Since 2005, I have played about 175 different courses in the U.S. and since 2007, I have played about 175 different courses overseas. I started out doing road trips from a base in San Diego where I have a winter condo and the experience of being holed up in motels while playing some quality public courses in California motivated me to expand to the Southwest in Arizona. I also live part time in the Pacific Northwest and grew up playing golf so I have played most of the older private courses in Washington State and the modern private courses. I play Gold Mountain Olympic and Port Ludlow when I am at home in the Northwest. In the past few months I mostly have played at Torrey Pines South where I can get local rates and Barona Creek on the afternoon rate.
I opted for international travel because in countries like Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Scotland, and England, it is possible to access many of the courses that have historical and architectural significance. I'd happily play the private courses in the U.S. that make up the bulk of the top 100, but don't have the connections. I've been to Australia on 16 different trips and Ireland on 13 different trips. I've been to Scotland on three trips and did one trip in England to the Southwest and played St. Enodoc on a five day ticket and four other courses. I befriended a Japanese man in Hong Kong and that led to meeting up with one of his friends in Japan and playing Hirono. On another trip, the Hirono member arranged play at Tokyo Golf Club and Kasumigaseki - East. I did a six week trip to Spain and Portugal and played 10 different courses in each country. I've also played in Hong Kong, Singapore, China, Vietnam, Thailand, Norway, and Sweden.
I'm heading to Pinehurst again next week and have a trip to Sand Valley and Lawsonia in late May. I'm signed up for the Midwest Mashie in September.
Five courses I would like to play in the U.S. are:
1. Pine Valley
2. Cypress Point
3. Sand Hills
4. Ballyneal
5. Rock Creek Cattle Company
Overseas, I have an interest in spending some time in England and playing the following:
1. Silloth on Solway
2. Formby
3. Ganton
4. Woodhall Spa
5. Alwoodley
Mostly, I am looking forward to regular trips back to Australia to play courses out on the Mornington Peninsula at The National Golf Club and maybe to Barnbougle Dunes and The Lost Farm again, along with the new Seven Mile Beach course near Hobart when it opens.
I've mostly focused my efforts where accessibility guided travel decisions for golf.
Charles Lund