Prairie Dunes and Crystal Downs, together the best

[brad_miller]

Could the combined Prairie Dunes and Crystal Downs be the best golf course in the world? Think of the topography, think of the green contours, think of the natural feel and look, think of the wind and sandy soil. World class holes galore, #'s 2, 8,9, 10 and 17 at PD, #'s 5,6, 8 at CD. This doesn't even take into count both courses openers which are both world class with much effort needed for par. How would the treehouse lay out the 18 holes?

par 3's #'s 2,4 and 10 at PD... #14 at CD
par 5's #17 at PD and #8 at CD
par 4's #'s 6,8,9, 11, 1, 18 at PD .... #'s 1, 5,6,7,12 and 13 at CD

par 70, 6624 yards. Honorable mention holes, long par 3 For Matt Ward , # 17 at CD played at 244 yards. The green surrounds around #18 at CD are something quite special.

[larry_munger]

Why don't you just combine NGLA and Yale, CPC and ANGC, or Sand Hills and Friar's Head? Other thoughts? Having not played either Praire Dunes or Crystal Downs hard for me to comment. But I certainly would be up for an invitation to play those two

[Joel_Stewart]

I agree that putting the two together is a crazy premise.  
On its own, I've always thought that if Crystal Downs back nine was as good as the front it would be a top 10 course (now ranked 19th).

[brad_miller]

Larry and Joel, if you where more familiar with both I would suspect??? you might see them as sibling in nature..... land movement, wind, sandy soil, Perry Maxwell........etc

Joel, thought the point made was that the combo might yield the worlds best course. Both are ranked much higher on the real golf ranking mag, GOLF.

[Tim_Weiman]

Brad:

My only complaint about your post is the failure to mention #15 at Crystal Downs. I think the landing area is one of the most interesting in all of golf.

[Steve Lapper]

Brad,

   You homer!!! I like the CPC/PVGC to retain the #1 spot!

With great deference to Brad "homeboy" Miller...he does have a legitimate question that begets other questions.....could we envision melding one layout's gems with another's? How would nature's conditions that are endemic to one great course affect anothers. Maybe the winds of the prairie would enhance(positive or negative) the wilds of northern Michigan? There are many possible permutations here. Thoughts?

[brad_miller]

to go with NAF thread.