Best 36-hole private clubs?

« **Reply #50 on:** April 13, 2011, 04:32:11 PM »

The best that I have played...

Olympia Fields
Medinah
MPCC
Olympic Club
Champions
Merion
Royal Portrush

« **Reply #51 on:** April 13, 2011, 04:37:31 PM »

Bill:

You are right -- things have evolved.

I would say that Old and Weyhill are in the 6 category -- possibly a 7 if one is somewhat generous.

I see WFW as a 9 -- there are no par-5 of note so that holds back big brother there. The East is a gem
of a layout -- quite different than the West -- more reliant on brain than just overdosing on the brawn side
of things. I would give it a sure 7 -- the greens and surrounding areas are of equal stature to the West,

« **Reply #52 on:** April 13, 2011, 05:43:01 PM »

I liked playing the main course at Rye and then slinking over to the new course after getting beat up in twenty mile/hr winds. I also enjoyed playing both courses at Royal Ashdown Forest.
chris

« **Reply #53 on:** April 13, 2011, 07:51:25 PM »

Not sure that these are all the "best" but pretty damn good in my book.

Olympia Fields
Medinah
Baltusrol
Ballybunion
Ballyliffin
MPCC
Merion
Champions
Oakland Hills
Portrush

« **Reply #54 on:** April 13, 2011, 08:04:34 PM »

Quote from: Tony_Chapman on April 13, 2011, 01:08:37 PM

Also re: Congressional. I've been looking at that place on mapquest recently and can only find 27 holes. I thought it was 36; am I missing something?

Look across the street for half of the Gold course.

« **Reply #55 on:** April 13, 2011, 08:16:13 PM »

Jim Nugent: I was of the understanding they already had?

Chappers: If Sunningdale Old and New are both 8s in your book, what are RM's courses?

« **Reply #56 on:** April 13, 2011, 08:53:01 PM »

Quote from: Matt_Ward on April 13, 2011, 04:37:31 PM

Bill:

You are right -- things have evolved.

I would say that Old and Weyhill are in the 6 category -- possibly a 7 if one is somewhat generous.

I see WFW as a 9 -- there are no par-5 of note so that holds back big brother there. The East is a gem
of a layout -- quite different than the West -- more reliant on brain than just overdosing on the brawn side
of things. I would give it a sure 7 -- the greens and surrounding areas are of equal stature to the West,

I'll take a guess and say that you have not seen the Old in the last 5 years, and I know that you have not seen the recently renovated Weyhill course, since it is not yet open (but I have seen all the work and know the property.) I think you need to get out there and I bet you will revise your ratings upward.

The Old Course has an excellent set of greens with great movement and variety. Interesting that you mention the par 5's at WF, because all 3 at SV Old are excellent, especially Hole 6 and my favorite hole on the property, Hole 15, a gorgeous downhill, dogleg left that requires great thought an execution on all three shots to a cool two-tiered green.

« **Reply #57 on:** April 13, 2011, 08:56:06 PM »

Matt Ward,

How could you forget Canoe Brook ?

The original Essex County's two 18's.

Bethpage ?

« **Reply #58 on:** April 13, 2011, 09:00:36 PM »

Quote from: Patrick_Mucci on April 13, 2011, 08:56:06 PM

Matt Ward,

How could you forget Canoe Brook ?

The original Essex County's two 18's.

Bethpage ?

Private, Patrick....

« **Reply #59 on:** April 13, 2011, 09:05:24 PM »

Montclair, too,

But not Upper Montclair, bah!

« **Reply #60 on:** April 13, 2011, 09:51:41 PM »

Scott, I heard rumor/speculation. Can you definitely confirm?

« **Reply #61 on:** April 13, 2011, 09:59:01 PM »

No I can't. It was put to me, by a reliable person, that it was a lock, but I don't have any concrete proof that that's the case.

« **Reply #62 on:** April 13, 2011, 10:11:58 PM »

That's good news, Scott.

Wonder if there was ever any talk/thought about building a second course at Sand Hills?

« **Reply #63 on:** April 13, 2011, 11:52:23 PM »

Bill:

I have played the Old -- approximately three years ago if memory serves. Liked the course -- but it's not a Doak 8. I will take you up on your offer for Weyhill but if you want to give high grades than stick to the Jersey side -- I mean, c'mon, a place like Forsgate would be at the 8 level too.

Frankly, I think your grades are a tad higher than mine. So be it.

WFW is in the 9 area code -- I see WFE as a strong 7 but not an 8. Put them together and you have some dynamic presentation for 36 holes.

One other thing -- it's too bad that WFE gets so little attention -- big brother takes plenty of the air out of the balloon.

Pat:

Essex County is no longer connected.

No doubt Canoe Brook can be mentioned -- but the tagline for this thread is "best."

Bethpage has 90 holes -- bit more than 36 right ?

« **Reply #64 on:** April 14, 2011, 04:22:09 AM »

Scott - RM West an 8 or 9 like Sunningdale Old it suffers from modern length. RM East is a "high" 7. Composite a 9.

Both Sunningdale and Royal Melbourne are great clubs.

« **Reply #65 on:** April 14, 2011, 01:16:26 PM »

I'd like to put in a couple candidates:

MPCC
Saucon Valley
Trump Bedminster

« **Reply #66 on:** April 14, 2011, 03:34:35 PM »

I would add Pumpkin Ridge in Portland, OR. Witch Hollow is fantastic and Ghost Creek is very solid.

« **Reply #67 on:** April 15, 2011, 06:09:20 AM »

The two courses at "Devil's Playground" totaled single-digit in GW's Canadian modern rankings...

http://www.golfweek.com/news/2011/apr/14/golfweeks-best-canadian-modern-courses/

« **Reply #68 on:** April 15, 2011, 08:34:30 AM »

Quote from: Bill Brightly on April 13, 2011, 08:53:01 PM

Quote from: Matt_Ward on April 13, 2011, 04:37:31 PM
Bill:

You are right -- things have evolved.

I would say that Old and Weyhill are in the 6 category -- possibly a 7 if one is somewhat generous.

I see WFW as a 9 -- there are no par-5 of note so that holds back big brother there. The East is a gem
of a layout -- quite different than the West -- more reliant on brain than just overdosing on the brawn side
of things. I would give it a sure 7 -- the greens and surrounding areas are of equal stature to the West,

I'll take a guess and say that you have not seen the Old in the last 5 years, and I know that you have not seen the recently renovated Weyhill course, since it is not yet open (but I have seen all the work and know the property.) I think you need to get out there and I bet you will revise your ratings upward.

The Old Course has an excellent set of greens with great movement and variety. Interesting that you mention the par 5's at WF, because all 3 at SV Old are excellent, especially Hole 6 and my favorite hole on the property, Hole 15, a gorgeous downhill, dogleg left that requires great thought an execution on all three shots to a cool two-tiered green.

Agreed Bill. I'm a big fan of the par 5's at SVCC Old.

Mark

« **Reply #69 on:** April 15, 2011, 01:11:39 PM »

Here is a picture of the third shot to the Par 5 15th hole at Saucon Valley Old. This player has chosen the most conservative route, he probably hit 3 wood-5 wood to get to this spot, and has left himself with a full 7 iron or so. He could have been bolder with his second shot and played to the right of the bunker that he is now hitting over. The green had a wonderful lower front right tier, and the left front gradfually rises until it reaches a much wider upper tier. So many great pin options that totally change how you need to play the hole.

« **Reply #70 on:** April 15, 2011, 07:37:27 PM »

Forest Highlands Golf Club, Flagstaff, AZ

« **Reply #71 on:** April 15, 2011, 08:35:14 PM »

I find it interesting that Australia might have the best "private" as well as "public" 36 hole facilities in the World.

RM & Barnbougle

That said - The Peninsula club in Vic would rank pretty highly on just the private scale as would The National club (Old/Moonah....the Ocean doesn't count)

« **Reply #72 on:** April 16, 2011, 11:32:21 AM »

I've played nearly all the courses mentioned in this thread but I think Olympia Fields is hard to beat. I know I'm biased but the newly renovated south course is phenomenal.

GolfWeeks classic list (Olympia Fields): North #46, South #125

I believe the north course at Oakland Hills is also underrated.

#1 Olympia Fields
#2 Winged Foot
#3 Oakland Hills

MPCC isn't as good in my opinion.

« **Reply #73 on:** April 16, 2011, 08:34:20 PM »

Quote from: SNaugler on April 16, 2011, 11:32:21 AM

I've played nearly all the courses mentioned in this thread but I think Olympia Fields is hard to beat. I know I'm biased but the newly renovated south course is phenomenal.

GolfWeeks classic list (Olympia Fields): North #46, South #125

I believe the north course at Oakland Hills is also underrated.

#1 Olympia Fields
#2 Winged Foot
#3 Oakland Hills

MPCC isn't as good in my opinion.

I have had the good fortune to play Olympia Fields many times and agree it is one hell of a complex but hard to believe anyone would not find MPCC in that league. The Dunes is in my opinion a stronger course than teh much acclaimed Shore.What do you find lacking? The 18th at the Shore is the only headscracther out of the 36 holes. The vistas are unparallelled. How many times have you played MPCC? I have found that each time I've played there I became more entranced. Just my opinion, Jack

« **Reply #74 on:** April 16, 2011, 09:41:31 PM »

I'm with Kalen and Jack here.... if I had only one course to belong to I would probably go with MPCC because it's in a magical setting
and has 2 wonderful courses. My east coast pick would be Winged Foot. Out of the country... RM

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