Larryscooterman

I have played the Otsego club. The Tribute course is beautiful. Its back in the mountains and very much like the courses at Treetops, probably a better test of golf. When I played it in 2009, it was in great condition. Loots of good risk/reward holes. I would recommend it to anyone headed to the Gaylord area. They have another course which you can see from the road, that does not look good. Don't be fooled - the tribute course is back in the mountains. Its like a 10 minute ride by golf cart to the first tee from the pro shop! Other courses I have played in michigan, ranked in order of preference: 1. Bay Harbor 2. Arcadia Bluffs 3. Forest Dunes 4. Black Lake 5. Otsego - Tribute 6. Treetops (Not the Tradition - its boring) 7. Boyne - Heather and Ross I have also played Garland and the Grand Traverse courses. They are not bad, but I wouldn't go back with all the other great golf in Michigan.

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.

I'll add my top ten. I have had the good fortune to play many great courses so it was tough to rank them. I tried to put them in order of my favorite total golf experience - which means I tried not to account for after golf fun, etc. 1. Cypress Point 2. Erin Hills 3. Atlanta Athletic Club 4. Whistling Straits 5. Forest Dunes 6. Blackwolf Run - River Course 7. Pebble Beach 8. Milwaukee CC 9. Blackwolf Run - Meadow Valleys 10 Torrey Pines Honorable Mention: -Scioto -Black Lake -Arcadia Bluffs -The Preserve Club

In Wisconsin, the top courses are in Kohler - Whistling Straits and Blackwolf Run - There are four top notch courses there, which most golf fans already know about. However, if you make a trip to play the Kohler courses you should check out these which are within an hour's drive or so: 1. The Bull. A challenging Nicklaus design that is right down the road from Kohler. Great conditions and some difficult/intimidating shots. http://www.golfthebull.com/ 2. The Bog. A little closer to Milwaukee. Palmer Design. Not as challenging as the others listed here, but a great layout and always in top condition. http://www.golfthebog.com/sites/cour...831&page;=46194 3. Erin Hills. Soon to be rated as the top course in the state. Easily the most difficult course I have ever played. Top contender to have the 2017 US Open. Hosting the 2011 US Amateur. Beautiful, natural looking rolling hills, and did I mention difficult. This thing is like 8000 from the tips with seemingly impossible green complexes. Check out the intro on the website. http://www.erinhills.com

Thanks for the input! I have no experience with Tour Edge stuff, but I have heard great things. I just picked up a 3 wood today, that so far.... I love. I tried a friends 17 degree TM rescue and I didn't care for it, but I think the shaft might have been a little too stiff for me. I have read that the Adams hybrid is the most used on the Tour, so I'll have to check that out too. Thanks Again for the ideas!

I am considering a new hybrid. My only experience with them is a first generation 16 degree TM Rescue that I carry in lieu of a 3 wood. I hit my current hybrid anywhere from 210-250 with almost no ability to control the distance. So its useless if I am 225, because if I pure it (which almost never happens) I air mail the green. I think the shaft might be too stiff for me, or its just a bad fit. I don't hit it well from uneven lies or out of the rough, which is what they are supposedly made for, right? So I end up hitting my 2 iron from these lies, and it is equally unpredictable. So I'm thinking of getting a 3 wood, dropping the 2 iron and finding a new hybrid to fill the gap between the 3 iron and the 3 wood. I generally hit the 3 iron 210-215, and I am expecting to hit a 3 wood about 245-255. So I would like to have a hybrid that I could consistently hit 220-230. Does anybody have a recommendation? How far should I expect a 19 degree to carry? Thanks for reading all of this!

Johnny Miller is insufferable. I cannot bear to listen to that man speak any longer.

LOL - Just saw this thread and had to laugh. Just last weekend shot 92 on Friday (one of the worst scores I have had in years) and 78 on Sunday on a more difficult course! Golf can humble a man HARD sometimes.

I have played a lot of golf in Myrtle Beach and the only ones on this list that I have played are the Sea Trail courses, and they were less than stellar. Be careful, because there are some crummy courses out there. I wouldn't say that Sea Trail is crummy...Just not even in the same ballpark as the TPC and the other recommendations in this thread. I have played both World Tour and TPC. I would highly recommend TPC if you are looking for immaculate conditions and a true championship style layout with challenging green complexes. The World Tour is kind of fun, but conditions were only adequate. Its not nearly as good as Tour 18 in Dallas as far as replica holes go. The Amen Corner is weak.

I'm new here too. Physical Therapist. I worked with a golf specific program for several years, but am now in a general orthopedic practice.

I belong to a private club. Best decision I ever made. My wife and I both play twice to three times per week. I was worried about possibly getting sick of the same course, but I have been a member for 12 years now and not sick of it yet. Plus there are lots of opportunities to play other private clubs on a reciprocal basis. There are frequent member events/tournaments which are fun and help keep a competitive edge. Around here each club has a district team, on which you compete against other area clubs. The service at a private club is FAR beyond what you will get at even the best public courses. At least around where I live, the conditions at the private clubs far exceeds public courses. Greens are firm and fast. The only problem is I am now spoiled, and could not imagine having to 'pub' it again. Make sure you at least TRY to negotiate the initiation fee. Most clubs around here will negotiate, and many are somewhat desperate. In my experience, they generally won't negotiate too much on the dues, but initiation fees are being waived at lots of clubs. I agree with RMD - I might quit golf if I couldn't be in a private club anymore.

My last trip there was 3 years ago. So maybe they are not taking good care of it anymore? However, we played the three big cat courses that you liked on the same trip, and Oyster Bay was in much better condition. I would rate Oyster Bay above the cats. I've played Oyster bay 3 times and have had a good experience each time. I'm usually pretty picky about conditions too. I would be mad if I wasn't told about aeration as well. That actually happened to me at MB National Kings North many years ago. I complained and they gave us a free replay on the south course. I am not a big fan of either of those courses and wouldn't go back to MB National.

All of the posts above offer good advice. If you are on a tight budget, Oyster Bay is the best bang for your buck. If price is not an issue, then I vote for the TPC. All 3 Barefoot courses are top notch- Dye in particular is a stiff challenge. Caledonia is great as well.