Whip it Out: Post your Top 25 Courses Played

[Jim Colton]

Andy T,

  That's an impressive list.  I think you and a handful of others are going to need a special "Next 25" category.

  Hopefully others will follow your lead and do some spring cleaning on their lists by either editing the original or reposting.

  Jim

[Tony Weiler]

My updated list:

1.   Sand Hills
2.   Ballyneal
3.   Sutton Bay
4.   Interlachen CC
5.   World Woods (Pine Barrens)
6.   We Ko Pa (Saguaro)
7.   Torrey Pines (South)
8.   Hazeltine National
9.   Hawktree
10.   Wild Horse
11.   Vista Verde
12.   Grayhawk (Talon)
13.   Deacon’s Lodge
14.   Couer d’Alene C.C.
15.   Links of N.D.
16.   Pelican Hill (South before Renovations)
17.   TPC Scottsdale
18.   Old Works
19.   Bully Pulpit
20.   Eagle Bend
21.   Raven at So. Mt.
22.   We Ko Pa (Cholla)
23.   Whirlwind (Devil’s Claw)
24.   Prairie Green (SD)
25.   Powder Horn

[Scott Warren]

Now that I'm back home in Aus and have finally seen Barnbougle and the Sandbelt as well, I wanted to update ther list. And this time rather than copping out and grouping them, they're 1-25.

It ain't easy! I know for a fact the English courses aren't in exactly the same order as when Matt Ward asked for my English Top 10 last week, which I guess shows how changeable this can be, but I'm happy (at least for now) with the order I've settled on.

Two years ago, I had played exactly two of the 35 courses below. Crazy!

1 Pine Valley
2 Royal Melbourne (West)
3 Royal St George's
4 St Andrews (Old)
5 Riviera
6 Barnbougle Dunes
7 Fishers Island
8 Silloth-on-Solway
9 North Berwick West Links
10 Royal Dornoch
11 Kingston Heath
12 Walton Heath (Old)
13 Barnbougle Lost Farm
14 New South Wales
15 Royal Cinque Ports
16 St Andrews Beach
17 West Sussex
18 Burnham & Berrow
19 Royal Zoute
20 County Louth
21 Swinley Forest
22 Hankley Common
23 The Valley Club of Montecito
24 Rye
25 The Renaissance Club

The Next 10 (alphabetically): Alwoodley, Brora, Hardelot (Les Pins), Le Touquet (La Mer), MPCC (Dunes), Peninsula (North), Praia d'el Rey, Royal Melbourne (East), St Enodoc, Woking

[Kevin Cahoon]

This is an update of my original post. I am sure it will be different in two years. I have grouped them in tiers.

Prairie Dunes
Muirfield
Old Course
Shore Acres
Royal St Georges

Walton Heath
Prestwick
Royal Cinque Ports
Bandon Trails
Austin Golf Club

Prestwick
Lawsonia
Flossmoor Country Club
Pacific Dunes
Loch Lomond

Western Gailes
Rye
Turnberry Ailsa
Olympia Fields North
Royal Troon

Kingsbarns
Medinah #3
North Shore CC Glenview Illinois
Harrison Hills
New Zealand GC

[Sven Nilsen]

Since this thread has enough legs to allow for updates, here's mine a year later:

Royal County Down
Lahinch
Ballyneal
Ballybunion
Royal Melbourne West
Pac Dunes
Barnbougle Dunes
Yale
Bandon Trails
Old MacDonald
Pebble Beach
Kingsley Club
Lost Farm
The Ocean Course
Portmarnock
Bandon Dunes
Sleepy Hollow
Greywalls
Erin Hills
Spyglass
St. Andrews Beach
Wild Horse
Blackwolf Run (River)
Skokie
Chambers Bay

[Scott Warren]

Brian,

My heart wanted NSW and Royal Cinque Ports to be higher on the list, but my head just couldn't abide by that.

There are a few courses people might say are low for that sample - Dornoch at 10, Rye at 24, St Enodoc outside the top 25...

Likewise St George's, Silloth and Barnbougle might be too high in some people's eyes.

To be honest, 8 through 22 you could throw a handkerchief over they Are that tightly grouped.

If there is one thing I guess I'd hope someone, anyone, might take from my list, it's to make seeing Silloth a priority.

[James Boon]

Scott,

I noticed how high you had Silloth. From what you, Mark P and several others have said, I'd certainly be making a beeline for the place, but thankfully its pencilled in for Buda 2012 so hopefully I'll get to know it well then?

A pretty good list though and certainly not bad for just 2 years worth of golf

Cheers,

James

[Mark Chaplin]

Berkshire Red (4)
Chicago (2)
Flossmoor (3)
Formby (1)
Kingston Heath (1)
Machrihanish (4)
New South Wales (2)
North Berwick (2)
Oakland Hills (2)
Old Elm (1)
Paraparaumu Beach (2)
Pine Valley (1)
Prestwick (4)
Royal Adelaide (1)
Royal Birkdale (1)
Royal Cinque Ports (200+)
Royal Dornoch (1)
Royal Melbourne West (7)
Royal St Georges (50+)
Sunningdale New (10)
Sunningdale Old (10)
The Country Club (1)
The Old Course (1)
Walton Heath Old (10+)
Woodhall Spa (3)

NSW and Kingston Heath come in from my recent Oz trip and Paraparaumu Beach from my NZ leg. Who will go when I finally get to play all of Merion in September??

[Jud_T]

NSW and Kingston Heath come in from my recent Oz trip and Paraparaumu Beach from my NZ leg. Who will go when I finally get to play all of Merion in September??

Mark,

If you didn't cop out and do an alphabetical list it'd be pretty clear...

[jonathan_becker]

1.   Seminole
2.   PGA National Champ
3.   Avila
4.   Medalist
5.   Jupiter Hills
6.   Pinetree
7.   Oakmont
8.   Laurel Valley
9.   Peachtree
10.   Cuscowilla
11.   Settindown Creek
12.   Atlanta Athletic Club
13.   East Lake
14.   The Old Course
15.   Carnoustie
16.   Prestwick
17.   Turnberry-Ailsa
18.   Ballybunion
19.   Waterville
20.   Tralee
21.   Chicago Golf
22.   Butler Natl
23.   Blackwolf Run-River
24.   Harbour Town
25.   Pottawatomie GC

Kirk,

Thanks for the list.  Are these in order or random?  If they're in order, would you care to elaborate on your second and third choice?

[Terry Lavin]

1.   Seminole
2.   PGA National Champ
3.   Avila
4.   Medalist
5.   Jupiter Hills
6.   Pinetree
7.   Oakmont
8.   Laurel Valley
9.   Peachtree
10.   Cuscowilla
11.   Settindown Creek
12.   Atlanta Athletic Club
13.   East Lake
14.   The Old Course
15.   Carnoustie
16.   Prestwick
17.   Turnberry-Ailsa
18.   Ballybunion
19.   Waterville
20.   Tralee
21.   Chicago Golf
22.   Butler Natl
23.   Blackwolf Run-River
24.   Harbour Town
25.   Pottawatomie GC

Kirk,

Thanks for the list.  What a combo platter it is!  Is #25 Pottawatomie GC from Michigan City, Indiana, a mile or so from the nuclear power plant?  If so, I have to give you some props.  The Pot is a fun, quirky, nutty kind of a golf course.  I can't imagine it would ever sniff my Top 100, but I do love an afternoon at the Pot.

[Mark Chaplin]

Jud - I couldn't rate them in order other than the top 4 or 5 as I haven't played some for 10 years and as Scott said in a previous post many are seperated by a holed putt or a sunny day.

[Mark Saltzman]

It is very difficult to try to rank a top 25.  I went through the list of courses I have played and first pulled out ones I thought might be in my top 25.  When I was done, there were 48 courses on the list.  Aside from the top 5, I feel like many of those 48 could move up and down. If someone asked me to redo the list tomorrow, there is almost no chance I would pick the exact same top 25.  Too many courses that I love to play and too many great experiences! Anyways, here is my list:

Top 5
Merion
Oakmont
North Berwick (west)
Sunningdale (Old)
Lahinch

Second 5
Franklin Hills
Essex (Canada)
TOC
Old Head
Wolf Run

Third 5
Pasatiempo
Pebble Beach
Walton Heath (Old)
Waterville
Victoria National

Fourth 5
Bandon Dunes
Pacific Dunes
Bigwin Island
Bethpage (Black)
Cascata

Fifth 5
Black Diamond (Quarry)
Mountain Lake
Wolf Creek
Harbour Town
Casa de Campo (TOTD)

Just missing the list: Toronto GC, Whistling Straits, Royal County Down and Carnoustie.

[Jud_T]

Old Head over Carnoustie and RCD? Please elaborate.

[Bill Brightly]

After the Boomerang I have to update my list

National
Royal County Down
Royal Melbourne West (2011)
Pine Valley
Merion
Old Macdonald
Pacific Dunes
Ballybunion
Barnbougle Dunes (2011)
Royal Portrush
New South Wales (2011)
Cape Kidnappers (2011)
Lahinch
Pebble
Lost Farm (2011)
Waterville
Ballyliffin Old
Ridgewood
Saucon Valley Old
Plainfield
Saucon Valley Weyhill
Aronomink
Yale
Harbor Town
Galloway
Essex County NJ

[Jamie Van Gisbergen]

My Top 25 in alphabetical order:

Bandon Dunes (2)
Bandon Trails (2)
Bulls Bay (1)
The Greenbrier (Old White) (1)
Hong Kong (New) (1)
Kapalua (Plantation) (1)
The Old Course (3)
Old Macdonald (1)
Pacific Dunes (2)
Pebble Beach (2)
PGA West (Stadium) (2)
Pinehurst #2 (5)
Pine Needles (2)
Royal Colwood (20)
Royal Johannesburg (East) (1)
Royal Mayfair (5)
Royal New Kent (2)
Royal Regina (5)
Royal Sydney (1)
Royal Winchester (1)
Spyglass Hill (2)
TPC Sawgrass (3)
Tobacco Road (10)
USNA (25+)
World Woods (Pine Barrens) (1)

[Pete Lavallee]

Jamie,

Royal Winchester is a head scratcher; I doubt it's in the top 10 in Hampshire! It's been 22 years since I played there and can recall very little about the course other than it's short and well conditioned. What makes it good enough to be in your Top 25?

[Jason Baran]

This looks like way too much fun to miss out on!  In no particular order:

Shinnecock
NGLA
Creek
Piping Rock
Meadow Brook
Bethpage (Black)
Bethpage (Red)
Ocean Forest
Lederach
Sleepy Hollow
Montauk Downs
Le Betulle (Biella, IT - bet you no one else has this one on their list!)
Glen Mills (PA)
Glenwood (NJ)
Rockaway Hunting Club
Kittansett
TCC (Brookline)
Pinehurst (#8)
Philadelphia Cricket (Wissahickon)
Charleston Springs (NJ)
CC of Charleston
Sea Island (Seaside)
Spook Rock (NY)
Blue Mash (MD)
St. Andrews (NY)

[Jamie Van Gisbergen]

Jamie,

Royal Winchester is a head scratcher; I doubt it's in the top 10 in Hampshire! It's been 22 years since I played there and can recall very little about the course other than it's short and well conditioned. What makes it good enough to be in your Top 25?

I figured I'd get some comments for what I put. I've probably played courses better than that one, I suspect I'd say that a course like Sahalee is better overall, but its the only course I've played in England, so for variety I included it. Its just a cool place to be.

And I guess it should be noted that I included Winchester in spite of not remembering the first 5 holes at all, or the entire ride from Portsmouth to the course; though I am told I was awake the whole time...The joys of being a sailor I suppose.

[Tim Martin]

My Top 25 in alphabetical order:

Bandon Dunes (2)
Bandon Trails (2)
Bulls Bay (1)
The Greenbrier (Old White) (1)
Hong Kong (New) (1)
Kapalua (Plantation) (1)
The Old Course (3)
Old Macdonald (1)
Pacific Dunes (2)
Pebble Beach (2)
PGA West (Stadium) (2)
Pinehurst #2 (5)
Pine Needles (2)
Royal Colwood (20)
Royal Johannesburg (East) (1)
Royal Mayfair (5)
Royal New Kent (2)
Royal Regina (5)
Royal Sydney (1)
Royal Winchester (1)
Spyglass Hill (2)
TPC Sawgrass (3)
Tobacco Road (10)
USNA (25+)
World Woods (Pine Barrens) (1)

Jamie-Nice list but you are over the limit on Royal`s

[Jeff_Lewis]

These are the 25 that inspire today...I am sure that will change...not in exact order.

Cypress
Shinnecock
Portrush
County Down
Kingston Heath
Hirono
Seminole
Pine Valley
Pebble
Oakmont
Muirfield
National
Royal Melbourne
Pacific Dunes
#2
Crystal Downs
Winged Foot West
Camargo
Chicago
San Francisco GC
Friars Head
Morfontaine
Ganton
Quaker Ridge
The Golf Club
Walton Heath (Old)

Not sure why I left Sand Hills off today, perhaps in time....

[Matt_Ward]

Jason:

Nice list but Charleston Springs and Spook Rock.

Quick question -- have you only played 25 courses for those two to have been included ?

[Jason Baran]

Matt - yeah, those two don't have the integrity of some others on the list.  I've played considerably more than 25, but I kinda got to 20 really super courses and had to fight to get in the last 5.  I really enjoy those two courses, and have played them each multiple times, and I probably let that color my judgement a little.  The exercise made me realize that I haven't played as many truly great courses as I would have thought, so in the sense, it was very effective!

[Andrew Bertram]

The first half of this year has seen some change so when i saw the thread i had to do some work on updating, list in order

Cypress point
Pine valley
Shinnecock
Royal dornoch
Old course
Royal melbourne west
Royal county down
Merion
National golf links
Seminole
Oakmont
Kingston heath
San francisco
Teeth of the dog
Muirfield
Morfontaine
Hirono
Ballybunion old
Swinley forest
Pinehurst 2 (post renovation)
Pacific dunes
Royal portrush
Ellerston
Sunningdale old
Turnberry


26 -30
Riviera
Barnbougle dunes
Winged foot west
Naruo
Kiawah ocean

Of the recent courses that i have played that impressed

Harbour town far exceeded expectations, you need every shot in the bag

Teeth of the dog -loved it so much played 54 in the day walking with the same caddy!

Kiawah ocean - played back tees we would get to my drive and the caddy kept saying 200 or 220 loved every tough minute of it

Seminole - had borrowed clubs after AA lost mine for 2days and saw one of the most stunning collections of greens i have seen. First green 20 footer downhill lagged it 15 feet past

Pine valley -what more can you say

Dormie club -super fun had a blast playing

Pinehurst 2 -played it 15 years ago -renovation is stunning, i was in the lift in the hotel and a fella asked me if i had ,ayed number 2, i was playing the next day and he then said "it was so underwhelming"
I think the renovations have improved it dramatically

[Jud_T]

Andrew,

Impressive list.  Perhaps you can expound a bit more on Teeth of the Dog and why you have it ahead of places like Ballybunion and Pac Dunes...