[David_Tepper]

From LINKS mag:

http://www.linksmagazine.com/golf_courses/top-10-courses-worth-discovering

[Tim Martin]

I didn't find anything compelling about Duke University Golf Course. I played it twice over three days and couldn't remember many of the holes a week or so later. Lots of big hard par fours that were probably made even tougher by Reese.

[BCowan]

The only think compelling at Duke is the bacon egg and cheese sandwich. 

[Jason Topp]

I have played Cambrian Ridge and Grand Bear.  Cambrian Ridge is a big golf course with three distinct nines - all of which are worth playing.  Grand Bear seemed pretty good but I played it with Cory Lewis so it seemed as if we were done in about five minutes.

[Sam Morrow]

I have played Cambrian Ridge and Grand Bear.  Cambrian Ridge is a big golf course with three distinct nines - all of which are worth playing.  Grand Bear seemed pretty good but I played it with Cory Lewis so it seemed as if we were done in about five minutes.

Well then 

[Jason Topp]

I have played Cambrian Ridge and Grand Bear.  Cambrian Ridge is a big golf course with three distinct nines - all of which are worth playing.  Grand Bear seemed pretty good but I played it with Cory Lewis so it seemed as if we were done in about five minutes.

Well then 

It still seemed like about 5 minutes with  the three of us.

[Sam Morrow]

I have played Cambrian Ridge and Grand Bear.  Cambrian Ridge is a big golf course with three distinct nines - all of which are worth playing.  Grand Bear seemed pretty good but I played it with Cory Lewis so it seemed as if we were done in about five minutes.

Well then 

It still seemed like about 5 minutes with  the three of us.

I'm the funny guy.

[Mac Plumart]

Haven't read the article, but I'll offer there 10 courses that a golf course enthusiast should see and discover.

-Aiken Golf Club
- Bandon Dunes Golf Resort (4 courses)
-The Old Course St. Andrews
-Pinehurst #2
-Royal County Down
-Pine Valley (Crump Cup at a minimum)
-Augusta National (walk it at The Masters at a minimum)

I think if golfers would do this, they'd understand how amazing playing golf can be.

[Keith OHalloran]

Haven't read the article, but I'll offer there 10 courses that a golf course enthusiast should see and discover.

-Aiken Golf Club
- Bandon Dunes Golf Resort (4 courses)
-The Old Course St. Andrews
-Pinehurst #2
-Royal County Down
-Pine Valley (Crump Cup at a minimum)
-Augusta National (walk it at The Masters at a minimum)

I think if golfers would do this, they'd understand how amazing playing golf can be.

Mac, I know little about Aiken, why is it included in your list?

[David_Tepper]

Mac -

You might want to read the article. It is about relatively "hidden gems" rather than the obvious choices.

DT 

[David_Moorhead]

Dinosaur Mountain at Gold Canyon is a blast to play. The elevation changes alone make the course exciting, but the contours and rolling hills on some of the fairways make it interesting too. The backdrop is as pretty as the greater Phoenix area gets in my book. It's been a few years since I've played it, but I'd definitely head back there on a future AZ golf trip--even with the drive out there.

As for others on the list, would anyone skip a replay at the resort to play Bandon Crossings?  Planning my first trip out there and my instinct is to stick with the resort courses. Good instinct?

David

[jeffwarne]

Haven't read the article, but I'll offer there 10 courses that a golf course enthusiast should see and discover.

-Aiken Golf Club
- Bandon Dunes Golf Resort (4 courses)
-The Old Course St. Andrews
-Pinehurst #2
-Royal County Down
-Pine Valley (Crump Cup at a minimum)
-Augusta National (walk it at The Masters at a minimum)

I think if golfers would do this, they'd understand how amazing playing golf can be.

Mac,
That's pretty high praise for AGC.
I'm a fan of AGC but one of these things is not like the others.....

[Pete Lavallee]

The article should have been titled: 10 courses built just a little too far away from civilization to be able to print money. That being said I have played Rams Hill and it is a very good golf course. Considering it sat fallow for several years because of a water rights dispute the conditioning is outstanding. It was originally a Ted Robinson course which routinely held US Open qualifiers; sadly I never played that layout. Fazio kept one nine with the other going to housing. It's not really walkable but who's going to try to walk in the Anza Borrego Desert! The issue is attracting people to make the two hour drive from San Diego, when in the same amount of time you could go to Palm Springs. There is the boutique resort the Casa Del Zorro plus the Borrego Spings Rrsort with its own 18 hole course.  There's also the De Anza CC which is very walkable. Warner Springs is nearby and just reopened after being closed for a year; that was a good track I'm interested to see what Cary Bickler did in the redesign. It's definitely a destination area but frankly just a little too far from SD to be financially viable. I seriously hope they do well as Head Pro Rick Sprouse is a great guy.

[Rich Goodale]

The article should have been titled: 10 courses built just a little too far away from civilization to be able to print money.

Bingo Pete!  I'm sure that all of those courses have merit, but none of them more that their ability to buy advertising.

No matter what you call them, courses that are "Worth Discovering"/ "Hidden Gems"/ "Gourmet Choices" are just some people's opinion.  Just about any golf course is worth playing as long as you are there, but there are very few that are really "Worth the Journey" in Michelin parlance.  That article gave me absolutely no reason to make the journey....

[Mac Plumart]

Haven't read the article, but I'll offer there 10 courses that a golf course enthusiast should see and discover.

-Aiken Golf Club
- Bandon Dunes Golf Resort (4 courses)
-The Old Course St. Andrews
-Pinehurst #2
-Royal County Down
-Pine Valley (Crump Cup at a minimum)
-Augusta National (walk it at The Masters at a minimum)

I think if golfers would do this, they'd understand how amazing playing golf can be.

Mac, I know little about Aiken, why is it included in your list?

Keith,

It's public. 5800 yards. $25 to play and walk. And very fun and interesting.

I think it would open up someone's eyes to affordable golf that is enjoyable. Also that 7500+ yards isn't necessary.

Fun golf doesn't need to be pretentious and expensive. That's what I think Aiken delivers.

[Tim Leahy]

La Purisima near Lompoc, CA is a true hidden gem. Worth the out of the way trip.

[Bruce Wellmon]

Haven't read the article, but I'll offer there 10 courses that a golf course enthusiast should see and discover.

-Aiken Golf Club
- Bandon Dunes Golf Resort (4 courses)
-The Old Course St. Andrews
-Pinehurst #2
-Royal County Down
-Pine Valley (Crump Cup at a minimum)
-Augusta National (walk it at The Masters at a minimum)

I think if golfers would do this, they'd understand how amazing playing golf can be.

Mac, I know little about Aiken, why is it included in your list?

Keith,

It's public. 5800 yards. $25 to play and walk. And very fun and interesting.

I think it would open up someone's eyes to affordable golf that is enjoyable. Also that 7500+ yards isn't necessary.

Fun golf doesn't need to be pretentious and expensive. That's what I think Aiken delivers.

I'm with Mac, AGC is a blast to play.

[Cory Lewis]

I have played Cambrian Ridge and Grand Bear.  Cambrian Ridge is a big golf course with three distinct nines - all of which are worth playing.  Grand Bear seemed pretty good but I played it with Cory Lewis so it seemed as if we were done in about five minutes.

Well then 

It still seemed like about 5 minutes with  the three of us.

I think your confusing Grand Bear with Fallen Oak.  Fallen Oak is where the 3 of us played in 2 1/2 hours.  As I recall there were people in front of us the whole time at Grand Bear.

[Sam Morrow]

Cory is the flash!

[Mac Plumart]

Mac -

You might want to read the article. It is about relatively "hidden gems" rather than the obvious choices.

DT

David,

I read it. Actually, I have played Pine Dunes in Texas. Very solid golf courses. But I do think Aiken should be on that guys list.

[David_Tepper]

"I read it. Actually, I have played Pine Dunes in Texas. Very solid golf courses. But I do think Aiken should be on that guys list."

Mac -

I m sure there are many other courses that could comprise a list like that. It is not a list of the only 10 courses worth discovering, just 10 that are worth discovering.

DT
 

[Pete Blaisdell]

   I would like to offer some tracks up here in my neck of the woods that don't get that much fanfare but are worth your time.


Winchester CC (MA.)-- So underrated that it angers me.I could play it every day.
Kernwood CC (Ma.) Myopia, Salem and Essex County get all the hype on the North Shore but Kernwood is just as challenging as the BIG 3!
Keene CC ( NH(  Wayne Stiles-One of the toughest 6000 yards you'll ever play and might have the most exciting 18th in New England.
Hooper Golf Club-(Walpole NH) --One of the best 9 hole tracks in the country.
[size=78%]Bass river , Truro and Captains (Cape Cod ) -Public golf at it's best.[/size]
[/size][size=78%]Crown Point (VT.)  Nothing fancy but in the fall, spectacular.[/size]
[/size][size=78%]Wianno--Cape Cod--Very private-Played it for the first time 2 weeks ago. Fantastic green sites . Short but tough and worth you time . Great staff and friendly members. Highly recommend.[/size]
[/size][size=78%]Black Hall Club (CT) You think you have game?? Play this track. It will beat you up.[/size]
[/size]
[/size][size=78%]I got more but I gotta go.[/size]
[/size]

[Bill Crane]

The owners of Independence hired Lester George in 2014 to do a renovation of Tom Fazio's design completed in 2001.  The course was basically unsustainable in the state it was in due to the excessive time to play and maintenance costs.
 
I attended the insightful Lester George presentation of his work at Independence at the GCA get together at Villanova U organized by Joe Bausch last winter.  Through various changes including reducing the number of bunkers and a strategic reduction in trees, the pace of play was reduced by 45 minutes.

Wm Flynnfan

[Will Lozier]

Haven't read the article, but I'll offer there 10 courses that a golf course enthusiast should see and discover.

-Aiken Golf Club
- Bandon Dunes Golf Resort (4 courses)
-The Old Course St. Andrews
-Pinehurst #2
-Royal County Down
-Pine Valley (Crump Cup at a minimum)
-Augusta National (walk it at The Masters at a minimum)

I think if golfers would do this, they'd understand how amazing playing golf can be.

Mac,


Ditto what Jeff said...Aiken seems like a very out of place course amongst all others on that list. I think you meant Cypress!


Cheers

[AChao]

I really enjoyed Rams Hill when it first opened years ago.  It's a very enjoyable Fazio re-do.  Tough part of Rams Hill to people who have seen a lot of great courses is that it is good enough that you would enjoy it if you were within 1 hour of it already, but it isn't that great that you would make a destination out of it.  And there aren't any other courses (or much else to do) near it.

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