2009 Sand Trap Members Best Places to Play

[sam004]

Let's go, enough of these fantasy lists !
Lets play some golf instead of reading about it.

Post you favorite course(s) in your hometown,your home course,
favorite vacation spot, favorite muni, whatever.

Somewhere where anybody with a set of clubs,enough to cover the green fee
a hot dog and beer and a love of the game can play.

Let's make our own top 100 list of course you can play.

I'll start the show

Arrowhead Golf Club
http://www.golflink.com/golf-courses...?course=312545

Challenging 27 hole course, maintained beautifully. Feels like a country club

Paxon Hollow Country Club
http://www.golflink.com/golf-courses...?course=971045

One of my favorites for the terrain, after playing the mostly flat
courses in IL.

Badlands Golf Club
http://www.golflink.com/golf-courses...course=1526156

Rare treat on vacation in Vegas.
At home you leave the fairway and your in the rough and under a tree.
Here your in an arroyo or under a cactus.

[PiKapp23]

The best course in Cincinnati Area is Stonelick Hills. It has an island green par 5 and is a lot of fun to play (plus the clubhouse is fantastic):

http://www.stonelickhills.com/

Outside of Lexington, KY is another great course I play once or twice a year. Old Silo:

http://www.oldsilo.com/

Another favorite in KY is Hidden Cove at Grayson Lake State Park:

http://parks.ky.gov/golftrail/18hole/graysonlake.htm

In Columbus, Ohio, Cook's Creek is my favorite (that I've played so far):

http://www.cookscreek.com/

In WV my favorite is the course at the Snow Shoe Mountain ski resort, The Raven. It's beautiful and a lot of fun:

http://www.snowshoemtn.com/todo/sum-...golf/index.htm

In Indiana, my favorite is probably The Links at Grand Victoria (the casino just outside Cincinnati). It's a links style course and always in great shape:

http://www.grandvictoria.com/en/golf/index.php

I could go on all day, but I'll leave it at those. I play each of those courses at least once a year.

[Marinemike]

Here in the FL panhandle I am a big fan of The Moors .

I admit there is better in FL, and being I'm from GA (and having just come from VA)I couldn't figure out what had happened to all the trees and hills. However, it is just down the street from me and it made Golf Digests "Best Course You Can Play." I thought that list was good because they set the greens fee limit at something like no more than $50 at least 4 days of the week. Now THAT'S what I mean by a course I can play.

[uttexas]

Courses I love to play DFW area (no particular order)

The Tribute-just like baby bear's oatmeal. Just right. I don't know how they keep the greens so moist, even in the summer. http://thetributegolflinks.nemexinc.com/default.cfm

Texas Star-Perfect course, perfect greens. http://www.texasstargolf.com/

Keeton Park-even in the midst of a Texas drought, because the course is so low laying, it retains moisture. PS don't play after a rain http://www.keetonpark.com/golf/proto/keetonpark/

Westridge- 6 par 5s, 4s, and 3s. Might appear gimmicky, but it works. Don't know why more courses aren't designed in this manner http://www.westridgegolfcourse.com/l...=158&page;=2503

Coyote Ridge-that Sam Moon guy spent the money in all the right places (Jerry take note--all that glitters is not gold) http://www.coyoteridgegolf.com/sites...584&page;=30723

Tenison Highlands and East course-rarely crowded. Independent self employed individuals finding golf balls for you. http://www.tenisonpark.com/golf/proto/tenisonpark/

Cedar Crest-Great renovation by D.A. Weibring in 2004. Love the history here. It is also close to Wingfield's--Dallas Best Burger(call your order in 30minutes prior to getting there)
http://www.golfcedarcrest.com/golf/p...edarcrestgolf/
Anywhere with my Dad or good friends.

Country View in Lancaster-gets better evey year. Love the course, hate the drive (from where I'm at now) http://www.countryviewgolfcourse.com/index.php

[uttexas]

Thought that this course deserves some discussion. The Links at Land's End is an outstanding golf course, located in Yantis, Texas (midway between Dallas and Tyler on Lake Fork). In a perfect world, this course would be less than 5 minutes from my house, but, instead is about a 70 minute drive. The course is hands down, the best deal in the state.

Opened 2001 Designed by Williams & Gill Associates (George Williams)
http://abilene.com/wga/profile.html

http://www.golflakefork.com/layout9....=219&page;=5373

http://www.texasoutside.com/txorails...olf_course/158

http://www.texasoutside.com/txorails...olf_course/158

[goblue107501]

For Southwest Missouri --

1. Branson Creek - Hollister, MO (just south of Branson) -- Golf Digest #93 courses you can play 2009. Great course, very scenic, and always very well maintained. One of the best practice facilities I have ever seen.

2. Rivercut Golf Course - Springfield, MO -- Owned and maintained by the city park board but it is done right. Not your everyday muni. Very challenging with several great holes. Cheap too, about $45 on weekends including cart.

3. Silo Ridge Golf Club - Bolivar, MO -- Private, but not very strict about it. Usually a call will get you on if it is not busy, especailly in the afternoon. Easily my favorite course in the area. Not very long, but the greens are always perfect and as fast as anything you've ever played on.

These are the best courses that I have played in the area. There are a couple of new courses in the Branson area that I have not played yet. John Daly's Murder Rock (not heard good things yet, but it is still new), and a new Payne Stewart tribute course that is supposed to be very nice that is opening in a few weeks. Of course there are a few private courses that are excellent, and I have played a few of them, but it is very hard to play unless you know someone.

I don't have the links, but a google search would get you there.

[wingchamps]

Troon North-Phoenix

Cog Hill #4-Suburban Chitown

Reflection Bay-Henderson, NV

Innisbrook-Tarpon Springs, FL

Old Kinderhook-lake of the ozarks, MO

Golf Club at Vistoso-Tucson

Ventana Canyon-Tucson

Sedona Golf Club-AZ

[chipper2]

In mid-Michigan we are blessed with wonderful courses at reasonable rates.

In my area:
Eagle Eye, East Lansing, MI #47 on Golf Digest's "America's 100 Greatest Public Courses". A link style course.

Timber Ridge, East Lansing, MI has been rated *****.

Tullymore, Stanwood, MI #15 on Golf Digest's "America's 100 Greatest Public Courses". (2 hour drive)

My all time favorite course that I have played is Laem Chabang International Country Club, Amphur Sriracha, Chonburi, Thailand.

[Danattherock]

Pinehurst, North Carolina



Some of my regulars are (in order of priority)



Foxfire (east and west course in the village of Foxfire) Playable tract and fun.

The Carolina (Whispering Pines) Classic NC golf design. I play there alot.

Tobacco Road (Up above Vass on the way to Sanford) Tricky design, but fun.

Bayonet at Puppy Creek (between Aberdeen and Raeford) Interesting tract.

Tot Hill Farm (Asheboro) Scenic course. Lovely.

The Pit (Aberdeen) Interesting design, actually was made from a sand pit.






Keep in mind these are all relatively affordable courses. These are not the budget courses that fill the bottom half of many golf packages. These are also not the top 10% of courses in the area. You would be doubling green fees to accomplish that. These are the 50th-60th percentile courses that are always in great condition, are challenging, scenic, but still won't break the bank. Been here for 30 years and these are the courses I play. Regular prime rates for am tee times (with carts) is in the $50-$100 range. All are within 20 minutes of Pinehurst except for Tot Hill which is about 45 min north of. You can find these websites easily and all the courses have one. Many with the virtual tour of the courses. There are about 40 courses in the area. These are the ones that locals in the know will play every weekend. There are certainly some prime courses in the area as well. Pinehurst #2 and #7 are among my favorites. But they are in a totally different price point. Special occasion courses even for us locals. The US Open will be here (Pinehurst #2) for the third time in 15 years in 2014. This is at the very heart of American golf. Be sure to visit sometime. It won't be your last trip.

[Power_fade]

In eastern Tennessee:

1. Honors-quite possibly the best course in America with the exceptions of Augusta and Pebble. (never played either, just assuming.) It's beautiful, challenging, and is the perfect course to hone your skills. The club is amazing too. Plus it was designed by Nicklaus. It is private though, and does cost a pretty penny, ($50 to 80) but it is a golfer's paradise. Everyone should play this course at least once.
2. Willow Springs-if you want something different from the uber-demanding pins of honors, try willow. It is a par 64 course that will give your irons and wedges a real workout. Is very well maintained, especially considering it is about $15 to play 18, with cart. No tee time necessary either.
3. Fall Creek Falls-good vacation course. Has no water, but 71 bunkers to test your sand game with. Also relatively inexpensive, and has flora and fauna abound, considering it is in a national park.

[Grndslmhttr3]

New York: One of the nicest CHEAP public courses I've ever played was called Top of the World at Lake George, NY. Beautiful scenery, especially the view from the 10th teebox looking down at the lake. The course is also somewhat surrounded by the Adirondacks. It really is a beautiful course. Look at the website: http://www.topoftheworldgolfresort.com/
Oh, and it's not a very difficult course by any means, but I'd pay the greens fee just for the view.

Pennsylvania: In PA, I've played at a course called Lederach in Harleysville, PA. Great course, and challenging too!

[flap]

On long island we have 5 courses at bethpage and we have Montauk Downs which are state owned and run and are very reasonable.

[laxbballgolf]

Hartford, CT area:

http://www.wintonburyhills.com/

Well-maintained, kind of expensive for out of town rates. Beautiful and challenging course. One of my favorites.

http://timberlingolf.com/

Great value. Public course that is maintained like a country club.

http://www.gilletteridgegolf.com

Expensive but very nice. Not very long but requires precision.

[Bourbon and Coke]

Augusta National, Augusta, GA

Sea Island, St. Simon's Island, GA

University of Georgia Course, Athens, GA

Reynold's Plantation, Lake Oconee, GA

East Lake GC, Atlanta, GA

[Grndslmhttr3]

Augusta National, Augusta, GA

Uhhh...

Let's go, enough of these fantasy lists !

I don't think that "anybody with a set of clubs" can just walk on and play Augusta.

[Chilli Dipper]

Dogwood Golf Club
Austell, GA
Yards: 6,480
Par: 71
Rating/Slope: 71.0/123

Dogwood is possibly the most low-key course in the Atlanta area—no small feat, considering its location only 15 miles west of downtown. It does little to promote itself, even at its front gate: no large sign adorns its entrance, and its clubhouse resembles an unadorned 1970s ranch home. The course is a members-only operation Friday through Sunday, which might explain its relative obscurity to the general public.

During the week, though, Dogwood could be the best-conditioned course open to the public in metro Atlanta, no doubt due to the lack of traffic on weekends. It's not a long course, nor is it a particularly penal one; however, it is a fair test for the average golfer, free of the forced carries over ravines or stray shots into an accountant's backyard that gives high-handicappers nightmares at the so-called "championship" courses that dominate the Atlanta golf landscape. Particularly special are the bentgrass greens, which are rare even on upscale private courses in the area.

With a standard rate of $60 (cart included), Dogwood might be a stretch for golfers north and east of the city proper (where most of the region's high-quality courses are, anyway), but it's perfectly reasonable for ITPers and residents of Cobb and Douglas counties when compared to driving all the way to the exurbs to play. The $35 twilight rate after 3:00 PM is an outstanding bargain, no matter where you live.

[jorruss]

Grand Cypress NEW Course, Orlando FL.

This Jack Nicklaus gem was designed as a tribute to St Andrews, with 1 and 18 being replicas of the originals, and the rest of the course following suite with original holes that follow the same general idea. It's as close to a links course as you can get on bermuda grass. This course is not designed like all your standard courses. In fact, it was designed much like St Andrews - to look like it was not designed at all but simply was there. Many holes have pot bukners in the line of play and huge double greens that make for some 100+ foot putts if you aren't carefull. There are a few fairways that are wide enough to land a 747, and others that are so riddled with bunkers that the best way to play the hole is by aiming away from the green by some 40 or 50 yards. There are some blind and semi-blind shots, plenty of elevation changes, and even a stone wall on one of the par 5s that must be negotiated. If you are looking for a change of pace from the standard type of course, this is a great option.

Overall it's great fun to play, makes you think, and it's worth the trip if you live in Florida.

[tjy355]

For now, my favorite public access course and the course I would recommend as a must play for anyone visiting the greater Phoenix area is the Saguaro course at We-Ko-Pa.

http://www.wekopa.com/