Courses with most potential upside

[Tommy Williamsen]

One of the things that many people comment on after playing Westward Ho! for the first time is the heavy ground on the first three and last two holes. Is it feasible to sand cap those holes so that they play firmer?

[Peter Galea]

I’ll go with Crystal Springs just south of San Francisco in Burlingame. Somehow a course on this site manages to not be an appealing place to play golf.

I have played here 10 or so times and that water in the photo is actually the San Andreas fault!!


Stunning views and incredible topography with deer roaming the course, too.


Wonder who owns it?

Owned by the City of San Francisco Water Department.
Originally a W. Herbert Fowler course, partial redo by Billy Bell Jr. in 1964 when Highway 280 was put in.

[Edward Glidewell]

As an honorable mention I'll list Tanglewood Park Champions course in Winston-Salem, which hosted the 1973 PGA Championship. Less than 10 years ago, the city (or maybe the county) renovated the course, spending $2 million in the process, and really improved the situation. Sadly, since that work they've let the entire course really go to sh*t. While no level of municipal ineptitude should surprise me, I'm still amazed they've let it get so bad.

I played the Tanglewood Park Championship course a few weeks ago (first time I'd ever been there) and the conditions were mostly excellent. The tees were a bit rough, but the fairways and greens were quite good -- no complaints at all about either.


I don't know if they've brought in a new superintendent or what, but it's apparently turned around significantly since you were last there.

[Paul Rudovsky]

Totally agree with posts regarding Cedar Crest in TX and George Wright in MA.


Best example of a yet to be cleaned up one in my mind is "Kentucky Dam Village State Park Golf Course" which was Village Greens Country Club in 1966 when it was included in the first "Top X00 " list ever published (by Golf Digest in 1966..."America's 200 Toughest Courses").  It was designed by Perry Maxwell but today no self respecting cow would be found on this pasture!


At the other extreme is Blind Brook Club in NY...absolutely one of the most exclusive clubs in the world.  Originally designed by Seth Raynor...though the years it became easier and easier as its members were not looking for anything "tough".  Then two years ago or so Jim Urbina finished a brilliant restoration...he found the wonderful bones and through superb "plastic surgery" created a fabulous track with some of the finest greens anywhere

[George Freeman]

I’ll always think of Kankakee Elks as it is close to home and I don’t think would be a very expensive restoration, unless the irrigation/drainage situation is in need of a total redo. It does need trees down, greens rebuilt and reclaimed, as well as the few bunkers they have redone. Really a gem waiting to be polished for those that have been.

Agree Jeff.  An incredible set of greens and nice piece of property.  And everything is just sitting there waiting to have the dust blown off.

Have you seen Spring Valley?  Very similar situation to Kankakee, just 1 hr north of Chicago vs. 1 hr south.  I'd be interested to hear the board's opinions on which course has the highest potential.  I'm not sure the greens are quite as good at Spring Valley, but it too is a really nice piece of property with some really cool features begging to be reclaimed.

[David Ober]

My home course, Victoria Club, in Riverside, California, should be on this list. Great bones.

[Dan McCallum]

Have you seen Spring Valley?  Very similar situation to Kankakee, just 1 hr north of Chicago vs. 1 hr south.  I'd be interested to hear the board's opinions on which course has the highest potential.  I'm not sure the greens are quite as good at Spring Valley, but it too is a really nice piece of property with some really cool features begging to be reclaimed.

Yes, the land at Spring Valley is excellent.  I think Spring Valley has higher highs but lower lows with 4 and 16 being wonky due to the ponds.  Does anybody know how easy/difficult it would be to remove them?  Looks like they may have been added because of drainage/flooding issues.  If they can't be feasibly removed, I'd give KE the slight nod.