GOLFERS: Rank the best courses by state/city you've played..

[Herzig]

Whenever I travel to a new place, I usually research the golf courses in the area. I would like to hear about the best courses some of you have played and use that info if I ever go there. Please list pros/cons, likes/dislikes etc., course type, length, public/private, etc... I'll lead off.

Arkansas Hardscrabble Country Club (Fort Smith)- Private. Nationwide tour stops here every year. Very challenging, long, lots of trouble, trees, sand, water. Very tight and tough. Will eat your lunch. Only course I've played that has a full bar stand next to the 7th and 12th holes. After you play a few holes, you will need a drink.http://www.golfpix.net/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=KNI5047&Category_Code=1-7-2-2&Product_Count=0 Eagle Crest (Alma) - Public. Very hilly, nice layout, scenic views of the Arkansas river valley. Lots of elevation changes. My favorite public course in the state. Good value and cheap...around $34 with cart for 18. http://www.golfeaglecrest.com/ Fianna (http://www.golfeaglecrest.com/index.htm</li><li><b>Fianna) Hills Country Club(Fort Smith)- Private. Very hilly and pretty long. Parents have a membership here...grew up playing there. http://www.fiannahillscountryclub.com/images/FiannaHills500w.jpg Lost (http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images/view?back=http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%3Fp%3DFianna%2Bhills%2Bcountry%2Bclub%2Bpictures%26 sm%3DYahoo%2521%2BSearch%26toggle%3D1%26ei%3DUTF-8&h=480&w=640&imgcurl=www.fiannahillscountryclub.com%2Fimages%2FFiannaHills%2520012.jpg&imgurl=www.fiannahillscountryclub.com%2Fimages%2FFiannaHills%2520012.jpg&size=70.8kB&name=FiannaHills%2520012.jpg&rcurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fiannahillscountryclub.com%2Fgolf.asp&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fiannahillscountryclub.com%2Fgolf.asp&p=fianna+hills+country+club&type=jpeg&no=2&tt=51&fr=FP-tab-web-t</li><li><b>Lost) Springs(Rogers)- Semi private. I have a membership here. Front 9 is flat. Tends to be windy. Back nine is somewhat hilly with some trouble. I play here a lot some I'm a little partial. http://www.lindseymanagement.com/golf_course_detail.html?gid=11 Stonebridge Meadows (Fayetteville). Public. Good value. Very long, rated in the Top Ten public courses in Arkansas. http://www.stonebridgemeadows.com/view.asp?id=103&page=1491 Paradise Valley (Fayetteville)- Semi Private. Tough old course. Tall trees line the fairways...trouble everywhere, not that long, but tough. Valley View (Farmington). Public. Closed for awhile due to an owner dispute. Hooters tour used to stop here. Nice layout...haven't played here in awhile. Big Sugar- (Rogers). Liked it. Tough...some gimicky holes. Needs some years to "grow" up. http://www.bigsugargolfclub.com/Home.htmlKansas (http://www.bigsugargolfclub.com/Home.htmlKansas) City Winterstone. Public. Nice layout for a new course. Hilly. http://www.lastminutegolfer.com/Course/PrintPreview.asp?CourseID=910 Tiffany Greens. Semi Private. Nice course. Good layout. http://www.tiffanygreensgolf.com/ Falcon (http://www.tiffanygreensgolf.com/</li><li><b>Falcon) Ridge. Nice, well maintained. Like the GPS system.. http://www.falconridgegolf.com/view.asp?id=142&page=2035 Shawnee Mission Country Club- Very hilly. Only played the first 18 of 27 holes. I can play free here with my Lindsay card membership. #17's 3 tiered green is a bitch! http://www.shawneegolfcc.com/course_information.php Drum Farm. (Independence) Tall rough...some short holes. http://www.drummfarmgolfclub.com/ Clay Crest...Older course, not bad...rather play the above courses.Lake of the Ozarks Porta Chima- Private. Jack Nickalus designed course. Very nice with a lot of scenic holes. 4 lake view holes. Old Kinderhook- Public. Tom Weiskoff designed course. Very nice, pretty long. Well maintained. http://www.oldkinderhook.com/golf.html Indian Rock. Public. Some nice holes...some are too short. http://odd.net/ozarks/indianrock/ Sycamore Creek. Golf course/fish farm. Lots of water, short. http://www.sycamorecreekgolfclub.com/sycamoreIndex.aspSpringfield/Branson Branson Creek- Liked this course a lot. My favorite in the area. http://www.bransoncreekgolf.com/ Rivercut- Very nice course...great value http://www.rivercut.com/rcgolf.asp Deer Creek- Ok..liked the above better.Neosho/Cassville

1. Neosho C.C- Nice course, 27 holes, mature course.
2. Cassville C.C. - See above...both are good value courses.

Destin, Florida Regatta Bay -Very nice. Cool layout. Highly recommend. Expensive. http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images/view?back=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.search.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%2Fimages%3F_adv_prop%3Dimages%26imgsz%3Dall% 26imgc%3D%26vf%3Dall%26va%3Dregatta%2Bbay%2Bgolf%26fr%3Dmoz2%26ei%3DUTF-8&h=189&w=125&imgcurl=www.regattabay.com%2FImages%2Fgolftop.jpg&imgurl=www.regattabay.com%2FImages%2Fgolftop.jpg&size=10.7kB&name=golftop.jpg&rcurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.regattabay.com%2Fscorecard.asp&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.regattabay.com%2Fscorecard.asp&p=regatta+bay+golf&type=jpeg&no=17&tt=76&ei=UTF-8 Indian Bayou- Ok..Lots of pines, good shape...only played 1 of 2 courses Bluewater bay- so so.Las Vegas

The Revere at Anthem(Lexington course) (Henderson NV) Troon designed course. Awesome course! Spectacular views of the Strip and mountains. Highly recommend.http://www.reveregolf.com/site/custom.asp?courseid=90&sort=390

Kentucky

Big Elm Country Club in Lexington, KY. I basically learned to play golf here. My parents were members and I was a part of the weekly junior golf camp every summer in the early 80's.

[WilliamTheIrish]

Best courses I've played.

1) Colbert Hills. Spectacular scenery.

2) Lions Gate. In O.P. Designed by Jack.

[Stinger]

Hang on I should have this list done by next Fri if I start now. ROFL

Will try to have something done by tommorrow or Tuesday.

...And just great, just thinking of this make me ready for a another golf trip. :banghead:

[Phobia]

Wow. I haven't given this much thought.

Though I do buy a logo ball from every course I play. I'll try to get at them one day soon.

[Logical]

Too bad I am not still a golfer, I hear we have some of the Country's finest courses here.

Aviarra
The Bridges
Torrey Pines
LaCosta
Rancho Santa Fe
Steele Canyon
Maderas
Redhawk
Fairbanks Ranch

According to my active golf playing coworkers these are among San Diego's finest.

[Bowser]

Shoal Creek - KC
Tiffany Greens - KC
The Brooks - Lake Okoboji

There are a couple in Omaha I have played that the names escape me, but were alot of fun. I should add that my golf travels are nowhere near Stinger or Herzig's levels....

[Skip Towne]

Hey, Greg, you didn't mention Big Sugar. That has to be near the top of tough. I had to drag you kicking and screaming onto it.

[Herzig]

Hey, Greg, you didn't mention Big Sugar. That has to be near the top of tough. I had to drag you kicking and screaming onto it.

Oh yeah...forgot that one. I liked it...some gimicky holes though. Remember that eagle I had with you there?

[Skip Towne]

Oh yeah...forgot that one. I liked it...some gimicky holes though. Remember that eagle I had with you there?
Isn't that what I dubbed "The ugliest eagle I ever saw"?

[Herzig]

Isn't that what I dubbed "The ugliest eagle I ever saw"?

No such thing!!!

[yeti]

I am too lazy to make a list although it wouldn't be that long. However, I did play some executive course just south of the strip in Vegas. My father and I were on the number 1 tee waiting to tee off and this very large man pulls up and is warming up next to us on the tee box. The old man who is paired with the large man starts chatting and then asked him what he does. Sure enough he plays football and just happens to be Jonathan Ogdon. Even though he's a Raven I thought it was pretty cool. Damn he was huge.

[Herzig]

Daytime bumpity bump.

[tyton75]

1. Shoal Creek.. very nice course all around
2. Paradise Point-in Smithville-- 2 courses, both very good.. prefer the outlaw because of the fairway grass
3. Excelsior Springs...

courses to avoid unless you are a cheap bastard..

Hodge, fun and easy but not well kept
Drumm Farm kinda sucks for the price.. not a fun course IMO
Staley Farms -(private)- very hard course and costs 100 bucks to play it and it sucks @ss

[Herzig]

There are a couple in Omaha I have played that the names escape me, but were alot of fun. I should add that my golf travels are nowhere near Stinger or Herzig's levels....

You guys can see where quite a bit of my $ goes. I try to got to ezlinks.com to get tee time specials quite a bit.

Shoal Creek is a course my cousin in KC plays a lot. I will be teeing it up there next. He likes it a lot.

[J Diddy]

Taka Tanaka's putt putt golf.

[Herzig]

Taka Tanaka's putt putt golf.

Knew it was only a matter of time until that happened. Is Cool Crest Putt putt in KC still open? I remember playing there as a kid.

[Herzig]

Hang on I should have this list done by next Fri if I start now. ROFL

Will try to have something done by tommorrow or Tuesday.

...And just great, just thinking of this make me ready for a another golf trip. :banghead:

Your extensive report is due today young man!ROFL

[J Diddy]

Knew it was only a matter of time until that happened. Is Cool Crest Putt putt in KC still open? I remember playing there as a kid.


I don't have the slightest clue. I've only played 3 courses: Rangeline Golf in Joplin (crap, you need a sledgehammer to drive a tee into the tee box), Schifferdecker Golf in Joplin (Decent, not great.) and some public course in Springfield (crap)

I hear Carthage has a nice course and Loma Linda too, but I haven't been there yet.

[Iron Chef]

I just started playing this year so I pretty much stink, but I played at Stonebridge in Rome GA this weekend and loved it. I started with my 10 year old son, man I wish I would have played years ago.


www.romestonebridge.com

[HemiEd]

Here is a few of my favorites from memory, I have scorecards at home from every course I have ever played. The history at Winged foot is why I rated it so high, the course is actually very average. I think the best value on the whole list is Half Moon Bay, a middle class price for an experience similar to Pebble.

1) Medinah #3, what can I say. it took me 4 years to get on it.
2) Kemper Lakes (Long Grove, Ill) 16 is the toughest hole I have ever seen.
3) Winged Foot (NY), what an experience, we had caddies and I shot 78
4) Half Moon Bay (No. Cal), Awesome scenery, about $100, well worth it.
5) Torey Pines (so cal), great course, very fair
6) Wailea (sp) Maui, too early in my golf career, but it was pretty
7) Tijeras Creek (so cal), played it many times, gorgeous course
8) Ivanhoe (Mundelein), Tough SOB and very scenic
9) Prairie Dunes (Hutch), Blood bath most of the time for me
10) Cantigny ( Wheaton, Ill), incredible 27 hole track and I play it regular.
11) Prairie Landing (St. Charles, Ill) Best pure links course I have ever seen.
12) Metro West (Orlando) Alligators in the ponds, wheew.
13) Castle Harbor (Bermuda) No flat lies here.
14) Glen Abbey (Canada) Awesome day, wow what a beautiful place.

[Herzig]

Here is a few of my favorites from memory, I have scorecards at home from every course I have ever played. The history at Winged foot is why I rated it so high, the course is actually very average. I think the best value on the whole list is Half Moon Bay, a middle class price for an experience similar to Pebble.

1) Medinah #3
2) Kemper Lakes (Long Grove, Ill)
3) Winged Foot (NY)
4) Half Moon Bay (No. Cal)
5) Torey Pines (so cal)
6) Wailea (sp) Maui
7) Tijeras Creek (so cal)
8) Ivanhoe (Mundelein)
9) Prairie Dunes (Hutch)
10) Cantigny ( Wheaton, Ill)
11) Prairie Landing (St. Charles, Ill)
12) Metro West (Orlando)
13) Castle Harbor (Bermuda)
14) Glen Abbey (Canada)

Wow. Quite a list. Winged Foot will host next year's US Open.

[nmt1]

Virginia:
Brickshire Golf Club in Williamsburg designed by Curtis Strange: Nice course and has some holes modeled after some of the most famous holes in golf. Think #12 at Augusta.
Golden Eagle Golf Club in Deltaville: Very nice course and dinner after the round was superb.

North Carolina:
Played serveral courses in the Pinehurst area. They were OK but nothing special. One must stay at the Pinehurst resort in order to play any of the 11 or 12 Pinehurst Resort courses including #2. Too rich for me.

South Carolina:
Myrtle Beach National, Kings North Course: Super course that was in great shape when we played. The course's most daunting hole is called "The Gambler." It's a long par five with an island fairway. Island greens are one thing but try hitting an island fairway. BTW, it has a par three with an island green too.
TPC of Myrtle Beach: Another great course that was in perfect shape. Very expensive but totally worth it.
Caledonia Golf and Fish Club: Beautiful course right on an old rice plantation. Saw many alligators. Very picturesque clubhouse and grounds.
Pawley's Plantation: Jack Nicklaus design. Very nice course.
True Blue: Nicknamed "Golf's Heaven and Hell" and you'll know why after you play it. I can't remember ever losing so many balls. The course was very wet and there was lots and lots of sand.
The Witch: Very nice course with tight fairways. Nice greens.

Alabama:
The Grand National on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail: The greens were slick, very slick. Lots of elevation changes.

[HemiEd]

Wow. Quite a list. Winged Foot will host next year's US Open.

I just added some more info to the list per your thread request. Winged Foot was an incredible day. I was invited to play in a Charity event there. We had caddies and the whole thing paid for by one of our suppliers. The New York Football Giants were also a sponsor. :)

[ROYC75]

Damn, I have never given it much thought to the toughest...... Haven't played too many seriously tough courses.

1). Prairie Dunes ...... Hutchinson,Ks ..... Back in 1981, went with a fried who knew a member there. Been so long, I can't remember much of it.
2). The Hombre,(The Good ,The Bad,The Ugly) ........ Panama City ,Fl .... alot of native crap to get into....plus aligators.
3). Sycamore Ridge ...... Spring Hill, Ks ( The back side makes this course tough )
4). Staley Farms ...... The greens were the toughest to putt on I have ever played.
5 ) Ironhorse ..... this course had it's fair share of trouble to get into.
6). Tallgrass ........ Wichita, Ks. But haven't played it since 1981.

That's about it, the rest are just small courses or country clubs.

[ROYC75]

Whenever I travel to a new place, I usually research the golf courses in the area. I would like to hear about the best courses some of you have played and use that info if I ever go there. Please list pros/cons, likes/dislikes etc., course type, length, public/private, etc... I'll lead off.

Arkansas Hardscrabble Country Club (Fort Smith)- Private. Nationwide tour stops here every year. Very challenging, long, lots of trouble, trees, sand, water. Very tight and tough. Will eat your lunch. Only course I've played that has a full bar stand next to the 7th and 12th holes. After you play a few holes, you will need a drink. Eagle Crest (Alma) - Public. Very hilly, nice layout, scenic views of the Arkansas river valley. Lots of elevation changes. My favorite public course in the state. Good value and cheap...around $34 with cart for 18. Fianna Hills Country Club(Fort Smith)- Private. Very hilly and pretty long. Parents have a membership here...grew up playing there. Lost Springs(Rogers)- Semi private. I have a membership here. Front 9 is flat. Tends to be windy. Back nine is somewhat hilly with some trouble. I play here a lot some I'm a little partial. Stonebridge Meadows (Fayetteville). Public. Good value. Very long, rated in the Top Ten public courses in Arkansas. Paradise Valley (Fayetteville)- Semi Private. Tough old course. Tall trees line the fairways...trouble everywhere, not that long, but tough. Valley View (Farmington). Public. Closed for awhile due to an owner dispute. Hooters tour used to stop here. Nice layout...haven't played here in awhile. Big Sugar- (Rogers). Liked it. Tough...some gimicky holes. Needs some years to "grow" up.Kansas City Winterstone. Public. Nice layout for a new course. Hilly. Tiffany Greens. Semi Private. Nice course. Good layout. Falcon Ridge. Nice, well maintained. Like the GPS system.. Shawnee Mission Country Club- Very hilly. Only played the first 18 of 27 holes. I can play free here with my Lindsay card membership. #17's 3 tiered green is a bitch! Drum Farm. (Independence) Tall rough...some short holes. Clay Crest...Older course, not bad...rather play the above courses.Lake of the Ozarks Porta Chima- Private. Jack Nickalus designed course. Very nice with a lot of scenic holes. 4 lake view holes. Old Kinderhook- Public. Tom Weiskoff designed course. Very nice, pretty long. Well maintained. Indian Rock. Public. Some nice holes...some are too short. Sycamore Creek. Golf course/fish farm. Lots of water, shortSpringfield/Branson Branson Creek- Liked this course a lot. My favorite in the area. Rivercut- Very nice course...great value Deer Creek- Ok..liked the above better.Neosho/Cassville

1. Neosho C.C- Nice course, 27 holes, mature course.
2. Cassville C.C. - See above...both are good value courses.

Destin, Florida Regatta Bay -Very nice. Cool layout. Highly recommend. Expensive. Indian Bayou- Ok..Lots of pines, good shape...only played 1 of 2 courses Bluewater bay- so so.Las Vegas

The Revere at Anthem(Lexington course) (Henderson NV) Troon designed course. Awesome course! Spectacular views of the Strip and mountains. Highly recommend.


BTW, an awesome list ......... not only am I jealous, I hate you ! :p

We need to play one of these days. :D

[Elwaysux]

I get the opportunity to play Bay Hill every year and it is a great course. The best (most humbling) course for me was three weeks ago I played Bethpage Black on Long Island. You have to walk it and there is a sign where you tee off "This is a difficult golf course for only highly skilled golfers." What was I doing there? The first tee is elevated and there are benches for people to sit and watch you make a fool of yourself right out of the gate. The rough was rough and the fescue was fugghetaboutit. Great course. By the way I shot a 95 and played with the same ball the whole round and won $16 on a $2 Nassau with junk.

[penguinz]

No mention of the Fred Arbanas Golf Course at Longview Lake.

[Herzig]

BTW, an awesome list ......... not only am I jealous, I hate you ! :p

We need to play one of these days. :D

Definitely!:thumb:

I'm sure Stinger's list will blow mine away. HemiEd's list is more impressive IMO. I bet Philfree's played some nice ones too. I forgot to add Big Elm Country Club in Lexington, KY. I basically learned to play golf here. My parents were members and I was a part of the weekly junior golf camp every summer in the early 80's.

My dad had the opportunity to play Pebble Beach when we lived in California in the 70's. I think he paid $50 to play...which was expensive back then.

[philfree]

For all the golf I've played I've never really played that much golf in states other then Missouri.

In Mo. K.C. Aarea
K.C. CC
Wolf Creek O.K. That's in KS but it was in the 1979 MO. State AM
Indian Hills
Tiffany Greens
Shoal Creek
Winterstone

Springfield Area
Hickory Hills CC
Highland Springs CC
Millwood
Twin Oaks CC

St Louy Area
Belle Rieve CC

Branson
Branson Creek
Stone Henge.....I mean Ledgestone

Lake O
Syacamore Creek/Ridge?..I think that was it but the bloody marys started at 7:00 AM as we were leaving Springfield so I'm not 100% sure on that one.

Out of State
DesMoines
Wakanda CC
DesMoines CC

Dallas/Ft Worth
Bear Creek
Woodhaven CC
Prestonwood CC

FLA
Bay Point
The Hombre
Boca West

Chicago Area
Cog#4 Dubs Dred

Seattle
New Castle
Avalon

There might be a couple I've missed and some of those I wasn't even old enough to drive yet.

PhilFree:arrow:

[HemiEd]

You guys can see where quite a bit of my $ goes. I try to got to ezlinks.com to get tee time specials quite a bit.

Shoal Creek is a course my cousin in KC plays a lot. I will be teeing it up there next. He likes it a lot.


Shoal Creek, a lot of memories from there. We used to play that when I would come to KC for sales meetings in the early 80s. We also played one called Tomahawk, or something like that. It had a huge drop to the 9th and 18th greens, a lot of fun.

I am playing here tomorrow:http://www.villagelinksgolf.com/
finest greens I have ever putted on. :drool:
Wednesday we play here: http://www.prairielanding.com/page/76-1896.htm

You really triggered some memory twisting for me, here are a few more nice courses that I have hacked at.
Pine Meadow, Mundelein, Illinois This place was gorgeous
Sedona, Phoenix too expensive
Foothills, Phoenix (snakes)
Halifax Plantation, Ormond Beach Fl (I think the most beautiful of all)
Blue Heron, NY Nice Country Club
Royal Woodbine, Toronto just as nice as Glen Abbey IMO
En-Joie NY, (BC open)
Cog Hill, Lemont Ill, I putted the ball into the water on 18.
Eagle Ridge, the General Galena Ill too expensive, very gimmicky
Stow Acres, Stow Ma Public Links championship held there once.
Baytree National, FL shot my lowest round there, 69
Tustin Ranch, Tustin Ca way to snooty for me

[penguinz]

Keep f'ing doubting the Fred Arbanas Golf Course at Longview Lake! :cuss:

[Shox]

1. Bay Hill, FL
2. Prairie Dunes - Hutch, KS

never acutally played it, but i been on the course and Flint Hill National is outstanding!!!!!

[HemiEd]

1. Bay Hill, FL
2. Prairie Dunes - Hutch, KS

never acutally played it, but i been on the course and Flint Hill National is outstanding!!!!!


Isn't that the one Tom Devlin built out East of Wichita?

[Scaga]

Isn't that the one Tom Devlin built out East of Wichita?

That's the one...
Listed as Andover, Kansas I believe.

That bastard has way too much money.

[HemiEd]

That's the one...
Listed as Andover, Kansas I believe.

That bastard has way too much money.


Yes he does, we used to work for the same small company. They ended up selling it to the English for 350 mil I believe. It is called Rent-a-Center now.

[Miles]

Arizona:Tuscon
1) The Raven at Sabino Springs: Favorite course I have played. Robert Trent Jones design. Very difficult and scenic layout.
2) The Golf Club at Vistoso: Excellent target course and very fun to play. Was in the best shape for any course I have played. Doesnt have quite as good of a layout as The Raven though.
3) El Conquistador: 2 courses. Very nice but not as good the areas top courses. Fun layout and had a really sweet twilight rate.
4) Starr Pass Country Club & Spa - Former TPC. Cool desert layout. Not as well maintained as it could be.
5) Omni Tucson National Golf Resort & Spa - Nice course but lacks the character that makes the desert courses so great. Overrated.

California: Napa
Chardonnay Golf Club, The Club Shakespeare Course: Superpremium course in Wine Country. Surrounded by vinyards and in in outstanding condition.
Chardonnay Golf Club, The Vineyards Course: Good course but nothing about it realy stands out.

Georgia:
1) Reynolds Plantation - Great Waters (Greensboro) - Very nice Jack Nicklaus course. Challenging but fair.

Nebraska:Omaha area
1) Quarry Oaks - Best course in the state. Great layout and acually has trees.
2) Champions Club - Private club that is always in great shape. Greens are some of the better ones I have putted on. Not the best looking layout but its very well designed. Great bent grass fairways and tees.
3) Shadow Ridge Country Club - Nice course but a tad bit gimmicky. Plays pretty hard from the tips.
4) Happy Hollow Country Club - Good course and well maintained. Kinda has that traditional country club atmosphere which im not a big fan of.
5) Omaha Country Club - Was in outstanding shape when I played it but the layout was dull.

South Carolina:
Myrtle Beach
1) Tidewater Golf Club & Plantation
2) Calidonia Golf and Fish Club - A bit overpriced and not all that challanging. Though its a beautiful course.
3) Glen Dornoch - My favorite course in the area. Would be #1 but the last time I played there it was not in a good of shape as it should have been.

Hilton Head: Harbor Town was being ariated when i was there :(
1) Old Carolina Golf Club - I played about 5 courses in the area and this one was the best. Lots of water.

Texas:
1) Barton Creek Fazzio (Austin) - Great layout in the Hill Country. Usually in very good shape.
2) La Cantera (San Antonio) - Best public course in the state. Great layout in the hill country.
3) Ram Rock (Horseshoe Bay) - Very difficult Robert Trent Jones course. One of the toughest I have played. Their are two other courses that are part of the resort that are also very nice. Apple Rock and Slick Rock.
4) TPC Woodlands (The Woodlands) - Former home of the shell houston open. Fairly difficult and the final two holes are notable.

[Herzig]

Arizona:Tuscon
1) The Raven at Sabino Springs: Favorite course I have played. Robert Trent Jones design. Very difficult and scenic layout.
2) The Golf Club at Vistoso: Excellent target course and very fun to play. Was in the best shape for any course I have played. Doesnt have quite as good of a layout as The Raven though.
3) El Conquistador: 2 courses. Very nice but not as good the areas top courses. Fun layout and had a really sweet twilight rate.
4) Starr Pass Country Club & Spa - Former TPC. Cool desert layout. Not as well maintained as it could be.
5) Omni Tucson National Golf Resort & Spa - Nice course but lacks the character that makes the desert courses so great. Overrated.

California: Napa
Chardonnay Golf Club, The Club Shakespeare Course: Superpremium course in Wine Country. Surrounded by vinyards and in in outstanding condition.
Chardonnay Golf Club, The Vineyards Course: Good course but nothing about it realy stands out.

Georgia:
1) Reynolds Plantation - Great Waters (Greensboro) - Very nice Jack Nicklaus course. Challenging but fair.

Nebraska:Omaha area
1) Quarry Oaks - Best course in the state. Great layout and acually has trees.
2) Champions Club - Private club that is always in great shape. Greens are some of the better ones I have putted on. Not the best looking layout but its very well designed. Great bent grass fairways and tees.
3) Shadow Ridge Country Club - Nice course but a tad bit gimmicky. Plays pretty hard from the tips.
4) Happy Hollow Country Club - Good course and well maintained. Kinda has that traditional country club atmosphere which im not a big fan of.
5) Omaha Country Club - Was in outstanding shape when I played it but the layout was dull.

South Carolina:
Myrtle Beach
1) Tidewater Golf Club & Plantation
2) Calidonia Golf and Fish Club - A bit overpriced and not all that challanging. Though its a beautiful course.
3) Glen Dornoch - My favorite course in the area. Would be #1 but the last time I played there it was not in a good of shape as it should have been.

Hilton Head: Harbor Town was being ariated when i was there :(
1) Old Carolina Golf Club - I played about 5 courses in the area and this one was the best. Lots of water.

Texas:
1) Barton Creek Fazzio (Austin) - Great layout in the Hill Country. Usually in very good shape.
2) La Cantera (San Antonio) - Best public course in the state. Great layout in the hill country.
3) Ram Rock (Horseshoe Bay) - Very difficult Robert Trent Jones course. One of the toughest I have played. Their are two other courses that are part of the resort that are also very nice. Apple Rock and Slick Rock.
4) TPC Woodlands (The Woodlands) - Former home of the shell houston open. Fairly difficult and the final two holes are notable.

Wow..nice list and descriptions there Miles!

[HemiEd]

Nebraska:Omaha area

4) Happy Hollow Country Club - Good course and well maintained. Kinda has that traditional country club atmosphere which im not a big fan of.


I played this course with my boss, I agree with your comments. I hacked it around that day, he was convinced I had been working hard and not playing golf. :p

Hilton Head: Harbor Town was being ariated when i was there :(

I have felt they should tell you at the Pro shop and offer a discount, instead of letting you find out once you have started play.

[Bootlegged]

http://islands.twoguyswhogolf.com/jamaicagolf/whitewitch/whitewitch.html

[Miles]

I played this course with my boss, I agree with your comments. I hacked it around that day, he was convinced I had been working hard and not playing golf. :p

I have felt they should tell you at the Pro shop and offer a discount, instead of letting you find out once you have started play.

They at least told us about it when we tried to play it but wouldnt offer any discount. With the high gree fees we decided it wasnt worth dealing with the clumps of mud in the fairway. It was pretty disappointing.

[philfree]

For all the golf I've played I've never really played that much golf in states other then Missouri.

In Mo. K.C. Aarea
K.C. CC
Wolf Creek O.K. That's in KS but it was in the 1979 MO. State AM
Indian Hills
Tiffany Greens
Shoal Creek
Winterstone

Springfield Area
Hickory Hills CC
Highland Springs CC
Millwood
Twin Oaks CC

St Louy Area
Belle Rieve CC

Branson
Branson Creek
Stone Henge.....I mean Ledgestone

Lake O
Syacamore Creek/Ridge?..I think that was it but the bloody marys started at 7:00 AM as we were leaving Springfield so I'm not 100% sure on that one.

Out of State
DesMoines
Wakanda CC
DesMoines CC

Dallas/Ft Worth
Bear Creek
Woodhaven CC
Prestonwood CC

FLA
Bay Point
The Hombre
Boca West

Chicago Area
Cog#4 Dubs Dred

Seattle
New Castle
Avalon

There might be a couple I've missed and some of those I wasn't even old enough to drive yet.

PhilFree:arrow:

I left a couple out. Jeff City C.C. Jeffereson City, MO and C.C. MO. Columbia, MO., Belle Terre, New Orleans. LA

PhilFree:arrow:

[Goodys]

Favorites
Mo
Branson Creek, Thousand Hills(Branson), River Cut (Springfield),Kinderhook(Camdenton), Dream Valley(Buffalo)
Wisconsin
Black Wolf Run (Kohler) WOW
Indiana
Blackthorn (South Bend)
Florida
Mystic Dunes(Orlando area)

These are all public courses I've enjoyed playing.

[Herzig]

I am too lazy to make a list although it wouldn't be that long. However, I did play some executive course just south of the strip in Vegas. My father and I were on the number 1 tee waiting to tee off and this very large man pulls up and is warming up next to us on the tee box. The old man who is paired with the large man starts chatting and then asked him what he does. Sure enough he plays football and just happens to be Jonathan Ogdon. Even though he's a Raven I thought it was pretty cool. Damn he was huge.

Get off your ass and make that list.

[Herzig]

Stinger...your report is 10 days late! :whip:

[Stinger]

Stinger...your report is 10 days late! :whip:

Sorry about the delay in getting to this. This will be an ongoing list that I will have to update periodically. We will start in the state of

Florida

TPC Sawgrass (Ponte Vedra Beach) - Yes it is (I know what you are asking) that great of a place to play. Birdied 16 and 17, but we will not talk about 18.

Bay Hill (Orlando) - Great layout but when we played the rain was pouring and course was not in the greatest shape. I bet when the tournament rolls around it is golden. Fore-caddies were nice though.

Orange County National (Orlando) - Let just say they held the 2003 PGA Tour Q school finals here and yes it can eat your lunch if your not careful.

Ospry Ridge (Disney) - I just love this course for some reason great scenery and just a great track.

The Magnolia Course (Disney) - Where they play the PGA Tour's Oldsmobile Classic. Fun course.

Champions Gate "the international" (Orlando) - If you like links courses (my favorite type) you will love this course by Greg Norman.

Grand Cypress (Orlando) - If you love golf you must go here once, I think I played till my hand bled. There are 45 holes at Grand Cypress, and by God we saw most of them twice in the two and half days we were there. An the "New Course" just awesome.

World Woods Golf Club (Brooksville) - Another great place to play although if like to practice this is the place for you. An oval Driving range 360 yards across, an acre, yes an acre, putting green. Plus a putting course and a three full-length practice holes.



Here are two you may not have heard of but if you get a chance to play by all means do yourself a favor and go, even if it is out of your way.



Hidden away about an hour away from Orlando is a town called Howie in the Hills, FL. They have two courses at this resort one is pretty much your tyical Florida golf course (Las Colinas http://www.missioninnresort.com/golf_300/las_colinas_320/las_colinas.htm ) water, flat, with gators ... ok lots of gators (I have a couple of funny gator stories on this course). Don't get me wrong it is a nice course but campaired to the other it doesn't even come close. Now we get to El Campeon http://www.missioninnresort.com/golf_300/el_campeon_310/el_campeon.htm , this might be the toughest unknown course in Florida. This course has elevation changes of 85 feet, those of you who are familiar with Florida golf this is almost unheard of. Great track and bring your A game along with some patient.

The next is one of the most bueatiful course I have been on in Florida. Just between Daytona and Jacksonville is a coastal town of Palm Coast http://www.oceanhammock.com/ocean_hammock.php . There is a Jack Nicklaus course built on the ocean with 5 holes that are on or look out at the Ocean. I put this place up their with one of top favorites of places to play, because of the views and the course condition were always perfect when we played there.


I will update by state as we go along. South Carolina will probably be next.

[Hydrae]

I have been wanting to ask this the last couple of days and this looks like the right place to do it...

Why do they call a golf course "links"? :shrug:

[Herzig]

TPC Sawgrass (Ponte Vedra Beach) - Yes it is (I know what you are asking) that great of a place to play. Birdied 16 and 17, but we will not talk about 18.



Nice list! Sweet...that's awesome that you birdied the famous "Island Hole".

[Stinger]

I have been wanting to ask this the last couple of days and this looks like the right place to do it...

Why do they call a golf course "links"? :shrug:

Especially in the U.S., the term "links" is frequently misapplied. "Links" refers to a very specific type of course. But nowadays it is common for any golf course that is relatively treeless to call itself a links course. And that's not accurate.

In modern terms, a "links course" is more broadly defined to include golf courses build on sandy soil (whether seaside or not) and that are buffeted by winds. A links course must play firm and fast, with sometimes crusty fairways and greens that feature many knolls and knobs to create odd bounces and angles. And, of course, a links course, needs to be relatively treeless with a native rough that is tall and thick.

"Links" are coastal strips of land between the beaches and the inland agricultural areas. This term applies specifically to seaside areas in Scotland.

So "links land" is land where seaside transitions into farmland. Links land has sandy soil, making it unsuited for crops.

The land, in fact, was thought to be worthless because it was not arable for crops.

But back in the mists of Scotland, someone got the bright idea to put a golf course on that land. What else where they going to do with it? And links golf courses emerged.


Because they were close to the beach, lots of sand traps were a natural (the soil was very sandy, after all). But the traps had to be deeply recessed to prevent sand from being blown away by the constant wind. Because the soil was of a poor quality and constantly buffeted by the seaside winds, not much would grow on it - mostly just tall, reedy grasses, and certainly no trees.


So a true links course is not any course that is treeless. The term "links" historically applies specifically to strips of land in seaside areas that feature sandy soil, dunes and undulating topography, and where the land is not conducive to cultivated vegetation or trees.


Because they were built on narrow strips of land, links courses often followed an "out and back" routing. The front nine went out from the clubhouse, one hole stringed after another, until reaching the 9th green, which was the point on the golf course farthest from the clubhouse. The golfers would then turn around on the 10th tee, with the back nine holes leading straight back to the clubhouse.

A traditional links course will have many - perhaps all - of the following features:



• The course is built along the seaside;
• The soil is sandy and drains easily;
• The course is laid out naturally, so that unusual bumps and slopes in the fairways and greens remain, rather than being smoothed over;
• The rough features natural seaside grasses;
• Bunkers are numerous, very small and very deep (to keep the seaside breezes from blowing the sand away)
• Fairways are rarely (if ever) watered and play firm and fast;
• Links courses usually have few if any trees;
• The course routes out and back.


Excerpts taken from http://golf.about.com/cs/historyofgolf/a/hist_links.htm

http://golf.about.com/cs/golfterms/g/bldef_links.htm

[HemiEd]

Middle of November and we are going to play Klein Kreek today. It is usually way to cold this time of year to think about golf. Must be the Global Warming.