Your Last Ten

[PThomas]

Austin GC
Pine Dunes
Ravisloe
WI Club
Sand Valley
Royal Portrush
County Sligo
Carne
Doonberg
European Club

[jonathan_becker]

Beginning of this year/end of last year


Urbana
Wooster
Whispering Pines
Bluejack National
Champions
LC Boles Memorial
Prairie Dunes
Hudson National
NGLA
Philly Cricket

[jvisser]

Just got back from a trip to the UK
Played the following 9 courses:


West Lancashire
Royal Lytham & St Annes
St Annes Old links
Glasgow Gailes
Turnberry Ailsa
Panmure
Montrose
Carnoustie
Monifieth

[Jim Sherma]

Good Spring and early Summer:


Membership courses


Hershey CC West (multiple)
Hershey CC East (multiple)
Hershey Spring Creek
Hunt Valley GC (multiple)


Others


County Sligo x2
Strandhill x2
Enniscrone
Carne x2
Mulranny
Lahinch
Greenspring Valley Hunt Club
CC of Maryland
Silver Creek CC (Ross in PA)
Green Pond CC (Findlay in PA)


Of this set I thought Sligo and Greenspring Valley were exceptional. I also love the 18 Ross holes at Silver Creek. Mulranny's turf really is that nice to hit off of. Strandhill is very good and if value for money is added into the equation it's great.

[Terry Lavin]

Beverly
Bob O'Link

Chicago Golf Club
Old Elm
Shoreacres
Bandon Dunes
Bandon Preserve
Bandon Trails
Pacific Dunes
Old MacDonald

[Mark Saltzman]

Omaha CC
The Harvester
Wakonda
Cedar Rapids
Davenport
Flossmoor
Chicago
Beverly
Old Elm
National Pines

[MCirba]

Good Spring and early Summer:


Membership courses


Hershey CC West (multiple)
Hershey CC East (multiple)
Hershey Spring Creek
Hunt Valley GC (multiple)


Others


County Sligo x2
Strandhill x2
Enniscrone
Carne x2
Mulranny
Lahinch
Greenspring Valley Hunt Club
CC of Maryland
Silver Creek CC (Ross in PA)
Green Pond CC (Findlay in PA)


Of this set I thought Sligo and Greenspring Valley were exceptional. I also love the 18 Ross holes at Silver Creek. Mulranny's turf really is that nice to hit off of. Strandhill is very good and if value for money is added into the equation it's great.

Nice list, Jim.

I do wish Silver Creek put the Ross rotation in play more often.   I've yet to play the Hill nine (Ross) as they have their 27 divided into the "Championship" (nine Ross and nine Wm/David Gordon) course and "Hill" nine, probably in deference to the severity of the terrain for the members, as you know.  The few Hill nine holes I was able to see looked compelling.

CC of Maryland (Herbert Strong) seems like a neat place.   Is it worth a visit?

[Jonathan Mallard]

Sycamore CreekPinehurst #2
Hermitage Sabot
Dromorland Castle
Doonbeg
Lahinch Old
Ballybunion Old
Waterville
Tralee
Old Head

[Tim Fitz]

Beverly
Bob O'Link

Chicago Golf Club
Old Elm
Shoreacres
Bandon Dunes
Bandon Preserve
Bandon Trails
Pacific Dunes
Old MacDonald

My list looks an awful lot like Judge Lavin's, though we played none of the rounds together:

Shoreacres
Bandon Dunes
Bandon Preserve
Bandon Trails
Pacific Dunes
Old MacDonald
Beverly
North Shore Country Club
Hideout
Prairie Dunes

[Bill Crane]

Last Ten:

Pine Valley -   PV, NJ  ( Crump / H Colt et al)
Springdale Golf Club -   Princeton, NJ  (Wm Flynn -home club)
Cherry Valley Golf Club -  Skillman, NJ ( Rees Jones )
Lu Lu Golf Club -   Pa   ( Donald Ross )
Vero Beach C C - Vero Beach, FL  (Herbert Strong)
Orchid Island C C -  Vero Beach, FL (A Palmer)
Chechessee Creek Club -  Okatie, SC  ( Coore & Crenshaw)
Kiawah Island Resourt – The Ocean Course, Kiawah Island, SC  ( Pete Dye )
Mid Pines Inn and Golf Club -  So Pines, NC  (D Ross)
Quaker Ridge G C -  Scarsdale, NY  ( E Tillinghast)
The Course at YALE -  New Haven, CT  ( S Raynor )
 
 
Earlier - Fall 2016
Plainfield C C -  Edison, NJ  ( D Ross )  twice !!
Bedens Brook C C -  Skillman, NJ  ( D Wilson )

[Tommy Williamsen]

     The Ace Club
Manufacturers
Ballyhack
Quail Hollow
Treyburn
TPC Wakefield
Hope Valley
Cascata
Wolf Creek
Sand Hollow
Coyote Springs
 

[Jim Sherma]

Mike


CC of Maryland was worth a play. Very tight routing on a land-locked site. Good movement and a real interesting set of Herbert Strong greens that looked to be pretty original except for the 6th and 14th looking pretty out of place. The 9th is real interesting with a big green whose back 2/3 is 3 feet or so below the first third. I hear they are re-surfacing the greens this summer (may have already started) and really hope they keep them as they were. From memory the 2nd, 3rd, 8th, 9th, 15th and 17th were pretty special.


Silver Creek's Hill 9 is awesome fun! Every hole other than the drop shot 9th has something of interest going on with 1, 4, 5, 7 and 8 are all very good. 1 and 4 as good as anything in the Lehigh Valley. Architecturally I think the Silver Creek's Ross 18 is far better than any of the the Saucon courses and slightly better than Lehigh, and I place both Lehigh and the pre-renovation Saucon Old course very highly. The Hill has not been maintained adequately since I first played it in the early 80's and would require a pretty significant investment to clear out the woods adequately for the average player the consider it 'fair'. The 6th at the top of the hill might just be too extreme for modern sentiments. While the Gordon 9 across the street is a perfectly fine set of holes they pale in comparison to the Hill in my opinion. And yes I have walked it and other than the straight uphill third it is very walkable in my opinion. A buddy of mine has taken some great photos of the club and I will have to post a Ross 18 photo tour soon.

Good Spring and early Summer:


Membership courses


Hershey CC West (multiple)
Hershey CC East (multiple)
Hershey Spring Creek
Hunt Valley GC (multiple)


Others


County Sligo x2
Strandhill x2
Enniscrone
Carne x2
Mulranny
Lahinch
Greenspring Valley Hunt Club
CC of Maryland
Silver Creek CC (Ross in PA)
Green Pond CC (Findlay in PA)


Of this set I thought Sligo and Greenspring Valley were exceptional. I also love the 18 Ross holes at Silver Creek. Mulranny's turf really is that nice to hit off of. Strandhill is very good and if value for money is added into the equation it's great.

Nice list, Jim.

I do wish Silver Creek put the Ross rotation in play more often.   I've yet to play the Hill nine (Ross) as they have their 27 divided into the "Championship" (nine Ross and nine Wm/David Gordon) course and "Hill" nine, probably in deference to the severity of the terrain for the members, as you know.  The few Hill nine holes I was able to see looked compelling.

CC of Maryland (Herbert Strong) seems like a neat place.   Is it worth a visit?

[Tommy Williamsen]

In the eighties I played CC of MD a few times each year.  I loved the place. It has a great stretch of holes, 13-15 that are just wonderful. It isn't a long courese but it will test your patience. I should get back there sometime.

[Tommy Williamsen]

2017 looks to be a Banner Year so far;

Pomona (NJ) (9) - James "Sonny" Fraser/Bill Spence 1947
Honeybrook  (PA) (18) - James Blaukovitch 2000
Karakung (PA) (18) - Alan Corson/Ab Smith 1927, Alan Corson/Ed Clarey 1939
Walnut Lane (PA) (18) - Alex Findlay 1941
Glen Brook (PA) (18) - Robert White 1924
Rolling Road (MD) (18) - Willie Park, Jr. 1919
Twin Oaks (PA) (9) - Charles Volack 1967
Lehman (PA) (9) - Samuel Spencer 1953
Coatesville (PA) (18) - Alex Findlay 1921, Cyril Hughes 1924, Joe Valentine/Ed Clarey 1928, Jim Nagle 2016
Skyway (NJ) (9) - Roy Case/Jeff Grossman 2016

How did you like Rolling Road? Park got the most out of a tight piece of property. It has a wonderful set of greens.

[Sean_A]

I had a strange last 10...in reverse order

Kington
Burnham & Berrow
Baltray
Laytown & Bettystown
Corballis
The Island
Burnham & Berrow
Cleeve Cloud
Minch Old
Casa de Campo Madrid Negro

Ciao

[MClutterbuck]

I had a strange last 10...in reverse order

Kington
Burnham & Berrow
Baltray
Laytown & Bettystown
Corballis
The Island
Burnham & Berrow
Cleeve Cloud
Minch Old
Casa de Campo Madrid Negro

Ciao

How many courses would you play on an Ireland trip before you include The Island?

[Sean_A]

I had a strange last 10...in reverse order

Kington
Burnham & Berrow
Baltray
Laytown & Bettystown
Corballis
The Island
Burnham & Berrow
Cleeve Cloud
Minch Old
Casa de Campo Madrid Negro

Ciao

How many courses would you play on an Ireland trip before you include The Island?

That depends on where my trip takes me in Ireland.  I wouldn't be inclined to drive from Donegal or western Ireland just to play The Island.  If I was near Dublinish, Corballis would be my first port of call with The Island likely vying for second. 


Ciao

[MCirba]

How did you like Rolling Road? Park got the most out of a tight piece of property. It has a wonderful set of greens.

Tommy,


We had a wonderful time at Rolling Road.  It really is an amazingly compact routing that doesnt feel cramped but in a spot or two.  There are also some very unique holes and a fair amount of visual deception and it appears most of the greens are original and untouched.  As you mentioned, they are the highlight.

[MCirba]

Mike


CC of Maryland was worth a play. Very tight routing on a land-locked site. Good movement and a real interesting set of Herbert Strong greens that looked to be pretty original except for the 6th and 14th looking pretty out of place. The 9th is real interesting with a big green whose back 2/3 is 3 feet or so below the first third. I hear they are re-surfacing the greens this summer (may have already started) and really hope they keep them as they were. From memory the 2nd, 3rd, 8th, 9th, 15th and 17th were pretty special.


Silver Creek's Hill 9 is awesome fun! Every hole other than the drop shot 9th has something of interest going on with 1, 4, 5, 7 and 8 are all very good. 1 and 4 as good as anything in the Lehigh Valley. Architecturally I think the Silver Creek's Ross 18 is far better than any of the the Saucon courses and slightly better than Lehigh, and I place both Lehigh and the pre-renovation Saucon Old course very highly. The Hill has not been maintained adequately since I first played it in the early 80's and would require a pretty significant investment to clear out the woods adequately for the average player the consider it 'fair'. The 6th at the top of the hill might just be too extreme for modern sentiments. While the Gordon 9 across the street is a perfectly fine set of holes they pale in comparison to the Hill in my opinion. And yes I have walked it and other than the straight uphill third it is very walkable in my opinion. A buddy of mine has taken some great photos of the club and I will have to post a Ross 18 photo tour soon.

Jim,


Not sure if you saw this?  Hopefully the new owner will do right in helping Silver Creek reach its potential.


http://www.mcall.com/business/realestate/mc-biz-spirk-to-buy-silver-creek-country-club-20170630-story.html

[MClutterbuck]

Thanks Sean.


Might as well add my last 10 before I bump a great one out, doubt I will ever improve on this list:


Nordelta
Kingsbarns
Old Course
Castle Course
HCEG - Muirfield
Gullane #1
North Berwick West Links
Castle Stuart
Brora
Royal Dornoch

[Matthew Hauth]

Last Ten
Pumpkin Ridge Witch Hollow (OR)
Sand Valley (WI)
Old Macdonald (OR)
Bandon Trails (OR)
Bandon Dunes (OR)
Pacific Dunes (OR)
Riverside Golf & Country Club (OR)
Portland Golf Club (OR)
Philadelphia Cricket Club (PA)
Waverley Country Club (OR)

Next Few
Silvies Valley Ranch (OR)
Sand Valley (WI)
Mammoth Dunes - Preview (WI)

[Richard Hetzel]

10. Stonecrest GC (KY)
9. Bobby Jones GC (FL)
8. Port Charlotte GC (FL)
7. Gateway National (IL)
6. Piney Valley FLW (MO)
5. LaFortune Park GC (OK)
4. GC of Edmond (OK)
3. Commanche Trail Tomahawk (TX)
2. New Mexico Military Institute (NM)
1. Marty Sanchez Links de Santa Fe (NM)

[BCowan]

Rackham
Tyrone Hills
UofM
Heatherdowns
Meadowbrook
Monroe
Flossmoor
Ravisloe
Flint GC
Jackal

[Joe_Tucholski]

University of Michigan
TPC Michigan
NCR South
NCR North
Glen Abbey Golf Club
Lahinch (was planning to play a bit more on this trip to Ireland but was admitted to the hospital for a couple days immediately before the trip...took my admission band off the wrist and went to the airport...figured if I was gonna die on a course this one might be worth it)
River Crossing
Gateway Hills
Brookside Canton
Pete Dye Golf Club

[Sean_A]

Rackham
Tyrone Hills
UofM
Heatherdowns
Meadowbrook
Monroe
Flossmoor
Ravisloe
UofM
Jackal

How is Tyrone Hills?


Ciao I