If you could play just one course...

[MGinn77]

If you could play just one course in the world, regardless of cost, distance, or playing ability, where would it be and why?

[iacas]

If you could play just one course in the world, regardless of cost, distance, or playing ability, where would it be and why?

Oakmont. Best true test of golf in the world, and a test which blends American style golf with Links style golf to boot.

St. Andrews would probably be second, but I haven't played it so I can't say for sure. Pine Valley may be up there as well. Pine Needles too... After that the list gets pretty thin. Bedford Springs "springs" to mind... Augusta's pretty far down on the list to be honest. #12-15 or so.

[MGinn77]

hey, how do I list "What I play" like you have on yours?

[jamo]

Bethpage Black. Only 6 players ever have broken par there under US Open conditions. Plus I like the area it is in, I used to live about 30 minutes from there. Shinnecock, National Golf Links of America, and Long Island National would be up there. (Can you tell I love Long Island links courses? ) Also if it was autumn all year I would pick TPC Boston. It has to be the most gorgeous course in the world in the fall. And I have played that course. To name a few others: Winged Foot, The Old Course, Cypress Point, Augusta... I could go on, but Bethpage is #1.

[danieldrieberg]

I second Oakmont

Whistling Straits

Ausgusta National

Burning Tree

[GoBlue96]

St. Andrews (Old Course)

The sheer history of that course is amazing, just thinking I could be hitting out of the same spot Arnold Palmer did decades ago, is breathtaking.

[clearwaterms]

Pebble Beach
Augusta
Chicago Golf Club in Wheaton, IL

But one thing I have learned in my realtively short time on this earth is that the quality of the course matters less than the quality of the company. So my true list, is name the other 3 of my perfect 4 some.

My father
and the other 2 spots are a toss up between my two best friends that play golf and my uncle.

[Elvisliveson]

Augusta National. I am just a huge fan of traditional, tree-lined American rolling park land courses and it's one of the best of those.

[sean_miller]

I second Oakmont

I sure agree with the first two. There are some really nice private courses in Canada I'd like to play.

[Joeyvee]

I thought it was ONE course? Me.. Winged Foot. I've got it wired. I can score there. I caddyed there for a long time and I just still really love it. It's goregous and hard but fun and exciting. I preferred the west course. I think it was a little prettier but the east was awesome too.
I haven't played it since I was a young teen in the early 90's so it's not like I'm a member or anything but it's an amazing course. I've played most of the good ones in that area too (poorly). Westchester cc, Quaker ridge, Pelham, Wykagyl etc. All great. But Winged Foot's my favorite.

[GaijinGolfer]

The Old Course at St Andrews. Its such a beautiful course with so much history. Playing St Andrews should be on any serious golfer's bucket list.

[mck]

I'd go with Augusta because you see the course every year and it would be fun to relive the round

[WUTiger]

hey, how do I list "What I play" like you have on yours?

Here's the How-To link within Sand Trap:

http://thesandtrap.com/forum/threads...-is-in-my-bag.

[Greg]

St Andrews actually looks like someplace i could play if i could keep it out of those bunkers, i doubt i will ever be able to travel over there and play but I dont think i would completely embarass myself like at some pga courses. Pebble Beach and Torrey Pines would be a great west coast trip someday. Augusta National would be nice to visit but it looks way too difficult for me to have any fun, same goes for Bethpage. TPC sawgrass would be interesting as well, love to play that 17th hole. I guess it might be one of the most copied holes as there is a course near me in Fairfield, IL in which the 18th hole is very similar, about the same distance and an island green. Last time i played there i thought i hit a good shot, only to have it hit the green firmly and bounce over into the water behind the green, one club too many i guess, ended up getting a 5.

[nevets88]

Pacific Dunes / Bandon Dunes. Great layout, better views than PB, more reasonably priced too. Not too priced out of public reach. Just an effort to get to. Usually a slight 'detour' when visiting family in Vancouver.

[Leftygolfer]

Pine valley. Ive only seen pictures but how can you go wrong with number one in the nation.

[snowmanmdp]

St. Andrews
Oakland Hills
Augusta National
Royal Troon

[AmenCorner]

Augusta National-Hands down.


I'm sure you could make an argument that there are better courses. But the history of the course coupled with the allure of the tournament that I love so much, it's a no brainer.

#2 would probably be Pine Valley
#3 would be one of the traditional Golden Era courses like Oakmont, Merion, etc...

part of my criteria includes the exclusivity of the course. All of us to some degree want things we can't have.

Incidentally, I got an e-mail from American Express the other day to play Merion as part of a special event they are hosting. Of course the $800 cost (not including airfare) put it slightly out of my budget.