. 27 m)
3. Caledonia Golf & Fish Club, Pawleys Island (No. 92 m)
4. Dunes Golf & Beach Club, Myrtle Beach (No. 89 c)
5. May River Course at Palmetto Bluff, Bluffton (No. 100 m)
6. Tidewater GC, North Myrtle Beach (m)
7. TPC at Myrtle Beach, Murrells Inlet (m)
8. Wild Dunes (Links), Isle of Palm (m)
9. Grande Dunes, Myrtle Beach (m)
10. Barefoot Landing Resort (Love), North Myrtle Beach (m)

Each with 5 "ranked".

MI

1. Arcadia Bluffs, Arcadia (No. 22 m)
2. Greywalls, Marquette (m)*
3. Forest Dunes, Roscommon (m)*
4. Tullymore, Stanwood (m)
5. Black Forest at Wildnerness Valley, Gaylord (m)
6. Bay Harbor (Links/Quarry), Harbor Springs (m)
7. Lakewood Shores Resort (Gailes), Oscoda (m)
8. Treetops North (Smith), Gaylord (m)
9. Black Lake, Onaway (m)
10. High Pointe, Traverse City (m)

AZ

1. Troon North (Monument), Scottsdale (m)
2. We-Ko-Pa, Fountain Hills (m)
3. Estrella Mountain, Phoenix (m)*
4. Ventana Canyon (Mountain), Tucson (m)
5. Talking Stick (North), Scottsdale (m)
6. Vistoso, Tucson (m)*
7. Ventana Canyon (Canyon), Tucson (m)
8. SunRidge Canyon, Fountain Hills (m)*
9. Boulders Resort (South), Carefree (m)
10. TPC Scottsdale, Scottsdale (m)

HI

1. Kapalua (Plantation), Maui (No. 58 m)
2. Princeville (Prince), Kauai (No. 61 m)
3. Mauna Kea Beach Hotel GC, Kamuela (No. 97 m)
4. Challenge at Manele Bay, Lanai (m)
5. Poipu Bay Golf Resort, Kauai (m)
6. Kauai Lagoon GC (Kiele), Kauai (m)
7. Big Island CC, Kona (m)
8. Koolau, Kaneohe (m)
9. Mauna Lani (North), Kona (m)
10. Dunes at Maui Lani, Maui (m)

copyright Golfweek Magazine America's Best 2006

I'll leave it to someone else to post Golf Digest

It might be significant to note that on the SC list, no matter which course you are on, you are less than two hours from any other on the list.  I don't think that would be the case elsewhere.

[Tom Huckaby]

Interesting lists, not sure what conclusions can be drawn.  Those lists change none of my beliefs here, anyway.

I'd also question whether Golfweek state rankings have all that much connection to what a tourist seeks, or have that much worth period.... the inclusion of Callippe Preserve at #6 in CA is rather comical... hell it's not #6 in the Bay Area... maybe not even in East Bay... fights for that spot in greater Pleasanton....  

But that's a question for another day, and may well be addressed one way or another on a new topic just posted.

 

[Tim Pitner]

I'm not exactly sure what "tourist golf" means, but how about Oregon?  Three fantastic courses on one property and some of the most scenic coastline in the world.  

If tourist golf requires proximity to shopping or a beach for sun-tanning, then perhaps not.  

[Tom Huckaby]

You know what, Tim?  I've been basing my whole "CA wins at the top" thing on some damn flimsy evidence... and thinking this through a bit more, hell OR wins that just due to Bandon.  I truly do believe that for the free-spending GOLF tourist, Bandon's three courses beat Pebble-Spyglass-Spanish Bay or Poppy Hills.  Make the third Pasa and it might shift back to CA - but that's cheating as it's 45 minutes from the other two.

Bandon also has decent deals in winter, as we found.

Monterey wins on weather overall, and wins big-time on non-golfer activities.

But if I am true to my point here (and I'm not sure I want to be) methinks we have a new leader in my odd, narrow category - the great state of OR, thanks to Bandon Dunes golf resort.

TH

[John Kavanaugh]

Tourist golf is played in carts.

[Joe Hancock]

Tourist golf is played in carts.

I could be wrong, but I think Bandon is proving that doesn't haven't to be the case.

Joe

[Tom Huckaby]

Interesting lists, not sure what conclusions can be drawn.  

If someone posts GD we'll see that part of these lists reflect who has visited where recently.  Obviously for GW it's Callippe.

Looking at the state list for PA, (which included privates) PA has Lehigh about 5 or so definitely reflecting that Digest's panelists have played with Mark lately.......

Fully agreed there.

And methinks JK makes a good point about carts.  Maybe Bandon loses just due to that.  To me it's hard to say... I just do know that a few summers ago I saw plenty of players there I'd classify as "tourists" - they seemed to be the ones complaining there were no carts.  But they were there nonetheless.  PD's full tee sheets sure prove that SOMEONE's coming to see it and play it....

TH

[John Kavanaugh]

I don't know what those people in the recent pics are...but they didn't look like tourists to me.

[rjsimper]

Bandon may have just jumped a notch or two in tourist golf status...

http://www.cnn.com/2007/TRAVEL/03/08/bil.cl.shelling.beaches/index.html

Best Shelling Beaches (As Reported by Coastal Living Magazine)

3. Bandon, Oregon
West Coast beaches don't provide great bounties of shells, partly because the mighty Pacific Ocean waves tend to chew up most specimens. Still, the beaches near this charming seaside town may harbor some finds, especially in protected areas such as the mouth of the Coquille River. As consolation prizes, winter storms also toss up Japanese glass fishing floats and such semiprecious stones as agate and jasper; 541/347-9616 or bandon.com.

[Tom Huckaby]

I don't know what those people in the recent pics are...but they didn't look like tourists to me.

It's winter time, John.  Check back in summer.

[Kalen Braley]

Is there a difference between a golfing tourist and tourists otherwise?

I always thought of golfing tourists to be a subset of the greater tourists group.

That being said, there is another subset...the tackily dressed tourists...you don't fit in that group do you Tom?    Hey don't let them give you grief, that Gilligan hat is sweeeettt!!!

[Joe Hancock]

I don't know what those people in the recent pics are...but they didn't look like tourists to me.

Noun   1. tourist - someone who travels for pleasure

I think the pictured people traveled for pleasure......

Joe

[Tom Huckaby]

Is there a difference between a golfing tourist and tourists otherwise?

I always thought of golfing tourists to be a subset of the greater tourists group.

That being said, there is another subset...the tackily dressed tourists...you don't fit in that group do you Tom?    Hey don't let them give you grief, that Gilligan hat is sweeeettt!!!

Let's just say if I fit in as such, the whole group does also.  I believe we're all wearing such a hat with the exception of the Silver Fox of course.

Sometimes function overwhelms form.  That was one of those days.

 

[John Kavanaugh]

One reason I like Bandon is that the walking policy keeps a certain element off the course.  Joe...You might note that the dictionary says that tourist is also short for tourist class.  Tourist implies a less than optimum situation.  I'm just not a fan and when traveling try to stay away from tourist situations at all times.

They really need to ban people from bring their own food onto airplanes.  I don't like how tourists smell, dress, talk too loud or smile like they know something.  Tourists are the bane of vacations.  I'm just glad I don't live in a tourist haven.

[Joe Hancock]

JK,

My understanding is that when "tourist" is a noun, it is as I posted above. When "tourist" is an adjective, as in "tourist class" it describes the accomodations. At least, that's what Merriam-Webster has to say about it. But anyway.....

I think maybe we should be talking about "destination" golfers instead of "tourist" golfers. A tourist golfer wouldn't travel to Bandon just to play golf. If they were there for the spa and food and decided to take in a round of golf to pass time, then they would be a tourist golfer. But, that's not Bandon......

Joe

[Peter Pallotta]

Sean
reminds me of being stuck in traffic on the highway during rush-hour and complaining about all the damn commuters taking their cars to work. Or co-workers showing you the pictures of their trip to the Pyramids, complaining about all the damn tourists taking pictures. We know why WE'RE there, but why is everybody else?

Peter

The story goes that GB Shaw, who usually slept in quite late,  had to wake up early one day to go to court. When he looked out his bedroom window at the crowded rush-hour streets, he turned to his valet and said "My god, are all these people going to court?!"

[Doug Ralston]

You lot need to get real!  If you get on a plane to play golf and you are not a pro or playing in some special amateur event you are a tourista.  You should count yourselves lucky to have the money to be golf touristas rather than acting contemptuously.  Golf carts have nothing to do with the issue.

Ciao

That's for certain Sean!

If you didn't have that cash, guess which State you would have to 'tour' to play golf?   [other than the State of Destitution] Good news, though; you can play several courses for less than $10 if you are not too particular in Louisville. In fact, you could play golf there all year for the cost of stay and play at Pebble Beach.

Doug

[Tommy Williamsen]

So did we decide which is the greatest tourist golf state?
If not then I think it is the state in which I find myself.

[Steve Lang]

 

Beyond your state of mental acuity.. its clearly Michigan

[Andy Hughes]

All you Michigan boosters--Sean posted a bunch of courses clustered around Traverse City where one could roost for 4-5 days and play tourist golf. But when can one actually sorta count on decent weather?  Mid-April? May1?

[Mike Vegis @ Kiawah]

The one thing South Carolina has that California doesn't is South Carolinians. These are probably the most refined Southerners out there (sorry Virginia, but in case you haven't heard, you're generally considered to be Yankees by the rest of us). If you can't have a great time in South Carolina, you are lacking something.

Now there's no slight intended to my cherished Golden State friends, but there are alot more unfriendly people in Cal than you'll find in SC. There really isn't a big city in SC, the whole state is pretty gentile. Throw in the hunting and fishing, SC is hard to beat.

 Marjabelle Young Stewart, the nationally renowned etiquette expert, has found Charleston to be the most polite city in the nation for the last 11 consecutive years, and has included Charleston in the ranking every year of her list’s 27-year existence.

[John Kavanaugh]

Mike,

I thought of you and our round at your course while Calc was holding on to win yesterday.  The Ocean course does leave a lasting impression.

[Andy Hughes]

Mike, wanna bet a round on the Ocean Course Stewart does not find Charleston to be the most polite this year?

[Wayne_Kozun]

Earlier in this thread there is talk that you need six great courses so you could do a three day trip and play 36 a day over two different courses.  Why?

If I am playing a great course, or even a good course, then I want to play it at least twice, and ideally even more.  It takes several rounds at a course to really understand what the architect is doing - only playing a course once is not giving yourself the opportunity to really get to know the course.

If you could afford it, would it be so bad to spend three days at Pebble and play Pebble and Spyglass three times each?

[Tags:]

Tags:

[Tags:]

Tags:

Call to undefined function theme_linktree()