GolfWeek's Best Courses (You Can Play) - Are they Right for Your State?

[PineValley]

1 minute ago, FLOG4 said:

I have done 6 trips with sons. One trip was just Son and I. I understand the economics quite well. Yes, You will surpass time allotment for a driver with the trip noted. Engaging with tour operators with St And Old included  is just for those who don't ever ask how much. Having booked etched in stone Muirfield and RT....Coordinating the Old will be cumbersome at best. Meantime you have 500 plus miles to cover to go elsewhere which will require specific times/days...Fitting in the Old without advance times because that escalates price very much.....Good Luck. Scotland is not user friendly...That's why I have gone to Ireland 12 times vs Scotland 7....Wales once, England once. 

Yeah, I only have a window of 3 possible days to play the Old, but that being said, in 2017 we only gave 2 days, did not get at first, then on the redraw in early December, we got 8 tees, and then December 23rd we got the other 8.

 

[FLOG4]

2 minutes ago, PineValley said:

Yeah, I only have a window of 3 possible days to play the Old, but that being said, in 2017 we only gave 2 days, did not get at first, then on the redraw in early December, we got 8 tees, and then December 23rd we got the other 8. 

 

Have played Old 6 times, only once with advance tee time. Ballot 3 times and twice walk up day of....early. Have had groups of 8 and 12 with me and we have all played every time....but not with advance times. Ballot is ok...walk up is easy if you are highly motivated...as in 4am motivated if in mid summer. It really is all about the dates.  St Andrews is a bear in August/September. Best path is slightly off schedule to mid summer.  

[DaveP043]

2 hours ago, FLOG4 said:

Have played Old 6 times, only once with advance tee time. Ballot 3 times and twice walk up day of....early. Have had groups of 8 and 12 with me and we have all played every time....but not with advance times. Ballot is ok...walk up is easy if you are highly motivated...as in 4am motivated if in mid summer. It really is all about the dates.  St Andrews is a bear in August/September. Best path is slightly off schedule to mid summer.  

I think that maybe this has veered a bit  and might be better continued in another thread.

[iacas]

7 minutes ago, DaveP043 said:

I think that maybe this has veered a bit  and might be better continued in another thread.

Indeed. Thank you.

[jsgolfer]

7 hours ago, FLOG4 said:

Royal New Kent reopened and is definitely a top 10..... but top 5 on my list. 

Royal New Kent was probably the worst golf course layout I’ve ever played.  But then again, I’m not a Strantz fan.  

[LICC]

On 6/1/2019 at 12:01 PM, jamo said:

I've played Fox Hopyard (as @boogielicious mentioned), Mohegan Sun, and Shennecossett (cc @billchao). Fox Hopyard is excellent - I'm surprised it's not higher up. Mohegan was very meh (it's also a pretty good drive away from the actual Mohegan Sun casino - they just bought a somewhat-nearby golf course and slapped their name on it). Shennecossett is where I play in a men's league, so it's basically my home course. The layout there is mostly excellent, the bunkers suck, some parts of the rough could use a little grooming, and a few greens could be flattened out. But at this time of the year, when they let the fescue grow and it's not too wet and it hasn't baked out, it's a great course. 

I live very close to Lake of Isles but I've never played there. I have been to their driving range though, which is very nice. I'm planning on playing in the CT Public Links this year, which is at Wintonbury Hills. 

I also took a look at the Delaware one. When I was in college, Deerfield Golf & Tennis Club was our home course for the club team, and we got insane deals to play there. Pretty sure it was free or nearly-free range balls and like $20 rounds (and I think the actual club team rounds were free). 

I looked at Rhode Island too, because I live pretty close to there and play there often. I played Meadow Brook for the first time recently - that was a nice course. I want to play Newport National, but it's like $175 or something. I'm surprised Richmond Country Club didn't make it. 

I've played Franklin Park and George Wright, but none of the others (though I'd like to see if I can find time to play Cape Cod National, Crumpin-Fox, Red Tail, and Pinehills this summer).

George Wright is one of my very favorite courses anywhere - I actually took a day trip up to play it last weekend. To me, Franklin Park is in between the George Wright level and more goat-tracky places like Ponkapoag, Leo J. Martin, Robert T. Lynch/Brookline, etc. The people at George Wright have done a great job improving the course over the past decade. If they figure out how to improve the transition between the rough and the wooded areas it would easily be one of the top courses in the state, the layout is that good. The greens, fairways, and bunkers are excellent. That area of the city has really improved recently too. 

I think George Wright is overrated. It’s a decent course and good muni. Nothing to get excited about. It has a handful of very good holes, a handful of ok holes, and a few quirky holes (not in a good way) with routings that feel forced through too severe elevations. Cool 1930s era clubhouse. 

[FLOG4]

10 hours ago, jsgolfer said:

Royal New Kent was probably the worst golf course layout I’ve ever played.  But then again, I’m not a Strantz fan.  

What specific features of RNK did you not like? Which holes were the worse in your view? 

[jamo]

5 hours ago, LICC said:

I think George Wright is overrated. It’s a decent course and good muni. Nothing to get excited about. It has a handful of very good holes, a handful of ok holes, and a few quirky holes (not in a good way) with routings that feel forced through too severe elevations. Cool 1930s era clubhouse. 

They've toned that down a little bit. 12 has been widened significantly (and re-sodded) and they've cut a lot of trees down on 15. 5 is still a pretty quirky elevation change hole, but at least on that one you can see the landing area. 

[Lil Greener]

SHANKS!!!   I was beset by them, so headed off to Dorado in Puerto Rico, where Chip Koehlke runs the teaching program.  He said..."you need a modern swing."   Huh?   I always thought I had a good swing and scored inconsistently due to poor concentration.  Not really.  Now I know I had a swing which produced shanks...flat.  Tough to get the club head into position. Also, badly pulling the handle through.  Chip got on my ass royally.  Now, working on the modern swing...where 75% of it is in the backswing into a nice plane, where the club head is in position at the top and at the bottom.   He taught Faldo after Leadbetter, and Karen Stupples.  It's a fun trip to Puerto Rico (I live 75 miles away). 

Heading to Wales and SW England for a dozen fine links courses with good value, in a couple weeks!!   Been there FLOG4?

[jsgolfer]

7 hours ago, FLOG4 said:

What specific features of RNK did you not like? Which holes were the worse in your view? 

The conditions were horrible, bunkers were unplayable, and greens were atrocious. Just not a fan of tricked up courses, hence why I can't stand Tobacco Road either, even though I played lights out there.  Number 1 was the start, couldn't tell what club I needed to hit off the tee.  I could see a green over the junk, but I couldn't see the fairway over the mound.  I think the 14th hole was the one that  finally did me in, I had already played enough holes where I didn't know where I was going.  I could go on and on, but I think we have a Mike Strrantz thread here already.  Just wasn't a fun experience for me.  Wouldn't spend a nickel going back.  Rather play Viniterra.

[iSank]

Hawaii

Best Courses You Can Play

1. Kapalua (Plantation), Maui (No. 45 m)
2. Four Seasons Resort (Manele), Lanai (No. 65 m) 
3. Mauna Kea Beach Hotel GC, Kona (m)
4. Princeville Makai, Kauai (m) 
5. Four Seasons Resort Hualalai, Kailua-Kona (m)
6. Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa (Poipu Bay), Kauai (m)
7. Wailea (Gold), Maui (m)
8. Turtle Bay Resort (Arnold Palmer), Oahu (m)
9. Wailea (Emerald), Maui (m) 
10. Kapolei GC, Kapolei (m) 
11. Ocean Course at Hokuala, Kauai (m) 
12. Kapalua (Bay), Maui (m)
13. Mauna Lani (North), Kona (m) 
14. Wailua Municipal, Kauai (m) 
15. Royal Ka’anapali, Lahaina (m)* 
*= new to list

(m): modern
(c): classic

Well they are all pretty decent courses. A couple Big Island private clubs routinely take the top spots but the only we get to play those are if you bid on them in a charity auction. 

so for what’s listed. It’s just so happens that my two favorite courses that I love to play are the Plantation and Manele. Turtle Bay and Kapolei are over rated, while Mauna Lani and Hokuala are under rated.  14 and 15 do not even belong on the list. Also I would move Hualalai up to 3rd, that course is fantastic and just a good bit better than Mauna Kea and Princeville. 

And yes I have played each of them multiple times except the Muni on Kauai, I have been there many times at the course just never cared enough to play it. I have played the muni on Maui and that was worth it. 

Aloha,

iSank

 

[tristanhilton85]

California

1. Pebble Beach GL, Pebble Beach (No. 8 c) 
2. Pasatiempo, Santa Cruz (No. 37 c) 
3. Spyglass Hill, Pebble Beach (No. 29 m) 
4. Rams Hill, Borrego Springs (m) 
5. Torrey Pines (South), San Diego (c) 
6. Rustic Canyon, Moorpark (m)
7. CordeValle, San Martin (m)
8. PGA West (Stadium), La Quinta (m) 
9. Barona Creek, Lakeside (m) 
10. Links at Spanish Bay, Pebble Beach (m) 
11. Torrey Pines (North), San Diego (c) 
12. Poppy Hills Golf Course, Pebble Beach (m)
13. Baylands Golf Links, Palo Alto (m) * 
14. Pelican Hill (Ocean North), Newport Coast (m)
15. Pelican Hill (Ocean South), Newport Coast (m) 
16. The Grand GC, San Diego (m) 
17. Coyote Moon, Truckee (m) 
18. Yocha Dehe at Cache Creek Casino, Brooks (m)* 
19. Bayonet, Seaside (c) 
20. Maderas GC, Poway (m) 
21. Saddle Creek, Copperopolis (m)
22. Omni La Costa Resort & Spa (Champions), Carlsbad (m) 
23. Desert Willow (Firecliff), Palm Desert (m) 
24. Indian Well Golf Resort (Celebrity), Indian Wells (m) 
25. PGA West (Nicklaus), La Quinta (m)* 
26. Classic Club, Palm Springs (m) 
27. Park Hyatt Aviara GC, Carlsbad (m) 
28. Indian Wells Golf Resort (Players), Indian Wells (m) 
29. Journey at Pechanga, Temecula (m) 
30. Trump National GC, Rancho Palos Verdes (m)
*= new to list

I've played 8 of the top 30 in California, and it's pretty hard for me to argue that any of those eight shouldn't be on the list. 

Ram's Hill is a phenomenal course, and is probably the best of any that I've played, so I completely agree with it being at #4. Personally, I like Torrey Pines North better than the Stadium course. There are a few courses in my area (Eagle Falls, SilverRock, PGA West Norman) that I think are as good as many on the list.

[dagogolfer25]

On 6/1/2019 at 7:34 AM, CarlSpackler said:

Ohio

1. Manakiki, Willoughby (c) 
2. Fowler’s Mill (Lake & River), Chesterland (m) 
3. The Virtues, Nashport (m) 
4. Boulder Creek, Streetsboro (m) 
5. Sleepy Hollow, Brecksville (c) 
6. Stonelick Hills, Batavia (m) 
7. The Quarry, Canton (m) 
8. Little Mountain, Painesville (m) 
9. Cooks Creek, South Bloomfield (m)
10. EagleSticks, Zanesville (m)
 

I haven't played or even heard of most of these courses. I hear the EagleSticks is very nice. Sadly, I am more familiar with the Florida list. 

The Virtues is the former Longaberger. Usually #1 in the state. Fantastic place. Stonelick Hill outside Cincy is phenomenal. The owner is a restaurant owner who didn't like the stuffiness of a club he joined, so he bought land, hired an architect and started his own. Little Mountain is good but gets a lot of play so it's not always pristine. I think The Quarry is much better than Boulder Creek. Management and the "pro" are extremely rude at Boulder as well. If you've never done the 9 Stars of Golf package with Eagle Sticks and The Virtues, grab your buddies and a weekend and get it done. They are 45 min apart. 

[Patch]

Nevada

1. Shadow Creek, North Las Vegas (No. 9 m)

2. Cascata, Boulder City (m)

3. Wolf Creek, Mesquite (m)

4. Coyote Springs (Chase), Coyote Springs (m)

5. Conestoga, Mesquite (m)

6. Reflection Bay at Lake Las Vegas Resort, Henderson (m)

7. Edgewood Tahoe, Tahoe (m)

8. Paiute (The Wolf), Las Vegas (m)

9. Incline Village (Championship), Incline Village (m)

10. Paiute (Sun Mountain), Las Vegas (m

I have golfed at these courses except for 7 & 9.

These are all fine courses, but I think Golf Week targeted the higher end courses. This is extremely true for 1 & 2, although #2 is probaly the better value..

Most of these are not what I might consider being "blue collar" courses.

Number 5 was pretty expensive for what I thought they offered. Casablanca GC in Mesquite is very fine course that should be on this list. Then again, perhaps I am looking at the wrong list. The link giving in this thread didn't work for me. I might be on a different year.

I also noticed Rio Secco was missing. I have rental property on that course, and is where the Harmon's School of Golf is located. 

There are many less expensive courses in Nevada, that are just as good as most of these listed, as far as conditions of play. 

I had alot to do with tbe building of Coyote Springs. Nice course, but an hours drive out of Vegas, with nothing in between. I drove by it at night a few days ago, so I am not sure what has been added out there. It's been a few years since I paid any attention to it. 

My thought is, if you have deep pockets, with money to burn, want bragging rights, and maybe a different, up scaled golf atmosphere, you can't go wrong on these listed courses. 

 

[Buckeyebowman]

On 9/19/2019 at 3:57 PM, dagogolfer25 said:

The Virtues is the former Longaberger. Usually #1 in the state. Fantastic place. Stonelick Hill outside Cincy is phenomenal. The owner is a restaurant owner who didn't like the stuffiness of a club he joined, so he bought land, hired an architect and started his own. Little Mountain is good but gets a lot of play so it's not always pristine. I think The Quarry is much better than Boulder Creek. Management and the "pro" are extremely rude at Boulder as well. If you've never done the 9 Stars of Golf package with Eagle Sticks and The Virtues, grab your buddies and a weekend and get it done. They are 45 min apart. 

Well, I've played Eaglesticks and heard about Longaberger. If you enjoy playing on a sidehill lie, these are places to go! 

[ChetlovesMer]

On 9/19/2019 at 3:57 PM, dagogolfer25 said:

The Virtues is the former Longaberger. Usually #1 in the state. Fantastic place. Stonelick Hill outside Cincy is phenomenal. The owner is a restaurant owner who didn't like the stuffiness of a club he joined, so he bought land, hired an architect and started his own. Little Mountain is good but gets a lot of play so it's not always pristine. I think The Quarry is much better than Boulder Creek. Management and the "pro" are extremely rude at Boulder as well. If you've never done the 9 Stars of Golf package with Eagle Sticks and The Virtues, grab your buddies and a weekend and get it done. They are 45 min apart. 

I agree, Stonelick Hill is great. Interestingly enough, I've played several times at Boulder Creek and always had a good experience. I like The Quarry too.

[Buckeyebowman]

When this thread first appeared, I logged onto the Stonelick Hills website and did the 18 hole flyover. The course does look spectacular! 

As for my earlier comment about Eaglesticks, it may have been prompted by the conditions we encountered when playing there. We were invited to join a big group of guys who had booked an extended, 3 day, stay and play weekend. Skins game every day, and we won money every day! Can't imagine why.

Anyway, the area was in a drought, and it seems like they had neglected to water the course properly. The course was baked, and hard as a rock! Then, while we were there, they decided to start dumping tons of water on the place! This turned the dust into mud, and we found it ridiculous to play golf on a blazing hot, 95* afternoon and have drives plugging in the fairways! Plus dodging sprinklers while trying to play shots.So my outlook may be a bit jaundiced.

[The Flush]

On 6/6/2019 at 10:47 AM, The Flush said:

I played #9 Cooks Creek a couple times a long time ago (20+ years).  I believe it was originally owned by PGA player John Cook, but IIRC it has been sold since then. I remember it being a nice course, but because it sits along the Scioto River it gets flooded in the spring making some holes unplayable.  I played on a cheap mid week deal and don't think I have played all 18 yet. They have a peninsula green, almost island like that was fun. We were interrupted by a tornado the second time we played. Not as much fun.

I have heard that Cooks Creek is now just about out of business.  They are down to only 9 holes and don't have carts because they weren't paying their bills and now no-one will lease carts to them. It is sad because the couple times I played there it seemed to be really nice.