P.S. Just looked a little closer at your list. As I said, I don't believe in ranking golf courses -- but I do believe in rating them. And there's no way in hell (IMO) that Willinger's belongs anywhere on your list ... much less above White Bear (which I haven't played, but have walked)! Willinger's??? I'd love to hear why you like Willinger's so much.
my defense of Willingers. One of all my all-time favorite public courses. In terms of public courses under $100 i don't think anything else is even close. The course is incredible strategic, requires every club in the bag and is built around the prevailing wind. Because of this it is a 6800 yard course that plays like a 7300 yard one. Hole by hole here is why i love it.
1- Nice Opening hole, slightly uphill dogleg right; you need to draw your tee shot over water if you want a wedge to the green
2- Easiest hole on the course. Short par 5, reachable in 2 by most good plays
3- One of the hardest 140 yard par 3 you will ever see. Downhill tee shot to a very narrow green, usually with a major crosswind. I've probably made more doubles here than any other hole on the course.
4- Uphil split fairway hole to a very steep green.
5- Driveable par four that usually plays straight downwind. if you lay up a very narrow fairway
6- Downhill double dogleg par 5 surrounded by water. If you hit driver you need to carry 295 to set up a makable second shot. I've hit everything from Driver to 4-iron off this tee
7- Nasty 190 yard uphill par 3 over a marsh that usually plays dead into a strong wind. I've hit good 3 woods that didnt get there here
8- My favorite hole. Shortish dogleg par 4 with a steeply sloped fairway to the right. smart players hit hybrid off the tee to get a more level approach shot
9- Uphill downleg par 4. Tee shot a little more forgiving than 8, by a tricky green with alot of slope.
10- Fairly standard uphill 400 yard par 4
11- The most notorious hole on the course and the reason lots of people dont like the course. 350 yard par 4 downhill with a ravine in the middle of the hole. This is usually 7-iron, wedge for me. Suckers can take out driver to try to set up an uphill wedge
12- Very Demanding par 4. Downhill tee shot, uphill approach to very narrow fairway, guard by a huge elm. The hardest hole for most players
13- Tons of options here. Drivable Dogleg par4 from an elevated tee. If you Carry the dogleg and dont hit too far into a lake, you have an easy three, otherwise you are looking at 6 or 7
14- nice 180 yard par 3 to very narrow green with some nasty grass bunkers on right and water on left
15- Reachable Par 5 with water coming in play on both shots. Easiest hole on back by far.
16- Very challenging uphill par 4 with lots of fairway bunkers to avoid. Very shallow green that is hard to hold
17- Downhill postage stamp type hole. Only par 3 which is somewhat sheltered from wind
18- Nice Risk/Reward par 5; Requires accurate drive and solid second second with OB, water and sand in play
Thats why i love it. Tons of variety, a thinking man's course with great use of wind. good players dont hit driver on at least half of the par 4 and at least one par 5.