GCA.com All Time Favorites List

« **on:** March 16, 2020, 06:52:17 PM »

Before anyone asks: Ran has approved this thread.

As a fun distraction from Covid 19 (plus we finished our Collective Bargaining Agreement so I have some time on my hands), I will compile the aggregate list of the favorite course of gca.com Members. This is NOT an attempt to produce a list of the best courses or to try to determine which have the most architectural merit. It is not even an attempt to be particularly scientific about it.

There thus are no criteria for what counts as "favorite". That is solely up to each of you.

There are some "rules" though.

Send me by email your list of your favorite 50 courses. irafishman@verizon.net. Top course on your list is awarded 50 points, number 2 49, and so on. Aggregate list will be based on highest average.

A course must be on at least 5 people's list to qualify.

Registered GCA.com Members only.

You must have played the courses you list. Honor system but if ANGC shows up on nearly every list, something will be fishy.

Voting is open until I decide depending on flow and volume.

I know that people will immediately object to the methodology, but this is for fun so it is what it is. Plus I am doing the work.

Ira

« **Reply #1 on:** March 17, 2020, 09:22:45 AM »

Quote from: Ira Fishman on March 16, 2020, 06:52:17 PM

I know that people will immediately object to the methodology, but this is for fun so it is what it is. Plus I am doing the work.

Yeah, I will be that guy.

If a handful of guys rate Dismal River (or some other course) their favorite course evah (50 points each), and the rest of the posters who have been there don't think to include it at all, it gets a perfect score?

Honestly, I would rather just read everyone's list of favorites. Not 50 though - maybe 20 or 25. I realize that wouldn't give you much to do, but it's more informative than the consensus list as you have proposed it.

I will think about my 25 favorites.

« **Reply #2 on:** March 17, 2020, 09:36:53 AM »

Quote from: Tom_Doak on March 17, 2020, 09:22:45 AM

Quote from: Ira Fishman on March 16, 2020, 06:52:17 PM

I know that people will immediately object to the methodology, but this is for fun so it is what it is. Plus I am doing the work.

Yeah, I will be that guy.

If a handful of guys rate Dismal River (or some other course) their favorite course evah (50 points each), and the rest of the posters who have been there don't think to include it at all, it gets a perfect score?

Honestly, I would rather just read everyone's list of favorites. Not 50 though - maybe 20 or 25. I realize that wouldn't give you much to do, but it's more informative than the consensus list as you have proposed it.

I will think about my 25 favorites.

One of the things I appreciate about gca.com is that even when one states an anticipated objection, it is made regardless.

The reason a course must appear at least 5 times is to minimize the risk of the Dismal River hypothetical. If I receive a ton of responses, I can adjust that to the % of the total.

But rather than go down the methodology Rabbit Hole, let's first see if enough people want to participate. And once again, the exercise is purely for fun at a time when maybe some people can use some.

And everyone, please be safe and smart.

Ira

« **Reply #3 on:** March 17, 2020, 10:12:00 AM »

Fun idea! List sent via email as requested.

There is no perfect methodology so appreciate you just going for it. Thanks for pulling together!

« **Reply #4 on:** March 17, 2020, 10:15:40 AM »

I'm in & my list has been sent. I will be interested to see the results.

Cheers

« **Reply #5 on:** March 17, 2020, 11:21:24 AM »

ira,

I think this is a fantastic activity. Would you prefer that list in a xls? Or are you looking to avoid additional "viruses"

P.S. I may only send in my top 25, because after that it tails off a fair bit. We can't all be world travelers/celebs like Tom D!

« **Reply #6 on:** March 17, 2020, 11:27:23 AM »

Quote from: Kalen Braley on March 17, 2020, 11:21:24 AM

ira,

I think this is a fantastic activity. Would you prefer that list in a xls? Or are you looking to avoid additional "viruses"

P.S. I may only send in my top 25, because after that it tails off a fair bit. We can't all be world travelers/celebs like Tom D!

Kalen,

25 is great. Any format that you prefer.

Thanks,

Ira

« **Reply #7 on:** March 17, 2020, 11:48:57 AM »

Quote from: Tom_Doak on March 17, 2020, 09:22:45 AM

Quote from: Ira Fishman on March 16, 2020, 06:52:17 PM

I know that people will immediately object to the methodology, but this is for fun so it is what it is. Plus I am doing the work.

Yeah, I will be that guy.

If a handful of guys rate Dismal River (or some other course) their favorite course evah (50 points each), and the rest of the posters who have been there don't think to include it at all, it gets a perfect score?

Honestly, I would rather just read everyone's list of favorites. Not 50 though - maybe 20 or 25. I realize that wouldn't give you much to do, but it's more informative than the consensus list as you have proposed it.

I will think about my 25 favorites.

And if people want to post their lists here so others can enjoy them, that is cool. I can grab them from here.

Ira

« **Reply #8 on:** March 17, 2020, 12:01:05 PM »

Ah, Ira - I guess it's true what they say: no good deed goes unpunished!
Also, Paul Masson will sell no wine before its time.

« **Reply #9 on:** March 17, 2020, 12:07:44 PM »

Quote from: Peter Pallotta on March 17, 2020, 12:01:05 PM

Ah, Ira - I guess it's true what they say: no good deed goes unpunished!
Also, Paul Masson will sell no wine before its time.

This is hardly a good deed. It is nothing more than a sophisticated method of trolling. You throw out an unoriginal idea in the hope of getting a response as an act of self flagellation.

« **Reply #10 on:** March 17, 2020, 12:44:33 PM »

Quote from: John Kavanaugh on March 17, 2020, 12:07:44 PM

Quote from: Peter Pallotta on March 17, 2020, 12:01:05 PM
Ah, Ira - I guess it's true what they say: no good deed goes unpunished!
Also, Paul Masson will sell no wine before its time.

This is hardly a good deed. It is nothing more than a sophisticated method of trolling. You throw out an unoriginal idea in the hope of getting a response as an act of self flagellation.

Well, one of my favorites is "The Bridge" where I believe you maintain a permanent residence beneath one of the many so-named structures there.

« **Reply #11 on:** March 17, 2020, 01:07:14 PM »

Don't tell Wayne.

« **Reply #12 on:** March 17, 2020, 01:36:43 PM »

Quote from: Tom_Doak on March 17, 2020, 09:22:45 AM

Quote from: Ira Fishman on March 16, 2020, 06:52:17 PM

I know that people will immediately object to the methodology, but this is for fun so it is what it is. Plus I am doing the work.

Yeah, I will be that guy.

If a handful of guys rate Dismal River (or some other course) their favorite course evah (50 points each), and the rest of the posters who have been there don't think to include it at all, it gets a perfect score?

Honestly, I would rather just read everyone's list of favorites. Not 50 though - maybe 20 or 25. I realize that wouldn't give you much to do, but it's more informative than the consensus list as you have proposed it.

I will think about my 25 favorites.

This thread used to go quite strong at the end of each season, but has dropped off. Maybe people could add if they are new members/updated list:

https://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,42584.0.html

« **Reply #13 on:** March 17, 2020, 01:52:52 PM »

OK, I will pick my usual number of favorites - 31.
I have not politically corrected the list by choosing 31 different architects etc. James Braid got 3, as did MacKenzie.

They're in alphabetical order, below.
Six of them are my own designs, so you can also take those out and have a list of 25, if you prefer.

Ballybunion
*Ballyneal
*Barnbougle Dunes
Bel Air
Brora

Cape Breton Highlands
Casa de Campo
Crystal Downs
Cypress Point
Garden City G.C.

Jasper Park
Long Cove
Machrihanish
National Golf Links
North Berwick

*Pacific Dunes
Pennard
Prestwick
*Rock Creek
Royal Melbourne

Royal West Norfolk
Royal Worlington & Newmarket
Rye
St Andrews
*St Andrews Beach

St Enodoc
St George's Hill
Somerset Hills
*Tara Iti
Whitinsville
Yale

« **Reply #14 on:** March 17, 2020, 02:16:07 PM »

It always seems to be the case that the top lists of astute and/or experienced architectural observers feature a wide variety of courses, all in different settings, topographies and even styles -- and certainly a much much wider variety than mine.
I find it hard to compile a list partly because most of the courses named wouldn't mean anything to anyone else -- but more so because I can't think of even 5 courses that I've ever really liked or thought very good...and all 5 of those are exactly alike!
I'm very narrow minded when it comes to gca. That's probably bad of me.

« **Reply #15 on:** March 17, 2020, 02:55:21 PM »

Peter,

I have had the good fortune of being able to play a bunch of courses (with my wife as you know). I hope that we are able to continue once everyone is safe and smart about Covid 19.

So my 25 (seems to be the preferred number) favorites in order as of now:

Lahinch
CPC
North Berwick
PH2
Golspie
St. George's Hill
Pasatiempo
Woking
Primland
Mid Pines
Swinley Forest
Yale
River Course at Kohler
The Island Club
Royal Dornoch
Brora
Bandon Trails
Pine Needles
Ballybunion
Pac Dunes
Elie
Waterville
Hope Valley
Kilspindie
Old Mac

Honorable Mention: Bandon Preserve

Ira

« **Reply #16 on:** March 17, 2020, 03:14:45 PM »

My Nifty 50 is forever changing!

Kington
Palmetto
Old Town
Castlerock Bann
Cavendish
St Enodoc
Welshpool
Cleeve Cloud
Alnmouth Village
Reigate Heath
Aiken
Lakewood Shores Gailes
Lederach
Pennard
Royal Dornoch
Perranporth
St Andrews New
Corballis Links
Southerndown
Appleby
Reddish Vale
Llandrindod Wells
Oxford
TOC
Elie
Pulborough
Goswick
Princes
Royal Worlington
LuLu
Leckford Old
Silloth on Solway
Pine Needles
Barton Hills
Dunstanburgh Castle
RAC Old Course
Temple
Cruden Bay
Pinehurst #2
Woking
Aberdovey
Gullane #3
Franklin Hills
Brancaster
Minchinhampton Old Course
Sutton Coldfield Winter Card
Northamptonshire Co
Addington
Edgbaston
Ballybunion Cashen

Ciao

« **Reply #17 on:** March 17, 2020, 03:17:24 PM »

My top 25 played..in order.

Cypress Point

Pacific Dunes

Ballyneal

Rock Creek Cattle Club

Pasatiempo

Chambers Bay

Sagebrush

Wine Valley

Gozzer Ranch

MPCC - Shore

Black Mesa

Black Rock Golf Club

Tumble Creek

Stone Eagle

Lakota Canyon

Pa-Koo

Sanctuary Golf Course

Redlands Mesa

Pete Dye - Promontory

Murphy Creek

Idaho Club

Saddle Creek

Palouse Ridge

Circling Raven

Jack Nicklaus - Promontory

« **Reply #18 on:** March 17, 2020, 03:42:49 PM »

Edit-this is NOT in order-as usual I failed the part about following directions
and right off the top of my head-trying to represent somewhat geographically.
and I completely whiffed as I could easily include all 4 courses at Bandon, and see I forgot Long Cove(added)..
I really need 100 as I just can't rank in order or narrow to 50 without leaving out a course I love to play(I listed 60) and have returned to or in the case .
To be a "favorite" consideration should be given for courses you return to IMHO.
Only 9 on this list have I played less than 4 times, with the exception of several on my recent first trip to Australia, and of those 7 that made the list, i did play three at least twice-so only a total of 13 out of 60 plus that I have only played once, and most multiple times.

Northwest
Portsalon
Rosapenna OTM
Dunfanaghy
Killarney Mohoney's Point
Cruit
PR Valley
Dooks
Durness
Goat Hill
Palmetto
Aiken GC
Midland Valley(Aiken)
Palatka
Miami Springs
Soule Park
SF Golf
Fishers
Eastward HO
Sleepy Hollow
St George's LI
The Creek
NGLA
Maidstone
Southerndown
Apawamis
Southampton
Aberdovey
Pennard
Deal
St Enodoc
Perranporth
Parkstone
Myopia
Shiskine
Dunaverty
Machrahanish
North Berwick
Brancaster
Barnbougle
Lost Farm
Anglesea
Royal Melbourne
St Andrews Beach
National Gunamatta
Tarraleah
Brora
Shennecossett
Augusta CC
ANGC (summer jumper loop)
Mulranny
Kebo Valley
Cape Arundel
Long Cove
Bandon Dunes
Trails
Pac Dunes
Old Mac

as always quite subject to change by the minute

« **Reply #19 on:** March 17, 2020, 04:28:23 PM »

Favourites (in no particular order and constantly changing/updating) -

Westward Ho!
Minchinhampton Old
Formby (Champ’ & Ladies)
Brora
Portmarnock
Carnoustie
St Olaf at Cruden Bay
Mulranny
Aberdovey
TOC
Annesley at Royal County Down
Cruit Island
Frilford Heath (Green)
Muirfield
The Bann at Castlerock
Dunfanaghy
Dooks

Others that would increase the above to 25 if they weren’t hard walks would be -

Pennard
Kington
Perranporth
Welshpool
BB-Cashen
Carne (all 27)
Southerndown

Lots more to see and experience though!

Atb

« **Reply #20 on:** March 17, 2020, 05:05:56 PM »

I'm one of those guys trying to play 1000 different courses - at this point I have played 930. I live in Texas and have included some from the DFW area I play frequently. Here's my top 40:

St Andrews Old Course	Scotland
Pacific Dunes	Oregon
Whistling Straits - Irish	Wisconson
Caledonia	South Carolina
Old MacDonald	Oregon
Royal Dornoch	Scotland
Bandon Dunes	Oregon
Kapalua Plantation	Hawaii
Old Works Golf Club	Montana
Wine Valley	Washington
PGA Stadium West	California
Tobacco Road	North Carolina
Wild Horse	Nebraska
Turtle Bay - Palmer	Hawaii
Gamble Sands	Washington
Wolf Point G.C.	Texas
Mauna Kea Beach	Hawaii
Palouse Ridge	Washington
Windswept Dunes	Florida
Prairie Dunes	Kansas
Pumpkin Ridge Ghost	Oregon
Tierra Verde	Texas
Circling Raven	Idaho
Arcadia Bluffs	Michigan
Cowboys Golf Club	Texas
Texas Rangers GC	Texas
Harvester	Iowa
St. Louis CC	Missouri
Rustic Canyon	California
Common Ground	Colorado
Black Mesa	New Mexico
Bully Pulpit	North Dakoda
Pronghorn Fazio	Oregon
Tangle Ridge	Texas
Fossil Creek	Texas
The Tribute	Texas
Ross Bridge	Alabama
Vaquero Golf Club	Texas
Old Corkscrew	Florida
Cruden Bay	Scotland

« **Reply #21 on:** March 17, 2020, 05:26:42 PM »

Quote from: Doug Bolls on March 17, 2020, 05:05:56 PM

I'm one of those guys trying to play 1000 different courses - at this point I have played 930. I live in Texas and have included some from the DFW area I play frequently. Here's my top 40:

St Andrews Old Course Scotland
Pacific Dunes Oregon
Whistling Straits - Irish Wisconson
Caledonia South Carolina
Old MacDonald Oregon
Royal Dornoch Scotland
Bandon Dunes Oregon
Kapalua Plantation Hawaii
Old Works Golf Club Montana
Wine Valley Washington
PGA Stadium West California
Tobacco Road North Carolina
Wild Horse Nebraska
Turtle Bay - Palmer Hawaii
Gamble Sands Washington
Wolf Point G.C. Texas
Mauna Kea Beach Hawaii
Palouse Ridge Washington
Windswept Dunes Florida
Prairie Dunes Kansas
Pumpkin Ridge Ghost Oregon
Tierra Verde Texas
Circling Raven Idaho
Arcadia Bluffs Michigan
Cowboys Golf Club Texas
Texas Rangers GC Texas
Harvester Iowa
St. Louis CC Missouri
Rustic Canyon California
Common Ground Colorado
Black Mesa New Mexico
Bully Pulpit North Dakoda
Pronghorn Fazio Oregon
Tangle Ridge Texas
Fossil Creek Texas
The Tribute Texas
Ross Bridge Alabama
Vaquero Golf Club Texas
Old Corkscrew Florida
Cruden Bay Scotland

Doug-Are you saving a specific course for #1000? Thanks.

« **Reply #22 on:** March 17, 2020, 05:32:55 PM »

Quote from: jeffwarne on March 17, 2020, 03:42:49 PM

Anglesea

Jeff,
Tell us a bit about Anglesea. I drove past it decades ago and recall roo's all over the place. Guess the course must be pretty cool to make your fav's list alongside so much exalted company plus a selection of rather tasty under the usual radar courses.
atb

« **Reply #23 on:** March 17, 2020, 05:38:30 PM »

Quote from: Doug Bolls on March 17, 2020, 05:05:56 PM

I'm one of those guys trying to play 1000 different courses - at this point I have played 930. I live in Texas and have included some from the DFW area I play frequently. Here's my top 40:

St Andrews Old Course Scotland
Pacific Dunes Oregon
Whistling Straits - Irish Wisconson
Caledonia South Carolina
Old MacDonald Oregon
Royal Dornoch Scotland
Bandon Dunes Oregon
Kapalua Plantation Hawaii
Old Works Golf Club Montana
Wine Valley Washington
PGA Stadium West California
Tobacco Road North Carolina
Wild Horse Nebraska
Turtle Bay - Palmer Hawaii
Gamble Sands Washington
Wolf Point G.C. Texas
Mauna Kea Beach Hawaii
Palouse Ridge Washington
Windswept Dunes Florida
Prairie Dunes Kansas
Pumpkin Ridge Ghost Oregon
Tierra Verde Texas
Circling Raven Idaho
Arcadia Bluffs Michigan
Cowboys Golf Club Texas
Texas Rangers GC Texas
Harvester Iowa
St. Louis CC Missouri
Rustic Canyon California
Common Ground Colorado
Black Mesa New Mexico
Bully Pulpit North Dakoda
Pronghorn Fazio Oregon
Tangle Ridge Texas
Fossil Creek Texas
The Tribute Texas
Ross Bridge Alabama
Vaquero Golf Club Texas
Old Corkscrew Florida
Cruden Bay Scotland

That is a unique list for someone who has played 930. Any courses you left off that others might have included?

« **Reply #24 on:** March 17, 2020, 06:01:00 PM »

Tim - Yes

Jason - Here are a few that have always been in my top best courses list:

Ballybunion

Bay Hill

Bethpage Black

Carnoustie

Doonbeg

Gleneagles-Kings

Lahinch

Muirfield Golf Links

Oaktree Mens Club

Pebble Beach

PGA National

Pinehurst #2

Prestwick

Spyglass G.C.

The Olympic Club - Lake

Torrey Pines South

TPC Sawgrass

Tralee
Trinity Forest

Troon North Monument

Waterville

News:

Ira Fishman

Tom_Doak

Ira Fishman

Derek Holland

Brock Lynch

Kalen Braley

Ira Fishman

Ira Fishman

Peter Pallotta

John Kavanaugh

Ian Mackenzie

John Kavanaugh

Tim Gallant

Tom_Doak

Peter Pallotta

Ira Fishman

Sean_A

Kalen Braley

jeffwarne

Thomas Dai

Doug Bolls

Tim Martin

Thomas Dai

Jason Topp

Doug Bolls

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