best golf courses played

[cmcfalls]

I have to add my name to the St. Andrews list. I had an old friend of mine who attended St. Andrews University (keep in mind we are from East TN). While he was there he played almost daily (I would have flunked out of school). He had a flat there and I decided to visit him for a couple of weeks and got my play in. I didn't even have to wait. I asked when I could get on and the guy sent me straight out with 2 Scots who were a blast to play with!

[I KyotE I]

I don't have the money to play world class. But the best course I have played to me is my home course Antler Creek. very long. From the furthest tees it's around 8k yards. only about 7.3k from my tees but still very long to me.

[TCCcaddie]

Grand Cypress South course. The best greens i have ever played on. They had undulations that were like mounds you would find in the fairway. Immaculate shape and great views. Just beats out Dunes Golf and Beach.

[mstuk]

ok this year favourites in order of preferance

1 St Andrews Old Course

2 Royal County Down

3 Doonbeg

4 K Club

5 Portmarnock

6 North Berwick

7 Muirfield

8 Whistling straits

9 The European club

10 The Norman course at Red Sky

This years most overated course Torrey Pines

[biscuity]

Pebble Beach, Ca -- Great course, play it in a variety of weather conditions for the full experience. Ranked #1 in the America for a reason, play it at any price, it's worth it.

Cypress Point, Ca -- Almost impossible to get on the course, but if you can it's almost as good as Pebble Beach, especially the finishing holes.

Royal Ashdown Forest, UK -- Royal and Ancient Old Course was built in 1888, it has ZERO bunkers and doesn't need any. One of my most memorable shots was on that course.

http://www.virtualcaddy.com/coursesamples/ashdownold/
http://www.royalashdown.co.uk/

[907golfer12]

Wailea Emerald in Maui, HI

But that may become Kapalua Plantation. I'm going to Maui and will probably play Kapalua Plantation the day after from the tips, it will give me a sense of what the tour players play on every week.

[mstuk]

Pebble Beach, Ca -- Great course, play it in a variety of weather conditions for the full experience. Ranked #1 in the America for a reason, play it at any price, it's worth it.

I cant believe that anyone who has played both Pebble and Cypress could suggest Cypress is almost as good as Pebble! Pebble beach is not ranked number 1 by any source I have ever seen either Pine valley or Cypress always are , perhaps in a list of public courses but that would be about it . In my opinion Pebble is one of the most overrated top 100 courses in the world I think Spyglass , the MPCC are both superior courses. I do accept that in 6/7/8 they have probably the best stretch of three holes you will ever play but equally there are several very ordinary holes on the fornt and back nines.

[flap]

I had to ask the Mrs to help on this because she is my traveling partner in golf so here goes.
#1-The Black have played it maybe 300 times over the years
#2-The Dunes in myrtle-50 time
#3-Pinehurst #2 only twice
#4-Heritage in Myrtle--50 times
#5-Montauk Downs-100 times
#6-Torrey south-5 times
#7-Westchester CC-twice
#8 Steel canyon in Sandiego-Just a personal favorite of the Mrs
#9-Pinehurst #5-Twice and my personal favorite there.
#10-Caledonia-50 times and still in the spring the pretiest course I have ever played.

[biscuity]

I cant believe that anyone who has played both Pebble and Cypress could suggest Cypress is almost as good as Pebble! Pebble beach is not ranked number 1 by any source I have ever seen either Pine valley or Cypress always are , perhaps in a list of public courses but that would be about it . In my opinion Pebble is one of the most overrated top 100 courses in the world I think Spyglass , the MPCC are both superior courses. I do accept that in 6/7/8 they have probably the best stretch of three holes you will ever play but equally there are several very ordinary holes on the fornt and back nines.

"Pebble Beach is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful courses in the world. It hugs the rugged coastline and has wide open views of the ocean. In 2001 it became the first public course (i.e. open to the general public for play) to be selected as the No.1 Golf Course in America by Golf Digest." Of course, any course rating comes down to an opinion, so things will always shift around because no single course is head and shoulders above the rest. For me Pebble is my favorite because it has 9 spectacular holes right on the water, and I like the layout when I play it. It's fair, difficult, and it has the bonus of tradition, having hosted the US Open 4 times. Cypress is nice, but it doesn't really hit you with the dramatic scenery until halfway into the back 9. Plus, although I've played it a handful of times, it is still almost impossible to get on the course. Pebble is there for everyone to enjoy any time. MPCC, well, those are both fun courses to play, but they are not much different than the inland holes at Spyglass Hill. I would choose Spanish Bay over either of the MPCC courses, just because it has more holes on the beach and it's a fun links layout. But hey, it's just a list of courses and they are all great in their own way. I feel lucky to have been able to play them all several times.

[ToddziLLa]

Red Tail Golf Club in Avon, Ohio.

[VOX]

Although Fishers is only a couple miles off the CT and RI coasts, it is actually NY.

There is an old story that CT traded Fishers Island for Greenwich, CT in a border dispute a couple hundred years ago.

I would have to go with Cypress over Pebble. Cypress is in my top two in the US (along with Pine Valley). I love Pebble, but it wouldn't make my top 20 in the world.

[gortyl]

"Pebble Beach is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful courses in the world. It hugs the rugged coastline and has wide open views of the ocean. In 2001 it became the first public course (i.e. open to the general public for play) to be selected as the No.1 Golf Course in America by Golf Digest."

I'd have to agree, although I haven't been fortunate enough to play Cypress. I just played Pebble and thought the whole experience was amazing. The course, to me, was breathtaking. I played Spyglass as well and while I thought it was a great course, there was no comparison. If I had one round left and those two were my choices, I'd pick Pebble every time without hesitation. Additionally, I'd probably take Spanish Bay over Spyglass as well (although the 30 mph winds pretty much ruined any chances of a good score, the experience was sweet!).

Would love to hear the stories of how you guys got on Cypress. Assuming it's just that you know a member or someone you know knows a member, but always find that interesting...

[biscuity]

My access to Cypress was through a schoolmate who's father was a member.

I also used to forecaddie some pro tournaments because the reward was to play Cypress the next Monday.

And back in the early 70's we used to sneak on Cypress and Pebble... but we were kids and they didn't have course marshalls back then :)

[Smallville]

The course I am about to refer to is probably not the BEST course I ever played, but the COOLEST course.

I've played several in better condition (kept "up" better) but for the golfing experience, Pacific Grove Municipal is my most favorite course I have ever played. The front nine is basically the same as any course I played before. Pretty, but nothing that blows you away. In fact it started off a little strange with both the first two holes being Par 3's. But the back nine was designed by the same person who designed Pebble Beach, and this course is known as the poor man's Pebble Beach. Playing along the ocean, my first experience with Ice Plant (except I never had a problem with it since we were playing a scramble). Surprisingly, the inland nine holes (the front) was actually windier and colder thatn the ocean side nine that day.

I'll definitely play it again in a round so I can keep score and if you are ever near the Monterey Peninsula on a golf outing I would highly suggest that you consider it. But make tee times Z(the day we played, besides our tournament there was another one directly after ours and you couldn't walk on until about 2:00). I don't know how common tournaments are there, although this was a Friday and we were there for a weekend wedding, which is what our tournament was about.

[cnixon83]

i play Whistling Straits, both the Straits and the Irish courses, a few times a year. i get to both TPC Deere Run and Cog Hill #4 a few times a year as well... i'm really looking forward to playing the redesign of Cog Hill #4 next year. and Weaverridge in Peoria, IL is a great course that the PGA has looked at for a tournament in the past, but i don't know where that stands.

[jeffhale08]

Obviously not in the same breath as Pebble Beach, Cog Hill or some of the others mentioned before, but if your in the Gulf Coast area of Mississippi, try the Grand Bear in Gulfport. Linked to the Grand Casino, it is a real challenge. Great practice facilities, great greens and fairways. Tee shots are at a premium. Rough is quite thick making it tough to hit the greens after missing the fairways. If your in the area, a must play ($53 on the weekend).

[Fat Slice]

I played Pebble and Spanish Bay a year ago. It was a waste, as I was not hitting the ball well and it was cold and misty. I'll go back someday. I really want to play Torry Pines after watching the Open there for a few days and walking the course.

[MountainHip]

Perhaps they are not well known, but here goes:
(in no particular order)

- Fairmont Banff Springs, Banff Alberta (my home course)
- True Blue, Myrtle Beach S.C.
- Stewart Creek, Canmore Alberta
- Grey Wolf, Panorama British Columbia
- Mauna Lani South, Kohala Coast, Big Island Hawaii
- Kananaskis G & CC Mount Kidd, Kananaskis Alberta