If you could play just one course...

[Varsity_Golf]

Turnberry (last years Open Championship site) or Edgewood (On lake Tahoe) a close second

Varsity_Golf

[ekcolam]

Augusta National is 1st on my list. With all the tradition there, it's a must play.

Courses that I have on my list to play:
Pebble Beach (done - June 2002)
TPC Sawgrass
Pinehurst #2
Oak Hill (private course in the town where I grew up)
Oakmont CC
St. Andrews

[Keep It Simple]

The only way to pick in my opinion is by historical significance and which bit of golf history you find most fascinating. I don't think playability of a course can be determined from watching it being played on television. Therefore:

1. The Country Club in Brookline Massachusetts
2. Augusta National
3. St. Andrews

[gortyl]

Of courses I've never played, so just a guess: Cypress Point, Augusta National.

Of courses I've played: You asked for one, so I just wanted to acknowledge that I read that. However, like everyone else, I'll choose more than one. Really, the thing they have in common is the challenge. If I'm going to play "just one course", it best be challenging and all I can handle.

Pebble Beach - the history, the views, the challenge, the changing conditions, the beauty. Sawgrass - it's just a beast that will never make you feel like you've got it figured out, which would be such great competition. Carnoustie - similar to Sawgrass, the challenge would be just magnificent every time and the history and stories are amazing (my caddy tried to tell me all of them during my round and afterwards at the Carnoustie Club; could have listened for months).

[The Recreational Golfer]

Me, too, on Cypress Point. Challenging layout, jaw-dropping beauty, I couldn't ask for more.

[NickS]

Augusta National. That place is so perfect. I got to walk it during a practice round a couple years ago at the Masters. I would love to get a chance to play it when I'm playing good.

[jetsknicks1]

St. Andrews. End of discussion.

[Pensfan79]

I love those Open Championship courses, Turnberry, St. Andrews and Carnoustie all seem like they would be incredible to play. I guess my best argument would be that the great American courses have layouts that can be imitated by other public courses, while those across the pond seem so unique.

[nevets88]

I love those Open Championship courses, Turnberry, St. Andrews and Carnoustie all seem like they would be incredible to play. I guess my best argument would be that the great American courses have layouts that can be imitated by other public courses, while those across the pond seem so unique.

I've played about 10 courses in England (none in the Open rota), and even the inland American style courses felt unfamiliar. I can't explain it. The grass, trees, plants and wildlife are similar to those in the NE US, but it feels different there.

[lumpuckeroo]

While I don't have a specific course in mind, I would pick a course in Hawaii. Year round mild temperatures, would never have to worry about temperature extremes. I know the courses would not stack up against a Pebble Beach, Augusta, or St. Andrews, but after enduring the coldest, snowest winter in recent history and now 1/3 of the way thru August and we are having the hottest summer in recent history, I'm all about nice weather for golf.

[Varsity_Golf]

The only way to pick in my opinion is by historical significance and which bit of golf history you find most fascinating. I don't think playability of a course can be determined from watching it being played on television. Therefore:

[QUOTE=gortyl;506873]Of courses I've never played, so just a guess: Cypress Point, Augusta National.

[QUOTE]

Augusta National. That place is so perfect. I got to walk it during a practice round a couple years ago at the Masters. I would love to get a chance to play it when I'm playing good.

I get that Augusta is beautiful and all, but there are bigger and better places in the world.....

[Radford Wooly]

Pebble Beach and St. Andrews!!

[ks8829]

August National, it look like golf heaven in a slightly stuck up way.

[MSchott]

This course would have to be endlessly interested and provide numerous strategies. St. Andrews fits the bill. Second on the list would be Augusta National. However I'd love to see it restored to its original McKenzie/Jones design which I believe had strategies modeled after British links courses.

[jlh1508]

Arcadia Bluffs, I have played it once and want to play it again and again and again and again

[nevets88]

I'm running around your question by mentioning an area and not just one, but two, but these two areas have many courses right next to each other. You could walk from one to the next.

Bandon Dunes, Oregon (4 courses)

Southport, UK (4 courses - Birkdale,Hillside,two others I forget the names)

[sean_miller]

If our list was confined to places we played in 2010, I'd say Central Highlands at Olds, AB.

That course isn't rated as being that hard, but I don't know who did the ratings. Maybe Ernie or Tiger? I golfed my a$$ out there and shot an 85 (okay - I lost 3 balls). I can't wait to get out there again and break 80 - as long as the wind isn't blowing.

If I included courses I've played in the past couple summers, I'd say Banff Springs.

[Slammin' Sam]

1. Augusta National
2. The Old Course @St. Andrews
3. Pebble Beach
4. Medinah
5. Winged Foot

...and just for fun, and since the OP didn't say we couldn't choose fictional courses: Bushwood.