New Confidential Guide

[Jud_T]

Assuming it happens, what courses are you most looking forward to seeing rated or re-rated?  Here's my (revised) list:

Knollwood Club, Lake Forest, IL
Ravisloe CC, Homewood, IL
Spring Valley CC, Salem, WI
Tamarack CC, Greenwich, CT
Barona Creek, San Diego, CA

[Tom_Doak]

Jud:

To make this a productive exercise, I would appreciate it if everyone could list the 3-5 courses they would most like to see included in the book that weren't before, or the ones I most need to get back to.  There's no way I'm going to get to all of them, but it would help prioritize.

Of your own list, I've not yet been to Cabot Links or Trump International or Tamarack, but hope to include all of them in the book.  And where is the Spring Valley that you refer to?  [I'm assuming it's not the Vern Morcom course in Melbourne.]

And why do you want me to get back to Dismal River and Medinah #3?  Just wondering how difficult it will be for me to be honest about them when I'm working for the two clubs on courses next door?

[Mark McKeever]

Tom, here are my top picks of courses that you need to take another look at. 


Aronimink
Philadelphia Cricket Wissahickon
Country Club of Scranton

Mark

[Jud_T]

Tom,

Spring Valley is the bunkerless Langford in Salem, WI.  Well worth a visit and about 6 paces over the Illinois/Wisconsin border.  Personally I find it more consistently interesting than any other public in the Chicago Metro area, although many here would disagree.  If you're going to Spring Valley you might as well also check out Keith Foster's work at Shepherd's Crook in Zion, IL which is about 10 minutes away. I was just playing devil's advocate with Medinah and Dismal given the political difficulties involved.  List revised...

[David Amarnek]

Tom,
I live in St. Louis and am originally from Philly and have a selfish interest in you evaluating Westwood CC in St. Louis and re-visiting Gulph Mills GC.  We just had Tom Paul and Wayne Morrison check out Westwood and Tom had the opinion that at least one hole had the potential to be world class and loved the layout, especially our greens.  Wayne enjoyed Westwood even more than St. Louis CC!
If you were to return to Philly, I would also be very interested on your take on the changes at Merion East.  
Looking forward to the next edition!

[Don_Mahaffey]

Wolf Point*
Austin Golf Club
Whispering Pines

*I struggle a bit with the idea of WP being ranked or rated by anyone, especially based on one visit. But, if anyone can offer an honest analysis based on one visit, it is you. But I'm hoping you haven't seen the other two and a return visit to TX would be needed

[Cory Lewis]

I'd like to hear your opinion of the Strantz courses.  I don't have the book in front of me, but if you did comment on Tobacco Road I would like to see that updated as well as your thoughts on Tot Hill Farm, Bull's Bay, Monterey Peninsula(Shore), & True Blue.  I'd also like to see Hope Valley and The Meadow Club updated.

[Paul Jones]

Chambers Bay
Streamsong Resort
Muirfield Village

[Mark Pearce]

Seaton Carew.

[Bill Brightly]

Friars Head
Weyhill (Saucon Valley)
Mountain Ridge (currently rated at 5)

[Mike Schott]

In Michigan:

Forest Dunes
Cedar River
Shephard's Hollow
Hawkshead

Did you rate the Gailes course at Lakewood Shores in Oscoda in the earlier version? I can't recall.

[Josh Tarble]

French Lick Dye
French Lick Ross

[JR Potts]

And why do you want me to get back to Dismal River and Medinah #3?  Just wondering how difficult it will be for me to be honest about them when I'm working for the two clubs on courses next door?

I have no interest in seeing you do either of these courses.  I don't see what good could come of it - either way.

I am curious to see Whistling Straits.

[jeffwarne]

Southampton
The Goat (properly "guided", and played-- not walked)

[Paul Carey]

I'd like to hear your opinion of the Strantz courses.  I don't have the book in front of me, but if you did comment on Tobacco Road I would like to see that updated as well as your thoughts on Tot Hill Farm, Bull's Bay, Monterey Peninsula(Shore), & True Blue.  I'd also like to see Hope Valley and The Meadow Club updated.

I would like to get your opinion on courses that many consider to be "different".  I think your opinion of some Strantz courses would be really valuable.

[Joe Bausch]

(all near Philly)

Lebanon CC
Lederach
Tavistock
And if the 'timing' is right, Cobb's Creek

[Josh Tarble]

Tom,

I'd also like to see your opinion of some of your own courses, now that many have been open for a while...maybe in a separate section or something.  Although it may be like ranking your favorite child  

[Giles Payne]

I'd love you to see Huntercombe

[Matt MacIver]

Courses I'd most interested in Tom's opinion:

Bandon complex
Kingsbarns
Black Mesa
Musgrove Mill


Others of Note:

Kinloch
Ocean Course; Cassique
Chechessee Creek; Dormie
Ballyneal
Quail Hollow; Charlotte CC;
Diamond Creek;
Cascade
Strantz - all of it

[Matt Bosela]

I'm not 100% sure but I didn't think you've seen these five in Canada.  All five can be argued as potential top 10 courses in the country, although I'm not as big a fan of the last course on the list as some others.

Banff Springs
Jasper Park
Cabot Links
Sagebrush
Tobiano

[Scott Sander]

Well.... since you asked....

Harrison Hills - since the Langford 9 already occupy a soft spot in your heart, I'd like to read your take on Liddy's holes and the current upkeep of the course.
Murphy Creek - There's value in affordable municipal golf, and CG isn't the only Denver-area course that makes the case.  I think #3 is truly an all-world hole and it's not just a fluke outlier; there are several better-than-good holes.  
Woodland (Carmel, In) CC - late-career Dye overhaul of Diddel's home course.  Gets very little notice, but I think it has more to recommend for the typical golfer than does Crooked Stick just down the road.  (And since you may want to look at the changes at Crooked Stick anyway... )

[Mark Saltzman]

I can't recall the ratings of these courses in the earlier CG, but I'd be curious to see if/how ratings change after well-received restorations.

Plainfield
Charlotte CC
Brookside (Canton)
LACC (North)
Pasatiempo
Monroe
Yale
Sleepy Hollow
Southampton
Kawartha
CC of Florida
Greenbrier Old White

and, a couple moderns:
The Bridge
The Patriot
Shooting Star
Prairie club (Dunes)
Friar's Head

[Jason Connor]

Strantz courses (especially the publics).

Pasa renovation.

And thanks Tom.  I don't own a copy so I'm grateful for an update and a reprinting.

[K. Krahenbuhl]

Cal Club
Diamante
Friar's head
Nanea

[Connor Dougherty]

Courses I'd like to/looking forward to seeing you update:
Claremont CC
Pinehurst #2

New Courses to be reviewed if you get the chance:
Torresdale Frankford in Philly (my dad was a caddy there when he was in high school)
Huntercombe

I'd also like to see your opinion of some of your own courses, now that many have been open for a while...maybe in a separate section or something.  Although it may be like ranking your favorite child  

+1...especially for some of your lesser known tracks (i.e. St Andrews Beach, Rock Creek, The Sheep Ranch, etc.)