Top 5 Top 100 courses you want to play again

[Mark Chaplin]

North Berwick
TOC
Royal Birkdale
National Golf Links
Kingston Heath

[Morgan Clawson]

National Golf Links of America
Shinnecock Hills
Pinehurst #2
Pasatiempo
California Golf Club

[Michael George]

Mac:

Funny that you posted this question.  I was talking a couple of days ago about the connection between wanting to play a course again and its ranking among your favorite courses.  While I don't think that they are directly connected, I do think it can be helpful in determining those close calls between 2 courses where you just don't know which one you liked better.

That being said, here is my list:

Pacific Dunes - I could play it again and again and still learn nuisances of playing it.  I will never hit driver on 16 again.
Oakmont - could easily be my every day course - you just never get the best of it but you feel like you could if you had another shot.
Cascades (Homestead) - after a restoration - one of my favorite layouts that could be just incredible if they read Ran's review.
Oakland Hills - I did not see a top 50 in the US golf course - need to see if I am missing something
Dunes - I want another shot at the front 9.  Back was much easier nine.

[Colin Macqueen]

Michael,

"..........still learn nuisances of playing it."

I agree wholeheartedly! Many holes I have played in my non-illustrious career have been a damned nuisance and others have had many nuances to boot!! Chuckling here as language can be a hoot!

Cheers Colin

[Michael George]

Colin:

That is funny.  What is also funny is that both meanings would apply.  The day I don't make double on #2 will be my first.

[paul cowley]

Cypress Point (played it once almost 40 yrs ago so I really haven't played)
Pinehurst #2 (played many times but not the 'new', which looks fabulous)
North Berwick and Lahinch (played many times as courses I could play everyday)
Diamante Dunes (have to go with one of my own, similar to the two above)

...oh, and The Old Course...of course! (which makes 6)

[Mark Johnson]

Mark,

The Irish?  seriously you've got to get out more my man...   is that actually top 100 somewhere?

It was 35 on golf digest's best public.

I wont try to argue that it is the best course out there from an architectural standpoint.  But for me, it is incredibly fun to play, has a ton of interesting holes and I could play it over and over.

There are tons of "great" courses while I am glad i played them and admited their architecture, I am not going crazy to play them again.

Examples

- Kiawah
- Butler
- Chambers Bay  (though i probably want to play it again under for benign conditions)