Best Non-Doak or Non-C&C course built last 20 years?

[Mike Cirba]

Two best I've seen based on the original question...Boston Golf Club and Kingsley Club.   

[Mac Plumart]

I think Kiawah Ocean is amazing as well.  AMAZING!!!

Hey, for this list/course...does Askernish count?  I won't play it for about a year, but damn it looks good!!

[Jim Franklin]

The Quarry at Giants Ridge. Fantastic. Too bad it is so far up the state of Minnesota.

The Alotian isn't bad either.

[Bill_McBride]

Jim,

I refuse to name even one because of the title of your thread.  It implies that only CC and TD can even come close to building a good course doesn't it?  Over a thousand new course in the last decade or so and you think only those two have built good ones?  

What are the rest of us, blind squirrels who find the acorn once in a while?

I think you may have read more into this than Jim meant - I think he means what is the best course built in the past 20 years by a golf architect who wasn't named Doak or Cooreshaw!

Could be a Brauer, a Dye, a Nicklaus, a Hanse, a Fazio, a Young, a DeVries or a Richardson........it's a big universe out there.  I don't think Jim was implying that everything after those two was built by "blind squirrels."      They may be squirrely in a few cases.......

Whatever, I really hate comparative ratings and would rather make up a list of 100 candidates...........

[Steve Curry]

Wolfpoint. That I have seen, but I would prefer a top 10 as the difference between each of my top 10 is hard to differentiate.

Steve

[Jeff_Brauer]

Bill,

I think Jim probably didn't word it the way he wanted to. Things some times come out wrong.  It kinda reminds me of an instance when some words came out wrong while talking to my ex wife....what I meant to say was "Please Pass the Salt" and what came out was 'You ruined the best years of my life! I'm sorry I ever married you!"

So, I understand it can happen to the best of them.....   But in both cases, I think what came out represents the true underlying feelings.

Jim F,

Thanks for one vote for the Quarry!

[Mac Plumart]

Jeff B...is still on fire!!!!  That was hilarious!!!

[Ron Csigo]

Kauri Cliffs deserves consideration.

[Mike Wagner]

Jimbo,

I'll take Bandon.  I think I'm the only one on here who prefers it to Pacific...(I mean, if I HAVE to pick one..)

[Bill_McBride]

Bill,

I think Jim probably didn't word it the way he wanted to. Things some times come out wrong.  It kinda reminds me of an instance when some words came out wrong while talking to my ex wife....what I meant to say was "Please Pass the Salt" and what came out was 'You ruined the best years of my life! I'm sorry I ever married you!"

So, I understand it can happen to the best of them.....   But in both cases, I think what came out represents the true underlying feelings.

Hey, I'm not known as "The Pacifier" for nothng! 

[Jim Colton]

If you had to pick one, what would it be? (Don't make a list, that's a cop out)

Let me reword it:

Best Non-Doak or Non-C&C course built since 1990...pick one

Glad to clear that up.

[Mike Demetriou]

Assuming we eliminate our biases here, I'd have to say The Ocean Course. It is a very dramatic routing, and the course can effectively shape-shift depending on the prevailing wind. Also hard to imagine a better walk. (Maybe Bandon Dunes, but that's almost not fair - hard not to be giddy the whole time you're in Bandon).

My litmus test to answer this question is the Sheep Counting Test:

What is the course you play most often in your head, when having a hard time falling asleep?

[Kalen Braley]

Jeff,

I didn't take Jims original post to have that kind of meaning either...I think it really was harmless.

P.S.  Your last post reminded me of this. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBDxnItsCoI

[Jason Topp]

Black Mesa

[Kevin Pallier]

From what I've seen = Kingsbarns

[Bill_McBride]

Black Mesa

 

[George Freeman]

As for the original question:  

Of the courses I have played, it would have to be the Kingsley Club (surprise surprise).  Keep in mind my portfolio of courses isn't that deep and there are a bunch of others built in that last 20 years that I would think could easily contend for this title...

I have played the Ocean Course, and think very highly of it, however just not high enough to put it ahead of KC...

[Alex Miller]

I vote Rustic Canyon because it's the best one I've played.

It's more than just a great course though, it's an example of affordable GREAT golf for the general public. For that alone it should be in the running.

[Chris DeNigris]

I'm not sure Castle Stuart is the best new course built in Scotland...in 2010...

I don't know if KC is the 3rd best...but I gotta believe it's the funnest to play.

[Will MacEwen]

I don't have the track record of most people here, but for me it would be Bandon or Sagebrush.  I'm in the Bandon gets a rough ride camp, and Sagebrush blew me away this summer.  

Bandon gets points for walking, but the Sagebrush experience is pertty special, and I don't even fly fish.

[Carl Rogers]

Ballyhack

[Ron Csigo]

If you had to pick one, what would it be? (Don't make a list, that's a cop out)

Let me reword it:

Best Non-Doak or Non-C&C course built since 1990...pick one

Glad to clear that up.

Thanks for clarifying, Jim 

[Mark Pritchett]

It is interesting that Golf, Golf Week and Golf Digest all rate Whistling Straits as the the highest non-Doak or non-C&C course built since 1990. 

Anyone agree with their assessment?  I have not played Whistling Straits, but have played The Ocean Course. 

For those who have played both-which do you rate higher?

[Rob Rigg]

Nanea - David Kidd

My boy Chucky Schwab and I hang there on weekends and drink Mai Tais

[Matt_Ward]

Mark P:

Simple answer -- The Ocean Course.

WS is simply Pete gone wild -- gets plenty of brownie points tied to the Lake being next to it and the PGA Championships being played there.

The Ocean Course still has the goods in so many ways - no doubt man's hands were involved but the over-the-top elements that lie at the hallmark of WS -- the Kiawah-based layout is so vastly under-appreciated by many.