Whip it Out: Post your Top 25 Courses Played

[Chris DeToro]

Always tricky, but as of today and in no particular order...

1) TOC
2) Royal County Down
3) Royal Portrush
4) Royal Troon
5) Cruden Bay
6) Royal Aberdeen
7) Muirfield
Carnoustie
9) Pebble Beach
10) Prairie Dunes
11) Wannamoisett
12) Pacific Dunes
13) Bandon Dunes
14) Pasatiempo
15) Yale
16) Crystal Downs
17) Pinehurst #2
18) Scioto
19) Inverness
20) Ballyneal
21) Taconic
22) Bethpage Black
23) East Lake
24) Kingsley
25) Streamsong Red

[Parker Reeves]

Edit: I just realized these were supposed to be personally ranked.  Didn't mean to answer the post in the wrong way.  I will have to do some thinking on this...I have a hard time with favorites!

[Steve Lapper]

In no particular order, but 25 of my personal favorites:

-St. Andrews Old
-Pacific Dunes
-Oakmont
-Scioto
-Winged Foot West
-Western Gailes
-Prestwick
-Stonehaven
-Cruden Bay
-Peterhead
-Diamond Creek
-Boston Golf Club
-Warwick Country Club
-Somerset Hills
-Hamilton Farm
-The Golf Club
-Fox Chapel
-The Honors
-Timuquana
-Pebble Beach
-Balsam Mountain Preserve
-Biltmore Forest
-The Cliffs at Walnut Cove
-Augusta CC
-Palmetto

Hamilton Farm??? Really??? Or is that due to having another reason??

[Cameron DeVries]

Pebble Beach
Pasatiempo
North Berwick
Pacific Dunes
Crosswater
Valley Club
Lahontan
Torrey Pines
Links at Spanish Bay
Pilgrim's Run
Palos Verdes
Kebo Valley
Mauna Kea
Stanford GC
Clarkston CC
Trophy Lake GC
La Purisima GC
Boyne Highlands
Sea Ranch
Rustic Canyon
Rancho Park
Widgi Creek
The Dunes at Maui Lani
Waimea CC
Bayonet GC

[Thomas Dai]

In no particular order, but 25 of my personal favorites:

-St. Andrews Old
-Pacific Dunes
-Oakmont
-Scioto
-Winged Foot West
-Western Gailes
-Prestwick
-Stonehaven
-Cruden Bay
-Peterhead
-Diamond Creek
-Boston Golf Club
-Warwick Country Club
-Somerset Hills
-Hamilton Farm
-The Golf Club
-Fox Chapel
-The Honors
-Timuquana
-Pebble Beach
-Balsam Mountain Preserve
-Biltmore Forest
-The Cliffs at Walnut Cove
-Augusta CC
-Palmetto

Hamilton Farm??? Really??? Or is that due to having another reason??

Peterhead?

Interesting selection. Any particular reason(s).
atb

[Mark Hissey]

I love so many mentions of North Berwick. A truly special place.

[Max Sternberg]

1. Pacific Dunes, OR
2. Pinehurst No. 2, NC
3. Pasatiempo, CA
4. Kapalua Plantation, HI
5. Bandon Dunes, OR
6. Lawsonia Links, WI
7. Bandon Preserve, OR
8. Pinehurst No. 8, NC
9. Torrey Pines (South), CA
10. Pine Meadow (pre-greens disaster), IL
11. Rustic Canyon, CA
12. Conway Farms, IL
13. Old Elm, IL
14. Pinehurst No. 4, NC
15. Manakiki, OH
16. Palos Verdes, CA
17. Rancho Santa Fe, CA
18. Sleepy Hollow, OH
19. Kemper Lakes, IL
20. Stanford, CA
21. Beechmont, OH
22. Pinehurst No. 5, NC
23. Blackwolf Run (Meadow Valleys), WI
24. Troon North (Monument- original routing), AZ
25. Warren Course at Notre Dame, IN

[Scott McWethy]

Muirfield
Cypress
Shinnecock
Dornoch
Crystal Downs
Pinehurst
Chicago
TOC
North Berwick
San Francisco
Dunes Club NB
Prestwick
Pac Dunes
Sunningdale Old
Formby
Machrihanish
Lytham
Sandwich
Sunningdale New
Yale
Elie
Pasatiempo
Ballyneal
Piping Rock
Askernish

The 25 I think I would most like to play that I have not are: (by country)
PV
Augusta
NGLA
Fishers
Oakmont
Prairie Dunes
Old Mac
LACC
Riviera
Merion
Sand Hills
Ocean Course
Highlands Links
Royal Melbourne
Kingston Heath
New South Wales
Barnbougle
Lost Farm
Cape Kidnappers
Royal County Down
Royal Portrush
Lahinch
Ballybunion
Deal
Liverpool

Steve, if you haven't played Augusta National, you really should try to get down there sometime.  I hear it's great!

Best regards,

Scott

[Parker Reeves]

In no particular order, but 25 of my personal favorites:

-St. Andrews Old
-Pacific Dunes
-Oakmont
-Scioto
-Winged Foot West
-Western Gailes
-Prestwick
-Stonehaven
-Cruden Bay
-Peterhead
-Diamond Creek
-Boston Golf Club
-Warwick Country Club
-Somerset Hills
-Hamilton Farm
-The Golf Club
-Fox Chapel
-The Honors
-Timuquana
-Pebble Beach
-Balsam Mountain Preserve
-Biltmore Forest
-The Cliffs at Walnut Cove
-Augusta CC
-Palmetto

Hamilton Farm??? Really??? Or is that due to having another reason??

Steve,

  Thanks for the interest.  While I do have some personal connection with HFGC, I try not to completely base my decision on that.  The conditioning, fun factor of the main golf course and the Hickory course (18 Hole Par 3 that as of at least 2007ish was the only USGA Rated Par 3 course in the country from what I understand), were all factors in my decision.  The gorgeous clubhouse is really special and the fact that a small number of groups are on the golf course each day allows for some great relaxation. 

Edit: I also love the aura of the US Equestrian training facility being on-site with some fantastic barns on property.

[Parker Reeves]

In no particular order, but 25 of my personal favorites:

-St. Andrews Old
-Pacific Dunes
-Oakmont
-Scioto
-Winged Foot West
-Western Gailes
-Prestwick
-Stonehaven
-Cruden Bay
-Peterhead
-Diamond Creek
-Boston Golf Club
-Warwick Country Club
-Somerset Hills
-Hamilton Farm
-The Golf Club
-Fox Chapel
-The Honors
-Timuquana
-Pebble Beach
-Balsam Mountain Preserve
-Biltmore Forest
-The Cliffs at Walnut Cove
-Augusta CC
-Palmetto

Hamilton Farm??? Really??? Or is that due to having another reason??

Peterhead?

Interesting selection. Any particular reason(s).
atb

Thomas,

 Thank you for the comment and interest.  Peterhead is special to me for various reasons.  I was able to play golf in the game's homeplace with my father which was a dream come true for us.  The course has a great history (originally laid out in 1892 by Willie Park Jr) and some fantastic views and felt like a great value. 

[Tommy Williamsen]

Parker, no Mt Mitchell?

[Parker Reeves]

TW,

  How are you??? To be honest, yes, I would like to break some rules at add Mt. Mitchell, Ballyhack, and Primland I'm terrible at picking favorites.

[Jon Cavalier]

Since we're whipping it out, here's my top 25 played over the course of the past year:

1. Merion East
2. Oakmont
3. Maidstone
4. Sleepy Hollow
5. Piping Rock
6. The Creek
7. Fox Chapel
8. The Course at Yale
9. Dunes Club
10. Streamsong Blue
11. Streamsong Red
12. Ocean Course
13. Pinehurst No. 2
14. Kinloch
15. Greenbrier Old White
16. Ridgewood
17. Mountain Lake
18. St. George's
19. Lancaster
20. Plainfield
21. Bayonne
22. Aronimink
23. Baltimore CC (East)
24. Shadow Creek
25. Dormie

[Sean_A]

Tommy W

I have a lot of time for Saunton East.  Its probably one of those courses which failed on price. 

Sheehy

No question, Sunny Old is fantastic, but its green fee is a serious turn-off.  Even so, its one of the few mega expensive places I would highly  recommend because the place is so special.   

Ciao

[Greg Taylor]

I should put my marker down... bit eclectic but here goes:

Cypress Point
Pasatiempo
Royal County Down
Royal Dornoch
Old Course

Muirfield
North Berwick
Tobacco Road
Old Macdonald
The Addington

Whistling Straits
Swinley Forest
Crystal Downs
Cruden Bay
Pac Dunes

Ballybunion - Old
Lahinch
Arcadia Bluffs
Pinehurst #2
Olympic Lake

Castle Stewart
Kiawah Island
Formby
Pebble Beach
Walton Heath - Old


Top my to-do list: Sunningdale and Merion.

[Criss Titschinger]

Since I don't have the experience or access of many of this site, I thought I'd go through this exercise to see what I came up with. Most of this is around the Ohio area, but there are a few outsiders.

I do have 3 on the horizon which will undoubtedly replace 3 on this list.

Well, here goes, in no particular order:

Black Mesa
Paa-Ko Ridge
Miami Valley GC
Cincinnati CC
World Woods (Pine Barrens)
World Woods (Rolling Oaks)
Kiawah Island (Turtle Point)
Fowler's Mill
The Fort
Trophy Club
Sultan's Run
Atlantic City CC
Twisted Dune
Seaview (Bay)
The Vineyards at Renault
Clovernook CC
Western Hills CC
Purgatory
Stonelick Hills
Old Silo
The Quarry
Shaker Run
Brown's Run CC
Longaberger
Hershey CC (East)

[Nigel Islam]

Since I don't have the experience or access of many of this site, I thought I'd go through this exercise to see what I came up with. Most of this is around the Ohio area, but there are a few outsiders.

I do have 3 on the horizon which will undoubtedly replace 3 on this list.

Well, here goes, in no particular order:

Black Mesa
Paa-Ko Ridge
Miami Valley GC
Cincinnati CC
World Woods (Pine Barrens)
World Woods (Rolling Oaks)
Kiawah Island (Turtle Point)
Fowler's Mill
The Fort
Trophy Club
Sultan's Run
Atlantic City CC
Twisted Dune
Seaview (Bay)
The Vineyards at Renault
Clovernook CC
Western Hills CC
Purgatory
Stonelick Hills
Old Silo
The Quarry
Shaker Run
Brown's Run CC
Longaberger
Hershey CC (East)

Criss,
     What is Cincinnati CC like? I know its quite old, but never hear much about it otherwise.

[Jim Sherma]

Criss

Interesting to see Hershey East. Almost everyone rates the West while even within the club I rarely see much love for the East. What was it that about the East that merited it on your list? Also, have you played the West?

Since I don't have the experience or access of many of this site, I thought I'd go through this exercise to see what I came up with. Most of this is around the Ohio area, but there are a few outsiders.

I do have 3 on the horizon which will undoubtedly replace 3 on this list.

Well, here goes, in no particular order:

Black Mesa
Paa-Ko Ridge
Miami Valley GC
Cincinnati CC
World Woods (Pine Barrens)
World Woods (Rolling Oaks)
Kiawah Island (Turtle Point)
Fowler's Mill
The Fort
Trophy Club
Sultan's Run
Atlantic City CC
Twisted Dune
Seaview (Bay)
The Vineyards at Renault
Clovernook CC
Western Hills CC
Purgatory
Stonelick Hills
Old Silo
The Quarry
Shaker Run
Brown's Run CC
Longaberger
Hershey CC (East)

[Criss Titschinger]

Cincinnati CC is old (1895). I believe one of the first 100 courses/clubs recognized by the USGA. It’s a shorter course by modern standards at just over 6,300 yards, but has a lot of elevation changes that keep things interesting. It’s a fun, old style layout, but not in the league of others around town, like Camargo, Coldstream, Clovernook, and Maketewah.

I would say it has one of the best sets of par 3s in Cincinnati. Certainly not nearly on Camargo’s level, which are all-world, but among the top sets in the city. Lots of variety; everything from 148 to 244 (downhill, thankfully). I personally think the 8th hole was better before they remodeled it. The previous version played West to East. I don’t know the details, but property was acquired and they moved the tees to that property. The old tees were much closer to the 7th green. Now a 100 yard+ walk, the hole now plays North to South. My host told me the hole was quite controversial among members and I could see why.

I swore I took some pictures of the course when I played, but I’m having trouble finding them. For now, the Itinerant Golfer has a short write-up of the course which highlight the par 3s.

Jim, my uncle-in-law used to be a member at Hershey. We had to play East that day because West had an outing on it. That explains why East is on my list and not West. To be honest, I haven’t been back in the Lancaster/Hershey area since and he no longer is a member, so it may be a while before I notch the West on my played list.

[David Ober]

In no particular order:

Pebble Beach
Spyglass
Riviera
Monterey Peninsula Shore
Monterey Peninsula Dunes
Pinehurst #2
Kingsbarns
The Old Course (St. Andrews)
Waterville
Tralee
Lahinch
Dooks
Ballybunion Old
Barona Creek
Lakeside GC
Pasatiempo
Rustic Canyon
Stevinson Ranch
Torrey Pines South
Canyon Crest (my old home course)
Bear Creek GC (my current home course)
Oak Valley
Goose Creek
Carlton Woods Fazio
Carlton Woods Nicklaus

[Jud_T]

Nice to see Barona gettin' some love....

[BHoover]

My personal top 25ish (first six are ranked; remainder in no particular order):

Brookside (Canton)
Oakland Hills (South)
The Golf Club
Canterbury
Kirtland
Kingsley

NCR (South)
Scioto
Timuquana
Muirfield Village
Firestone (South)
Double Eagle
Springfield (OH)
Columbus CC
Congress Lake
Mayfield
Brookside G&CC (Columbus)
OSU (Scarlet)
Sawgrass CC
Tobacco Road
Southern Pines
Fowlers Mill
Longaberger
Granville
Pinnacle (Columbus)
Berry Hills
South Hills CC

[Terry Lavin]

It behooves me to admire B. Hoover's list, which is dominated by Ohio courses.  Wow, that's a lot of good golf.

[BHoover]

It behooves me to admire B. Hoover's list, which is dominated by Ohio courses.  Wow, that's a lot of good golf.

It's true that there is a lot of good golf in Ohio (despite generally lousy weather).  On the other hand, the number of Ohio courses on my list speaks to the fact that I really have not played much outside my home state.

[Mark Bourgeois]

behooves me to admire B. Hoover's

Nice! You're no ass for using assonance.