[Sean_A]

I would like to know which courses folks would seriously recommend for a player visiting your area - meaning he is coming regardless.  The golf is extra, but he doesn't want to play just to play - he wants to see something worth his while. 

1. You have to have played the course (1st hand recommendation).

2. You have to have lived in the area (or visited plenty of times) long enough to have an excellent idea of whats out there. 

3. I don't want any courses that as far as you know are ranked in major publications (you decide what that means) either in modern, classic, state, new etc. etc. sections. 

4. If you want to recommend something outside of where you have lived/visited (VERY OFTEN) then the course must truly be exceptional.  I will leave it up to you to decide what exceptional is.

 

Ann Arbor/Detroit

U of Michigan: A good course with an exceptional set of greens.  Perhaps a bit too hilly for ideal golf, but it has a few outstanding holes.  A very good fallback if you can't get on one of the handful of privates worth seeing.


West Midlands - England

Beau Desert: A Fowler masterpiece that hasn't altered much over the years except for tree growth.  Hands down the king of the unheralded courses in the Midlands and the only one unranked course in the area I think is worthy of top 100 status.  One of the most bedeviling courses I know of and a poster child for for why courses don't have to be 6500 yards long. 
http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,30965.0.html  

Harborne: A Colt course which is not far off the original design.  Not in the class of BD, but good golf that uses the land very well.  A lot of subtle greens which follow much sharper than it appears grade. 
http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,37526.0.html

Whittington Heath: A Colt redo which is quite tricky.  It seems to play flat, but is actually fairly hilly.  A lot of front to back greens and features which obscure one's view.
http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,35648.0.html 



Don't know the areas well, but some exceptional courses

Kington: Perhaps the most unique course I have ever experienced.  It seems to get better with each play and is a marvel of gravity golf.
http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,30926.0.html

Pennard: I don't believe I have ever fallen in love with a course as quickly as I did with Pennard.  A wonderful old time course that doesn't get nearly its due as a master design which is as strategic as they come.  Don't let the raw, primitive features deceive you - this is top notch golf despite its patchy conditions.
http://www.golfclubatlas.com/imopennard1.html 


I am amazed I only came up with 6 courses. 

Ciao











 

[cary lichtenstein]

Mission Inn, a little known mini resort near Orlando, in a sleepy little town called "owey-In-The-Hills"have 2 courses, the old course called "el Campeon" was built in 1917 or 1926.

It is truely a hidden gem. Very hilly for Florida, lots of uneven lies and some quirky holes. I have played it about 6 times and loved it everytime.

I can compare it to nothing, but recommend it.

[PCCraig]

Ann Arbor/Detroit

U of Michigan: A good course with an exceptional set of greens.  Perhaps a bit too hilly for ideal golf, but it has a few outstanding holes.  A very good fallback if you can't get on one of the handful of privates worth seeing.
 

That is a perfect mini-review of the UM golf course. When I was in town for a weekend a couple years ago I played with a student and was blown away with the greens. Tons of fun.

[Mike Hendren]

Memphis CC - for the routing alone.

Jackson (TN) CC - Undocumented and the club doesn't even know but I'd bet dollars to donuts it was designed by Langford or at least a regional engineer working at his direction.  Haven't played it since it was modified several years ago - perhaps by John Lafoy. I hope the original heavily engineered features weren't compromised.

Turtle Point Yacht & Country Club in Killen, Alabama.  Rock solid RTJ routed through and on small ridges/valleys. 

Mike

[Jim Thornton]

Farmington CC - Charlottesville, Virginia

www.farmingtoncc.com

Superb Fred Findlay design in the rolling hills of central Virginia.  Great movement in the land, beautiful vistas of the mountains, and supremely challenging.

[Tom Huckaby]

Unfortunately the two places I have lived for long periods of time have been discussed to death in here... with all recommendations cited many times previously.  Nevertheless, it doesn't hurt to repeat, for newbies.  So using Sean's rules...

BAY AREA

1. Pajaro Valley GC - I have yet to talk to anyone who's played there who regretted doing so.  Great greens, lots of architectural interest, fun fun fun.  Great price too.  Fails to get more attention only because of its location.. in between Pasatiempo and the greats of Carmel area.

2. Cinnabar Hills GC - Rich Goodale called it better than Pasatiempo.  I do believe that's stretching things, but not as far as one might think. LOTS of great things to be seen there.

All others really worth taking time out for would be ranked somewhere or another, I think....


I will leave SoCal to those who live there.  But most things there worth taking the time for are ranked as well...

[PCCraig]

How about George Wright in Boston?

The Ross designed muni that was the home course of Bobby Jones while he attended Harvard.

[Ed Oden]

Sean, while most of my recommendations have been discussed on this board, they still fit your criteria.  There are a ton of these courses in NC.  In no particular order:

1.  The Club at Irish Creek - I don't believe it cracked GW's latest modern list, so I assume it still meets your test.  As I have said before, I am a big fan of the work Paul Cowley and DL3 did here.  A nice setting with rolling land along a lake.  The greens and bunkers are terrific. 

2.  Cape Fear CC - A wonderful place whose golden age feel is in stark contrast to the typical resort/public courses found on the Carolinas coast.  Kris Spence has done a nice job restoring Ross' design here.

3.  Carolina GC - While I may be biased, I am also confident that those who play our restored course will be very impressed.

4.  Mimosa Hills - Its been discussed a few times here.  While I am not quite as high on it as a few others on this board, I still believe it is very worthy of recommendation. 

5.  Salisbury CC - It has enough really good holes to make up for a handful of mediocre ones.  I don't know the history of this Ross design.  But I suspect the greens have been softened over time either intentionally or through topdressing.  If so, I'd be interested to see what they would look like restored.  Ross' original hole sketches are hanging in the pro shop so I suppose someone could come pretty close.

There are half a dozen others within a 90 minute drive of Charlotte which certainly could be added, but I haven't played them.

One other course from my youth that I will mention, however, is Morris County CC.  I always loved this Raynor design.  Its short, quirky and loads of fun.  I haven't played since the restoration but can only assume it is now even better than what I remember.

Ed

[George Freeman]

College Fields - East Lansing, MI (I don't live there but went to college in EL)

Great new little public course just down the road from MSU.  It's a Great walk and has some really fun holes including a Biarritz and a MASSIVE double fairway that both #9 and #18 play down, to name only a few.  Just a fun course to play.

And to top it off, I think their normal walking rate is $35...hard to beat.

[Michael Wharton-Palmer]

Blackmoor Golf Club in Hampshire.
A lovely heathland course with some good elevation changes.
Well worth the visit.

[Tom Huckaby]

Michael or others familiar with greater London area....

I once played a course called North Hants GC, which I was thinking might fit here.. I surely enjoyed it.  But perhaps it is just run of the mill for the area... any thoughts?

[Jason Topp]

Brainerd, MN - The Classic

Some details of this design will make GCA purists cringe - eye candy bunkers, cart paths that have too much impact on play and the use of a trees as significant components in the design of certain holes.

Nonetheless, this design by the superintendant (with consultation from John Harris) features some of the most creative and interesting holes I have played anywhere.  Furthermore, five par fives and five terrific par threes provide ample variety on a difficult golf course in an incredibly beautiful setting.



Minneapolis, MN - Oak Ridge

I have obvious home course bias (see my "My Home Course") but most people who have played the course place it among the top courses in the twin cities.  The course is not as well known as others because 1) it does not have a name architect; 2) it is almost impossible to access without a member and 3) it is a traditionally Jewish club that limits exposure somewhat.


Phoenix, AZ - Southern Dunes

Now that this course is public, I highly recommend it to anyone.  

[David_Tepper]

San Geronimo GC in Marin County, CA, an overlooked Vern Macan layout with a very nice routing.  It gets VERY soft when it rains in the winter, but it is well worth a look the rest of the year. It is located in a very scenic spot, where it is hard to believe you are only 20-25 miles from the Golden Gate Bridge.

I will also mention Golspie GC, north of Dornoch and south of Brora in the Scottish Highlands. While it often gets overlooked being in the shadow of those 2 wonderful links, Golspie is well worth a stop for anyone visiting the area. Thanks to the efforts of new greenskeeper Alex Macdonald, the condition of the course has greatly improved over the past year.

[Mike McGuire]

If you come to Wisconsin and play Whistling Straits or the Kohler courses you should check out Pine Hills in Sheyboygan. Its only a few miles from the River course.

1928 Harry Smead design with undulating greens over spectacular terrain with the Sheyboygan River running through it. Tons of fun to play

Its private but they allow a guest on occasion.
 

[Tim Leahy]

Sacramento, CA area:
Rancho Murieta CC-North-great layout, lots of old oak trees, changes in elevation

Mather GC-classic muni-Jack Flemming course-park land, lots of trees, great bunkering around the greens-hit every club in the bag-bargain pricing

San Francisco area:
Gleneagles International-great nine holer near the airport-mini Olympic Club

Lake Chabot(Oakland)-super fun course, great views, super changes in elevation-par 6 finisher all down hill

California Central Coast:
Marshallia Ranch(Vandenberg AFB-Lompoc)-now open to the public-very windy but very good golf course-usually great greens-lots of Euc trees.

Hunter Ranch-Paso Robles-lots of old oaks-rolling terain-challenging

Sandpiper-Goleta second best public oceanside course in Cali(my opinion)-great views, challenging holes-not cheap but less than half the price of Pebble.

Los Angeles area:

Malibu CC-built in a canyon in Malibu hills, fun course, changes in elevation, great par 3's

Angeles National-Nicklaus desert style target golf-great challenge

Oak Valley GC-Beaumont-Dye style course-very good challenge-not very crowded for So. Cal.-great value-quick pace of play.

San Diego area:

Encinitas Ranch-poor man's Torrey Pines, not on the cliffs but ocean views and breezes in the summer to keep it cool, good greens.

Carlton Oaks-very challenging Dye redo with trees and creeks.

[Michael Wharton-Palmer]

Tom
I have played many a round at North Hants..in fact usually the day after my aforementioned Blackmoor. A nice course and in my opinion worthy of this thread.
The Amateur golf season used to start witha 36 hole event called the Selbourne salver at Blackmoor on saturday...the across the county a little for the Hamshire Hog at North Hants...A GREAT WEEKEND.

[Tom Huckaby]

Tom
I have played many a round at North Hants..in fact usually the day after my aforementioned Blackmoor. A nice course and in my opinion worthy of this thread.
The Amateur golf season used to start witha 36 hole event called the Selbourne salver at Blackmoor on saturday...the across the county a little for the Hamshire Hog at North Hants...A GREAT WEEKEND.

Excellent! I only happened to play it because a friend lived nearby and we had a half a day to kill before I flew home.  I was really pleasantly surprised.  They also surely did tout "home of Justin Rose" when I was there also.

[Bruce Wellmon]

Hello, As a new member this is my first post. 

Charlotte, NC: I second the earlier nomination of Carolina Golf Club. I played high school golf there in 1976. Played it 2 months ago. The Kris Spence redo is superb. What a difference.
                                Gaston CC (Gastonia, NC) another Kris Spence redo.
                                Salisbuy (NC) CC. Nine holes original Ross.

Asheville, NC             Biltmore Forest. A 1922 Ross, hosted the US Women's amateur.
           


                             

[Scott Warren]

Henbury. It's about 2.5hrs west of Sydney, Australia, over the Blue Mountains.

It was maintained by volunteers for many, many years until the greenskeeper from Mudgee Golf Club (the nearest town, about 45mins to an hour up the road) started working on the course on his days off.

Has no bunkers, and to the best of my knowledge was just laid out by locals who founded the club, but it is among the best five layouts I have ever played. The front nine and the 10th make great use of a creek that meanders through the property, while the back nine plays around a forested hill.

Saddle fairways, punchbowl greens, plateau greens, some great natural elevation changes. I absolutely love it to death.

Sadly, I have no pics, the club doesn't have a website, and this is the best google earth image I can offer

[JohnV]

One I was at this past weekend for our first Junior Tour event of the season:

Brookside Country Club in Stockton CA.  This is a private Robert Trent Jones Jr course that is a lot of fun to play.  While it is surrounded by houses, they are set way back and don't come in to play at all.  If I can make it around without fear of hitting it OB, anyone should be able to do so.

Some of the corridors are a single hole wide while others are two holes wide.  There is some good bunkering out in the fairways and the water hazards require some thought to negotiate.

I'd recommend it to anyone who is the Stockton area as a good course worth playing.

Link to Google map

[Mike Benham]

Brookside Country Club in Stockton CA. 

The course has been used as a site for Canadian Tour events in the past ... be advised, it can get WINDY in the afternoon, depending on the time of the year ...

[Deucie Bies]

Sean,

I would actually vote for the other University of Michigan course, that being the alumni course Radrick Farms, over the course you mentioned.  As I am sure you know, Radrick was one of Pete Dye's first efforts and a joy to play day in and day out.  I think the par 5s are too short nowadays, but I find the greens on the course tough to read.

In Jackson, Michigan, I always enjoyed Cascades.


Deucie

[Sean_A]

Sean,

I would actually vote for the other University of Michigan course, that being the alumni course Radrick Farms, over the course you mentioned.  As I am sure you know, Radrick was one of Pete Dye's first efforts and a joy to play day in and day out.  I think the par 5s are too short nowadays, but I find the greens on the course tough to read.

In Jackson, Michigan, I always enjoyed Cascades.


Deucie

Deucie

Yes, Radrick seems to be more in favour these days, but I can't understand why.  The greens alone would make choose Blue over Radrick.  I think the Blue is a far more clever course.  Plus, I can't identify one hole on Radrick that is really outstanding.  Give it time, popular opinion will swing back to Blue if folks can get past the length issue.  Which btw, I am amazed that you think the 11th is too short.  I have never been pin high there.  As for #s 1, 3 and 18, call em 4s if it makes any difference. 

Ciao

[Carl Nichols]

I don't know if this qualifies Sean's test of not being well known -- it isn't on any of the top 100 lists, though it gets ranked highly in Maryland by Golf Digest -- but in the Washington, DC area, Columbia CC is a pretty interesting Travis design that hosted the 1921 U.S. Open.  (I don't know how much of the original design still remains.)  I used to think people overrated it because it hosted the Open, but have more recently come to think it's a really cool course.

[Bill Shamleffer]

Normandie Golf Course in St. Louis

This is a 100+ year old golf course, that is almost unchanged from its original routing.  It was designed by Robert Foulis, one of the Foulis brothers who trained under Old Tom Morris, then immigrated to the US, where they settled in Chicago and St. Louis.

This course use to be one of the low-end private clubs in town, but has been public for the last couple decades.  The green fees are cheap and the conditioning of the course is reflective of the low green fee.  BUT this is a great layout and is one of the few opportunities to play a course with the same layout as it was played many decades ago.

For a cheap no-frills course the conditioning is OK (and is probably pretty similar to the conditions one found on most courses in the 1950s and 1960s).  The greens are usually in decent shape and the quality of the tees, turf, and bunkers are fine for what you pay.  This is not a dump like one finds at some low end public courses.

But the routing is fantastic.

The course opens with a 440 yard par-4, with a blind tee shot over a hill, and an approach shot to an elevated green.  The course finishes with a 575 yard par-5 17th and a 250 yard par-3 18th.  The 18th is one of the classic holes in St. Louis.  Any St. Louis golfer who has not played Normandie is not a real golfer.

There are some weak holes, but no goofy holes.  Even some of the shorter less challenging holes are still interesting.

http://www.normandiegolf.com/?page=36450

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