best golf courses played

[jlund]

I played Mountain Top; a Tom Fazio course in Cashiers, NC. Absolutely stunning, and uber elite club...

http://www.mountaintopgolfclub.com/

Pic from the clubhouse looking at the range; gotta love hitting Pro-V1's as range balls..
http://www.ncmountainlife.com/admin/...s/pic-2453.jpg

[wolverine_man]

Harbour Town Golf Links, Hilton Head Island was the highest ranked course I have played. However, I can think of a few courses I enjoyed playing more. It's almost a little difficult to enjoy the golf when you are paying $200 + per round. Perhaps my favorite course in Michigan is The Gailes Course at Lakewood Shores in Oscoda. Traditional Scottish links style course, complete with pot bunkers and double greens and it's always in great shape.

[billm408]

I agree - I've played Pasatiempo and was largely disappointed. I don't understand why it continues to make all the top 100 lists. Its nice, and probably a great place for local californians to play regularly, but it certainly is not a 'destination' track.

Pasatiempo makes my top 10 and Pebble Beach doesn't, but I understand your point about a "destination" course. It's not pretty or resort like in any way. What makes it a great course IMO is that it's a shot maker's course. It's not target golf and it gives you options on most holes. You have to be able to work the ball and you'll hit every club in your bag. It also has 4 outstanding par 3's, although I've never been a fan of a par 3 as the finishing hole. Of all his designs, it was Alistair MacKenzie's favorite.

[NI4NI]

International Course

Mission Hills (Ernie Els course) Shenzhen, China.
Listed because it was a very cool trip - won't get there again

Local Courses

The International (Pines and Oaks courses) Bolton, MA
Didn't play from the Tiger tees on Pines, but both still provided more than enough challenges for a hacker like me


Red Tail - Devens, MA
Visually appealing (multiple elevation changes, many bunkers / waste areas), and very challenging


Blackstone National - Sutton, MA
Visually appealing - feels like playing in North Carolina. Also challenging


Out of State Course

Barton Creek - Austin, TX
Crenshaw, Palmer and Fazio gem

[right handed phil mickelson]

Treviso Bay, Tiburon Country Club, and the Olde Collier Golf Course are the nicest ones I've played. I really haven't played outside Florida though.

[right handed phil mickelson]

Tiburon is where the Rick Smith golf academy is. Also I play at a pretty nice course called La Playa which has a David Leadbetter teaching academy there also.

[finoky]

Back in the early 80's I was caddying for our base course assistant pro at the Pennsylvania Assistants Championship. The 3rd day we got paired with the assistant from Merion. My friend had knew him growing up. They got to talking and the guy invited him up to play and said he could bring someone with him. That happened to be me so I got to play this historic track. Many USGA Championships have been played there. This years Walker Cup is being played there and the US Open in 2013 is being played there. I was a strong 4 hdcp back then and made a 10 footer on 18 to break 90. For a short track that is one tough course. If you are out there somewhere Bill thanks for that great memory!

[top100dream]

Tie for first- Oakmont and Shinnecock
Nationa Golf Links
Shoreacres
Oakland Hills South
Arcadia Bluffs
Crystal Downs
Maidstone
Inverness
TPC Sawgrass
Rich Harvest

Have Pebble, Spyglass, San Francisco GC, and Olympic lined up for May

[GolfinGQ]

Who do you know because San Fran is private as hell!

[Yukari]

Treviso Bay, Tiburon Country Club, and the Olde Collier Golf Course are the nicest ones I've played. I really haven't played outside Florida though.

I also like Tiburon, but I think Wolf Creek (Mesquite, NV) and the Blue Monster are better.

[ET-Taylor]

Braemar Golf Cousrse in Scotland or gleneagles par 3 9 holes may have been a par three but unbelievable skill needed like one hol you had to hit a draw (most players fade) to get to the green which is very elevated so a high draw that stops is the shot required and that is just one hole

[UConnJack]

Lahinch and Old Head in Ireland.

[natp0wers]

The Olde Farm in Bristol, VA.

Loren Roberts is a member and said it was the best manicured course he has ever played.

Many famous members, all the Mannings, Dan Marino(current club champ)

[bogeyhitter25]

Blackstone National - Sutton, MA

I got to play here for my high school league match, and then again in the state championship. I really liked the course. I didn't like those hikes from tee to green, though.

[Bullitt5339]

I played Pinehurst #2 a few years ago, that was a very tough course, but very nice.

Other courses that I've found very well manicured and a joy to play (all around Southern Pines, Pinehurst, Aberdeen area):

The Pit Golf Links
Pine Needles
Bayonet at Puppy Creek

[ukalum]

I've played some really nice courses, but these take the cake!

Ranked in order of the golf, not the amenities.

1. Whistling Straits, Kohler Wi
2. Timberstone GC, Iron Mtn, MI
3. Minocqua CC, WI
4. Ventana Canyon - Mtn, Tuscon, AZ
5. Gold Canyon - Dinosaur, AZ
6. Irish Course, Kohler, WI
7. University Ridge, Madison WI
8. Troon North - Monument, AZ
9. Grayhawk - Raptor, Scottsdale, AZ
10. Northern Bay Resort, Arkdale WI

27. The River Course, Kohler
77. Meadows Course, Kohler.

[Randy4h]

Thanks for the thread! It's allowed me to go back and think about all those perfect days on these courses, even if my game was far from perfect:

1. Spyglass Hill, Monterey Peninsula, CA
2. TPC Sawgrass, FL
3. Rio Secco, Henderson, NV
4. Port Ludlow, WA
5. Prince Course, Princeville, Kauai, HI
6. World Woods Pine Barrens, Brooksville, FL
7. Marsh Landing, Ponte Vedra, FL
8. Torrey Pines South, La Jolla, CA
9. Gold Mountain, Bremerton, WA
10. Chateau Whistler, BC, Canada

[right handed phil mickelson]

Ive played Treviso Bay, the site of last years ACE Group Classic. Great course. I also live about 3 miles from The Quarry , and have played it many times. Its weird to see them talking about and playing a course that I live right down the road from and played before. Ill be going down there to watch them play this weekend :). The quarry is a beautiful beautiful, hard course. Its a great venue for the ACE Group Classic.