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JLG

Best College Courses
« on: February 14, 2002, 12:17:44 PM »
I'm a long-time reader, first-time poster so here goes...
What, in your opinion, are the top 5 or 10 college or university courses in America?  That is - courses owned by a college or university (not just the varsity team's home course, which may not be owned by the school).  I have not played many, but I'm sure there are some hidden gems.

1. Yale
2. Duke
3. University of Michigan
4. Ohio State University (Scarlet)
5. Radrick Farms (U of Michigan)
6. Stanford
7. Taconic (Williams College owns this course I think)
8. University of Wisconsin
9. University of New Mexico
10. Wake Forest
Others?

Again, I have not played all of these courses so this is something of a guess.  Just wanted to start some discussion.

Thanks!

« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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THuckaby2

Re: Best College Courses
« Reply #1 on: February 14, 2002, 12:25:19 PM »
Pretty comprehensive list there - this has been discussed on here before.  The only obvious one missing I can think of is Notre Dame - Warren Course.  

There likely are indeed many others but I think you hit most of the good ones!

TH
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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Peter_Herreid

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Best College Courses
« Reply #2 on: February 14, 2002, 12:29:39 PM »
I don't know about "ownership", so these would be my top five courses commonly associated with specific universities/colleges:

1)  Yale
2)  Taconic
3)  Stanford
4)  Scarlet Course--OSU
5)  Duke

Hard to pick five with the Warren Course at ND, U of Michigan, University Ridge in Verona, WI right there with them.

For a local plug, if Washington National (Univ of WA) gets their conditioning and turf saturation issues straightened out, that course may wind up in that top group, also.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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Anthony_Nysse

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Best College Courses
« Reply #3 on: February 14, 2002, 12:31:59 PM »
I wouldn't consider these great, but they are all still very good tracks in most people's minds:

1. University of North Carolina (Fazio redesign)
2. Purdue (Pete Dye)
3. Arizona State (Pete Dye)
4. University of Florida (Bobby Weed redesign)
5. Michigan State's Forest Akers (Art Hills) ;D
6. University of Washington (Fought)
7. Colbet Hills (Colbert and Brauer)
8. Oklahoma State at Karsten Creek (Fazio)
9. Grand Valley State University-The Meadows (Hurdzan and Fry)
10. Colgate University(.........)
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:02 PM by -1 »
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Anthony J. Nysse
Director of Golf Courses & Grounds
Apogee Club
Hobe Sound, FL

SPDB

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Best College Courses
« Reply #4 on: February 14, 2002, 12:42:54 PM »
What about Karsten?

Can we delay ranking until Doak finishes the red raider course?

I think that the top 5 probably goes something like this:

1.Yale (
2. Taconic
3. Scarlett
4. Stanford
5. Duke
5. Finley (UNC)


how about Cornell?
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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Andy Silis

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Best College Courses
« Reply #5 on: February 14, 2002, 01:08:16 PM »
Of the college courses I've played my top 5 would be:


          1) Yale
          2) Stanford
          3) Taconic
          4) Warren/Notre Dame
          5) Duke

Sorry Buckeye fans, but I've played Scarlet several times and it doesn't come close to cracking my top 5!-----There is a considerable gap between it and Duke!-----Maybe if tree removal and restoration (proper) were to be undertaken it would have a chance to knock off Duke but not the ND/Warren course. That is some outstanding work by C&C on a very undistinguished piece of property. Myriad strategic options, great bunkering and a pretty good set of greens!!        
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:02 PM by -1 »
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Mike Vegis @ Kiawah

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Best College Courses
« Reply #6 on: February 14, 2002, 01:10:38 PM »
As an alumni of Michigan State University's Forest Acres but someone beat me to it!
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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Will E

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Best College Courses
« Reply #7 on: February 14, 2002, 01:14:18 PM »
I think Radrick Farms (Pete Dye) would qualify as a college course, I could take a steady diet of UM and Yale too.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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Geoffrey_Walsh

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Best College Courses
« Reply #8 on: February 14, 2002, 01:29:08 PM »
Colgate's is called Seven Oaks.  Nice early RTJ layout.
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Coral_Ridge

Re: Best College Courses
« Reply #9 on: February 14, 2002, 01:29:13 PM »
The University of Michigan GC. was designed by Alister Mackenzie.  Have never played it.  
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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Paul Richards

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Best College Courses
« Reply #10 on: February 14, 2002, 01:29:51 PM »
I'd have to say the Orange and Blue courses at the
University of Illinois will never make anyone's list! :P :P
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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"Something has to change, otherwise the never-ending arms race that benefits only a few manufacturers will continue to lead to longer courses, narrower fairways, smaller greens, more rough, more expensive rounds, and other mechanisms that will leave golf's future in doubt." -  TFOG

Jeff_Lewis

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Best College Courses
« Reply #11 on: February 14, 2002, 01:31:12 PM »
U of Michigan is very good. Cornell U is supposedly RTJ's first course, designed while he was an architecture student there. About half of the holes are very well done. Apparently a tree disease 30-40 years ago had an unfortunate effect on the back nine. Very short season there in Ithaca!
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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Paul Richards

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Best College Courses
« Reply #12 on: February 14, 2002, 01:31:16 PM »
JLG:

Your list looks pretty good, but the Warren at Notre Dame
should replace the University of Wisconsin course on your
list.

I've also heard that Purdue's course is good.  Anyone played
there?
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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"Something has to change, otherwise the never-ending arms race that benefits only a few manufacturers will continue to lead to longer courses, narrower fairways, smaller greens, more rough, more expensive rounds, and other mechanisms that will leave golf's future in doubt." -  TFOG

Will E

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Best College Courses
« Reply #13 on: February 14, 2002, 01:35:32 PM »
Coral,
You are right that UM is AM, however, from what I've been told it's mostly Perry Maxwell. I have played it, usually every Saturday morning from May to October. I'd love to see the bunkers returned to the original design, right now they are mostly products of Art Hills rework. It's a great routing even though Wigler is right, the nines should be switched.
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john_f (Guest)

Re: Best College Courses
« Reply #14 on: February 14, 2002, 01:35:48 PM »
Hard to beleive Taconic ahead of Duke. I think Duke is a very top notch. Also like the what I've heard about Karsten. Need to add the new Doak coarse at Texas Tech also! I've been trying to get to Seven Oaks for years, Heard great things about it.

Can we include TCC since it's harvard's homw course is that too much of a  streach.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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Paul Richards

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Best College Courses
« Reply #15 on: February 14, 2002, 01:38:38 PM »
john_f:

Are you referring to Karsten Creek in Oklahoma, or the
Karsten course at ASU?
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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"Something has to change, otherwise the never-ending arms race that benefits only a few manufacturers will continue to lead to longer courses, narrower fairways, smaller greens, more rough, more expensive rounds, and other mechanisms that will leave golf's future in doubt." -  TFOG

SPDB

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Best College Courses
« Reply #16 on: February 14, 2002, 01:43:46 PM »
john f:

calling TCC harvard's is really kind of stretch. One can only imagine what Duke's course could have been if the war hadn't prevented Maxwell from designing, and not RTJsr.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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John_D._Bernhardt

Re: Best College Courses
« Reply #17 on: February 14, 2002, 01:45:57 PM »
Paul, Noone will put my LSU course on their either but we can play a set of matches at the respective courses.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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SPDB

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Best College Courses
« Reply #18 on: February 14, 2002, 01:48:20 PM »
I thought Conway Farms was private? We have to draw the line between courses that are owned or affiliated with a college, and those that are simply a colleges "home" course.

My high school's home course was Newport CC, but I wouldn't call it ours. Coincidentally, the new Carnegie Abbey course is built on land that is leased from our high school. there is a pretty generous use policy laid out as part of the lease. Looks like I graduated about 10 years too soon.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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Paul Richards

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Best College Courses
« Reply #19 on: February 14, 2002, 01:59:55 PM »
Conway Farms is private.  Northwestern is allowed to play
there, but it is not University-owned.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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"Something has to change, otherwise the never-ending arms race that benefits only a few manufacturers will continue to lead to longer courses, narrower fairways, smaller greens, more rough, more expensive rounds, and other mechanisms that will leave golf's future in doubt." -  TFOG

umass alum

Re: Best College Courses
« Reply #20 on: February 14, 2002, 02:13:17 PM »

The Orchards-Mt. Holyoke College (all womens)
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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umass alum

Re: Best College Courses
« Reply #21 on: February 14, 2002, 02:13:39 PM »

The Orchards-Mt. Holyoke College (all womens)
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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Craig Rokke

Re: Best College Courses
« Reply #22 on: February 14, 2002, 02:31:11 PM »
Gil Hanse's Capstone Club ('Bama) and Bobby Weed's restoration of Ross's course (Univ. of Florida) both look promising.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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John_Conley

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Best College Courses
« Reply #23 on: February 14, 2002, 03:10:06 PM »
Has Brad posted yet?  He is the authority on this, having written articles along these lines.

Imagine my surprise when JLG left out the Orchards, an upcoming US Open site.

Please continue to omit University of Minnesota's course from any discussion of the best college courses.  It wasn't very good.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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BCrosby

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Best College Courses
« Reply #24 on: February 14, 2002, 03:24:21 PM »
Harvard rotates among TCC, Myopia, Brae Burn, Concord CC and others for qualifying and home matches.

There is Georgia Tech and East Lake.  

Any other golf teams affiliated with top 50 courses?  
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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