[Andy Troeger]

I don't think Blackwolf Run is at all a GCA favorite. There are those of us that like it, but I think this thread again proves there are many that don't. I can see how its not everyone's cup of tea--I love it personally.

Some of these other courses--Doral, Sanctuary, Congressional, Tullymore, etc. are hardly favorite courses on this website. I really like Tullymore, but I don't usually get a lot of support!

[Mike_Cirba]

Cuscowilla (although most of the front nine is terrific)
Quaker Ridge

[Kalen Braley]

Andy,

Time to face the facts my man...when it comes to GCA.com, your an outlier.   

[Andy Troeger]

Andy,

Time to face the facts my man...when it comes to GCA.com, your an outlier.   

Tell me something I didn't already know...

When it comes to life I'm an outlier too, you get used to it after awhile 

[Kalen Braley]

Andy,

Time to face the facts my man...when it comes to GCA.com, your an outlier.   

Tell me something I didn't already know...

When it comes to life I'm an outlier too, you get used to it after awhile 

ITs alright.

To want to participate on a website like this, by deafult you have to be an outlier or sorts....Just ask Cirba 

[Andy Troeger]

If we all agreed on everything this website would get boring very quickly. No matter how much we like to debate all of this, at some level it becomes subjective. I actually didn't think Blackwolf Run, for example, was that difficult, but I've also played many of these modern designs that are just brutal if you're not playing well. BWR can be one of those though if you miss the ball in the wrong places.

[Mike_Cirba]

Why are my ears burning?   

Is it that Braley Boy causing trouble again?   

Blackwolf Run River is one of my very favorite Pete Dye courses, and I like it better than anything else he's built in Wisconsin.

[Phil McDade]

I don't think Blackwolf Run is at all a GCA favorite. There are those of us that like it, but I think this thread again proves there are many that don't. I can see how its not everyone's cup of tea--I love it personally.

Some of these other courses--Doral, Sanctuary, Congressional, Tullymore, etc. are hardly favorite courses on this website. I really like Tullymore, but I don't usually get a lot of support!

Andy:

I think it gets far more kudos on this site than nays. I tend to pay pretty rapt attention to GCA threads/comments re. Wisconsin courses, and over the years the River course (small caveat -- among courses built in the last 20-30 years that aren't automatically dismissed by the anti-modernists) has been put on lots of lists for "top-10 I've played" or "best modern design" and so forth by the GCA crowd. I wouldn't put it among the GCA cult of favorites like NGLA, PacDunes, Ballyneal, or Yale, but it surely gets more respect among the moderns outside the Doak/C&C/Hanse orbit.

[Andy Troeger]

Phil,
I guess I put it in the category with Augusta and Pebble (not in that its THAT good) in that there's quite a few people that like it, but also quite a few that think its not as good as its ranking--a polarizing course if nothing else. Chambers Bay fits that description to me too--people like it, but perhaps not as much as the general public.

[Philippe Binette]

I thought Gullane no 1 had no character whatsoever... once you get pass the 3 rd hole, might as well go home.

Tobiano, but I've already put millions of gallons of gas on that fire when I critisized it

Kingsbarns back nine is so-so

[Paul Nash]

Not sure how it is thought of on the site but I thought Wentworth West is very overrrated. Sure it is a nice coiurse but roads (with cars) get in your way, it is noisy from traffic along 15 and 16. And there are several pretty average holes and only a few very good holes (9-13 being the best bit).

I know Walton Heath is loved and I did like it and would love to play it again but I don't see it as top 20 in the UK - top 100 probably but I would rate the Berkshire and Hankley as clearly better (and New Zealand and Worplesdon) and they are all in the 50-100 positions.

[Doug Wright]

Lakota Canyon.  Jim Engh's done better work elsewhere IMO, eg Pradera and Four Mile Ranch.

Elie. I liked it far more in 1990 than on a return visit in 2005. A couple really good holes like the fun opener and the par 4 12th but a lot of very average holes.

[Patrick Glynn]

TOC and Ballybunion for me. Both are really good courses, but I wouldnt have them in my personal Top 5...

[Phil McDade]

Phil,
I guess I put it in the category with Augusta and Pebble (not in that its THAT good) in that there's quite a few people that like it, but also quite a few that think its not as good as its ranking--a polarizing course if nothing else. Chambers Bay fits that description to me too--people like it, but perhaps not as much as the general public.

I think "polarizing" is an apt description. Although I don't think it's as polarizing as WStraits, which has a pretty good range of opinions, and not nearly as polarizing as the Irish Course. Dye tends to build courses that induce a wide range of opinions.

[Anthony Gray]

TOC and Ballybunion for me. Both are really good courses, but I wouldnt have them in my personal Top 5...

  Parrick,

  Way to express your opinion. TOC "The Holy Grail" not in your top 5. That takes guts. So tell us what is your top 5 that you have played?

   Respectfully..........Anthony

[Mike Fowler]

Loved Bandon and Pacific Dunes.  Did not like Bandon Trails at all. Goofy par 4 on back and didn't like uphill 18th. They gave us a ride up to the top of a hill on the back 9. Our caddy said someone had had a heartattach and died trying to walk it so they now ferried everyone to the top.

[Patrick Glynn]

Anthony,

I did enjoy TOC, and I count myself lucky that I have played there a few times. TOC is obviously one of a kind but if you were to measure it against the same standards you measure all other courses, I am not sure how it can hold up.

Personally, I absolutely LOVED Royal County Down - for me it has the perfect balance between challenge and enjoyment. Pine Valley is also a very special place, and without doubt the best parkland course I have played. I also would put Pacific Dunes and Lahinch in my Top 5. San Francisco Golf Club would probably edge out TOC and BB but that is clearly personal preference, and we are splitting hairs.

So to answer your question:

1. RCD
2. PV
3. Pacific Dunes
4. Lahinch
5. SFGC

[Bill Gayne]

Royal New Kent. I really liked this course the first time I played it and have played it about twenty times since the first time. Over time I enjoyed the course less and less. It's too contrived in spots, inconsistent, too long time wise to routinely play, nearly impossible to walk, and the wow factor is gone.

[Chip Gaskins]

Merion:

- Over half of the holes have OB in play or at least a decent possibility if you hit a poor shot
    - Definitely: 1,2,7,12,14,15      - Potentially: 8,10,18
- Holes #4, #11, and to some extent #7 have long-iron blind layups to slivers of fairway bordered by constricting rough
- Hole #7 has green several dozen feet from a family's back door steps

I do think they got every ounce of goodness out of a very constrained piece of property, but I don't think just because you get "a lot out of a little" means something is great.

Before the flaming begins, I have thoroughly enjoyed my rounds at Merion and think it is a good golf course, but as the subject of this post asks, it isn't one of my personal favorites.  And from what I have read on this site for years, most posters don't like OB, bordering real estate, and many like width in fairways to promote angles.  I continue to scratch my head how Merion gets a free ride on these disliked attributes while other courses get panned all because it has an efficient routing and romantic history.

I will have to retire from the board now...it was nice knowing everyone.

[PCCraig]

Medinah!!!!!!!!

I know there are a couple members on the board, but I can't think of a course that is less fun to play.


Crystal Downs

I really had fun playing the course, but it didn't leave the impression that I thought it would after hearing all the talk about it on here. Again, not saying I don't like it but I just didn't understand the popularity.

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