The 18 Best Courses in the U.S.

Golf Magazine has an article reviewing the best 18 courses in the US:

http://www.golf.com/golf/special/art...843994,00.html

What is the point of having this list? Only three of the courses can be played by the general public and those cost over $300 per round! I find it frustrating and a bit condescending that they keep coming up with these types of lists that serve only to make the private club members feel good about themselves (like they need it) and make the rest of us feel like crap about the fact that we will never, ever get to play them. I bet they put these elitist lists together just so the editors/writers can play a free round on the course. I can see the conversation now:

Editor/Writer: Um, can we play on your course?
Golf Course: Are you a member?
Editor/Writer: Uh, no...
Golf Course: I'm sorry, we don't allow your types around here.
Editor/Writer: Please let us play here!
Golf Course: I'm calling the police...
Editor/Writer: We'll write a cover story about how good your course is! We'll call it the 'Top 18 courses in the U.S.'
Golf Course: Let me get back to you about that.

(Shuffling of papers... Muffled argument in background... Deep sigh....)

Golf Course: Ok, you can play here. On a Monday. And don't you dare write anything bad.
Editor/Writer: Really? Thanks! Me and my buddies, er, um, ah, our readers will really appreciate this!

I want to see the best public courses. So I can actually play them.

I've played Pebble Beach (granted I was 11, so I don't think it counts.)

I'm working on getting on at Cypress Point and the San Francisco Club. I know members at each, but even then it's tough.

Some great courses on there indeed.

How about releasing a list like this: the top 18 courses that anyone can play for less than $100. Not just residents of San Francisco, not just holders of New York state driver's licenses, anyone.

Top 100 courses you can play.

The Thrifty 50, fifty courses for under $50 for non residents.

I also recall seeing a list of best by state but I couldn't come up the link.

M2R-

For the Top 100, you can sort the list by state. Is that what you meant? (Or is there another list that might include states otherwise might not have a course on the list - sort of like the "Best Instructors in Your State" list?)

Yes Harry, I think every state had it's own list. Here in MA it had Crumpin Fox, The Ranch, etc.

Something like this or this. I thought it was Golf Digest who published it and I found one for 1999 but no updated list.

GolfWeek's Best Courses You can Play (by state)

I have made this point before and I will make it again , it is an absolute disgrace that in the United States most private clubs do not offer the facility to allow visitors some sort of access to the course . Here in the UK I can think of only three courses that have this sort of policy and not one of them host any sort of major event. Golf was not meant to be the preserve of the few and I am glad that to an extent we have eradicated that notion in the UK and I think it's very sad that you have not managed to in the US.

And I respectfully disagree. I don't think people should be entitled to play anywhere, just because. If a group of people want to create a private club that is just for members and their guests I see nothing wrong with that. They have every right to allow who they want, when they want. Just because other people want to play it, doesn't mean they should be allowed to. That's life, it's not fair sometimes, we deal with it.

You are of course entitled to your opinion however should you ever come to the UK to play consider how much richer your experience is by having access to St Andrews , Turberry , Royal birkdale , Ballybunnion , Lahinch and all the other great championship courses and compare that with the US.