What do YOU look for in a golf course?

[DavidFehertysBike]

The course doesnt have to be in impeccable condition, but it should be at least playable. Bunkers raked and free of weeds and greens that dont have too many of those brown dead patches in them.

I enjoy course designs that have some elevation changes and that give the player options to recover from poor shots around the greens if they have the game, and doesnt just penalize players just for the sake of it. For example, I played a course (in new hampshire i think it was) and on one particular hole, the fairway was sloped pretty good from right down to left. The approach required the player to hit a ball above their feet ( a hook lie) to a green that had a hazard and heavy waste area just to the left of the green. Not even 10 yards. Thats not clever deisgn, thats ametuerish bullcrap.

I guess a pinehurst #2 style course is what im getting at as my ideal course design. Penal in the proper places, but options to recover. I hate A to B style courses.

[Titleist Man]

1-I like FAST greens so you dont have to take full swings for 6 foot putts. The greens also have to roll relatively true.

2-I also like some hazards around the green ex. if you miss 5 yds on the wrong side you are in some weeds or fescue. Lots of greenside bunkers also. I like a course where you are punished for missing the green.

3- I like elevation change it makes it alot more challenging. Also some doglegs in both directions are nice and some of the doglegs have to be cuttable. The dogleg doesnt have to be so big that you have to take a 5 iron to not run out of fairway and then have a 190 yds aproach to a 310 yd hole(i played a course like this yesterday and hated it).

4-My preference is for the fairways to be tightly mowed-not rock hard but not soft either. Also no divots in the middle of the fairway. I really like thick rough too but not a lot of holes in it.


Thats about it.

[Greg]

Nice greens, well maintained fairways, and not too easy(as if thats possible), not too difficult or too long as I dont hit the ball a mile. Elevation changes make for interesting holes, especially on par 3's. Nice natural scenery too helps make it feel more like an experience if its a new course. Cost is another factor as if its a really nice course and not too expensive then i will play there more often. I recently played at a very nice course called Stone Creek just south of carbondale, Illinois. It had a a lot of interesting terrain, very well maintained and not expensive at all, $25 for 18 with a cart on a Sunday, there are a couple other courses in the area that charge much more. I think maybe the location helps because its so far out they feel maybe their rates need to be lower to compete.

[flopdarock]

at this point in the season... im just looking for any course that doesnt have groups on teebox's... fw's... greens... on the same hole and on every hole on the course... 3 groups per hole max's out my tolerence and really gets me out of my game

[AmenCorner]

I should clarify that I'm stricly talking about the golf course and its features, not how busy it is. Most of the greatest courses on the planet are packed to the gills. Nonetheless, they are still the greatest.

[The Owl]

I like a challenge, but I also enjoy the serenity golf brings. That said, I look for courses that encompass nature well.

[bogeyhitter25]

I like a course where I'll be hitting no more than a 4i into the green. So about 410 would be the maximum yardage for a par 4. I also like faster greens, and narrow fairways to really punish the long hitters if they go way off line. I also like to see a couple water hazards.

[abris33]

Condition
Variance in shots/challenging(instead of hitting a straight shot at the same trajectory or aiming right at the pin)
Medium/Fast greens and fairways

[clearwaterms]

cheap

I generally play muni courses, so I look for deals. But I will pay a few extra dollars if the course has a decent pace of play.

[ryohazuki222]

1) Solitude. I played one course in Anahuac, TX that wasn't in the best condition... but it was in the middle of no where. It was a great feeling in the deep isolated corners of the course surrounded by nothing but a bunch of trees and grass. Since, obviously golf is too popular usually to have the course to yourself... I've found my favorite courses are the ones that, by design, create the feeling that you're the only one there. Nothing but you against the elements.

2) True Rolling Greens. The only thing that really frustrates me in golf is putting the ball perfectly and watching it dribbling up and down while zigzagging left and right while finishing up just hopping over the hole completely. I've played a few courses where I could putt and the ball was seemingly glued to the ground as it moved along the line I hit it -- there's a lot of satisfaction to be found in seeing that little ball roll so smoothly and silently.

[senorchipotle]

1)

anahuac, huh? i've never played in that neck of the woods. i'm from tyler, and we've got a few beautiful courses there. you should play 2 courses if you're ever that way, no make that three. 1. cascades 2. garden valley 3. pine dunes. i grew up playing at a place called ''hollytree'', but every other hole is lined with houses and kids selling lemonade. other than that, it's a beautiful course. sloped in the mid-40's and very challenging.