[Doug Ralston]

Posted by: Ryan Simper  Posted on: Today at 04:14:46pm  
Quote from: Billsteele on Today at 03:42:18pm
If you can afford $700 a night for lodging and $150-$450 a round for golf, the Monterey Peninsula trumps it every time.
 
 

I believe, as a corollary, I have the most undisputed answer of all to the question posted in this thread.

The greatest state for tourist golf?

"Wealth"
 
Yes, or lacking that, Kentucky!

Doug

[Doug Ralston]

Sorry, making a mess of the 'quote' function ... but you know what I mean!  

Doug

[Andy Troeger]

Doug,
I think Indiana stacks up pretty well with Kentucky for bragging rights as a good midwest destination for public golf at a good value. The views might not compare as a whole, but I think the golf does.

[Steve Lang]

 
John K.  haven't you checked out the Wine Train in Napa Valley??  You can get seriously stupid on it, and have a nice dinner to boot..

Oh yeah on topic.. hands down..

#1 = Michigan mid-july through mid august..

basis..
great courses per Sean (I would add Kingsley & Black Forest & Crystal D.. however) and many others up and down east coast, north coast(s), west coast, and central.. like the Mines

you're never more than 5 miles from water anywhere in state, which means great fishing, beaches & dunes, sailing, power boating, rafting, canoeing, swimming.. can't beat the lakes and Bays, especially Grand and Little Traverse.. family water fun in excess

good roads travelled without big delays, except for friday evening and sunday evening heading upstate and downstate respectively..

great affordable eating places to stop..obligatory German in Frankenmuth.. Boone's at Long Lake (where Hagen retired) sw side of Traverse City for steaks..  , too numerous to mention fish places on west coast

midwest hospitality, plus excess in Charlevoix, Petosky, Mackinac, Cherry Festival & Film Festival in Traverse City

#2 = NC/SC.. much same as MI, one great big regional variety cornicopia

#3 = CA.. simply too crowded, too expensive, too far between desired venues.. always gotta be movin

[Doug Ralston]

Andy;

I agree, Indiana does indeed have a lot of great golf courses. A little higher for both golf and accomadations, but I think people would find much worth visiting there.

Andy, do the Kentucky State Park tour of Hidden Cove, Eagle Ridge [*genuflect*], Wasioto Winds, Dale Hollow [stunner!], and Mineral Mound. They are great courses in beautiful sites, and the Park Lodges are really a value [with good food too].

Doug [Kentucky State Tourism Advocate *wink*]

[Andy Troeger]

Doug,
I would like to. I also hope the tourism department puts you on their payroll!

[Bill_McBride]

I make no book for my state topping Cally or SC or NC, but I will humbly suggest the Bama Golf and BBQ Tour (I call it "'Cue School").  Some outings for you:

Capstone Club (Hanse) and Ol' Colony (Pate), Tuscaloosa, with lunch at the original Dreamland ("Ain't Nothin' Like 'Em [ribs] Nowhere")

Limestone Springs (Pate) and any of the Bham Trail courses, or Ballantrae (Cupp) or Timberline (Pate), lunch at Pat James' Full Moon, Tin Roof or Bob Sykes' in Bham

36 at the RTJ Grand National courses at Opelika, lunch at Chuck's

36 at Farm Links (Hurdzan/Frye), Sylacauga; both rounds, range balls and lunch included in $100 price

36 at RTJ courses at Muscle Shoals, lunch at Big Bob Gibson's in Decatur

Doak 6ish on the golf; Doak 9 (at least on the 'cue); easy on the pocketbook all the way around.  Plan your trip around race day at Talledega or an SEC football weekend and you're all set.
 

John, I am so glad to see you excluded Magnolia Grove (Mobile) and the Judge/Senator (Prattville).  Wow, those are bad courses.  You left out Cambrian Ridge (Greenville AL), I really like those courses - Canyon and Sherling.  The quality of the RTJ Trail is quite varied.

You also leftr out some pretty good public access AL down here on the Gulf Coast -- Kiva Dunes, Lakewood, not sure about Timber Creek, Craft Farms etc.  

Overall Alabama looks pretty good.

[John Kavanaugh]

Cue School

John, since Kavanaugh has been spotted repeatedly in Vegas and California playing low and high rent golf, searching for Prince tickets, and posting on the Iggy Pop thread, I have assumed sole responsibility for membership admission to the Hillbilly Tour.  

Based solely upon the previous post, you're in.  Congratulations.  

Mike

 I can't recall playing any low rent golf.

[Michael Whitaker]

Great Tourist Golf? I submit the following in SC:

MIDLANDS REGION
Mount Vintage Plantation & Golf Club

CHARLESTON REGION
Kiawah Island Golf Resort – The Ocean Course
Kiawah Island Golf Resort – Osprey Point Course
Kiawah Island Golf Resort – Turtle Point Course
RiverTowne Country Club
The Resort at Seabrook Island – Crooked Oaks Course
The Resort at Seabrook Island – Ocean Winds Course
Wild Dunes Resort - The Links Course

HILTON HEAD ISLAND REGION
Sea Pines Resort - Harbour Town Golf Links
Palmetto Bluff Resort - May River Course
Daufuskie Island Resort & Breathe Spa – Melrose Course
Daufuskie Island Resort & Breathe Spa – Bloody Point Course
Palmetto Dunes Resort - Arthur Hills Course

GRAND STRAND REGION
Barefoot Resort - The Dye Course
Barefoot Resort - The Fazio Course
Barefoot Resort - The Love Course
Barefoot Resort - The Norman Course
Caledonia Golf & Fish Club
Grande Dunes – Resort Course
King’s North at Myrtle Beach National
Legends Resort - Heathland Course
Pawleys Plantation Golf & Country Club
Prestwick Country Club
The Dunes Golf & Beach Club
The Heritage Club
Tidewater Golf Club & Plantation
TPC of Myrtle Beach
True Blue Plantation
Wild Wing Plantation - The Avocet Course

Within these regions there are 5-star to 1-star accommodations to match any budget. There are great spots for a "buddy trip," a kids vacation, or a family reunion. And, all along the coast you have some of the best beaches in the world. The only thing missing are major attractions like you find in California and Florida... but, they're coming!

[Kevin Pallier]

The Australian state of Victoria wins hands down, with each and every course open to the tourist as long as they are able to play on a certain day and pay a certain price...

Royal Melbourne
Kinston Heath
Metropolitan
Victoria
Commonwealth
Woodlands
Peninsula
Yarra Yarra
Huntingdale
National - Moonah
National - Old
St. Andrew's Beach
Portsea
Barwon Heads
13th Beach

Agree with Scott

+ The Dunes....Moonah Links / Legends....etc..etc

[Powell Arms]

South Carolina, and here's why.  I acknowledge that Hawaii and Cali have excellent public courses.  However, I do not think they are as condusive to the tourist golf trip, which I envision as four golfers, three days and multiple high quality courses.  

South Carolina offers at least three distinct locations where one can do this; Charleston (read, Kiawah), Hilton Head, and Myrtle Beach.  

[Tom Huckaby]

Powell:

I granted way back at the beginning that SC was a strong contender here.  But I don't think you can call it superior to CA for the reason you said... Here in CA we have several places a golfer could do that exact tourist trip - and examples have been given in this thread already.

Monterey
San Francisco
San Diego
Palm Desert

Each of those would easily support the tourist trip you envision.

Where we fail is on PRICE and bang for the buck - I'd say we're not top 25 states in that.  But in pure quality, price be damned... I think we have SC beaten.

But it is close anyway.

TH

[Paul Payne]

Michael,

I agree with you however I think it a shame you left out Aiken CC to go along with Mount Vintage. Also Osprey is a snooze and not worth the green fee IMO.

Huck,

While I am very fond of the west coast having lived there a good chunk of my life, I would wager that the old city in Charleston could hold its own against any of the three you listed. Great hotels, great history, really great food, the only edge SF may have is its proximity to wine country.

[Powell Arms]

Powell:

I granted way back at the beginning that SC was a strong contender here.  But I don't think you can call it superior to CA for the reason you said... Here in CA we have several places a golfer could do that exact tourist trip - and examples have been given in this thread already.

Monterey
San Francisco
San Diego
Palm Desert

Each of those would easily support the tourist trip you envision.

Where we fail is on PRICE and bang for the buck - I'd say we're not top 25 states in that.  But in pure quality, price be damned... I think we have SC beaten.

But it is close anyway.

TH

Fair point.  I think I had price in my head but obviously didn't type it.  In any event, these are pretty "high class" problems to have.

[Tom Huckaby]

Dr. V:

Zero, I believe.  But I also believe I can assess this at least a little from afar, especially since we're just considering the ones at the very top.

[Tom Huckaby]

Huck,

While I am very fond of the west coast having lived there a good chunk of my life, I would wager that the old city in Charleston could hold its own against any of the three you listed. Great hotels, great history, really great food, the only edge SF may have is its proximity to wine country.

I have zero doubt about that - it remains a place I really want to see.  That's why I said this is very close, and I won't argue too strenuously against South Carolinians.

[Powell Arms]

Why cant we find someone who has played all of these courses?  Where is Hamilton B Hearst when you need him?

[Michael Whitaker]

I think it a shame you left out Aiken CC to go along with Mount Vintage.

Paul - I am not familiar with Aiken CC... but, I'm going to rectify that situation ASAP.

The problem with the Aiken area is that unless you are into horses there is not much to do. I don't think of it as a "Tourist" location for the general golfing public... it's a niche place.

[Tom Huckaby]

Dr. V:

Zero, I believe.  But I also believe I can assess this at least a little from afar, especially since we're just considering the ones at the very top.

Sounds a little like a global warming argument to me.

No you can't.  And I don't believe that anyone is jsut talking about "the top". 'cept you, perhaps.

Yes, I can.  And I also believe that I've made it very clear that the only part of this at which CA is superior IS the courses at the top.  I've said several times that if you base this on quantity or bang for the buck or anything else, CA loses big time.  But if you are talking courses at the top - and if it is me just considering it that way, well then fair enough, it's my point and others can either look at it this way or not - - CA does win.  And I do believe I can say that without actually playing the SC courses also at the top - I know enough about them by photos, TV, reputation.

There are times I give in, and times I don't care to.  Consider this the latter, you Mucci-phile.

 

[Paul Payne]

Michael,


you are correct. Aiken is an amazing horse community. I used to visit regularly on business and brought my wife along. It makes a wonderful trip for us because she rides and I golf. The Wilcox Inn in Aiken is a little pricey but is an outsdanding small hotel and they have access to the Palmetto Club.

Aiken has a few courses but the two that are well worth the visit are Aiken CC and the Palmetto Club. Palmetto is a little more known to this group but I am always suprised by the lack of press Aiken CC gets. It is a real gem.

I know Ran has been wanting to make the trip down there, but I don't know if he has done so yet. I have really been wanting to get more opinions on the course just to see if it is not just me being delusional. Hope you can get there soon and give a report back.

[Michael Whitaker]

I do believe I can say that without actually playing the SC courses also at the top - I know enough about them by photos, TV, reputation.

Huck - Why base your opinions on supposition? You have a standing invitation to visit the Palmetto state for a golf tour. Maybe some day we can get you and a few of the other Carolina-deprived crowd down here for a sampling. Don't judge all SC golf by the Myrtle Beach bang-for-your buck places. Trust me... Charleston is your kind of place!

[Tom Huckaby]

Michael:

Again, I have zero doubt Charleston - and likely other places in the great state of South Carolina - are my kind of place.  Even more importantly, they are most definitely my wife's kind of place.  So I do hope to get their some day, and it's likely I will.

In any case, I don't think I have judged SC by Myrtle... in fact I am pretty much leaving that out of my comparison - that is unless you think the Myrtle area has courses that can compete against the greats in Monterey and other CA sites.

One more thing also - "bang for the buck" IS what I am after way more often than not when I travel.  I've been extremely lucky to sample the high end here and other places... but that doesn't mean I don't seek out good deals.  Why the heck do you think I went to Bandon in winter?

 

[Greg Tallman]

Dr. V:

Zero, I believe.  But I also believe I can assess this at least a little from afar, especially since we're just considering the ones at the very top.

Tom - You really need to take a trip and play the best SC has to offer. I would grudgingly admit that ours is the "other" Ocean Course... Kiawah's is simply a better course.

Start in Myrtle and work down to Hilton Head area

Barefoot-Love / Barefoot Dye (36)
Caledonia (Travel)
Kiawah-Ocean / Kiawah-Turtle (36)
Kiawah-Ocean (Travel)
Harbour Town / Long Cove* (36)
May River

[John Goodman]

John, I am so glad to see you excluded Magnolia Grove (Mobile) and the Judge/Senator (Prattville).  Wow, those are bad courses.  You left out Cambrian Ridge (Greenville AL), I really like those courses - Canyon and Sherling.  The quality of the RTJ Trail is quite varied.

You also leftr out some pretty good public access AL down here on the Gulf Coast -- Kiva Dunes, Lakewood, not sure about Timber Creek, Craft Farms etc.  

Overall Alabama looks pretty good.

I'm not that fond of the Prattville Trail courses - not sure how good the site really is, and they kind of used it up on a couple of very nice views and a bunch of forced holes (on the Judge especially).  I would have listed Greenville, but that would have required me to send you to Bates House of Turkey for lunch, which - as good as it is - ain't 'cue.

I'm not as familiar with the Gulf Coast courses - I prefer staying up here on the high ground  .    

[Tom Huckaby]

Greg:

Well, there's also zero doubt I do need to do that. But until I do, I shall stick to my guns.  I've seen everything one can possibly see about Kiawah Ocean except seeing it in person, and I shall have to remain a doubting Thomas that it is better than Pebble.  The rest flows down from there.  If all of those are indeed better than Spyglass, Pasatiempo, etc. well... I need to see the wounds in their hands and side... whoops, got a little too carried away there.  What I mean is I give great credence to those who have seen all of them, but I will have to agree to disagree until proven otherwise.

BUT... as I've said many times, I can see that it must be very close at the very least.

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