Whip it Out: Post your Top 25 Courses Played

« **Reply #650 on:** October 28, 2011, 02:58:53 PM »

I don't have too much left new to play in 2011, so here is my updated list of "favorites."

The Old Course
Old MacDonald
Pinehurst #2
The Golf Club
Sand Hills
Nat'l Golf Links of America
Kiawah Ocean Course
Muirfield
Shinnecock Hills
Shoreacres
Dismal River
The Honors Course
Sebonack
Bandon Dunes
Baltusrol (Lower)
The Dormie
Renaissance
Canterbury
Harbour Town
Pete Dye GC of WV
Ballyneal
Crail Balcomie
Pacific Dunes
Old Elm
Seminole

I think the "best" course I've ever played is Shinnecock. I say that because I think it is a true championship golf course that doesn't need to be tricked up to identify the best players and it can be played by a 15 handicap.

« **Reply #651 on:** October 28, 2011, 03:09:03 PM »

Mac,

Interesting that Bandon Dunes makes your list but Trails doesn't.

« **Reply #652 on:** October 28, 2011, 03:15:31 PM »

Brian - we need your updated list

« **Reply #653 on:** October 28, 2011, 04:00:19 PM »

Interesting that Bandon Dunes makes your list but Trails doesn't.

Jud...to me Trails lost its feel/vibe with the transition from 13 to 14. People can discuss whether 14, 16, or 18 are good holes or not, but to me a golf course is much more than a collection of holes. Judging the course as a whole (for me) takes into account the land, the routing, and the holes. The routing lost me on that transition, that in turn changed the feel/vibe, and add in some holes that seemd out of character with the rest of the course Trails doesn't make my Top 25 "favorite" list.

Bandon Dunes on the other hand was, to me, terrific. Brilliant in its simplicity. Not over done. And with a closing stretch that is out of this world. I think 16 is the very best and most interesting hole I've played to date.

Mac, I am surprised to hear you espouse the virtues of a "championship test"...you seem more like a thrilling / fun / adventurous / quirk kinda guy.

Hmmm...I don't think I'm espousing a "championship test". Am I? Shinnecock, to me, might be the ideal mix of a test for the low handicapper and playble for the high marker...so I mention it might be the "best" I've played. But it ranks behind...

The Old Course
Old MacDonald
Pinehurst #2
The Golf Club
Sand Hills
Nat'l Golf Links of America
Kiawah Ocean Course
Muirfield

on my list of "favorites".

« **Reply #654 on:** October 28, 2011, 05:10:13 PM »

Mac, while I do not agree with your placement of Shinnecock, I understand your viewpoint, and the placement, as it relates to your personal opinion.

Et Tu Brian ! Southampton, doesn't even make honorable mention!

« **Reply #655 on:** October 28, 2011, 05:24:52 PM »

Ha ha, nothing like a Friday happy hour followed by calling someone out!
As you would say Brian, Cheers!

« **Reply #656 on:** October 28, 2011, 05:53:41 PM »

Quote from: Tom_Doak on January 02, 2010, 02:19:00 PM

I haven't ever played Beverly or Whistling Straits, just walked them. Based on what I saw, I'd throw out Whistling Straits, but that was before it even opened. If I had to throw out one I've played, Spyglass.

If Old Macdonald does not bump one of those three off your list, I'll be pissed.

By the way, I've been deliberating for 18 months now and I've decided that I prefer Old Macdonald over Spanish Bay. I also had the opportunity to play Riviera last year and I played Oakland Hills this fall. When you consider I already had 26 on my list, I can just about throw out my entire bottom tier and start over.

I am really surprised by how few of these lists include Oakland Hills, as I was completely blown away by the course (and more notably the greens!)

I wonder if it is not showing up in these lists because not many have played it or because it falls out of the top 25 for many people. It skyrocketed easily into my 10 favorites.

« **Reply #657 on:** October 28, 2011, 05:58:49 PM »

Wow, 18 months? Some people ( I am looking at you Sheehy) didn't think about this at all!

« **Reply #658 on:** October 28, 2011, 06:31:51 PM »

I'm bored, so I did this as well...

Architects involved with my Top 25 favorite courses

Doak-5 (Old Mac, Sebonack, Renaissance, Ballyneal, Pac Dunes)
Dye-5 (The Golf Club, Kiawah, Honors, Harbour Town, PDGC)
Ross-3 (#2, Old Elm, Seminole)
Morris-3 (Muirfield, Crail, and I gave him a credit for The Old Course)
Nicklaus-3 (Dismal, Sebonack, Harbour Town)
C&C-2 (Sand Hills, Dormie)
CBM/Raynor-2 (NGLA, Shoreacres)
Colt-2 (Muirfield, Old Elm)
Urbina-1* (Old Mac…also involved with 4 others)
Flynn-1 (Shinnecock)
Kidd-1 (Bandon Dunes)
Tillinghast-1 (Baltusrol)
Strong-1 (Canterbury)
Mother Nature-1 (The Old Course)

« **Reply #659 on:** October 28, 2011, 11:22:03 PM »

In no real particular order:
Merion (East)
Oakmont
Sand Hills
Shinnecock
Winged Foot (West)

The Old Course
Pinehurst #2
Baltusrol (Lower)
Newport
Bethpage (Black)

Royal Liverpool
Royal Lytham and St Anne's
Royal Birkdale
Royal St. George's
Royal Troon

Carnoustie
Prestwick
Turnberry
Cabo del Sol
Trump International (Palm Beach)

Quaker Ridge
Laurel Valley
Old Sandwich
Macarthur
Whistling Straits (Straits)

Others considered:
Adios
Blackwolf Run (River)
Belmont CC
CC of North Carolina (Dogwood)
Doral (Blue Monster)
Dormie Club
Century CC
Taconic

My true top 3 are: Merion, Shinnecock and Sand Hills. Oakmont was unreal but so difficult...

« **Reply #660 on:** October 30, 2011, 10:09:05 AM »

Sheehy,

You'll have to update your list again in a few weeks after your trip to Oregon. Then again, maybe not!

« **Reply #661 on:** October 30, 2011, 10:57:05 AM »

Quote from: Mac Plumart on October 28, 2011, 06:31:51 PM

I'm bored, so I did this as well...

Architects involved with my Top 25 favorite courses

Doak-5 (Old Mac, Sebonack, Renaissance, Ballyneal, Pac Dunes)
Dye-5 (The Golf Club, Kiawah, Honors, Harbour Town, PDGC)
Ross-3 (#2, Old Elm, Seminole)
Morris-3 (Muirfield, Crail, and I gave him a credit for The Old Course)
Nicklaus-3 (Dismal, Sebonack, Harbour Town)
C&C-2 (Sand Hills, Dormie)
CBM/Raynor-2 (NGLA, Shoreacres)
Colt-2 (Muirfield, Old Elm)
Urbina-1* (Old Mac…also involved with 4 others)
Flynn-1 (Shinnecock)
Kidd-1 (Bandon Dunes)
Tillinghast-1 (Baltusrol)
Strong-1 (Canterbury)
Mother Nature-1 (The Old Course)

Butt Boy

« **Reply #662 on:** October 30, 2011, 11:05:22 AM »

A Dye Butt Boy or Doak?

« **Reply #663 on:** October 30, 2011, 11:10:07 AM »

Dye, for sure!

I think you need to re-visit The Ocean Course; I don't think it deserves the fall in your rankings

« **Reply #664 on:** November 17, 2011, 12:35:15 PM »

This is a guilty pleasure posting...as I wanted to do this when the thread was on page 3!

In no order...other then #1

Pebble Beach (CA)
Oakmont (PA)
Muirfield Village (OH)
Scioto (OH)
Inverness (OH)
Firestone South (OH)
Canterbury (OH)
The Country Club Pepper Pike (OH)
La Jolla Country Club (CA)
#2 Course at Pinehurst (NC)
World Woods Pine Barrens (FA)
Worcester CC (MA)
Torrey Pines South Course (CA)
Brookside CC (Canton, OH)
Sharon GC (OH)
Golf Club of the Everglades (FL)
Rancho Santa Fe Country Club (CA)
The Bridges at Rancho Santa Fe (CA)
Del Mar Country Club (CA)
Salem CC (MA)
Kirtland CC (OH)
Sand Ridge GC (OH)
Isleworth CC (FL)
Congress Lake Club (OH)

....and I can't fill in the 25th as there are many I could put here..

« **Reply #665 on:** November 17, 2011, 12:55:40 PM »

Quote from: Jason Topp on December 18, 2009, 12:14:32 PM

1.   Sand Hills
2.   Royal Melboune West
3.   Dornoch
4.   The Old Course
5.   Ballybunion
6.   Kingston Heath
7.   Lahinch
8.   Pacific Dunes
9.   North Berwick
10.   Pebble Beach
11.   Turnberry
12.   Bandon Trails
13.   The Ocean Course at Kiawah
14.   Wildhorse
15.   Black Mesa
16.   Barnbougle
17.   New South Wales
18.   TPC Sawgrass
19.   Woodlands
20.   Kingsley Club
21.   Sutton Bay
22.   Bandon Dunes
23.   Harvester
24.   Pasatiempo
25.   Western Gailes

Interesting to look back. I know I would add Kinloch and Royal Porthcawl to this list and place Kinloch in the 10-15 range and Porthcawl a bit lower. I might add Pennard. Fallen Oak is pretty close but probably would not make the list. Wildhorse looks way too high from my fading memory and is a potential to drop from the list entirely to make room for others. Turnberry is too high. Lahinch I would need to think about. I would probably drop Western Gailes and Bandon Dunes off the list even though I really like both.

« **Reply #666 on:** November 19, 2011, 12:24:09 PM »

Tough to order them after 10 or so but here goes:

Pine Valley
Augusta National
Seminole
Peachtree
Pinehurst #2
Camargo
Oakmont
Fox Chapel
Muirfield Village
Inverness
Idle Hour
Holston Hills
Scioto
The Honors
Lahinch
The River Course (Kiawah)
Balybunion
Longue Vue CLub
Waterville
Minikahda
The Ocean Course (Kiawah)
Chechessee Creek
Cassique
Belfair
Old Head

« **Reply #667 on:** November 19, 2011, 01:44:00 PM »

Quote from: Pete Garvey on November 19, 2011, 12:24:09 PM

Tough to order them after 10 or so but here goes:

Pine Valley
Augusta National
Seminole
Peachtree
Pinehurst #2
Camargo
Oakmont
Fox Chapel
Muirfield Village
Inverness
Idle Hour
Holston Hills
Scioto
The Honors
Lahinch
The River Course (Kiawah)
Balybunion
Longue Vue CLub
Waterville
Minikahda
The Ocean Course (Kiawah)
Chechessee Creek
Cassique
Belfair
Old Head

Pete,from a native Tennessean,a couple of things.You've got guts for listing Holston before Honors,but Ballybunion should be in front of each.

« **Reply #668 on:** November 19, 2011, 08:07:35 PM »

Oakmont
Oakland Hills - south
Oak Hill - east
TPC Sawgrass
Inverness
St George's (Canada)
National Golf Club of Canada
Butler National
Rich Harvest Farms
Whistling Straits - Straits
Blackwolf Run - River
Bay Hill
Devil's Paintbrush (Canada)
Arcadia Bluffs
Hamilton (Canada)
Kahkwa Club
Monroe
Atunyote
Redtail (Canada)
Mad River (Canada)
Ocean Course at Hammock Beach
Hammock Dunes (Fazio)
Beacon Hall (Canada)
Coppinwood (Canada)
Lakewood Shores - Gailles

« **Reply #669 on:** November 20, 2011, 12:26:40 PM »

Quote from: JMEvensky on November 19, 2011, 01:44:00 PM

Quote from: Pete Garvey on November 19, 2011, 12:24:09 PM
Tough to order them after 10 or so but here goes:

Pine Valley
Augusta National
Seminole
Peachtree
Pinehurst #2
Camargo
Oakmont
Fox Chapel
Muirfield Village
Inverness
Idle Hour
Holston Hills
Scioto
The Honors
Lahinch
The River Course (Kiawah)
Balybunion
Longue Vue CLub
Waterville
Minikahda
The Ocean Course (Kiawah)
Chechessee Creek
Cassique
Belfair
Old Head

Pete,from a native Tennessean,a couple of things.You've got guts for listing Holston before Honors,but Ballybunion should be in front of each.

Certainly just an opinion of mine but Holston really felt true to Ross. Absolutely nothing against the Honors at all. In fact, I think of it as a great course. My appetite is for Classics and my opinions obviously follow suit.

« **Reply #670 on:** November 20, 2011, 02:46:31 PM »

I will update my list since I have played quite a lot of new courses since 2009.

1. Pacific Dunes
2. Ballyneal
3. The Old Course
4. Old MacDonald
5. Royal Aberdeen
6. Rock Creek Cattle Company
7. Los Angeles Country Club
8. Riviera
9. Bandon Trails
10. Cabo Del Sol
11. Stone Eagle
12. Wolf Run
13. Pasatiempo
14. Chambers Bay
15. Meadow Club
16. Olympic Club Lake Course
17. Wine Valley
18. Bandon Dunes
19. Tumble Creek
20. Crooked Stick
21. Members Club at Aldarra
22. Essex County Country Club
23. The Club at Black Rock
24. Pronghorn Nicklaus
25. St. Andrews Eden

« **Reply #671 on:** January 02, 2012, 01:31:47 PM »

« **Reply #672 on:** January 03, 2012, 12:42:54 PM »

1. National Golf Links of America
2. Shinnecock Hills GC
3. Winged Foot GC (West)
4. Friar’s Head
5. Oak Hill CC (East)
6. Essex County CC
7. Piping Rock Club
8. Fishers Island Club
9. Pinehurst CC (#2)
10. Bethpage Black
11. Quaker Ridge GC
12. TPC Sawgrass (Stadium)
13. Fenway GC
14. Innisbrook (Copperhead)
15. BALTUSROL G.C. (Lower)
16. Brooklawn CC
17. CC of Fairfield
18. The Stanwich Club
19. Creek Club
20. Maidstone Club
21. Garden City GC
22. Yale GC
23. Huntington CC
24. Atlantic GC
25. Bayonne GC

« **Reply #673 on:** April 21, 2012, 04:24:49 AM »

Just saw this thread, here's where I'm at so far

The Old Course
Lahinch
National Golf Links of America
Royal St. Georges
Merion
Royal Portrush
Machrihanish
Royal Dornoch
Bethpage Black
Garden City
Royal County Down
Yale
North Berwick
Whistling Straits (Straits)
Royal Aberdeen
Shoreacres
Ballybunion
Waterville
Woodhall Spa
Noordwijkse
Deal
Quaker Ridge
Rye
Carnoustie
Aberdovey

Just missed list:

Whippoorwill Club
Kennemer
St. Enodoc
Brancaster
Lytham
Hoylake
Fenway
Harlech
Cruden Bay
Brora
Sleepy Hollow
Mid Ocean Club
Portmarnock
Royal Zoute
Oitavos Dunes
Point O' Woods
Enniscrone
Galloway National
El Saler
Deepdale

« **Reply #674 on:** April 21, 2012, 05:17:42 AM »

Joey,

That's a really interesting list to me.

I agree with how high you have R. St George's, though few seem to agree.

Deal above Rye and St Enodoc: correct answer!

Nice to see Yale high as well.

What cost R. Zoute a spot in the 25? I really enjoyed playing there but have always had a tough time placing it in any list for some reason.

News:

Mac Plumart

Jud_T

Shane Wright

Mac Plumart

Keith OHalloran

Keith OHalloran

Tim Bert

Keith OHalloran

Mac Plumart

David Hendler

jonathan_becker

JC Jones

Mac Plumart

JC Jones

Joe Leenheer

Jason Topp

Pete Garvey

JMEvensky

don_bartlett

Pete Garvey

Peter Ferlicca

jonathan_becker

Lou Cutolo

Joey Chase

Scott Warren

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