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BVince

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Great "sleeper" courses in the U.S.
« on: October 04, 2007, 12:03:31 AM »
What are the great "sleeper" golf courses in the U.S?  By sleeper, I mean golf courses that fly under the radar of the national spotlight and are not well known.  I will offer an example:

Suneagles Golf Course in Monmouth, New Jersey was designed by A.W. Tillinghast in 1923.  The course initially had a big budget for the time of $500,000 but was later sold to the U.S. Army after the club struggled financially in 1942.  The course has some features that cut down on the ambiance, but it is still a joy to play.  Strategic lines still exist (even for the long hitter) and although the course is relatively short, it is still quite challenging.  Overall, it is a bargain to play a AWT course created during the "Golden Age."

So the floor is yours GCA...what is your favorite sleeper?
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Tom_Doak

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Re:Great "sleeper" courses in the U.S.
« Reply #1 on: October 04, 2007, 10:56:26 AM »
Bryon:

It all depends on your definition of "sleeper".  Places like Engineers or White Bear Yacht Club are almost unheard of, but reasonably well known on this board.  Not many of us are familiar with great military courses, though.
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John Kavanaugh

Re:Great "sleeper" courses in the U.S.
« Reply #2 on: October 04, 2007, 11:01:15 AM »
Glen Echo in St. Louis.  I can not tell you how important it is for guys like you to see a Foulis course while you still can.
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Jim Franklin

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Re:Great "sleeper" courses in the U.S.
« Reply #3 on: October 04, 2007, 11:10:35 AM »
Northland CC in Duluth, Minnesota. Awesome old Donald Ross course.
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Mr Hurricane

Chuck Brown

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Re:Great "sleeper" courses in the U.S.
« Reply #4 on: October 04, 2007, 11:20:38 AM »
My choice happens to be one of Tom Doak's own notable choices:  Franklin Hills Country Club, near my home in Michigan.  (One of Tom's sleeper picks in his Confidential Guide.)
A Donald Ross design that benefitted from a gorgeous bit of property, good original construction, benign neglect for many decades (with a very wealthy membership but very little play -- and consequently not much destructive tinkering from ambitious greens committes) and then, at the turn of the new century, a very thoughtful, faithful, quality restoration.
It is my second favorite Donald Ross design in Michigan after the quirky par-68 South Course at Detroit Golf Club, and it is a better test of golf than either of the DGC courses.
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mark chalfant

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Re:Great "sleeper" courses in the U.S.
« Reply #5 on: October 04, 2007, 11:26:05 AM »
Plymouth CC   Ross

Bedens  Brook  Wilson

Bristol Harbor  ?   RTJ

Shuttle  Meadow     W. Park

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ed_getka

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Re:Great "sleeper" courses in the U.S.
« Reply #6 on: October 04, 2007, 02:10:38 PM »
Bryon,
   There are few sleeper courses among the members here, but I am sure we could list  100's that the general  golfing public have no idea exist.
   Hang around here long enough and your wish list  of  courses will be so  long that you'll never have time to see them all. :)

I'm off to see Belvedere in Michigan next week.
« Last Edit: October 04, 2007, 02:11:46 PM by ed_getka »
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wsmorrison

Re:Great "sleeper" courses in the U.S.
« Reply #7 on: October 04, 2007, 02:16:10 PM »
The sleeper has been awakened by Ron Forse and Jim Nagle...Bedford Springs.  

A must see course/resort!
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BVince

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Great "sleeper" courses in the U.S.
« Reply #8 on: October 04, 2007, 02:46:45 PM »
ED, great comment...my list of courses that I desire to play is already very long ;)

Tom - I am not familiar with White Bear Yacht Club...I will be in Michigan for Thanksgiving, are there any courses around Kalamazoo that are worth checking out?  I hope they will be open at that time of year.

The rest - thanks for the current feedback...I am trying to look pictures of the courses online, but most of these are hard to find.  
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If profanity had an influence on the flight of the ball, the game of golf would be played far better than it is. - Horace Hutchinson

Tony Petersen

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Re:Great "sleeper" courses in the U.S.
« Reply #9 on: October 04, 2007, 02:52:47 PM »
Minnesota has more than a few "sleepers" that fall under the radar:

Northland CC (Ross)

White Bear Yacht Club (Ross)

Alexandria Golf Club (Unknown / 1918)

Bemidji Town & Country Club (Unknown)

The first 2 are well-known in certain circles, while the last 2 are personal favorites when back in the Lakes Area ;) ;)
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Jeff Spittel

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Re:Great "sleeper" courses in the U.S.
« Reply #10 on: October 04, 2007, 03:03:14 PM »
Echo Lake CC (Ross)

Suburban GC (AWT)

I'm definitely biased, but these two gems, which are located in close proximity to Baltusrol, Somerset Hills and Plainfield CC, don't get much attention in northern NJ.
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Powell Arms

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Re:Great "sleeper" courses in the U.S.
« Reply #11 on: October 04, 2007, 03:14:31 PM »
Two courses from the Philadelphia area that deserve mention are Jeffersonville and Paxon Hollow.  These certainly are not sleepers in the strongest sense of the word.  They have been discussed on here in the past and, as municipal courses in densely populated areas, get considerable play.  They are sleepers in that their architecture is well beyond that of the typical muni at the $30 - $40 price point, and I think that quality is underappreciated by the majority.

Paxon Hollow was constructed in 1926, and boasts a few very strong holes.  Two holes of note are #10, which is a drivable par 4 with a stream protecting the green.  Eighteen is a great finishing hole. The hole plays 535, uphill all the way with the same stream from #10 in play on the tee shot.  Both holes have been discussed in this DG before.  In answer to the question that started the thread, this is my favorite sleeper.

Jeffersonville is a Donald Ross design which opened in 1931, and was restored in 2002 by Ron Prichard.  Overall, great conditions and great strategy in place through all 18 holes.

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james soper

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Re:Great "sleeper" courses in the U.S.
« Reply #12 on: October 04, 2007, 03:37:44 PM »
Quote from: Jim Franklin on October 04, 2007, 11:10:35 AM
Northland CC in Duluth, Minnesota. Awesome old Donald Ross course.
as someone pointed out to me on this site, "aren't all ross courses old?"
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David Whitmer

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Re:Great "sleeper" courses in the U.S.
« Reply #13 on: October 04, 2007, 04:03:28 PM »
Moraine Country Club in Dayton, right next door to NCR. Designed by Alec Campbell, I think...a great old course.

Another one I'll throw out is Mountain View at Callaway Gardens, in Georgia. I go down there every year, and I never get tired of teeing it up there. Maybe it's the beautiful surroundings, but I am always sternly challenged, and no matter how I play I always enjoy the round.
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Kyle Harris

Re:Great "sleeper" courses in the U.S.
« Reply #14 on: October 04, 2007, 04:05:10 PM »
Schuylkill Country Club in Orwigsburg, PA - about 20 miles north of Reading.

Reading Country Club in Reading, PA - about 20 miles south of Orwigsburg.
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PThomas

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Re:Great "sleeper" courses in the U.S.
« Reply #15 on: October 04, 2007, 04:19:35 PM »
Quote from: David Whitmer on October 04, 2007, 04:03:28 PM
Moraine Country Club in Dayton, right next door to NCR. Designed by Alec Campbell, I think...a great old course.


agreed!  and they have a new super who has started taking out trees to improve the turf...he's also drying things out
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199 played, only Augusta National left to play!

Phil McDade

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Re:Great "sleeper" courses in the U.S.
« Reply #16 on: October 04, 2007, 05:34:46 PM »
Someone on the board -- Mr. Doug from Iowa? -- is a big Moraine fan. Any pics? It did play second fiddle to the big-name Ohio courses when I was growing up there, but I keep hearing wonderful things about it.

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ed_getka

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Re:Great "sleeper" courses in the U.S.
« Reply #17 on: October 04, 2007, 06:48:09 PM »
Bryon,
   I have the perfect place for you. Go check out Angels Crossing, you will NOT be disappointed. Check out their website. Not too far from Kalamazoo.
   Further afield is a course JC Jones brought to our attention. Eagle something or other, but looks to be pretty interesting, especially if you want to play the #17 hole at Sawgrass without paying an arm and a leg.
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"Perimeter-weighted fairways", The best euphemism for containment mounding I've ever heard.

Jamey Bryan

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Re:Great "sleeper" courses in the U.S.
« Reply #18 on: October 04, 2007, 07:11:07 PM »
OK, I'm a Homer.

Camden Country Club in Camden, SC.

Originally routed by Walter Travis in 1923 (on the site of a previously unattributed course, with sand greens), Donald Ross renovation (with grass greens) in 1938.  Hosts many regional championships, and proves that 6350 yards is not irrelevant in today's technology.

Ya'll come see us!

Jamey
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BVince

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Great "sleeper" courses in the U.S.
« Reply #19 on: October 04, 2007, 07:19:54 PM »
ED - thanks for the recommendation.  It looks like a great course to check out.  Are courses in MI open in late November or is it too cold/snowy?  Ha, you can tell I am a southerner.  I will at least head down and walk the course...I enjoy the architectural side just as much.
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If profanity had an influence on the flight of the ball, the game of golf would be played far better than it is. - Horace Hutchinson

ed_getka

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Re:Great "sleeper" courses in the U.S.
« Reply #20 on: October 04, 2007, 07:31:11 PM »
You never know what you will get up there, but there is a decent chance of playing some golf since it isn't that far north by Michigan standards.
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"Perimeter-weighted fairways", The best euphemism for containment mounding I've ever heard.

Anthony_Nysse

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Re:Great "sleeper" courses in the U.S.
« Reply #21 on: October 04, 2007, 08:15:40 PM »
Byron,
  I spent 22 of my 26 years on this earth in Grand Rapids. (1 hour North of K'zoo) I've golfed in short sleeves on thanksgiving weekend and also gore tex rainsuit with gloves and a stocking hat. 2 or the last 3 Thanksgiving day weekends, they have gotten a good amount of snow. (+6 inches) You can expect most courses to be closed by December 1st. It's very hit and miss that time of year. Most courses are callling it a year.

Tony Nysse
Sr. Asst. Supt.
Long Cove Club
HHI, SC
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Anthony J. Nysse
Director of Golf Courses & Grounds
Apogee Club
Hobe Sound, FL

Andy Troeger

Re:Great "sleeper" courses in the U.S.
« Reply #22 on: October 04, 2007, 08:18:50 PM »
Bryon,
The other course Ed mentioned is Eagle Eye. I've not played that one but would second his nod for Angels Crossing. I would guess the odds of the courses being open at Thanksgiving are 50/50 and the odds of a southerner wanting to play on a weather day you might get not being quite that good  ;)

Last year though it was literally 60-70 degrees and I played twice in South Bend, IN so its worth at least checking the forecast and bringing the sticks if it looks promising. Might also snow, you never know...
« Last Edit: October 04, 2007, 08:19:31 PM by Andy Troeger »
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Andrew Cunningham

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Re:Great "sleeper" courses in the U.S.
« Reply #23 on: October 04, 2007, 08:56:47 PM »
Fenway doesn't get much fan fare around here.
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Dan Kelly

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Re:Great "sleeper" courses in the U.S.
« Reply #24 on: October 04, 2007, 09:21:42 PM »
Quote from: TonyP on October 04, 2007, 02:52:47 PM
Minnesota has more than a few "sleepers" that fall under the radar:

Northland CC (Ross)

White Bear Yacht Club (Ross)

Alexandria Golf Club (Unknown / 1918)

Bemidji Town & Country Club (Unknown)

The first 2 are well-known in certain circles, while the last 2 are personal favorites when back in the Lakes Area ;) ;)

And here (as far as I know) is the sleeper of all Minnesota sleepers -- little-known even in the Minneapolis suburbs: Oak Ridge CC.  See Jason Topp's "My Home Course."
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