[Ash Towe]

After my recent travels.  This was not easy and I have left some terrific courses out.  In no particular order:

 Cypress Point
Sand Hills
Ballyneal
Pacific Dunes
Old MacDonald
Barnbougle
Royal Melbourne West
Royal Lytham
Royal Birkdale
Turnberry
Cape Kidnappers
Plainfield
San Francisco Golf Club
Ballybunion Old
Portmarnock
Sunningdale Old
Sunningdale New
Merion East
Winged Foot West
Winged Foot East
NGLA
Friars Head
St Andrews Old
Muirfield
Royal County Down

[Mark_F]

Are you still able to play, Ash?

[Ash Towe]

Hi Mark,

Good to hear from you.

Yes I can still  play but it is getting harder.  Cartball is looking likely soon but it is to expensive on a regular basis.

[Tom_Doak]

After my recent travels.  This was not easy and I have left some terrific courses out.  In no particular order:

 Cypress Point
Sand Hills
Ballyneal
Pacific Dunes
Old MacDonald
Barnbougle
Royal Melbourne West
Royal Lytham
Royal Birkdale
Turnberry
Cape Kidnappers
Plainfield
San Francisco Golf Club
Ballybunion Old
Portmarnock
Sunningdale Old
Sunningdale New
Merion East
Winged Foot West
Winged Foot East
NGLA
Friars Head
St Andrews Old
Muirfield
Royal County Down

Jesus, Ash, that is a pretty impressive list.  Now I'm not sure whether I should invite you up to Tara-Iti or not 

[Ash Towe]

Tom,

I hope you will, there needs to be another Kiwi course on this list.

[Jim Franklin]

Here is my updated list:

1. Cypress Point
2. National Golf Links
3. Pine Valley
4. The Old Course
5. Shinnecock Hills
6. Rock Creek Cattle Company
7. Sand Hills
8. Pacific Dunes
9. Prairie Dunes
10. Fishers Island
11. Oakmont
12. Merion
13. San Francisco GC
14. Victoria National
15. Old Macdonald
16. Sagebrush
17. Ballyneal
18. Friars Head
19. Chicago GC
20. Winged Foot (West)
21. Pabble Beach
22. Crystal Downs
23. Turnberry (Ailsa)
24. Milwaukee CC
25. Pete Dye GC

Just a few new places.

[J_ Crisham]

I've looked thru the last several posters and noted an absence of Milwaukee CC and Camargo. Why no love for these 2 gems?
                                                                                             

[Jim Franklin]

I've looked thru the last several posters and noted an absence of Milwaukee CC and Camargo. Why no love for these 2 gems?
                                                                                             

I have not played Camargo and actually omitted Milwaukee by mistake. I have Milwaukee ahead of Gozzer and Pete Dye. I loved that place. I will edit now.

[Brian Finn]

I've looked thru the last several posters and noted an absence of Milwaukee CC and Camargo. Why no love for these 2 gems?
                                                                                             

I have not played either course.  

I am hoping to see Camargo soon, and based on my love for all of the other MacRaynor courses I have played, I am confident it will be quite high on my personal list.  A friend here in Columbus recently shared his photos with me, and they were stunning.  

I know less about Milwaukee CC, but hope to do a Wisconsin trip next Spring.  Some pretty well-versed guys have told me it is underrated (even while it does appear on all the magazine lists).

[J_ Crisham]

I've looked thru the last several posters and noted an absence of Milwaukee CC and Camargo. Why no love for these 2 gems?
                                                                                             

I have not played Camargo and actually omitted Milwaukee by mistake. I have Milwaukee ahead of Gozzer and Pete Dye. I loved that place. I will edit now.

Jim,     I didn't want to sound as though I was calling guys out- I just think the world of Milwaukee CC. I put it as the best in Wisconsin. If it were in Chicago it would easily be top 2 or 3. Your list looks very similar to mine- in fact your top 12 is identical with the exception of PV and RCCC which I have yet to play. I have Portrush and Royal CD in those spots. Nice lists to look back on- great memories for me.

[Jim Franklin]

I played Milwaukee CC in low 40 degree temps and wind blowing 25+ all day and LOVED the course. I can't imagine how much I would love it if I was able to feel my fingers and make a decent golf swing. It is truly a special place and the only Chicago course I rank ahead of it is Chicago GC and it is my favorite Wisconsin track. I was wearing my Milwaukee CC hat the other day and discussing how much I loved that course to a friend of mine.

[J_ Crisham]

I played Milwaukee CC in low 40 degree temps and wind blowing 25+ all day and LOVED the course. I can't imagine how much I would love it if I was able to feel my fingers and make a decent golf swing. It is truly a special place and the only Chicago course I rank ahead of it is Chicago GC and it is my favorite Wisconsin track. I was wearing my Milwaukee CC hat the other day and discussing how much I loved that course to a friend of mine.

+1

[Simon Holt]

Not sure if I can get to 25......in fact I am going to throw caution to the wind and list them in order of how much fun I have/had playing there.  Some may be 'better' courses in terms of GCA but these put a smile on my face which is what its all about.

In paranthesis my top 10 in GCA terms

1. North Berwick  (6)
2. Cypress Point  (2)
3. Royal Dornoch  (5)
4. Pine Valley  (1)
5. TOC  (4)
6. Muirfield  (3)
7. Pasatiempo (
8. Renaissance Club  (7)
9. Kingsbarns (10)
10. Royal Troon (9)
11. Spyglass Hill
12. Hoylake
13. Bethpage Black
14. Gullane No. 1
15. Loch Lomond
16. Kilspindie
17. Leven
18. Dunbar
19. Champions
20. Shadow Hawk
21. Brora
22. Elie
23. Crail (Balcomie)
24. Leven
25. Stanwich

I need to play more courses!!!

3.5 years and a lot of air miles later.  This is as objective(ish) as I can be about what is actually on the ground.  My experiences at these wonderful places and the wonderful places not on the list, would probably make for more interesting read.

Pine Valley
Muirfield
TOC
NGLA
RCD
Cypress Point
ANGC
Portrush
Royal Dornoch
Seminole
Friar's Head
North Berwick
Sunningdale Old
Merion
Dismal Red
Ballyneal
Muirfield Village
Trump Scotland
Cruden Bay
Garden City Mens Club
Prestwick
Streamsong Blue
Maidstone
Turnberry
Pasatiempo
Kingsbarns

[Michael Felton]

If you ask me tomorrow you'd probably get a different list, but, in order, here we go:

Pine Valley
Turnberry Ailsa
Muirfield
The Old Course
Royal St George's
Ballybunion
Winged Foot West
Walton Heath Old
Kingsbarns
Royal Porthcawl
Sunningdale Old
Royal Liverpool
Walton Heath New
Winged Foot East
Merion
Bethpage Black
Ganton
Swinley Forest
Hunstanton
Royal Cinque Ports
Rye
Sunningdale New
Kiawah Island Ocean
Galloway National
TPC Sawgrass

[John Foley]

Dont you people have jobs / families?? I am amazed by some of these lists!

1   Sand Hills
2   Kiahaw – Ocean Course
3   Pinehurst #2
4   Oakmont
5   Yale
6   Dormie
7   Wildhorse
8   Kittansett
9   Devils Paintbrush
10   Bayonne
11   Leatherstocking
12   Arcadia Bluffs
13   Kapalua – Plantation
14   MPCC - Shore
15   Oak Hill East
16   Pasatiempo
17   Eastward Ho
18   Bandon Dunes
19   We-Ko-Pa - Sagurao
20   PGA West – Stadium
21   Kingsley Club
22   Oak Hill West
23   TPC Sawgrass
24   Crumpin Fox
25   Monroe
24   Misquamicut
25   Farmlinks

[Jason Topp]

1.   Sand Hills
2.   Royal Melboune West
3.   Dornoch
4.   The Old Course
5.   Ballybunion
6.   Kingston Heath
7.   Lahinch
8.   Pacific Dunes
9.   North Berwick
10.   Pebble Beach
11.   Turnberry
12.   Bandon Trails
13.   The Ocean Course at Kiawah
14.   Wildhorse
15.   Black Mesa
16.   Barnbougle
17.   New South Wales
18.   TPC Sawgrass
19.   Woodlands
20.   Kingsley Club
21.   Sutton Bay
22.   Bandon Dunes
23.   Harvester
24.   Pasatiempo
25.   Western Gailes

Interesting to look back.  I know I would add Kinloch and Royal Porthcawl to this list and place Kinloch in the 10-15 range and Porthcawl a bit lower.  I might add Pennard.  Fallen Oak is pretty close but probably would not make the list.  Wildhorse looks way too high from my fading memory and is a potential to drop from the list entirely to make room for others. Turnberry is too high. Lahinch I would need to think about.  I would probably drop Western Gailes and Bandon Dunes off the list even though I really like both.

Thoughts two additional years later:

1.   Sand Hills
2.      Royal Melboune West
3.      Dornoch
4.      The Old Course
5.      Ballybunion
6.      Kingston Heath
7.      Lahinch
8.      Pacific Dunes
9     Kawana
10.     Pinehurst No. 2
11      Pebble Beach
13.     Kingsley Club
14.     Kinloch
15.     Dunes at Diamante
16.      Royal Porthcawl
17.      Bandon Trails
18.      The Ocean Course at Kiawah
19.      Cabo del Sol Ocean
20.      Black Mesa
21.      New South Wales
22.      TPC Sawgrass
23.      North Berwick
24.      Old Town
25.    Palmetto

Additions:  Kawana, Pinehurst No. 2, Kinloch, Dunes at Diamante, Royal Porthcawl, Cabo Del Sol Ocean, Old Town – I had not played any of these in 2009.  I am not sure when I played Palmetto but I think it belongs on the list.

Deletions with former number:  Turnberry(11!)(In retrospect, I cannot vouch for the quality of holes 1-3; 13-15 and 18); Wildhorse (14)(My memory for this course has unfortunately faded so I am very unsure of this decision); Barnbougle Dunes (16);  Woodlands (19); Sutton Bay (21 NLE); Bandon Dunes (22); Harvester (23); Pasatiempo (24); Western Gailes (25)

Significant Demotions:  North Berwick (9-24)(memory fades a bit but I do not remember outstanding holes on the outward 9 other than 2 and 1 is a truly bad hole);

Significant Promotion – Kingsley (20-13)– I loved the course when I visited and suspect I was guarded in my ranking at the time because it was so recent.

Newly played courses considered but excluded:  Pennard (really close call); White Bear Yacht Club  (routing is biggest drawback for me because of the repetitive climb up and down steep small hills that creates some strange playing characteristics); Pine Needles, Dormie and Mid Pines (loved them but not enough to knock out any on the list).   

[Sean_A]

delete

[Matt Bosela]

I enter this thread every two years just to see how my list has evolved - it's quite amazing to see the differences:

December 19, 2009

Oakmont CC, Oakmont, PA (H. Fownes - 1903)
Riviera CC, Pacific Palisades, CA (G. Thomas - 1927)
Sagebrush Golf & Sporting Club, Quilchena, BC, CAN (R. Whitman, R. Zokol & A. Suny - 2008)
Westmount GCC, Kitchener, ON, CAN (S. Thompson - 1931)
St. Thomas GCC, Union, ON, CAN (S. Thompson - 1922)

Princeville - Prince Course, Princeville, HI (R. Trent Jones Jr - 1990)
Glen Abbey GC, Oakville, ON, CAN (J. Nicklaus - 1976)
Brantford GCC, Brantford, ON, CAN (S. Thompson - 1906)
Muskoka Bay GC, Gravenhurst, ON, CAN (D. Carrick - 2006)
Bigwin Island, Baysville, ON, CAN (D. Carrick - 2001)

Eagles Nest, Maple, ON, CAN (D. Carrick - 2004)
Oviinbyrd, Footsbay, ON, CAN (T. McBroom - 2004)
Warren GC at Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN (B. Coore & B. Crenshaw - 1999)
Devil's Pulpit, Caledon Village, ON, CAN (Dr. M. Hurdzan & D. Fry - 1990)
Tanglewood Park - Championship, Clemmons, NC (R. Trent Jones - 1956)

Burlington GCC, Burlington, ON, CAN (S. Thompson - 1922)
Lookout Point CC, Fonthill, ON, CAN (W. Travis - 1922)
Cog Hill - Dubsdread, Lemont, IL (D. Wilson & J. Lee - 1964)
Taboo, Gravenhurst, ON, CAN (R. Garl - 2002)
Osprey Valley - Heathlands, Caledon, ON, CAN (D. Carrick - 1992)

Tobiano, Kamloops, BC, CAN (T. McBroom - 2007)
Rosedale GCC, Toronto, ON, CAN (D. Ross - 1893)
Bear Mountain - Mountain Course, Victoria, BC, CAN (J. Nicklaus & S. Nicklaus - 2005)
Hammock Beach - Ocean Course, Palm Coast, FL (J. Nicklaus - 2000)
Osprey Valley - Hoot (Wasteland), Caledon, ON, CAN (D. Carrick - 2001)[/quote]

------------------------------------------------------

September 13, 2011

Sand Hills GC, Mullen, NE, USA (B. Coore & B. Crenshaw - 1995)
National Golf Links of America, Southampton, NY, USA (C.B. Macdonald - 1911)
Oakmont CC, Oakmont, PA, USA (H. Fownes - 1903)
Pacific Dunes, Bandon, OR, USA (T. Doak - 2001)
Ballyneal Golf & Hunt Club, Holyoke, CO, USA (T. Doak)

Bethpage State Park (Black), Farmingdale, NY, USA (A.W. Tillinghast & J. Burbeck - 1936)
Riviera CC, Pacific Palisades, CA, USA (G. Thomas - 1927)
Old Macdonald, Bandon, OR, USA (T. Doak & J. Urbina - 2010)
Sagebrush Golf & Sporting Club, Quilchena, BC, CAN (R. Whitman, R. Zokol & A. Suny - 2008)
Muirfield Village GC, Dublin, OH, USA (J. Nicklaus & D. Muirhead - 1974)

Hamilton GCC (West/South), Ancaster, ON, CAN (H.S. Colt - 1915)
Bandon Trails, Bandon, OR, USA (B. Coore & B. Crenshaw - 2005)
Scioto CC, Columbus, OH, USA (D. Ross - 1916)
Bandon Dunes, Bandon, OR, USA (D. McLay Kidd - 1999)
Sebonack, Southampton, NY, USA (J. Nicklaus & T. Doak - 2006)

Westmount GCC, Kitchener, ON, CAN (S. Thompson - 1931)
St. Thomas GCC, Union, ON, CAN (S. Thompson - 1922)
Princeville - Prince Course, Princeville, HI, USA (R. Trent Jones Jr - 1990)
National GC of Canada, Woodbridge, ON, CAN (G. Fazio & T. Fazio - 1975)
Glen Abbey GC, Oakville, ON, CAN (J. Nicklaus - 1976)

Scarboro GCC, Scarborough, ON, CAN (A.W. Tillinghast - 1924)
Southampton GC, Southampton, NY, USA (S. Raynor - 1925)
Brantford GCC, Brantford, ON, CAN (S. Thompson - 1906)
Muskoka Bay GC, Gravenhurst, ON, CAN (D. Carrick - 2006)
Bigwin Island, Baysville, ON, CAN (D. Carrick - 2001)

------------------------------------------------------

Now, the current list

October 8, 2013 - New Courses Added in BOLD

Sand Hills GC, Mullen, NE, USA (B. Coore & B. Crenshaw - 1995)
National Golf Links of America, Southampton, NY, USA (C.B. Macdonald - 1911)
Shinnecock Hills GC, Southampton, NY, USA (W. Flynn - 1931)
Oakmont CC, Oakmont, PA, USA (H. Fownes - 1903)
Pebble Beach GL, Pebble Beach, CA, USA (J. Neville & D. Grant - 1919)

Pacific Dunes, Bandon, OR, USA (T. Doak - 2001)
Ballyneal Golf & Hunt Club, Holyoke, CO, USA (T. Doak - 2006)
Winged Foot GC (West), Mamaroneck, NY, USA (A.W. Tillinghast - 1923)
Bethpage State Park (Black), Farmingdale, NY, USA (A.W. Tillinghast & J. Burbeck - 1936)
Riviera CC, Pacific Palisades, CA, USA (G. Thomas - 1927)

St. George's GCC, Etobicoke, ON, CAN (S. Thompson - 1922)
Old Macdonald, Bandon, OR, USA (T. Doak & J. Urbina - 2010)
Muirfield Village GC, Dublin, OH, USA (J. Nicklaus & D. Muirhead - 1974)
Pasatiempo GC, Santa Cruz, CA, USA (A. MacKenzie - 1929)
Bandon Trails, Bandon, OR, USA (B. Coore & B. Crenshaw - 2005)

Bandon Dunes, Bandon, OR, USA (D. McLay Kidd - 1999)
Sebonack, Southampton, NY, USA (J. Nicklaus & T. Doak - 2006)
Sagebrush Golf & Sporting Club, Quilchena, BC, CAN (R. Whitman, R. Zokol & A. Suny - 2008)
Maidstone Club, East Hampton, NY, USA (W. Park Jr & J. Park - 1924)
California GC of San Francisco, South San Francisco, CA, USA (A.V. Macan - 1926)

Hamilton GCC (West/South), Ancaster, ON, CAN (H.S. Colt - 1915)
Monterey Peninsula CC (Shore), Pebble Beach, CA, USA (M. Strantz - 2004)
Scioto CC, Columbus, OH, USA (D. Ross - 1916)
The Course at Yale, New Haven, CT, USA (C.B. Macdonald, S. Raynor & C. Banks - 1926)
Castle Pines GC, Castle Rock, CO, USA (J. Nicklaus - 1981)

The honorable mention list includes Devil's Paintbrush, Fenway GC and Colorado GC and also the courses that dropped off my last list: National GC of Canada, Princeville (Prince), Westmount GCC, Scarboro GCC, Southampton GC, Muskoka Bay GC, St. Thomas GCC, Bigwin Island, Glen Abbey GC, Brantford GCC

Boy, I need to get overseas, STAT!

[Bart Bradley]

Oh what the heck:

Royal Melbourne
Shinnecock
Merion East
Ballybunion
Lahinch
Ballyneal
The Old Course
Cypress Point
Sand Hills
Oakmont
Pebble Beach
Royal Dornoch
Barnbougle Dunes
Royal St. Georges
Royal County Down
Bandon Trails
Prestwick
Royal Birkdale
Banff Springs
Pacific Dunes
Turnberry Ailsa
Royal Lytham and St. Anne's
Crystal Downs
Sunningdale Old
San Francisco

near misses:  Jasper Park, Morfontaine, N. Berwick,  Deal, Kingsbarns, Rye, Sunningdale New, LA CC North, Swinley Forest, Kingston Heath

Playing Plainfield, Winged Foot, and Baltusrol next week...Will any of those crack this list?

Bart

[Greg Gilson]

Playing Plainfield, Winged Foot, and Baltusrol next week...Will any of those crack this list?


Not if you are using my criteria!

[Larry_Keltto]

I define "top" as those I have enjoyed playing the most. Here goes:

1. Ballyneal
2. Sand Hills
3. Pennard
4. Ballybunion
5. Lahinch
6. Turnberry
7. Royal Cinque Ports
8. Crystal Downs
9. Royal Portrush
10. Royal Liverpool
11. Royal Lytham & St. Annes
12. Kingsley Club
13. Pacific Dunes
14. Rye
15. Bandon Dunes
16. Royal County Down
17. Prestwick
18. Minikahda
19. Dacotah Ridge
20. Wild Horse
21. Ardglass
22. Royal Porthcawl
23. Rochester (Minn.) Country Club
24. Castlerock
25. Ashburnham

Honorable mention: Bayside (flawed yet fun), Pyle & Kenfig (my first links), Tenby, The Harvester, Silloth-on-Solway, Owatonna Country Club (my home course)

[Sean_A]

Sean, get back and put Sunny old on there right now! 

We should invent a Fantasy Best - at £200 a pop fantasy is surely what Sunny Old is.

When do we get to see the Sheehy Scroll?

Ciao 

[Mark Pearce]

Beau Desert and Huntercombe dropped from the Arble list?  There's something very wrong with the world....

[Sean_A]

Mark

While I think Beau is improving, I have played some very cool courses these past few years.  Huntercombe is a very frustrating place.  I was there this summer and nearly popped an eye when I saw the rough.  I kid you not there was hay 2 feet high in places.  I am afraid the club has completely lost its way.  There isn't any space to play golf - likely too much attention on giving the dogs a good place to walk. Clear out Huntercombe and it would be back up there in a heartbeat - still one of the most creative designs in England.  

Ciao  

[Mark Pearce]

Sean,

I'm with you on the need to lose a good few trees at Huntercombe but I don't recognise that description of the rough.  I was there last month and don't recall it feeling any narrower than it has before.  Seems to me your tolerance of even vaguely narrow playing corridors is decreasing with age!

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