Golf Club Atlas
GolfClubAtlas.com => Golf Course Architecture => Topic started by: Ed Tilley on October 22, 2014, 06:10:28 AM
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Being a sad accountant, I like to keep a list of the courses I have played. I've been stuck in the 90s for a while due to a few years of playing very little golf for family reasons. I'm just back starting to play and realised that, in the next few weeks I am moving from 97 to 100. Having played Westward Ho! and Saunton West to take me up to 99 I am bringing up my 100 in (horrific) style at The Oxfordshire.
For those that may be interested my full list is below - forgive the fact that I can't remember the names of 3 courses. These were either at University or on cricket tour and memories are a bit hazy of these periods! Please also don't be too hard on me for my placing of Huntercombe at number 50. I know I could be expelled from this site for placing it so low but I just find the course far too claustrophobic and don't particularly enjoy it for this reason.
My questions are:
- How many courses have you played (I know 100 will be dwarfed by some on this site)
- What is the best course you've played (Royal County Down for me)
- What is your favourite course - not the same question! (St. Enodoc)
- What is the best value course you've played - on the normal visitor's green fee. (Silloth on Solway)
- What was the biggest surprise both good and bad (Royal St.Georges good (I was expecting stern and tough, not for it to be so much fun), Aberdovey bad (I was expecting rolling dunes and great fun and, whilst I liked it, the overwhelming feeling was disappointment)
- If you were told you could play only one more round of golf where would it be and why (Leaving aside St.Enodoc, for totally sentimental reasons I would play the nine holes over the road on the Green course at Frilford Heath on a sunny summers evening, trying to cram as many holes in as I could before it got dark. I used to do this all the time with a friend of mine in my late teens - life was much simpler then!)
The list:
1 Royal County Down
2 Royal Dornoch
3 Royal St. Georges
4 Ballybunion Old
5 Sunningdale Old
6 Turnberry
7 Pebble Beach
8 Royal Portrush Dunluce
9 St. Enodoc
10 Carnoustie
11 Waterville
12 Sunningdale New
13 Formby
14 Silloth on Solway
15 Saunton East
16 Machrihanish
17 Enniscrone
18 Cruden Bay
19 Tralee
20 Burnham & Berrow
21 Ballybunion Cashen
22 Carne
23 Broadstone
24 Machrihanish Dunes
25 Pennard
26 Gleneagles Kings
27 Royal Portrush Valley
28 Portstewart
29 Royal St. David's
30 Perranporth
31 Dooks
32 Tenby
33 Hardelot Dunes
34 Aberdovey
35 Gleneagles Queens
36 Boat of Garten
37 Le Touquet Mer
38 Seignosse
39 Beau Desert
40 Belle Dune
41 Forest of Arden
42 Pyle & Kenfig
43 East Berkshire
44 Killarney Killeen
45 Rosslare
46 Hardelot Pins
47 Parkstone
48 Ferndown
49 Frilford Heath Green
50 Huntercombe
51 West Cornwall
52 Frilford Heath Red
53 Denham
54 Rolls of Monmouth
55 Brocket Hall (Melbourne)
56 Frilford Heath Blue
57 Nefyn & District
58 Mullion
59 Little Island
60 Windemere
61 Killarney Mahoney's Point
62 Tadmarton Heath
63 Borth & Ynyslas
64 Bristol & Clifton
65 Bigbury
66 Bristol golf match 1?
67 Fulford Heath
68 Studley Wood
69 Westport
70 Oxford
71 Ilfracombe
72 Goring & Streatley
73 Wimereux
74 Minehead
75 Donnington Grove
76 Taymouth Castle
77 Weston Super Mare
78 Newport Links
79 Falmouth
80 The Springs
81 Truro
82 Souillac Country Club
83 Shrivenham
84 Hinksey Heights
85 Henbury
86 North Oxford
87 West Berkshire
88 Hadden Hill
89 Bicester
90 Budock Vean
91 Drayton
92 Thornbury
93 Bristol golf match 2?
94 Cricket tour 1?
95 Radley College
96 Mapledurham
97 Lyneham
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No idea. Killed too man braincells
If anything however your splendid list shows the joys of golf in the uk where every course is accessible if you ask nicely and pay the fee. US needs to work on that a bit
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How many courses have you played
I don't know.
What is the best course you've played
Always a tough question, but for a while my story has been Merion East.
What is your favourite course - not the same question!
North Berwick West Links displaced Kington this year.
What is the best value course you've played - on the normal visitor's green fee.
Kington.
What was the biggest surprise both good and bad.
On the good side of the ledger, Cleeve Cloud. On the bad side of the ledger, Royal Lytham.
If you were told you could play only one more round of golf where would it be and why?
There is likely a different answer every time the question is asked, but today I would say Augusta National simply because I can't think of a better way to go out.
Ciao
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Sean
What happened to Alwoodley?🎃
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I've played 278 courses
Best course I've played Pine Valley
Favourite course probably also Pine Valley, although if I can't do that, National Golf Links of America
Biggest surprise good was playing Winged Foot West from the white tees. I had only played it from blacks or blues and it was a beast, but from the whites it's actually quite friendly. Because this is looking a little name droppy at the moment, an honourable mention to La Tourette in Staten Island. It's a city course and actually has some pretty good holes on it. I really enjoyed it.
Biggest surprise bad was getting to play Merion East, only to find that the greens had been hollow cored and top dressed the day before.
Best value course Bethpage Black at $75 in state.
One more round - Cypress Point, because I haven't seen it and I want to. I'd play with my mum and dad and my brother.
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Sean
What happened to Alwoodley?🎃
Dr B
Whatever do you mean? ;)
Ciao
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255 by last count
Best is probably Royal County Down
Favorite is St Andrews, Prairie Dunes in the US
Biggest surprise--that the Bandon experience could exceed my extremely high expectations
Biggest surprise not as good--how far back from the cliffs most of Torrey Pines is set
Best value--my student pass at St Andrews
One more course--Augusta since I haven't been yet
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I've played 405 courses.
Best is Merion East over Oakmont.
Favorite, depending on the day, is Merion, Fishers Island, Maidstone, Garden City or Myopia.
Biggest surprise - how much I enjoyed, and continue to love, Sleepy Hollow.
Best value - probably Kiawah Ocean late on a perfect weekday afternoon at twilight, carrying my own bag, for $50.
One more round - without question, National Golf Links (which I've seen but not played)
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Mr Arble,
One day you'll have to talk me round Hockley.
Liphook, Broadstone, Camberley and Burnham no less gone. My place, Hayling, never even qualifying in the first place. Hockley however still there.
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Paul
When they finish what they are doing at Hockley I will go back.
Ciao
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- How many courses have you played?
220
- What is the best course you've played?
St. Andrews (Old)
- What is your favourite course?
Augusta National
- What is the best value course you've played?
Aiken Golf Club
- What was the biggest surprise both good and bad?
Good...Mountain Park (The Cliffs)...stunningly good.
Bad...who knows?
- If you were told you could play only one more round of golf where would it be and why?
Dismal Doak---amazing golf in a place that is special to me.
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Interesting, just recently I asked myself that question and started to make a list and tried to remember every course ever played, also going through the list of courses in my home area. I came up with over 160, but I'm pretty sure there will be+10/20 if I try to trace it back more deeply. So about 180, I'm quite proud of that actually :).
Best: Barnbougle Dunes
Favourite: Prestwick
Biggest surprise (+): Durness, it is the most fun I can imagine on a golf course!
Biggest surprise(-): Turnberry (Ailsa)
Best value: Rustic Canyon ( :o)
One more course: Brora
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Based on my logo golf ball document it is 452, nearly 30% in Oregon.
Best; Cypress Point
Favorite: Tie - Prestwick, Pacific Dunes
Most suprising: The back nine at Milton Freewater
Lead balloon: Lakeside Par 3 challenge, Grand Cypress
Best Value - Pebble Beach- played in 1969. 2d round after Vietnam tour (Spyglass Hill was warm-up)
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Burnham - ..... but this year its conditioning has been suspect and I can't figure out why
Seemed like this year, and I don't recall it being an issue before, that playing the ground game from 80-60-40 yds out just wasn't really on, and it hasn't been a particularly wet summer. Amount of H2O used on the fairways and approaches maybe?
atb
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Count 439
Best Eastward Ho! recently passed Crystal Downs
Favorite Cliffs at Keowee Vineyards in South Carolina
Biggest Surprise Dunes Course at Prairie Club in Valentine, Nebraska
Biggest Disappointment South Course at Torrey Pines
Best Value Arrowhead Pointe in Georgia
One more course Cypress Point
Best course nobody has heard of: Tie between Wuskowhan Players Club in Michigan and the River Club in Georgia
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I have played ~ 300 courses on three continents.
- What is the best course you've played: Cypress Point/NGLA tie
- What is your favourite course : Royal Dornoch
- What is the best value course you've played : Lawsonia
- What was the biggest surprise both good and bad: Bad = Harbor Town. Good = Western Gailes
- If you were told you could play only one more round of golf where would it be: On my home course with my three best friends
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How many courses have you played
211, give or take
What is the best course you've played
Pebble Beach
What is your favourite course - not the same question!
Probably Kapalua Plantation. It's such a unique course in a unique place. Can play so differently day to day with the wind and the width. I also played here on my honeymoon and Maui always has good vibes about it.
What is the best value course you've played - on the normal visitor's green fee.
Probably Apache Stronghold. Sure, the conditions are wanting, but it was absolutely playable and if the course was in just a bit better shape and was in Scottsdale, it would command the same hefty prices of anything in that area. And it's a better golf course.
What was the biggest surprise both good and bad.
For a good surprise I'll go with a course that's NLE called Emerald River in Laughlin, NV. Years ago I had a job where I travelled all over the state. I was up near Laughlin and had a free afternoon so I checked out two courses there. The other was a Landmark inland course that just looked like everything you've seen before. Then there was this course that looked like it had been scratched out of the desert by someone who barely knew what they were doing, but boy was the golf fun. Blind shots, fantastic holes that went up and down the canyon down to the river, along it, and back up again. No hole remotely the same. Maybe I was spoiled by one round there, but I'll never know.
Bad surprise? I have trashed this place before but ... The Crossings at Carlsbad. I fell into the trap of thinking that an essentially brand new course in a great location would be a winner. It's not. The front nine is a bore and the back nine is comically bad.
If you were told you could play only one more round of golf where would it be and why?
Probably has to be Augusta.
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I'm at 237.
Best: Merion East and/or Sand Hills
Favorite: U of Michigan
Biggest Surprise: Classic: Brae Burn (Boston) Modern: TPC Deere Run
Biggest Disappointment: World Woods Pine Barrens
Best Value: World Woods Pine Barrens (Yes, best value AND biggest disappointment relative to the hype and what I expected)
One more Round to play: Realistically, Inverness. Unrealistically, Augusta, and since it's a crazy hypothetical, why not make it as a marker with Rory on Sunday of the Masters. Can't do much better than Jeff Knox did!
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Most will not know many on my list but those who have played public golf in Massachusetts, Upstate South Carolina, or Lexington KY will get a few laughs or perhaps some nostalgia. In no particular order except for perhaps starting in MA then heading south and then west. Probably missing a few as well.
Winchester CC
Mount Hood GC
Peabody Meadows
Bradford CC
Stoneham Oaks
Unicorn
Stone Meadow P&P
Butter Brook GC
Woburn CC
George Wright
Franklin Park
Putterham
Red Tail GC
The International Oaks
Shining Rock GC
Shaker Hills
Fresh Pond
Triggs Memorial
Allendale CC
New England CC
Wentworth Hills
Ledges GC MA
Firefly
Equinox GC
Hiland Park CC
Eagle Crest
Westchester Hills CC
Fairchild Wheeler Black
Greenville CC Chanticleer
The Cliffs Valley
The Cliffs at Glassy
The Cliffs at Mountain Park
The Cliffs at Keowee Springs
The Cliffs at Keowee Vineyards
The Cliffs at Keowee Falls
Cleghorn Plantation
Connestee Falls
Etowah Valley
High Vista
Cherokee Valley
Cobb’s Glen
Crosswinds GC SC
Hejaz Shrine GC
Links O’ Tryon
Oconee CC
River Falls
Saluda Valley
Village Greens
Willow Creek
The Preserve at Verdae
Furman University
The Walker Course at Clemson University
Boscobel
Anderson CC
River Islands
Cherry Blossom
Griffin Gate
University Club of Kentucky Big Blue
University Club of Kentucky Wildcat
Kearney Hill Golf Links
Gay Brewer at Picadome
Lakeside KY
Meadowbrook KY
Divi Village Golf Aruba
I have played ~70 courses
Best - Greenville CC Chanticleer
Favorite - Winchester CC
Best Value - Oconee CC $21 peak rack rate and often cheaper than that. There are a couple poor holes but 1, 7, 8, 10, 12, 15, and 17 are really great holes. It also has firm turf and some phenomenally conditioned greens.
Good Surprise - Equinox in VT for $23, wish i could have snuck over to Ekwanok though.
Bad Surprise - Probably The Cliffs at Mountain Park which is funny because someone just above me said that was their good surprise.
1 round - TOC, Myopia Hunt, or Cypress Point
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My questions are:
- How many courses have you played: I couldn't begin to guess. I've been playing on a regular basis all over the world for 33 years.
- What is the best course you've played: The Old Course (although Cypress is right there with it).
- What is your favourite course - The Old Course (Settindown Creek is my close second on this question).
- What is the best value course you've played - Lookout Mountain
- What was the biggest surprise both good and bad:
Good: Lookout Moutain (and looking forward to Sweetens Cover)
Bad: Blackwolf Run River Course - about 12 holes in, I wanted to walk off.
- If you were told you could play only one more round of golf where would it be and why: The Old Course...there are no words for me to be able to tell you why. I would drink it in and then walk in and have a great glass of scotch and call it a day.
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- How many courses have you played?
I've played 105 courses (64 in Massachusetts) I'm sure I've forgotten a couple.
- What is the best course you've played?
National Golf Links of America
- What is your favourite course?
Sankaty Head GC
- What is the best value course you've played?
Taconic GC - Non-member fees are steep, unless you're affiliated with Williams College, but membership is very reasonable.
- What was the biggest surprise both good and bad?
Good - Naples Grande GC - Reese Jones
Bad - Being in the industry I prefer to voice positives.
- If you were told you could play only one more round of golf where would it be and why
Fishers Island Club - Ranks as my best overall golf experience and would go back in a heartbeat
- Andy
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967. Do I win?
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967. Do I win?
No. Cory Lewis is at 1,050+ based on this exercise last year:
http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,24913.175.html (http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,24913.175.html)
Cory's related post on the journey:
http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,52954.0.html (http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,52954.0.html)
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Best Royal Melbourne
Favourite Kingston Heath
Best Value Goose Creek In an area of overpriced garbage, Goose is a fun, good value, for your time and money.
Biggest Surprise (good) New South Wales I just didn’t know anything about it. Wow.
Biggest Surprise (not good) Hilton Head Was excited to get there, was, personally, a letdown. Probably more about expectations though.
One More Round Cypress Point
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Best Value course I have played is likely TOC even though I think I paid about £120 when I first played it in 1998 and that was a lot of money for me at the time. I will remember that round more than any other round that I have played given the quality of the experience of playing on such a hallowed spot.
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Courses played: 310 (238 in Michigan)
Best: Sand Hills, Royal County Down, Ballybunion, Crystal Downs
Favorite: High Pointe (sigh), Kingsley
Best value: The Gailes--$30 twilight in July
Biggest surprises: Lawsonia (good); Forest Dunes (a good but nowhere near a great course) and Hilton Head (sameness of courses: I'll take Michigan any day!)
One More Round: High Pointe
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I'm old so I have played a lot over the years. I've played a little over 1400 courses. Seems like a lot until you hear about our own Daryl Boe and Terry Inslee.
My favorite courses are Musgrove Mill GC and Ballyhack
The best course is Royal County Down.
One course to play for the rest of my life. Cypress Point
Biggest surprise Portrush Valley
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Sean,
Afraid to say things are still less than ideal. Whilst the course is generally well manicured these days the set up is, on three holes at least, bordering on criminally ignorant.
Out of interest, which holes do you feel are odd? That's one thing which I've never really considered but then it is home and therefore just somewhat part of the furniture, so to speak.
Sorry to thread jack, people.
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- How many courses have you played:
347
- What is the best course you've played:
Prairie Dunes or Sand Hills
- What is your favorite course:
Sleepy Hollow or Plainfield
- What is the best value course you've played - on the normal visitor's green fee:
Yale or Wild Horse
- What was the biggest surprise - good:
Exmoor CC, an incredible course and club, about which I knew nothing before visiting
- If you were told you could play only one more round of golf where would it be:
Shinnecock Hills - I've walked it many times, but not played it...my favorite course that I have never played ;D
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- How many courses have you played:
225 courses that I could remember off hand in 16 countries - tried to recall this tonight. Not an easy exercise.
- What is the best course you've played:
Toss up between - Pine Valley, Cypress, Shinnecock, Old Course, Royal County Down
- What is your favorite course:
Cypress - Shinnecock 2nd
Royal County Down = Favorite links
Merion = Favorite Parkland
- What is the best value course you've played - on the normal visitor's green fee:
North Berwick end of March for pocket change.
- What was the biggest surprise - good:
Merion 1st - Winged Foot 2nd
- What was the biggest surprise - bad:
Woodhall Spa #1 (13x the same tee shot) - Oakmont #2 (great course but a bit industrial (too big, too bold and extremely hard) (amazing clubhouse and guest quarters)
- If you were told you could play only one more round of golf where would it be:
Cypress, no doubt I could die there. That's what people do, they go there and become members to die in heaven. My host in 2010 was 92 years old and became a member when he was 76. I bet it increases the longevity of your life just being there.
One more:
Favorite resort:
Bandon Dunes by a mile!
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Sean,
Afraid to say things are still less than ideal. Whilst the course is generally well manicured these days the set up is, on three holes at least, bordering on criminally ignorant.
Out of interest, which holes do you feel are odd? That's one thing which I've never really considered but then it is home and therefore just somewhat part of the furniture, so to speak.
Sorry to thread jack, people.
Paul
From memory, much of the back 9 is odd; 14, 15 & 18. In one way or another these holes seem forced. Then of course there is the opening par 3. To me the course feels like it should start and finish somewhere else as the openers and closers are not terribly memorable. Did the course start near 13/14 originally? I also recall what seemed like a lot of odd ball mounds scattered about flatish fairways. If I recall, the best part of the course is between 8 and 13 where some of that mounding is in your face, three short 4s (two of which are excellent) and a very good one-shotter. I don't recall the number, but a long par 4 adds some variety to this otherwise shorter section of Hayling.
Ciao
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How many courses
200+
Best course
Royal County Down / Pebble Beach tie
Favorite course
Harbor Town
Best value
Bethpage Black $48 year before the first open
Biggest surprise-good
Hideout-expected it to be good but left loving it
Biggest surprise-bad
Kiawah Ocean course-I expected to get wowed and didn't
One final round
Cypress point with my late father and my son. Don't think it could ever be better than that. Maybe an emergency 18 at Pebble after?
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967. Do I win?
No. Cory Lewis is at 1,050+ based on this exercise last year:
http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,24913.175.html (http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,24913.175.html)
Cory's related post on the journey:
http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,52954.0.html (http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,52954.0.html)
Thanks for the nod Howard. Here's my updated numbers, most of the answers are in the thread I wrote linked above as well.
How many courses have you played
1082
What is the best course you've played
Cypress Point
What is your favorite course
Royal Dornoch
What is the best value course you've played
Aspen Lakes-Sisters, OR
What was the biggest surprise both good and bad
Good-The Meadow Club
Bad-tie-Medinah #3 & Oak Hill(East)
If you were told you could play only one more round of golf where would it be and why
Royal Dornoch-Simply the best
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How many?
700??
Best course
Royal County Down/ Merion
Favorite
Depends on the day- Portsalon, Brora, St Enodoc, Narin and Portnoo. Fishers, Sleepy, Eastward Ho, Goat Hill
Best value
Midland Valley, Dunfanaghy
Biggest surprise-good
Eastward Ho, Merion (had high expectations for both anyway)
Biggest surprise-bad
Can't think of any-maybe Lake Wales-or what they did to Forest Hills in Augusta
One final round
Augusta CC-where it all began-maybe hit over the ladies heads again ;) ;D (it's my final round-what are they going to do-kick me out?)
-amd/or jump the fence and play the "summer loop" of 13.14,11, and 12 at ANGC again
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How many courses have you played:
94 18 hole courses; 14 9 hole courses
- What is the best course you've played:
The Golf Club
- What is your favourite course - not the same question!
Champions Golf Course. Columbus, OH.
- What is the best value course you've played - on the normal visitor's green fee: 2 answers:
1. Wailua Golf Course in Kauai. Spent a few summers surfing in Kauai. With a Hawaiian driver’s license the green fee to walk at peak time was $5. Cash only. The course has 3 ocean front holes, a good set of par 3s and an absolute joy to walk.
2. But there is another course that presents a greater value: Bringhurst Golf Course. The sign out front reads: “The Oldest Par 3 Course in America.” I have been researching this to see if there is any truth to the statement, probably not. The 9 holes total a distance of <800 yards. Shortest =51 yards; Longest 120 yards. The course is owned by the city of Alexandria, LA and maintained by a group of volunteers. I hope to compose a course tour in the next few months. Super fun, two greens that slope front to back, a wonderful place to play the game. Two folks can walk 18 in less than an hour carrying a couple of wedges and a putter. There is a frozen daiquiri stand across the street which can add to the experience. The cost: free. Open: Thursday – Sunday.
- What was the biggest surprise both good and bad.
Good: For whatever reason I have never had a great architecture epiphany/insight while actually playing. Usually it’s the next day when reviewing the course in my mind that I see things that are interesting.
Bad: Realizing that playing a mediocre golf course for the majority of my rounds is a reality in my domicile.
- If you were told you could play only one more round of golf where would it be and why? Good question, but I don’t have a good answer, at least not an original answer.
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How many?
700??
Best course
Royal County Down/ Merion
Favorite
Depends on the day- Portsalon, Brora, St Enodoc, Narin and Portnoo. Fishers, Sleepy, Eastward Ho, Goat Hill
Best value
Midland Valley, Dunfanaghy
Biggest surprise-good
Eastward Ho, Merion (had high expectations for both anyway)
Biggest surprise-bad
Can't think of any-maybe Lake Wales-or what they did to Forest Hills in Augusta
One final round
Augusta CC-where it all began-maybe hit over the ladies heads again ;) ;D-or jump the fence and play the "summer loop" of 13.11, and 12 at ANGC again
Jeff,
Portsalon? I thought the scenery around the golf course was spectacular but found the golf course to be rather forgetful. The 2nd hole was really strong but that was about it. I thought the front was too tight for the severity of the heather and the back nine was pretty open and much easier than the front. I only played it once. Respectfully, what did I miss? I was there last summer.
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How many?
700??
Best course
Royal County Down/ Merion
Favorite
Depends on the day- Portsalon, Brora, St Enodoc, Narin and Portnoo. Fishers, Sleepy, Eastward Ho, Goat Hill
Best value
Midland Valley, Dunfanaghy
Biggest surprise-good
Eastward Ho, Merion (had high expectations for both anyway)
Biggest surprise-bad
Can't think of any-maybe Lake Wales-or what they did to Forest Hills in Augusta
One final round
Augusta CC-where it all began-maybe hit over the ladies heads again ;) ;D-or jump the fence and play the "summer loop" of 13.11, and 12 at ANGC again
Jeff,
Portsalon? I thought the scenery around the golf course was spectacular but found the golf course to be rather forgetful. The 2nd hole was really strong but that was about it. I thought the front was too tight for the severity of the heather and the back nine was pretty open and much easier than the front. I only played it once. Respectfully, what did I miss? I was there last summer.
Rob,
Many well respected posters have disagreed with me on this one-so don't feel bad.There's at least one other in my favorites category that might make a reasonable person scratch their head.
Enchanting scenery, lovely town.
Simply loved the course-don't make me lose the romance by explaining why. ;) ;D ::)
Played it on three separate trips-opinion stayed the same
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How many?
700??
Best course
Royal County Down/ Merion
Favorite
Depends on the day- Portsalon, Brora, St Enodoc, Narin and Portnoo. Fishers, Sleepy, Eastward Ho, Goat Hill
Best value
Midland Valley, Dunfanaghy
Biggest surprise-good
Eastward Ho, Merion (had high expectations for both anyway)
Biggest surprise-bad
Can't think of any-maybe Lake Wales-or what they did to Forest Hills in Augusta
One final round
Augusta CC-where it all began-maybe hit over the ladies heads again ;) ;D-or jump the fence and play the "summer loop" of 13.11, and 12 at ANGC again
Jeff,
Portsalon? I thought the scenery around the golf course was spectacular but found the golf course to be rather forgetful. The 2nd hole was really strong but that was about it. I thought the front was too tight for the severity of the heather and the back nine was pretty open and much easier than the front. I only played it once. Respectfully, what did I miss? I was there last summer.
Rob,
Many well respected posters have disagreed with me on this one-so don't feel bad.There's at least one other in my favorites category that might make a reasonable person scratch their head.
Enchanting scenery, lovely town.
Simply loved the course-don't make me lose the romance by explaining why. ;) ;D ::)
Played it on three separate trips-opinion stayed the same
Sounds good Jeff. I agree the scenery was enchanting.
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How many?
700??
Best course
Royal County Down/ Merion
Favorite
Depends on the day- Portsalon, Brora, St Enodoc, Narin and Portnoo. Fishers, Sleepy, Eastward Ho, Goat Hill
Best value
Midland Valley, Dunfanaghy
Biggest surprise-good
Eastward Ho, Merion (had high expectations for both anyway)
Biggest surprise-bad
Can't think of any-maybe Lake Wales-or what they did to Forest Hills in Augusta
One final round
Augusta CC-where it all began-maybe hit over the ladies heads again ;) ;D-or jump the fence and play the "summer loop" of 13.11, and 12 at ANGC again
Jeff,
Portsalon? I thought the scenery around the golf course was spectacular but found the golf course to be rather forgetful. The 2nd hole was really strong but that was about it. I thought the front was too tight for the severity of the heather and the back nine was pretty open and much easier than the front. I only played it once. Respectfully, what did I miss? I was there last summer.
Rob
Thats a real head scratcher for me as well. I liked P'salon and wouldn't mind going back, but favourite course? I was disappointed in that I expected the Ruddy work to be better by the way folks talked about it. The front nine had too many similar holes between dunes with the harsh rough as a ready and waiting penalty and this is despite the likely two best holes on the course being 1 & 2. I don't think I have seen better Rudy work than at Donegal and I think this is a better, more cohesive course than P'salon. Still, its difficult to say which I prefer, but for now I plop for Donegal with N&P second and P'salon third. That said, I think Rosa's OTM is just as good as any of them.
Ciao
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How many?
700??
Best course
Royal County Down/ Merion
Favorite
Depends on the day- Portsalon, Brora, St Enodoc, Narin and Portnoo. Fishers, Sleepy, Eastward Ho, Goat Hill
Best value
Midland Valley, Dunfanaghy
Biggest surprise-good
Eastward Ho, Merion (had high expectations for both anyway)
Biggest surprise-bad
Can't think of any-maybe Lake Wales-or what they did to Forest Hills in Augusta
One final round
Augusta CC-where it all began-maybe hit over the ladies heads again ;) ;D-or jump the fence and play the "summer loop" of 13.11, and 12 at ANGC again
Best value - Dunfanaghy - great choice Jeff - a place more GCA folk should visit - damn fine golf and light on the pocket.
Honorable mention - Channel Course at Burnham - £20 for all day play - surprisingly challenging golf and pretty easy on the pocket.
atb
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Have played the game for 59 years.
My total is over 1000, 14 countries, 47 0f 50 states. Played 103 courses in my home state of NH , 7 no longer exist.
Best course----Shinnecock
Favorite course---Cypress
Best value--Kukuiolono Park (nine holer) -All day with cart (played 45 holes ) -20 Bucks- Eagled the 5 par 9th with a 40 foot bomb on last hole of the day, played with a husband and wife in their 80's -one of the most enjoyable days of golf in my life , for $20.-Kauai is an amazing place to play.
Pacific Grove, -1999- Was supposed to play Fort Ord but a buddy asked me to play with him at PG, track was a lot of fun and the views were great. Was pleasantly surprised.
Bay Hill --I was looking forward to it but it's a sluggers course even from the middle tees. I was exausted. Big let down.
Last round for me would be at Cypress, no explaination necessary.
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Not enough.
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I really enjoyed the exercise of thinking back on all the courses I've played.
# of courses - 97 (Turns out I'm in the same boat as Ed. Glad to know I'm coming up on a milestone.)
Best course - Pacific Dunes
Favourite course - Heron Lakes - Greenback
Best value course - Any of the Bandon courses in the off season.
Biggest surprise good - Whitinsville - I new it would be good but I was still surprised.
Biggest surprise bad - The International - Pines - not really much fun to play.
Final round - Old MacDonald - because I'd want to ensure my final round was both enjoyable and challenging.
If you're interested in my list, here's a link to it: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1kvN7OHcmwK1HzsZZVK5NAxY3ehurE2cpo86zQEClG_4/edit?usp=sharing
~Evan
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247 in 22 countries.
Best: TOC
Favourite: Cruden Bay, North Berwick, Woking
Best value: Cruden Bay
Biggest Surprise (+): Ballyliffin Old, Dinard
Biggest surprise (-): Ballyliffin Glashedy
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I have played somewhere between 750 to 1000 courses in the US and all over the world. Pine Valley is the best, Pebble Beach is my favorite as I played that over 100 times. I wish I could still play, but that was another younger era.
My advise to all is play em while you are young, cuz as you age, shit happens to your body.
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How many?
700??
Best course
Royal County Down/ Merion
Favorite
Depends on the day- Portsalon, Brora, St Enodoc, Narin and Portnoo. Fishers, Sleepy, Eastward Ho, Goat Hill
Best value
Midland Valley, Dunfanaghy
Biggest surprise-good
Eastward Ho, Merion (had high expectations for both anyway)
Biggest surprise-bad
Can't think of any-maybe Lake Wales-or what they did to Forest Hills in Augusta
One final round
Augusta CC-where it all began-maybe hit over the ladies heads again ;) ;D-or jump the fence and play the "summer loop" of 13.11, and 12 at ANGC again
Best value - Dunfanaghy - great choice Jeff - a place more GCA folk should visit - damn fine golf and light on the pocket.
Honorable mention - Channel Course at Burnham - £20 for all day play - surprisingly challenging golf and pretty easy on the pocket.
atb
Thomas
we paid $10 euro to play in the 14 hole open.
Charged us $15 euro to play all 18 ;) ;D
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Best value - Dunfanaghy - great choice Jeff - a place more GCA folk should visit - damn fine golf and light on the pocket.
Honorable mention - Channel Course at Burnham - £20 for all day play - surprisingly challenging golf and pretty easy on the pocket.
atb
Thomas
we paid $10 euro to play in the 14 hole open.
Charged us $15 euro to play all 18 ;) ;D
[/quote]
Jeff,
we paid 15 Euros for 18-holes to play in the Dunf' open comp. When we arrived the only car in the carpark belonged to the lady in the pro-shop and when we completed 18-holes the only cars in the carpark were still just hers and ours! We didn't see one other person on the course. And the two further times we played Dunf' we didn't see many other folk either.
BTW, we paid only Euro-25 to play Narin & Portnoo in their open comp! It was much busier at N&P however.......there must have been at least 10 cars in the carpark when we arrived and just a few more when we finished!
Two fab courses for such a small outlay from the wallet. I wish both courses and all in the locality all the very best and look forward to returning.
Whenever I think of the quality of the golf, the cost and the wonderful location and friendly folk in Donegal I :) - I sense you do too!
atb
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- How many courses have you played?
Approximately 400
- What is the best course you've played?
According to the rankings, Pine Valley
- What is your favorite course?
I go back-and-forth between Pinehurst No. 2 and Prairie Dunes
- What is the best value course you've played - on the normal visitor's green fee?
Coronado Golf Club - $20 twilight fee.
- What was the biggest surprise both good and bad?
Biggest surprise: Wolf Run (Zionsville, IN) - I always heard about how difficult it was and was expecting a slog. I saw firsthand how hard it can be on a higher handicapper (my friend did not play very well), but it was actually much more playable for my shaky, mid-single-digit handicap game than I expected. I really enjoyed the course.
Biggest letdown: Oak Hill East - I was not as knowledgeable about golf course architecture when I played it during college about 12 years ago, and expected to love the course based upon my expectations from its rankings and history with hosting majors/the Ryder Cup. The course was brutally difficult and, as a result, not very enjoyable.
- If you were told you could play only one more round of golf where would it be and why?
While I have never played overseas, there is something about Royal Dornoch from what I have seen in pictures and read in various places that makes me want to play there, so I'll go with that as my final round.
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Sean,
Afraid to say things are still less than ideal. Whilst the course is generally well manicured these days the set up is, on three holes at least, bordering on criminally ignorant.
Out of interest, which holes do you feel are odd? That's one thing which I've never really considered but then it is home and therefore just somewhat part of the furniture, so to speak.
Sorry to thread jack, people.
Paul
From memory, much of the back 9 is odd; 14, 15 & 18. In one way or another these holes seem forced. Then of course there is the opening par 3. To me the course feels like it should start and finish somewhere else as the openers and closers are not terribly memorable. Did the course start near 13/14 originally? I also recall what seemed like a lot of odd ball mounds scattered about flatish fairways. If I recall, the best part of the course is between 8 and 13 where some of that mounding is in your face, three short 4s (two of which are excellent) and a very good one-shotter. I don't recall the number, but a long par 4 adds some variety to this otherwise shorter section of Hayling.
Ciao
To the very best of my knowledge the course has never commenced around 13/14, although the ferry clubhouse was once utilised more than it is today and it remains common for folk to get the ferry over to Hayling and start their round at 14. Back in the 19th century a round did commence further to the east and the original crude layout was once an absolute monster where an early bogey score of something like 85 would have been very good going. As for the current first, no visitors ever seem to like the first two holes and even some of the members would prefer that it began differently. I like the start but am in a definite minority. Much as I said before, to me it's just home so having grown up with an opening par 3 I simply never thought anything of it.
8 - 13, i.e. right out in the dunes, is certainly the best section of the course. I'd actually extend that to 5 - 13 as 5 is an outstanding par 3 and 7 a damn good par 5 with one of the best greens on the course. 6 is, in my opinion, overrated.
14 onwards is not so much forced as just not on the most interesting of land, being as it is the section furthest removed from the beach.
14 itself is currently not the hole it was. Once upon a time the drive was to an expansive fairway which teased you into taking on more to the left, towards the gorse, than you might really be comfortable with. The same width used to also get you thinking about the angle for your second as the hazard runs along the left hand side. All of that left hand side fairway is now left longer and all the strategy has gone, forcing you to simply aim at a 15 yard wide strip and hope to get it there or thereabouts.
15 has never been great but it's equally not terrible. The fairway, or what should be the fairway, is split down the middle by a ridge which should get the player thinking as to whether to go along the top shelf to the left or the lower shelf to the right. Unfortunately, not too much fairway remains to the left now.
16 is a good but tough par 3. Par is always a good score there.
17 should entice the low capper to flirt with danger down the left but should equally give the rabbit the option to play safe to the right and effectively treat the hole as a par 5, or at least that was the case until the right portion of the fairway was abandoned and the cross bunkers 100 yards short of the green were taken out. Now, much like at 14, you simply aim at a narrow landing strip and mindlessly hit away. It's one of the holes I'm particularly bewildered by now and I don't mean that in a good way!
18 I like. It's probably the most ordinary hole on the course but with the prevailing wind at your back, in the summer at least, it's almost a half par hole these days and I actually think it finishes the round off quite well.
TO ALL - SORRY AGAIN TO THREAD JACK BUT DECIDED TO LEAVE THIS HERE IN CASE SOME OF YOU FANCY READING THE MOST MINIATURE OF REVIEWS.
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How many courses have you played:
125-150?? I'm not really sure.
What is the best course you've played:
Has to be National. I've played it a few times now and it blows my mind how it all comes together. Runners-up: Cypress Point, Sand Hills
What is your favorite course:
I fell hard for St Andrews when I played there in 2012. Planning a return visit in 2016.
What is the best value course you've played - on the normal visitor's green fee:
Goswick. Seaside links, superb setting, cracking golf holes. Tremendous value.
What was the biggest surprise - good:
Dismal River (Nicklaus). Depending on what day you're asking I may say that it is my favorite course. I've been going out there for five years now and it continues to deliver thrilling golf in an otherwordly setting. Vastly underrated golf course.
If you were told you could play only one more round of golf where would it be:
St Andrews - I've yet to experience anything like the Old Course. The game's greatest stage in an idyllic setting. The ghosts are very real.
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Total 200+
Best according to rankings Straits/Medinah #3
Favorite Streamsong Red/Rich Harvest <------- I know I know
Value TPC Deere Run $23 twilight
Good surprise The Dunes Course at The Prairie Club (changed everything I thought I liked in a golf course)
Bad surprise Erin Hills I like the course but I feel the property could have given us much better
Final round Cypress Point Club odds are I'll never see the entrance, but this is what I picture golf in heaven to be like
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200 courses played, 4 countries, 4 states.
Best Rated - Milwaukee CC
Favorite - Erin Hills
Best Value - Lawsonia Links ($27 middle of the day on the weekend)
Bad Suprise - Troon North Monument
Good Surprise - Peninsula State Park
Course Playing Next - Irish Straits
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Welcome Mr. Hill!
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Near 500 just in Calif. Close to 600 overall.
Best rated: Pebble
Favorite: Olympic Club Lake
Most exclusive: Sherwood
Best deal: Kapalua resort in October unlimited golf on 3 courses(then 1993) including Plantation. 5 nights 6 days room and golf for 2 $999.
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Courses Played – 700 +
Best Course US – Merion East
Best Course England – Sunningdale Old
Best Course Scotland – Muirfield
Biggest Surprises (Pleasant) exceeded expectations - Whippoorwill, Wykagyl, Yale, Dunbar, New Zealand
Biggest Surprise (letdown) less than expected – Spanish Bay, The Country Club (I’d like a second chance, because I think it was me)
Best Bargains – Vista Verde, BP Black, Deltona ($19)
Favorites: Ballyneal, Sleepy Hollow, Garden City
Favourites: The Old Course, Prestwick, most of the English heathland
One more: A Course Called Ireland If Tom Coyne called it a course, that’s good enough for me. I’ve never been and I’m currently obsessed with planning a trip around the coast from Dublin to Belmullet
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Played 500+
Best course: Cypress Point
Favourite: The Old Course
Best Value: PBGC or Askernish
Biggest Surprise (Good): Deal(UK), Port Fairy(AUS), LACC(US), Shanqin Bay(CN), Oreti Sands (NZ)
Biggest Surprise (Bad): Congressional?
One More Round: Today, I'd say Royal County Down with my dad
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Courses Played: 246
Best Course: Royal County Down
Most Fun: Royal Dornoch
Best Value: Greywalls
Good Surprise: The Kinsley Club
Bad Surprise: Erin Hills
One More Round: Cyprus Point Club
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Courses: 76 or 77
Best: According to rankings, Valhalla (Nicklaus)
Most Fun: The Quarry (Keith Foster)
Best Value: Nevel Meade (Steven R. Smyers), always <$32 for a fun, challenging track
Good Surprise: Roy Kizer (Randolph Russell) and Morris Williams (Leon Howard) municipal courses in Austin, TX. Apparently, munis don't have to suck after all :D
Bad Surprise: Persimmon Ridge (Arthur Hills), the most tight, penal course I've played, and that doesn't even include the severely contoured greens and numerous hazards. This is more like S&M than golf.
One More Round: Fantasy pick = Cypress Point, Reality pick = Nevel Meade
Clearly, I need to get out more!
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225 which in a normal demographic would be a lot ::)
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Total... 170 odd
Best, ranking wise... CPC
Most fun... Tobacco Rd
Best VFM... Holinwell or Formby
Good Surprise... Whistling Straits
Bad Surprise... Royal Aberdeen
Final Round... it has to be CPC
Ask me tomorrow and I'll probably answer differently...!
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Just driven down to Devon for our annual holiday. Drove past a course that I'd missed off my list - bottom of the pile. Also realised that I'd played Cardigan on a previous October trip so Westward Ho! Is my 100th on Tuesday rather than the Oxfordshire. Pleased that it is the oldest course in England rather than a modern Rees Jones monstrosity - I've caddied at the Oxfordshire but never played it. Here's to the next 100!
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Inslee in a stratosphere of his own. Shoot on his last "buddy trip" he played 103 courses.
I am proud to say that I recently passed the 800 courses played mark working hard to reach 1,000.
Needless to say, the majority of my play is in my home States and adjacent States.
Florida 151
PA 135
MD 109
VA 76
PV has always been and will always be my #1. Truly a memorable experience.
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# played: a lot. Many are well known
Best: Pine Valley
Favorite: #2
Value: ANGC I actually don't know the cost, but it is far less than most would be happy to pay.
Pleasant surprise: Lakes Entrance (Australia)
Disappointment: Inverness (Scotland)
Worst: Olde Beau (NC)
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- Courses played: 502
- Best: Pine Valley
- Best Test: Oakmont
- Favorite: Fishers Island
- Most Fun: Yale or Tobacco Road
- Best Value: Creek at Qualchan in Spokane ($25)
- Good Surprise: Sleepy Hollow Country Club
- Bad Surprise: First 12 holes at Harbour Town
- Course for my last round: Probably Cypress Point or Merion East but I'm not ruling out Princeville since I would be in paradise
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673 total...
USA....613 total...home state in Bold...
Alabama-8, Arizona-6, California-38, Colorado-30, Connecticut-12, Delaware-1, Florida-29, Georgia-3, Hawaii-13, Idaho-7, Illinois-7, Indiana-20, Kansas-2, Louisiana-1, Kentucky-2, Maine-32, Maryland-11, Massachusetts-131, Michigan-6, Missouri-14, Montana-2, Nebraska-4, Nevada-8, New Hampshire-23, New Jersey-10, New Mexico-4, New York-48, North Carolina-53, Ohio-1, Oklahoma-5, Oregon-4, Pennsylvania-19, Rhode Island-11, South Carolina-8, Texas-3, Utah-2, US Virgin Islands-1, Vermont-22, Virginia-1, Washington-6, West Virginia-2, Wisconsin-2, Wyoming-1.
International....60 total....Bahamas-1, Barbados-1, Bermuda-6, Canada-4, Curacao-1, Germany-1, Ireland-18, Mexico-3, Scotland-25
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300+ Total
9 Different Countries
Best: Pine Valley
Favorite: Cypress Point, Royal Country Down, Sunningdale
Best Test: Shinnecock Hills
Most Fun: National Golf Links of America
Best Value: Wild Horse
Good Surprise: Royal Porthcawl
Bad Surprise: Royal Liverpool
Last Round: Augusta National
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Dont have an accurate count but I'd say the # is in the 200-250 range.
Best: Sand Hills
Favorite: Sand Hills & Kittansett
Best Test: Kiawah Ocean Course
Most Fun: Any par 3 course with a large group playing last man standing
Best Value: Wild Horse & Grand National
Good Surprise: Grand Cypress New & Shelter Harbour
Bad Surprise: Champions Gate
Last Round: Bristol Harbour w/ a gang that got me started
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536 which is more than all the current members of Congress
Non-US 114
Oregon 207 (all of 'em)
Rest of US 215
(edit-forgot one in GA)
Reply #12 for question answers.
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Slowing down a bit in recent years as I approach age 60, but presently at 1,083 courses played.
I know because as a football and baseball card-collector as a kid, when I started the game a week before my 13th birthday I kept a card from every course I played since. Not the one I scored on, but a pristine one.
I have them all in a large chest, alphabetical order. I wish I had kept them chronological but think they got dumped at some point so you do what you can do.
Does that make me OCD? ;)
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If my spreadsheet for The Confidential Guide is up to date, I have walked 1,560 courses, and played 670 of them, in a lot of countries now.
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which proves Mike is much smarter than me - I chose to collect bulky golf balls. By the way there was a large pile of scorecards at McBride's CofL.
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616. All logged, sorted and dated. Thank God for Excel (and Lotus 1-2-3 :) )
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What a lot of belt-notchers ya'll are....
I kid, I kid, you're all my heroes.
I'm at 311!!!!!
- How many courses have you played- 311
- What is the best course you've played- Very likely it's Muirfield, with RCD not far behind. Both flawless, flawless golf courses.
- What is your favourite course - not the same question! The magical Greywalls in Marquette... Or Cabot Links. Or either Olympia Fields course. Not sure.
- What is the best value course you've played - on the normal visitor's green fee. It's been years, but Tanglewood Park in NC.
- What was the biggest surprise both good and bad- Absolutely adore West Bend CC. On the bad, moving to Chicago and seeing that so many public courses are in this town, but they only exist as rainwater run off collection areas. *sigh*
- If you were told you could play only one more round of golf where would it be and why - For GCA fanciness, The Old Course. For pure sentimental reasons, my home course from growing up - Riverview Highlands, MI.
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- If you were told you could play only one more round of golf where would it be and why - For GCA fanciness, The Old Course. For pure sentimental reasons, my home course from growing up - Riverview Highlands, MI.
Wait...you are from Downriver? Which high school/years did you attend? I played Mt Trashmore a ton growing up.
Ciao
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Courses Played: 246
One More Round: Cyprus Point Club
If that's in the Greek controlled part of the island, and you have an open spot in your foursome, pls let me know.
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Since 2005:
Washington - 37
Oregon - 15
Idaho - 5
California - 68
Nevada/Utah - 4
Arizona - 22
New Mexico - 3
Michigan - 8
Wisconsin, Illinois, and Minnesota - 10
North Carolina - 5
South Carolina - 13
Georgia - 9
Maine - 1
Hawaii - 7
British Columbia - 3
Ireland - 31
Scotland - 22
England - 7
New Zealand -22
Australia - 45
Spain and Portugal - 20
Norway - 1
Sweden - 5
Japan - 5
Singapore - 1
Hong Kong, China - 7
Thailand - 6
Vietnam - 3
Charles Lund
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Playing #1400 on Sunday
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I am a piker at approximately 145, but I will answer the OP questions that most of those who revived a fun thread yesterday did not:
Best: Cypress Point
Favorite: Lahinch
Best Value: Plum Tree National (NLE)
Surprise Good: The Island Club
Surprise Bad: Kapalua Plantation
Final Round: For emotional reasons tie between Skokie Playfield (countless rounds with my Father and his friends) and Broadmoor East (site of Honeymoon and 25th Anniversary Celebration). For golf reasons: TOC (have never played it and certainly hope to do so even if it is my last round).
The thread besides being fun raises the point that many folks no longer post. I have been annoying you all for only 18 months. I wish I had discovered GCA when some of the lapsed posters were active.
Ira
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Don't keep track, but if I had to guess maybe 150-200.
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Since 2005:
Washington - 37
Oregon - 15
Idaho - 5
California - 68
Nevada/Utah - 4
Arizona - 22
New Mexico - 3
Michigan - 8
Wisconsin, Illinois, and Minnesota - 10
North Carolina - 5
South Carolina - 13
Georgia - 9
Maine - 1
Hawaii - 7
British Columbia - 3
Ireland - 31
Scotland - 22
England - 7
New Zealand -22
Australia - 45
Spain and Portugal - 20
Norway - 1
Sweden - 5
Japan - 5
Singapore - 1
Hong Kong, China - 7
Thailand - 6
Vietnam - 3
Charles Lund
Charles did you take up the game in 2005 or just recording courses?
Approx 300 since then. Impressive.
I have 210 in 7 countries (3 continents), since stating in 2000.
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Never kept track but probably in 150 range.
I too miss Plum Tree National. A great Joe Lee. May be the best small locker room I ever saw. It took about 10 plays to figure out that while it looked like the whole course was on a bank to the west the low spot on the course was a pond on the 10rh hole and everything broke to it.
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I think I've played around 140, but the majority of them have probably been in the Doak 2-4 range.
Best: Dormie Club or Mid Pines? Maybe?
Favorite: Old Tabby Links or Caledonia
Best Value: I honestly have no idea here because I don't really remember what I paid to play most places. Maybe The Frog?
Surprise Good: Myrtle Beach National King's North or Achasta
Surprise Bad: Capital City Club Brookhaven (not that it was a terrible course; I was just expecting something much better[size=78%])[/size]
Final Round: Out of courses I've actually played, probably Sedgefield Ross just because it's where I've played the most rounds, almost all with my father. If I could pick anywhere in the world, I think I'd go with Augusta National.
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Up to 1143. Most are in Ontario (262) and Florida (213)... still quite a few in each place I want to play!
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Looks like I've added 98 in the three plus years since my last post in October 2014, I'm up to 771. 15 of the additions are international, mostly Canada and a few Ireland. 83 of the new-to-me courses are in the US. I think hitting 800 is a good goal for 2018, should be able to do it!
As a twist, here's a list of the NLE courses I've played:
Aetna Springs, CA
Cougar Canyon, CO
Boca Raton Executive CC, FL
Diamondback GC, FL
Eagle Pines at Disney, FL
Grenelefe West, FL
Marriott Grande Pines, FL
Sugarloaf Mountain, FL
Longshadow, GA
Kauai Lagoons Mokihana, HI (remants still exist in the form of practice holes)
Kona CC (Alii), HI
Wolf Run, IN
Beechtree, MD
Colonial GC, MA
Glen Ellen, MA (pending)
Lakeview, MA
Quail Ridge, MA (the back nine was closed, 9 holes now)
Winchendon School GC, MA (a Ross!)
Tallgrass, NY
Marsh Harbour, NC
The Pit, NC
Valley Forge, PA
Riddell's Bay, Bermuda
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I'm sitting on a bench enjoying a cigar at the first course I ever played 50 years ago this month.
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Since Cory Lewis posted about playing 1000 courses in ten years, I have tried to keep up. Unfortunately so far I have not been able to play 100 courses a year. In the last six years I have played 496 new courses. Many of these have been great courses in many countries, but the large majority are Mom and Pop courses in the great state of Ohio.
The Cleveland Plane Dealer posts a golf guide each year and I have played all those courses. I have also played many past courses that have since been abandoned. Some of these courses it is extremely sad they are no longer in play.
Always up for a game! Hopefully I will get to 100 courses played in a year!
Thanks for giving me more motivation to get out there and I hope to play with more people from GCA!
chris
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Mr Kavanaugh,
I challenge you to a Buddy Up game of golf this year! Your area, my area, or a to be determined!!!
I hope you except!
chris
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I am stuck at 298, but will breaking the 300 barrier in two weeks in Kansas City.
Best: Who am I to say
Favorite: Pasatiempo
Best Value: Back in my college days, Old Works was a steal at $24
Best surprise: Rustic Canyon
Worst surprise: The Ritz Carlton Dove Mountain
Final Round: Would love to see Pebble one more time.
My list of NLE:
Beartooth Elks Club (sand greens), MT - my first experience on a golf course, age 5.
Orenco Woods, OR
Northgate Golf Club, NV
Horseshoe Bend, WY
The old Kananaskis Mt Kidd Course, AB
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Mr Kavanaugh,
I challenge you to a Buddy Up game of golf this year! Your area, my area, or a to be determined!!!
I hope you except!
chris
Be careful what you ask for. My regular game at Victoria National could always use a fourth.
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[quote au
Charles did you take up the game in 2005 or just recording courses?
Approx 300 since then. Impressive.
I have 210 in 7 countries (3 continents), since stating in 2000.
Tony,
I actually played the short nine at Jefferson Park Municipal in Seattle around 1957 or 1958. My first time on a full length course was across the street in 1959 at age 12. It was a long day. :)
I played quite a bit for a couple of summers and then was required to work, got my driver's license, and adolescence kicked in, followed by undergraduate and graduate school. I played a lot between 1978 and 1982, but ended up recognizing I needed to focus on other priorities, so I stopped playing for close to 20 years. When I started playing again around 2000, I found that there were new public courses near Seattle where I lived. My renewed interest led me to play more and get a condo in San Diego for shorter golf getaways during winter months. I spent more time in San Diego, worked less, and started doing solo road trips in California and the Southwest. I spent some miles accumulated for a flight to New Zealand in late 2007 for a month and did a side trip to Australia.
I retired fully in late 2008. I just returned from my 37th overseas trip, having spent close to two and a half years overseas, mostly on golf related trips.
I have a hard time with what was the best course. I have played about 30 of the best 100 courses outside the U.S.
My favorites have to be at the club I am a member of in Australia on the Mornington Peninsula and another where I am a member at on the Inishowen Peninsula in County Donegal. I've been to Australia 13 times and Ireland 11 times. I think the Mornington Peninsula and County Donegal represent excellent value and get overlooked by visitors to either Australia or Ireland who are doing their one trip of a lifetime. I was fortunate to have two weeks in Australia on my first trip and to find the Mornington Peninsula via an Australia golf website. I did a five week loop half loop trip to Ireland in the spring of 2009. I played 27 rounds on 23 different courses. I have been to Donegal on every trip to Ireland.
For me, the idea of a favorite merges with value. Favorites are the places I go back to over and over.
As a teenager, I played Fircrest Golf Club in Tacoma at the 1962 PNGA Junior Championship over several days. In 1979, I went to Eugene Golf Club and played in the adult version of the same tournament. Those experiences clarified the difference between upper tier courses and the public venues here in the Pacific Northwest. I played at Inglewood CC for about three years from 1979 to 1982 and got to play a lot of the private courses around Seattle. I was happy to find that there were many quality public courses outside of Seattle by 2000.
In the next year, I have four trips lined up, with two involving Ireland and two involving Australia. On one of the Australia trips, I will travel on the way through Japan and Hong Kong and stay over in Hong Kong on the way back.
I enjoy playing new courses and have some vague notions of what I would like to play for the first time if the opportunity presented. There are many I would love to play but they are basically inaccessible.
Hope all is well with you. We communicated some about playing golf if I were to be in the London area. I was looking at a side trip to England in June of this year, but a friend from Australia is meeting me in Donegal. I will be back in Ireland for two weeks in mid-September.
Charles
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Courses Played: 169 (4 countries)
Best Course: Pine Valley
Most Fun: Threetops, Michigan (a nine-hole par 3 course). Had an absolute blast on a buddy trip.
Best Value: Weatherwax, Middletown, Ohio (a muni NLE). Provided great fun and challenge at a great price for many locals growing up, while it lasted.
Good Surprise: Pebble. Not much of a "surprise," but I loved the sounds of waves crashing and seagulls chirping. It is not a part of the course, but man did it add to the experience.
Bad Surprise: None, really. It was still golf: better than a day at the office.
My Last Round: TOC
My own addition to this list: a "To Do" list: CPC, AGNC, Scotland trip, Ireland trip, Australia trip.
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Total Course Played: 274 in 6 countries over 35 years
Best Course - Royal County Down
Favorite - Royal Dornoch. Such a glorious setting for golf that is pure, exhilarating, fun.
Best Value - Merion - East
Biggest Surprise (eye opening) - Kingsley Club was played at the beginning of my GCA enlightenment and has proven to be one of the three or four courses that permanently altered how I think about golf and golf course architecture.
Biggest Surprise (disappointing) - Erin Hills. What could have been.
Final Round - Cypress Point with my brother because neither of us have seen it.
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From memory, I came up with a surprising 298. Perhaps only a dozen or so newbies in the past three years.
Best Course: Shinnecock Hills
Favorite Course: The Old Course
Best Value: LuLu
Biggest Surprise - Favorable: Moraine
Biggest Surprise - Less Favorable: Two top 50 moderns according to Golfweek. I'll leave it at that.
Final Round: Rolling Hills CC - Ripley, Tennessee
What do you think for #300?
Pinehurst #2
Pinehurst #1
Dormie Club
Cabot Cliffs
Cabot Trails
Highland Links
Yale
Gamble Sands
I'm thinking Yale.
Bogey
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Updated from 2014
How many courses have you played
I don't know....I still don't know, but I think in 12 countries.
What is the best course you've played
Always a tough question, but for a while my story has been Merion East. I now believe the best course I played is a toss up between North Berwick and Pinehurst 2.
What is your favourite course - not the same question!
North Berwick West Links displaced Kington this year. Still North Berwick.
What is the best value course you've played - on the normal visitor's green fee.
Kington. Still Kington.
What was the biggest surprise both good and bad.
On the good side of the ledger, Cleeve Cloud Welshpool. On the bad side of the ledger, Royal Lytham. Rosapenna Sandy Hills.
If you were told you could play only one more round of golf where would it be and why?
There is likely a different answer every time the question is asked, but today I would say Augusta National simply because I can't think of a better way to go out. I see no reason to change my answer.
Ciao
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Number played; 200+
Highest rated; Pine Valley
Favourite; National Golf Links/TOC
Best Value; no idea, maybe Aldeburgh
Biggest surprise; good Littlestone, indifferent Winged Foot West
Last round; Royal Cinque Ports
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Courses played: 125
Best: Sutton Bay Old (NLE)
Favorite: Mid Pines/Lawsonia
Best Value: Once played Cedar Crest in Dallas at a $3 junior rate... those were the days
Biggest Surprises: good, Tatanka; less so, Blackwolf
Last Round: Why decide now?
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A late-comer to golf, I've only been playing since my 50th birthday in 2000
Prompted by this thread, I just spent an interesting half hour putting all my courses played on a spreadsheet with the help of Google Maps to remind me of my journeys around the north of England.
Interestingly, I'm stuck on 97!
I'll undoubtedly break the 100 barrier this month!
Best Course - Silloth, Formby, Ganton, Alwoodley, Holinwell - take your pick. I can't split them.
Favourite - Reddish Vale
Best Value - Silloth
Best surprise - Silloth. I'd heard it was good value - I was unprepared for how good a course it is!
Worst surprise. - Sutton Coldfield. I'd heard that it was a great heathland track. It isn't.
Last Round - Reddish Vale
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Total number of courses: 336
Starting with Lane Cove Golf Club in Sydney (1983), and the last new course was Royal North Devon (Nov 2017)
Best Course: Cypress Point
Favourite: Friars Head
Best Value: Hard to say being a Pro, don't normally pay! Worst Value: Valderrama
Best Surprise: Plainfield
Worst Surprise: Valderrama
Last Round: St Enodoc (There are so many great courses, but this one is fresh in the mind)
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I'm sitting on a bench enjoying a cigar at the first course I ever played 50 years ago this month.
[/4quote]
+1
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Brad Tufts and I have played 7 of the same NLE's.
That might be worthy of a new thread.
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Total number of courses: Almost 1600 (much less than Terry Inslee, although he is 20 years older than me) and over 400 that at some point were on one of the major “lists"
Best Course: I have played about 20 courses that I would call a Doak 10 (can’t say which is the best)
Favorite: I love Cypress Point
Best Value: I don’t judge a course by what I pay (many are private and I have no idea what the cost is)
Best Surprise: Too many to list
Worst Surprise: There are many that don’t meet the hype - Rich Harvest Farms would be one example.
Last Round: Fiddler’s Elbow (Forest Course) in NJ in a one day member guest
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I could not even try to count the number of different courses I've played. I have played golf for 37 years all over the world. I have lived in 10 different cities and played the courses in each respective area and many golf trips playing multiple courses during each trip.
- How many courses have you played - Hunderds[/size]- What is the best course you've played - total experience, Cypress Point, Best creativity, Old Course, Best test of golf, Merion- What is your favourite course - The Old Course- What is the best value course you've played - Mill Valley (a muni East of Atlanta)- What was the biggest surprise both good and bad - I was blown away with Merion. Love that place!!...On the "bad" side, I was surprised at the sand use at Pine Valley. My member host could not clear the sand off any tee box, and it made me feel bad for him not having an alternate route to the hole.- If you were told you could play only one more round of golf where would it be and why: Probably Augusta or Shinnecock since I have played neither....but I do LOVE The Old Course.[/color]
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800