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Mark Pearce

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Ran's challenge
« Reply #75 on: July 12, 2013, 06:37:09 AM »
Elie
Nearly three pages before anyone mentions Elie.  Standards are slipping.
In June I will be riding the first three stages of this year's Tour de France route for charity.  630km (394 miles) in three days, with 7800m (25,600 feet) of climbing for the William Wates Memorial Trust (https://rideleloop.org/the-charity/) which supports underprivileged young people.

Mike Demetriou

Re: Ran's challenge
« Reply #76 on: July 12, 2013, 07:40:13 AM »
Someone mentioned Hotchkiss (9x2) earlier. I love that track, but should we start considering great nine hole tracks, about which dozens of threads exist? I don't know the answer but might argue yes.

As a sidebar, this excellent thread has resurrected my deep interest in what GCA members think, after a twelve month self imposed exile due to the sometimes overwhelmingly petty and often mean nature of comments deposited in otherwise interesting threads. Bravo.

jeffwarne

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Ran's challenge
« Reply #77 on: July 12, 2013, 08:59:11 AM »
Great thread

Rich,
Thanks for the info-would LOVE to have a day like that at our club, but I'm not sure there's enough daylight ;D ;D

Tom,
Agreed on N&P, loved the earlier version, but I still like the new version, and they may have achieved their objective as it seems to get far more visitor play now. (if indeed that was their objective)
NOBODY had heard of it when I was first there and it's relatively well known now, though that is also due to Finnegan and you.
"Let's slow the damned greens down a bit, not take the character out of them." Tom Doak
"Take their focus off the grass and put it squarely on interesting golf." Don Mahaffey

Jaeger Kovich

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Ran's challenge
« Reply #78 on: July 12, 2013, 09:10:54 AM »
Berkshire Blue - 6398
Berkshire Red - 6452
Coombe Hill - 6401

Mucci's favorite... Seaview Bay - 6247


... Mid Pines 6528
Tobacco Road 6552
Royal Ashdown Forest 6518

John_Conley

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Ran's challenge
« Reply #79 on: July 12, 2013, 09:36:37 AM »
Take a 7,000 yard course of Par 72.  Now remove a 400 yard Par 4 from each side and replace it with a 150 yard Par 3.  That's 500 yards off right there, so we're at Par 70.

Challenge is still pretty much the same, the fun factor goes up, rounds are a little quicker, and maintenance costs drop.

I suspect the reason we are finding so many Scottish candidates for this list is similarly tied to par.

PCCraig

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Ran's challenge
« Reply #80 on: July 12, 2013, 09:42:44 AM »
This thread has devolved into people blurting out the first 6500 yard golf course that they can think of...

So who wants to take a crack at ranking the best 20 in the US and the best 20 in Europe?
H.P.S.

Phil McDade

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Ran's challenge
« Reply #81 on: July 12, 2013, 11:02:42 AM »
Pat:

I think Machrihanish at 6462 yds is very good (and that's with a bunch of new tees; the everyday yellow tees still play at under 6,000 -- 5971).

Fraserburgh, subject of a recent profile by Ran, is 6308 from the tips and regular yellow-tee play is right around 6,000 yds. Maybe not quite as good as Machrihanish, but I'd put both on a top-20 list in Scotland for sub-6,500 yds courses. Boat of Garten at 5876 yds is a terrific challenge; if you re-located that course to Minnesota or Wisconsin, people would rave about it over here. A probable top-20 in Scotland as well for the sub-6500 yd category.

Here in Wisconsin, I think Maple Bluff (6,400 tips), Blackhawk (6175 tips), and Spring Valley (6451 tips) are all really solid courses. And the criminally unknown 9-hole Country Club Estates in Walworth County near Lake Geneva, played twice, is a lot of fun at 6,022 yards.


Jud_T

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Ran's challenge
« Reply #82 on: July 12, 2013, 01:18:30 PM »
Here's all the nominations thus far.  Perhaps if we set a cutoff date people can submit ballots and I can compile them.  Couple of questions.  Are we including 9-holers? (even if they have 2 sets of tees)?  Is North Berwick in or out?  I will add or subtract any additions or corrections as they come.

Aberfoyle
Addington
Aiken GC
Aiken Golf Club
Alyth
Apawamis
Arrowtown
Ashburn (Old)
Bald Peak Colony
Banhory
Beau Desert
Berkshire Blue
Birkshire Red
Blackhawk
Blackwell
Boat of Garten
Brancepeth Castle
Brora
Burlington GCC
Camberly Heath
Cape Arundel
Cardross
Carnoustie Burnside
Cavendish
CC Farmington
Clearwater CC
Coombe Hill
Copake
Country Club Estates
Crail Balcomie
Dealmere Forest
Dunbar
East Renfrewshire
Eastward Ho!
Edgaston
Edzell
Elie
Forfar
Fraserburgh
Friford Heath
Gleneagles (Queens)
Gullane 2
Gullane 3
Hanover CC
Healesville
Hindhead GC
Hockley
Hotchkiss GC
Huntercombe
Kebo Valley
Kilspindie
Kingswood
Kington
Kirrienuir
Knole Park
LACC South
Lakeview
Laytown & Bettystown
Leatherstockings
Liphook
Longniddry
Lulu CC
Lundin
Machrihanish
Maidstone
Maple Bluffs
Milngavie
Misquimicut
Monterey Peninsula
Morfontaine
Mount Dora GC
Murrayfield
New Zealand
North Berwick
North West
Old Del Monte GC
Old Elm
Pacific Grove
Painswick
Piltdown
Portrush Valley
Powfoot
Prestbury
Ranfurly Castle
Reddish Vale
Rosedale
Royal West Norfolk
Royal Worlington
Rye
Seaview Bay
Southampton
Southerndown
Spring Valley
St. George's
Stirling
Stoneham
Stranhill
Strathpeffer Spa
Swinley Forest
Tadmarton Heath
Vicotria GC
Wawashkomo GC
West Sussex
White Bear YC
Whitinsville GC
Wood's Hole
Worplesdon
« Last Edit: July 12, 2013, 01:33:09 PM by Jud T »
Golf is a game. We play it. Somewhere along the way we took the fun out of it and charged a premium to be punished.- - Ron Sirak

Andrew Buck

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Ran's challenge
« Reply #83 on: July 12, 2013, 02:39:54 PM »
I've always enjoyed Ravisloe Country Club at 6,321.

I will say I feel like it played longer at par 70 than the 6,800 par 72 course I normally play.  It's interesting how many great courses are excluded between 6,500 - 6,700 yards.

Jim_Kennedy

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Ran's challenge
« Reply #84 on: July 12, 2013, 02:57:37 PM »
A neat little Travis course, the Stamford GC in Stamford, NY, is safely under the mark by 215 yards.

Flynn's Monroe CC in Monroe, NY is a 9 hole gem that checks in with 1,078 yards to spare, about the same as Ross' 18 hole Winchendon School golf course.

Raynor's Waunumetonomy CC in RI could add 190 yards to their course and still make it in under 6,500.

Stowe Country Club in Stowe, Vt. is another that tips out a few hundred yards shy of the threshold.
« Last Edit: July 12, 2013, 06:59:16 PM by Jim_Kennedy »
"I never beat a well man in my life" - Harry Vardon

Mark Bourgeois

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Ran's challenge
« Reply #85 on: July 12, 2013, 02:59:57 PM »
Let's roll out the Rosses:

Highlands
Metacomet
Roaring Gap
Charlotte. Daniel. Olivia. Josephine. Ana. Dylan. Madeleine. Catherine. Chase. Jesse. James. Grace. Emilie. Jack. Noah. Caroline. Jessica. Benjamin. Avielle. Allison.

PCCraig

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Ran's challenge
« Reply #86 on: July 12, 2013, 03:08:56 PM »
Are we including 9-holers? (even if they have 2 sets of tees)?

I would say no.

You might as well add my home course, Town & Country Club in St. Paul to the list. (6380 yards). It's better than at least a few listed.
H.P.S.

Bill_Yates

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Ran's challenge
« Reply #87 on: July 12, 2013, 04:31:19 PM »
A post script to Old Del Monte.

Even at 6300 yards, Old Del Monte still hosts an annual Champions Tour event, The First Tee Open, and the annual Calloway Invitational.  In fact, two years ago it proved to be the toughest up and down from green side bunkers of any of the Champions Tour venues.
Bill Yates
www.pacemanager.com 
"When you manage the pace of play, you manage the quality of golf."

Thomas Dai

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Ran's challenge
« Reply #88 on: July 12, 2013, 04:40:02 PM »
Just for a bit of fun I thought I'd start at the top of the Scottish mainland and work my way down the East coast to St Andrews, listing the 18-hole courses nearish the coast, excluding major/famous names and not including any inland courses or 9-holers.

I'd never have guessed there'd be this many. I could well be wrong, but I don't believe any of these are over 6,500 yds even from the back tees - I could be wrong though. I'm sure someone will say if I am! Indeed, some are well under 6,500, some under 6,000, some even under 5,000. Some crackers and gems. Some eccentric, idiosyncratic or down right weird, and some, well perhaps a few steps lower down the golfing desirability ladder.

Raey
Wick
Brora
Golspie
Tain
Invergordon
Fortrose & Rosemarkie
Nairn Dunbar
Moray Old
Moray New
Hopeman
Gramouth & Kingston
Speybay
Buckpool
Strathlene
Cullen
Duff House Royal
Royal Tarlair
Fraserburgh
Inverallochy
Peterhead
Newburgh
Murcar
Kings Links
Balnagask
Stonehaven
Montrose
Arbroath
Burnside
Buddon
Panmure
Monifeith
Scotscraig
Himalayas at StA
that'll do

34 courses in about 350 miles. Just a few then.

ATB



David Hendler

Re: Ran's challenge
« Reply #89 on: July 12, 2013, 07:00:57 PM »
Up in Cape Cod, MA you can add:

Wianno
Hyannisport

Sean_A

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Ran's challenge
« Reply #90 on: July 12, 2013, 08:04:04 PM »
Here's all the nominations thus far.  Perhaps if we set a cutoff date people can submit ballots and I can compile them.  Couple of questions.  Are we including 9-holers? (even if they have 2 sets of tees)?  Is North Berwick in or out?  I will add or subtract any additions or corrections as they come.

Aberfoyle
Addington
Aiken GC
Aiken Golf Club
Alyth
Apawamis
Arrowtown
Ashburn (Old)
Bald Peak Colony
Banhory
Beau Desert
Berkshire Blue
Birkshire Red
Blackhawk
Blackwell
Boat of Garten
Brancepeth Castle
Brora
Burlington GCC
Camberly Heath
Cape Arundel
Cardross
Carnoustie Burnside
Cavendish
CC Farmington
Clearwater CC
Coombe Hill
Copake
Country Club Estates
Crail Balcomie
Dealmere Forest
Dunbar
East Renfrewshire
Eastward Ho!
Edgaston
Edzell
Elie
Forfar
Fraserburgh
Friford Heath
Gleneagles (Queens)
Gullane 2
Gullane 3
Hanover CC
Healesville
Hindhead GC
Hockley
Hotchkiss GC
Huntercombe
Kebo Valley
Kilspindie
Kingswood
Kington
Kirrienuir
Knole Park
LACC South
Lakeview
Laytown & Bettystown
Leatherstockings
Liphook
Longniddry
Lulu CC
Lundin
Machrihanish
Maidstone
Maple Bluffs
Milngavie
Misquimicut
Monterey Peninsula
Morfontaine
Mount Dora GC
Murrayfield
New Zealand
North Berwick
North West
Old Del Monte GC
Old Elm
Pacific Grove
Painswick
Piltdown
Portrush Valley
Powfoot
Prestbury
Ranfurly Castle
Reddish Vale
Rosedale
Royal West Norfolk
Royal Worlington

Rye

Seaview Bay
Southampton
Southerndown
Spring Valley
St. George's
Stirling
Stoneham
Stranhill
Strathpeffer Spa
Swinley Forest
Tadmarton Heath
Vicotria GC
Wawashkomo GC
West Sussex
White Bear YC
Whitinsville GC
Wood's Hole
Worplesdon


Good shot at 30ish to 50

Addington
Brora
Camberly Heath
Cavendish
Edgaston
Huntercombe
Knole Park
Liphook
New Zealand
Prestbury
Southerndown
Stoneham
Worplesdon


Shoe in 30ish to 50

Kington
Beau Desert


No brainer top 25
North Berwick I seriously doubt the back tees are less than 6500
Royal West Norfolk
Royal Worlington

Rye

Swinley Forest


Ciao
« Last Edit: July 13, 2013, 03:22:21 AM by Sean_A »
New plays planned for 2024: Nothing

V. Kmetz

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Ran's challenge
« Reply #91 on: July 12, 2013, 08:27:18 PM »
Siwanoy CC - Bronxville, NY.

6480 - Blues (Never actually plays that distance all in one round...6425 is more frequent number)
6176 - White (Usually teed as 6250ish)

For American courses, under the "terms" of the challenge, Siwanoy MUST be a high-placer, along with:
Maidstone
Apawamis
CC. of Fairfield

All four of these are fun in their quirks, picturesque in their settings, filled with antique, visual character, just all about 100 years old and challenging as hell in windy and/or exceptionally dry conditions.  You also have a range of venerated ODGs as their creator. 

cheers

vk
« Last Edit: July 12, 2013, 08:42:59 PM by V. Kmetz »
"The tee shot must first be hit straight and long between a vast bunker on the left which whispers 'slice' in the player's ear, and a wilderness on the right which induces a hurried hook." -

David_Elvins

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Ran's challenge
« Reply #92 on: July 12, 2013, 08:46:59 PM »
FWIW, If I had to rate the courses I have played out of ten I would go with

Swinley Forest - 9

Healesville 8

Merion West 7
Berkshire Red 7

New Zealand 6

Berkshire Blue 5
Arrowtown 5

Pacific Grove 3
Ask not what GolfClubAtlas can do for you; ask what you can do for GolfClubAtlas.

Paul_Turner

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Ran's challenge
« Reply #93 on: July 12, 2013, 08:50:32 PM »
Wentworth East at 6201.  In sharp contrast to its butchered amazonian sister.

Broadstone 6393 is good one.  As is Tom Simpson's Golf de Fagnes (Spa) which just scrapes in (6482).  

Seve's home course at Pedrena was famous for being short and with tricky greens.  I'm sure it's well below 6500.

My old favourite hidden gem, Harborne is well under at 6210.  Parkstone another Bournemouth club that's short and good enough.

I'm looking through my favourite UK Top 50 from the old AA guidebook published in 1977 and 16 are less than 6500 with none over 7000.
« Last Edit: July 12, 2013, 08:58:58 PM by Paul_Turner »
can't get to heaven with a three chord song

Jud_T

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Ran's challenge
« Reply #94 on: July 12, 2013, 09:01:36 PM »
Good call on Wentworth East.  We played there years ago and I was pissed that we couldn't get on the West.  Now I think I might've gotten the better end of the deal.
Golf is a game. We play it. Somewhere along the way we took the fun out of it and charged a premium to be punished.- - Ron Sirak

Mac Plumart

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Ran's challenge
« Reply #95 on: July 12, 2013, 09:55:12 PM »
Does Merion West fit the bill?
Sportsman/Adventure loving golfer.

Jim Nugent

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Ran's challenge
« Reply #96 on: July 13, 2013, 01:00:25 AM »
Palos Verdes Golf Club weighs in at 6313 yards.  A Thomas & Bell gem from the 1920s. 

Gleneagles in San Francisco.  A 9-holer with different sets of tees on many holes and lots of wind.  Always found it interesting back in the late 1980s when I played there. 

Lincoln Park is under 6000 yards.   

A few country clubs in the St. Louis area:  Westborough and Algonquin.  Westborough was the home of accomplished amateur golfer Jim Holtgrieve.  Algonquin was the home of former Walker Cup player Jim Jackson.  The courses are located a few blocks from each other.   

Leo Barber

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Ran's challenge
« Reply #97 on: July 13, 2013, 07:13:42 AM »
Paraparaumu Beach medal tees, Par 71 6469 yards

Jud_T

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Ran's challenge
« Reply #98 on: July 13, 2013, 08:40:06 AM »
Updated list.  9-holers eliminated, frankly that's a whole other thread.  Also North Berwick out unless we hear definitively that it should be in.

Aberfoyle
Addington
Aiken GC
Algonquin
Alyth
Apawamis
Arbroath
Arrowtown
Ashburn (Old)
Bald Peak Colony
Balnagask
Banhory
Beau Desert
Berkshire Blue
Birkshire Red
Blackhawk
Blackwell
Boat of Garten
Brancepeth Castle
Broadstone
Brora
Buckpool
Buddon
Burlington GCC
Burnside
Camberly Heath
Cape Arundel
Cardross
Carnoustie Burnside
Cavendish
CC Fairfield
CC Farmington
Clearwater CC
Coombe Hill
Copake
Crail Balcomie
Cullen
Dealmere Forest
Duff House Royal
Dunbar
East Renfrewshire
Eastward Ho!
Edgaston
Edzell
Elie
Forfar
Fortrose & Rosemarkie
Fraserburgh
Friford Heath
Gleneagles (Queens)
Golspie
Gramouth & Kingston
Gullane 2
Gullane 3
Hanover CC
Harborne
Healesville
Highlands
Hindhead GC
Hockley
Hopeman
Huntercombe
Hyannisport
Inverallochy
Invergordon
Kebo Valley
Kilspindie
Kings Links
Kingswood
Kington
Kirrienuir
Knole Park
LACC South
Lakeview
Laytown & Bettystown
Leatherstockings
Lincoln Park
Liphook
Longniddry
Lulu CC
Lundin
Machrihanish
Maidstone
Maple Bluffs
Merion West
Metacomet
Milngavie
Misquimicut
Monifeith
Monroe CC
Monterey Peninsula
Montrose
Moray New
Moray Old
Morfontaine
Mount Dora GC
Murcar
Murrayfield
Nairn Dunbar
New Zealand
Newburgh
North West
Old Del Monte GC
Old Elm
Pacific Grove
Painswick
Palos Verdes
Panmure
Paraparaumu Beach
Parkstone
Pedrena
Peterhead
Piltdown
Portrush Valley
Powfoot
Prestbury
Raey
Ranfurly Castle
Ravisloe CC
Reddish Vale
Roring Gap
Rosedale
Royal Tarlair
Royal West Norfolk
Rye
Scotscraig
Seaview Bay
Siwanoy CC
Southampton
Southerndown
Speybay
Spring Valley
St. George's
Stamford GC
Stirling
Stoneham
Stonehaven
Stowe CC
Stranhill
Strathlene
Strathpeffer Spa
Swinley Forest
Tadmarton Heath
Tain
Town & Country Club
Vicotria GC
Waunumetonomy
Wentworth East
West Sussex
Westborough
White Bear YC
Wianno
Wick
Wood's Hole
Worplesdon
« Last Edit: July 13, 2013, 09:08:08 AM by Jud T »
Golf is a game. We play it. Somewhere along the way we took the fun out of it and charged a premium to be punished.- - Ron Sirak

Andy Troeger

Re: Ran's challenge
« Reply #99 on: July 13, 2013, 08:54:08 AM »
South Bend Country Club (IN), 6,494 yards. Barely makes the cut, but a wonderful golf course. Would be much better known if it were in a major city.