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There is a new book out by Tom Coyne....He had authored a Course called Ireland a few years ago. His book on Scotland is fabulous and gently describes many of the courses. He played 117 rounds in 56 days. I highly recommend anyone with thoughts of going to Scotland reading this....and for those who have gone, It is a must.

I just played Westchester CC. I had played it 15 years ago. They removed 1000 trees. The course was fabulous. Played with a 40 year member. He said the site lines are an improvement he didn't think possible. I have had chance to play a few other top spots too the past month. Tree removal is critical for the Classic courses. Air flow, Sun, site lines, grass growth, original playing conditions. It's just part of the care to keep the course more original...That and inputting further back tees. I am reminded of the story about the kid and his Grandfather playing....and the pop says to the kid...ya know when I was your age I blew my drive right over that tree and got home in 2 on this par 5...The kid knocked it into the tree...Pop says ya know when I was your age that tree was 10 feet tall.....Ha

I have 9 putters. Use an Axis 1 now which has incredible balance. Have an original Scottie Futura which has made visits back to my bag but gets replaced. Two response 86 masters Nicklaus putters. One without a grip I found at flea market. Two ping ansers one about brand new Have had a Heavy, came/went. A clear plastic putter called clearview, came went. Have an old wilson Jim Ferrier and an old New Mills the Ray model. And an old Ray Cook Zebra mallet. I pull 4 putters out about every 6 months and have a putt off for which will go in bag...Ha

So I have done some digging and find this Berckmans Place listing....Not only can you go to the Masters but they have a special place for you with unlimited food and beverage...And a Monday only pass can be had for $3750......Yikes.

The Masters is much like playing the Old at St Andrews....There is a system in place which allows for you to participate at an equitable price. A lottery well before hand. I know the systems well. My simple question was....Has anyone just gone last minute? How did that work out? The one time I did go was when they still had the corporate sponsors and I went with Travelers. They had a corporate building on the first hole in the woods on the right. Painted green as to blend in. Got to have dinner with Hal Sutton who was sponsored by them. They stayed in outskirts of Columbia and took a bus in. They had about 60 guests attend. Except the big executives who had a house down town and that's where we had dinner with Hal and Co. So on one hand you can attend this event at a fair price. On the other hand the market price for attending is vast multiples of the face value.

I put in for the lottery every year. Still waiting on a lucky draw. I have attended many upscale events where many corporate invitees back out at last minute....and many tickets are just hanging. Two Ryder Cups and US Opens. @iacas I appreciate the link to the sponsor who notes his rates are 10% below others. I just think if you just show up.....A deal may be had. That's my opinion.

I did have the pleasure of going once...In 2001. Have a hankering to get back. Badges are so expensive. Has anyone ever gone and gotten a ticket once you were there? How did that work out?

Fabulous post....Very difficult to separate by hole....Good fortune to play about 900 courses.....all over. Best starter is Machrihanish. I'd throw in a hole or two from Merion. A hole or two from Pine Valley . Kingsbarns St Andrews Old Old Head 12, Yale 9, Prestwick Alps, Cabot Cliffs, Royal Porthcawl, National, North Berwick, Tralee, Pebble, Old Mac, Pacific, Bandon, Black Diamond, World Woods, Kiawah Ocean, Kauri Cliffs, Cape Kidnappers, Cabot Links, Fishers Island, Streamsong, Bethpage Black, Tobacco Road, Royal Dornoch, Turnberry, Trump Aberdeen, Cruden Bay, The Country Club, Muirfield, Carnoustie, Carne, Ballybunion, a couple at Royal County Down, a couple at Royal Portrush, Opener at Portstewart is quite good. Do I have 18 yet....Ha

I travel to Scotland/Ireland/UK every year pretty much. The primary reason is they let me play anywhere just about. Can't do that here. But my experience has been that club groups from overseas do get consideration at many places here. Much of the conversation though is about timing and the schedules at the clubs while you are in area. I always start the dialogue with the Club Pro.

I write often to clubs for the opportunity to come and rate their club. I rate for a golf magazine. My response rate is about 75%. If they respond typically something will be worked out. Going to the really top shelf places usually requires going in their shoulder season. Unless they are keen on having a great rating. It is the lesser known private places which typically create resistance. I go to websites and try to find contact person but rely heavily on a book called.....The American Private Golf Club Guide. It lists 1000 US courses with the key contact info and review of course. I recently returned from Scotland having played 11 rounds and had 7 comped, including Kingsbarns, Cruden Bay, Prestwick, North Berwick and the three Trump courses. I am currently looking at a trip to your neck of woods with desired outcome to play all the great courses and also visiting Tasmania for the 3 there. My standard line I use in these situations is Act like you own it.....Until someone tells you otherwise...And few will do that. Being from Aussie my guess is most every club in US will welcome you. Set up a group from your club and create a trip. Just do it well in advance. I hear often about clubs who like foreign clubs to visit and have a day of competition.

Rented a house with 8 buds this past summer in St Andrews. You can actually make St Andrews somewhat affordable this way. They have multi round passes and the town is just special.

I got to play there once. And with the club champ as my host. Great day but I had a horrible caddie. He miss clubbed me numerous times. And when I was there GPS didn't exist and the caddies were the only ones with books and yardages. The sprinklers were marked 1 thru however many sprinklers were on that hole. My caddie actually got punched by my hosts caddie after he miss clubbed me by 3 clubs on a downhill par 3.....I hit 6 iron over green into top of tree......it did bounce off and go on green though...Ha......Here's how you play there if you read this....Drive up to end of corner before you cross the RR tracks to the course... Park your car on the left and act like you are broken down....First person who stops and says are you OK....Say no I want to play....My guess is they will host you....Look the part though.

Three areas scream great bang for your buck. Mid West coast Ireland. Carne being the best in area in my mind. Enniscrone near by and County Sligo. A run up further to a great diamond in rough Narin Portnoo. Second area is Wales...Who'd of thunk....But Wales has great value. Go to Swansea area and play Royal Porthcawl...fabulous. Pennard is wonderful. Run up a little and play Aberdovey then Royal St David and all the way is what I call Mini Old Head...Nefyn District. Just play that on weekday as on weekend walkers crowd the holes out on penninsula. The last area with tremendous group of links courses is SW England. Royal North Devon, Burnham Berrow, The two at Saunton, Trevose and the best in the area St Enodoc.......of all mentioned Carne is special. As is Royal Porthcawl. As is St Enoduc.

Economic analysis to this subject is kinda moot. If ya wanna play Pebble.....That's what it costs. They charge what they charge and every teetime is booked solid....Need say no more. Go play it unless that amount of money hurts you.

Wonderful review. I have been to the Red and Blue a few times. My last time in end of summer 16 was 36 two days. Now with the Black open this place presents a top level place at a good value if you time it right. The Blue is very playable for all types of golfers. As is the Red too. The fairways are generous when they should be and penal if you choose aggressive play. I'm always impressed by how engaging Tom Doak is. I wrote him once about a course I was traveling to play which he put on his unloved list. Pennard. He wrote back and actually sent me a signed copy of the history of Pennard. I viewed the bunkers as more penal than average predicated on most of the rest of the course was easily navigated. Good to read Tom's view on that though. I have referred many to Streamsong. It is so different than most everything else in Florida. Pretty easy to get to. I call it Bandon East. Thanks for posting. I use to live 90 minutes away but have moved to VA so getting back will be less frequent.

I follow the ratings quite a bit. Between the 3 major raters in the US...Golf, Golf Digest and Golfweek you will find a fair amount of consistency in the lists. I am a rater also. The process is not about the specifics of your day there. It's more about the skeleton, the architecture. But overall the truly great courses shine on all of these lists. The difficulty for most of us is how do you play some of these exclusive places. That is why I love to travel to Scotland and Ireland and the UK. Predominantly they let anyone with a cap below about 20 and the cash come and play. Can't do that here. Ultimately it's nice to have friends who are connected to play at great places but if you have those type friends you probably don't need them to play exclusive places anyway. I'll throw out a few hints how to play these great places. On the list provided here of Golf Digest I have played about 200 rounds. Ways to do it....Charity....One of the best ways organizations raise $ is charity. Golfers love to donate 4somes to orgs. You can buy them from afar. Charitybuzz and Biddingforgood are the 2 best. I have played The Country Club, Stanwich, Yale, Philly CC, Aronimink, Philly Cricket, Wolf Creek, Machrihanish....Ha by buying 4somes A few times they were 3somes and play with member. And those times the members were over the top gracious and accommodating. Charity outings...All of the truly great courses have charity outings. They aren't cheap. And you may have to do some investigative work to find out where/when..Once I had Fishers Island as #1 on my hit list. I found out the Rotary Club of Stonington had a charity outing...I called I think commerce dept in area. The gal knew the guy who ran it, I called him and the event was the next day and he had someone cancel out of his group...I said I'm in. $600 to play a scramble. Me and 3 guys who's caps totaled about 100. We shot 76 with 73 of those shots my ball...Ha Man up and just call places....Some places are in need of some revenue at times. or the Pro will just pocket....Southern clubs from May 1 to labor day you have a good chance to play. Northern clubs before May 1 and after labor day a good chance. I once walked into Cypress Point and had a chat with the pro.. He laughed but we had a nice chat. I grabbed a scorecard and some pencils which was my real plan anyway. With many of the over the top private places.....the members many times are really good people. They know they are fortunate to be where they are and don't mind showing off their place to the little guy.....Find em and just ask....

Meadows Farms in Virginia.....defines quirky....A par 3 built with a little league baseball field on the hole. Tee behinf home plate, green in center field...another par 3 with an island green set inside the foundation of an old mill. So you face a waterfall with the moat around the green. And then there is an 800 yard par 6...It's a decent course otherwise with these few surprises.

For a while I use to seek out the toughest courses in the world. I don't step to the back tees often except when the moment seems right. Bethpage Black last day you could play prior to US Open at 7500 yards...Ha, A few 270 carries to get to fairway. Shot 96. Whistling Straits last day before PGA at 7000 yards. Not all way back. Kiawah Ocean is able to stretch to bring anyone to their knees. Carnoustie is just always trying to mess with you. Waterville in Ireland seems so nice until you look at your card and say WTH....But pound for pound the toughest course I have played is Tobacco Road. At 6500 yards it slopes at about 150. The little nuances just grab you. The diagonal greens which require precise distance for the direction the ball is going. I have heard that Koolau in Oahu is the toughest by many. I have not been there. A crazy little place which is much like Tobacco Road as in short and huge slope rating is the Shattuck in Jaffrey, NH. Well worth a visit if in area. I did play The International in Bolton, MA from the Tiger tees. They were named before Tiger Woods...8325 Yards...and played those tees in 1997.....

Kinda late to this but the ECCO shoes are really durable. I typically buy shoes right now. The discontinued styles go for 1/2 price. A few outlets have some ECCO's that are normally $200 for $100 now. I usually plow thru a pair a year buy the ECCO hybrid I have now 2 years and are still going strong.

For many years I have collected pencils from the golf clubs I have played....I never really organized them, I just threw them in a bag.....The bag weighs 20 pounds....Ha...So I just organized them and realized there are many I have multiples of and some that I just don't have......So I am looking for barter partners. The pencils I am specifically looking for are Pebble Beach, Spyglass, Spanish Bay, Old Del Monte, Baltusrol, Irem[PA], European Club, Carne, Royal Dublin, Royal Troon, Machrie, Rosapenna, If you have any of these and collect golf items.....I have a lot of balls I have gathered but don't really collect.....lots of duplicate pencils. Many of which are Scot/Irish.

Was just in the area end of October. Have a bud who is member at CCNC and they have houses available to stay at. Pretty cheap too. I agree that no way Dormie goes private any time soon. They have whispered that since opening. A new owner won't change that immediately. Tobacco Road is one of my faves. I'm a big Strantz fan. It was in fabulous shape end of October. Played mostly at CCNC but if in area I have to play Tobacco Road. Plenty of great restaurants around area. No discounted way to play #2 that I am aware of. If you are playing as single I would believe you show up day you want to play, chat with pro and no way the sheet is full for all day. Unless putting out a grand for a night and a round is ok, I'd just show and expect to play sometime that day.

The Old is the home of golf. I have been fortunate to play it 6 times. Only once with an advance teetime. The process to play there has changed over the past few years. If you travel at off season you could walk on no problem. As I travel with buds who wouldn't entertain that we are there in prime time....Around Labor Day you put in an advance app for the following summer play. Obviously the broader your options are the higher your chance to play. By mid October they will advise your outcome.....The problem is the other must play options while you are there are filling up simultaneously. You can bypass all of this by booking thru an agent who has times or at a hotel that does....But they utilize Old times as their primary income producer....So you will pay multiples of what the proper rate is. Meantime if advance app doesn't work and you don't wish to pay the exorbitant prices of agents/hotels there is the ballot. You input for ballot two days in advance. They post results afternoon of entry. You review that and you can see if successful but also how many openings there are for walk on. On average in the summer about 20. Every group going off will be a 4some. Unless there was no one there to fill it up. When I was there this August with 9 of us. We hit the ballot once for 4. On walk up on a day predicted to be rainy all day....3 of our guys went at 4:30am to find themselves to be 15/16/17 in line for only 22 openings that day. They were advised to be at pavillion at 11am. They came back, we went to breakfast. We had rented an apartment for all of us about a par 4 from Old. Upon finish they went back to apt and I went to starter. When I got there no one was hanging around. I asked about signing up and the guy said where are your clubs...I said 400 yards from here. He said it is 7:55 can you be on the tee at 8:20.......No way that was happening as I would have to bump 3 buds who have never played it. I said I have 3 buds on the list. He said get em here asap. I called and the 3 ran. One teed off at the 8:20 and very fortunately a father/son teed off at 9:00 as an R&A guy's two sons decided to sleep in on this rainy day. The skies cleared and as I came back with clubs, all of a sudden the place was mobbed. All those on the list before were hanging around. 4 of us decided to run over to Fairmont and play Kittocks.....

1. So I am to believe faster greens are harder to hold, harder to hit short game shots to, harder to position ball properly on the green and YET EASIER to putt. NO 2. With a speed of 5 no pro would ever have a putt over 15 feet. Short game shots are darts, irons are darts, 3 woods into greens are darts...Number of putts would be less. Where we disagree and where there isn't a proper comparison to measure is the average length of putt. On average at slow green speeds the pro will have a much shorter putt than what he will have on faster green speeds. With ultra fast greens every shot requires precision. Your drive must find the fairway, your iron must find the area that allocates a makable putt or at least not a 3 putt. Short game shots are impossible from short sided leaves.........And yet you wish to believe that even though every other shot is penalized by ultra fast greens, putting is easier.....Sorry I disagree. And candidly I'll just leave it at we agree to disagree. Pelz proroller confirms my premise with others that a pure roll which is imparted by a pure stroke is the perfect putting methodology. Any putt that breaks requires a combination of speed and amount of break. Die it in the front and more break is needed. Faster pace and less break. Two things about Pelz.....He has said every putt is straight if you hit it hard enough.....And here's where your premise is wrong....The proroller test was utilized without compensation for my above speed compensation analysis. One aim, various speeds will give you the result of faster green speeds deliver more putts made by the proroller. I agree. .........But analyze the misses and distance of second putts. The proroller test you refer to also indicates more three putts on faster greens. Slower greens create less three putts. Nice try johnclayton

Given the rules.....The continueing improvement of long putters and their ability to create a purer pendulum by anchoring against the body is the essence to create a pure big and thru stroke. pool cue was banned based on concern for damage to greens as was the short putter that was used while kneeling down. straddling the line.....every analysis done on putting starts with position of the eyes to ball. straddling allows for an unfair advantage. golf digest current issue takes up this issue. the points made by several in this thread....not my words....putting experts per.....and we all know for every point there is an expert with a counter point....but the stats quoted speak to amateurs have a greater face rotation than pros. It is argued not by me but others that a pro is better because of less rotation. It then seems to reason that no rotation is best given any means available to putt. Given the rules state max 80% my guess is within the rules a slight rotation that responds with a putter at 80% is probably the best allowed. Note that change in my arguement. I'm moldable. Given proper reasoning. 30 years of actuarial execution of data sets can do that to you. But my point would be if allowed a 90% putter with a pure stroke back and thru would be more precise. The arguement regarding green speeds I sum up simply as The powers to be in Golf create the most difficult conditions for their Major Championships. If the putting statistics were true that slower green speeds created higher scoring our Major Championships would be played on greens stimping at 5.....not 14. Check out the scores at Torrey Pines 08, Pebble 10 they prove my thesis correct.