what is the best course you have played?

[dwayne]

give us a brief rundown of the reasons why

[Scottt]

New South Wales GC
I love how 1 is a huge birdie chance, but can ruin your round before it has even begun if you get too cocky.

I love how 3 tempts you to take off more of the dogleg than is wise, even though you know you shouldn't.

I love how 5 has more personalities than there are days of the week. I love the memory of my 27-marker dad birdieing it, and the look of amazement and achievement on his face.

I love the feeling I get on 5 and 6 (below), with the waves crashing onto the shore. To me, it's natural beauty in its most pure form, and it's where I want my ashes scattered.

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/images/nsw51.jpg

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/images/GLNSWbacksunrise.jpg

I love the way 6, 7 and 8 fit so seamlessly into the landscape that you imagine they must have been there waiting for The Good Dr when he first walked the site (this is particularly true of most holes, actually).

I love looking from the tee on 11 over the 12th, 8th and 4th and beyond and enjoying the view.

I love playing the 14th (below), trying in vain to find the perfect way to attack that green. I suspect one may never reveal itself to me.

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/images/nsw14.jpg

I love looking up the chute on the 15th, and the feeling I get when I split the gap and can again draw breath.

I love walking off 17 and considering that regardless of what I just took (a 5 is my worst, but I am yet to birdie it) at least I didn't fall into a screaming heap on the green, knocking my ball away with my putter in front of millions of people on TV LINK HERE (http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=yl_Nny8TwNM).

I love walking up to the 18th green and looking at the clubhouse.

[Dazza]

Rockhampton Golf Club.
Tough opening hole, followed by a short uphill Par 3. 5th Hole is a killer with a fairway bunker to the left of the driving zone. Hard to reach the uphill green in 2, let alone keep your ball on the putting surface at the same time.
Dog-leg Par 4 over water, tempting for some.
Plenty of water to contend with on the back 9 as well.
Bordered by a floodplain & the Botanical gardens, it makes for a nice setting.

[Andrew]

I love the way 6, 7 and 8 fit so seamlessly into the landscape that you imagine they must have been there waiting for The Good Dr when he first walked the site (this is particularly true of most holes, actually).

I hate to tell you this, but 6 & 8 are Apperly holes. The Good Doctor had the 5th (which was a par 4 back then) going straight to what is now the 7th. The 8th was two short par 4's.

'Best course' is a difficult question because it's very subjective. My favourite course is the West links at North Berwick, but it is probably not the best of the courses I've played. The 'best' would be a toss up between Royal Melbourne, Merion & The Old Course I guess.

[Scottt]

I started to winder about that after I posted, Andrew. In any case, they feel really natural. Are they on land MacKenzie didn't use? Or didn't alter?

EDIT - the crux of my point is the same, regardless. It feels like the holes required very little designing, that the land just naturally sits that way, and has done forever.

[Andrew]

I started to winder about that after I posted, Andrew. In any case, they feel really natural. Are they on land MacKenzie didn't use? Or didn't alter?

I know this is controversial amongst golf architecture nerds & I would never say this on Golf Club Atlas for fear of a 15-page argument, but I believe Apperly was able to see what MacKenzie could not. Don’t forget, Apperly did his work at NSW only 7 years after the course was originally finished, so the engineering technology hadn’t changed that much.

MacKenzie seemed hesitant to route holes directly over sand dunes. Not only is the 8th evidence of that, but the 14th is an Apperly holes as well. I’m sure Mac looked at the land where the 14th is & thought, “What if…”, but Apperly understood that you can take these sand dunes on diagonally, similar to what he did at the 5th at Newcastle & to a lesser extent, the 8th at Newcastle.

So, to answer your question, the land/ocean of the 6th & 14th were not used by MacKenzie. The 8th was two par straight 4’s that became one par 5. The 1st use to be a long par 3 to the 2nd green. The 1st & 2nd, as they are now, were designed by Apperly, although the 2nd green was alter a few decades ago by Newton (I think). The area around the 15th green & 16th tee & fairway were different as well.



Sorry for the thread jack. Back to normal transmission now.

[Eag's]

Barnbougle Dunes the place is just awesome and can't wait to get back there 8-)

[Minor_Threat]

The National - Old Course

7th hole
http://www.nationalgolf.com.au/images/tour/old7.jpg

[AndyP]

Ditto, Minor Threat.

[dc68]

Pinehurst No2 Great course with a shit load of history, loved standing next to the Payne Stewart statue for a photo. Hated making 7 up 18 to shoot 77 after being 160 from the green off the tee. I choked it big time.




With honorable mentions to The Old Course, Ballybunnion and Royal County Down.

[Bruce]

Kingston Heath.

[shavey]

Ditto, Minor Threat.

Double ditto. My host ended up dragging me off the tee I was so in awe :D But my absolute number one is/was Portsea :smt060...

I just love how both of these courses are just so different to what I'm used to..

[BrisVegas]

"Best" is hard to quantify. If I had to choose one course to play my last game of golf on, it would be Pebble Beach. In Australia, I'd like to play NSW again. I'm no architecture buff, I enjoy golf in spectacular settings.

[Grunt]

Tie for me for the enjoyment that I had playing all 3.



Kapalua Plantation course for the awesomeness of the course veiws and topography changes that you don't notice on the TV.
NSW - just like everyone else has already said.
Blue Canyon Country Club, Thailand - had some great golf there in 2007. I will go back there one day.

[Moe Norman]

No nidea what the best course I have played is, as its too subjective.

I'd say my favourites are probably Royal County Down and Royal Dornoch.

I'd really like to play Aberdeen, Prestwick, Sand Hills and Cypress Point though - they would probably get a run in my favs!

[Johnny Canuck]

Tough Call.
Canada - St. George's Golf and Country Club - over 100 years of tradition, just awesome. The 25 to 50K nomination and huge waiting list makes it a little inaccessable.

Honourable Mention - Forest City National - easily the best four finishing holes I have ever played on a golf course and very cheap too.

US - Glen Dornoch - I went on a golf trip with some mates. We had a crap course in the morning. In the afternoon, they chose Hooters. I chose Glen Dornach. They went back a year later to play Dornach. 11 holes with water, 84 bunkers, tons of wind.

http://www.glensgolfgroup.com/media/GlenDornoch16shot.jpg

AUS - The Dunes - I just love this place
Honourable - Kennedy and Portsea was just so much fun to play

Special Mention - Long Reef - There is not a course that I enjoy playing more than this place.

[TourFit]

St Andrews Old Course. It IS golf. However, many first impressions are not so good, but it is difficult in so many ways we are NOT used to. That is part of the magic - plenty of choices off the tee, and plenty of room, can sometimes be tough to deal with when most of us play "target" golf these days on "defined" courses...Not that that is bad but the OC is just different.

Because it is generally flat and the greens don't always stand out (colour) distance gauging is tough, the greens are also VERY large so you can often have huge putts (who practices a 100+ ft putt????). The amount (and random direction) of the roll is unbelievable, especially when combined with wind (and IT CAN REALLY BLOW!!!).

IMO it would take MANY rounds to appreciate the quandries of the OC. In fact my playing partner when I played, had played it once EVERY week for 10 years and said he was still learning the course !!!!!

[chappy1970]

Probably RM, although Kingston Heath is a favorite

[Fishman Dan]

Ocean Shores.

Calm opening holes on both 9's, but the holes are pretty much all unique. Super value too, if you're in the north-east corner make sure you attempt a Blue Marker on the last Friday of any month.

2nd shot into the first green. Easy par 5, but can you stop it if you go for the green in 2

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/162/355667928_9b18d48b3a.jpg?v=0

Favourite hole in the 12. Anything from 130m to 185m par 3 at an angle to the green. All but about 5m is water-carry, with water on 3 sides. Huge bailout area left.

[Scottt]

Where exactly is it Dan?

EDIT - In hindsight I deserve this! (http://just****inggoogleit.com/)

[Moe Norman]

Ocean Shores is a beauty, not sure about being better than NSW though - but the old girl still has legs.

I remember first going there in 1989 after watching the Grand Final on TV in some hostel at Byron and my grandpa telling me it was one of the best courses in the country - was probably ranked Top 30 back then!

[Scottt]

Dan..we did take you to NSW didn't we ?
How the **** can you nominate OS over NSW ?

Didn't he have 19 points at NSW :lol: That might explain it! :oops:

[Julie]

I love Hope Island, I just think it is beautiful.

[Johnny Canuck]

Changed my best Canadian course and added a link.

Tough Call.
Honourable Mention - St. George's Golf and Country Club - over 100 years of tradition, just awesome. The 25 to 50K nomination and huge waiting list makes it a little inaccessable. I just found out that this course got the 2010 Canadian Open and that is much deserved.

Best Course - Forest City National - easily the best four finishing holes I have ever played on a golf course and very cheap too.
Click this link (http://fcngolf.com/coursetour13-15.htm) to view the finishing holes. (You'll have to click "Next 3 holes" to get the last 3) If you click on home you get a few nice course shots in a slide show.
15 - awesome par 5 with 2 fairways. You can play it safe in 3, or carry the water in 2.
16 - Great short 4, cut through the trees with a beautiful water backdrop.
17 - Great short 3, all carry, short is death, right is death, long is woods.
18 - Narrow and long par 4. The link doesn't show that there is water all down the left side.

This course always tore me up until I went home this year. Was very pleased to shoot 74 (if I remember correctly), finishing bogey, bogey. I don't think I had ever broken 85 before.

US - Glen Dornoch - I went on a golf trip with some mates. We had a crap course in the morning. In the afternoon, they chose Hooters. I chose Glen Dornach. They went back a year later to play Dornach. 11 holes with water, 84 bunkers, tons of wind.

http://www.glensgolfgroup.com/media/GlenDornoch16shot.jpg

AUS - The Dunes - I just love this place
Honourable - Kennedy and Portsea was just so much fun to play

Special Mention - Long Reef - There is not a course that I enjoy playing more than this place.

[Craig_Syd]

Wade Hamton - North Carolina USA

Without a doubt the most spectactular piece of golf real estate in the world. Built high in the blue ridge mountains the views are absolutely 1 in a million. Add to that each golf hole is like an adventure in paradise. Only problem is you need to be a gazillionaire to play there or have some good contacts.

[Scottt]

Better than Augusta?

[Andrew]

Better than Augusta?

Scott,

Some jaded old bastard told him to be a little careful how freely he speaks about access to ‘certain’ American courses. You would be surprised some of the stories of denied access & cancelled membership I’ve heard regarding a ‘certain’ course.

In saying that, I can vouch for his nomination of Wade Hampton. It is easily the best Tom Fazio course I have played. It’s one of the best mountain courses in the world. The member I played with said membership was capped at 300, so most days there are very few people on the course. Most members are residents of the estate, which is surrounded by forest, so there is a great feeling of seclusion.

[Marto65]

Kinloch, NZ.

[Courty]

Kinloch, NZ.

+1. Simply magnificent course.

http://i.imgur.com/TTlu4.jpg

[sms316]

You know that you have OCD when you wear a bucket hat in NZ.

[Marto65]

19639

[Courty]

You know that you have OCD when you wear a bucket hat in NZ.

They do have sun there you know.

[sms316]

They do have sun there you know.
I only believe it because I have seen it, however that picture suggests otherwise.

[Courty]

I only believe it because I have seen it, however that picture suggests otherwise.

How about this one then...

http://i.imgur.com/tgnvw.jpg

[sms316]

How about this one then...http://i.imgur.com/tgnvw.jpg Photoshop.

[Marto65]

Front Tees?

[Courty]

Photoshop.

:roll:


Front Tees?

On that hole yes, mostly they were a middle(ish) tee location.

[Marto65]

Why the green shirt?

[TourFit]

Courty, for someone as OCD as you are, FFS PLEASE REMOVE THAT DREADFUL RETAIL SHOP STICKER FROM THE BOTTOM PART OF YOUR DRIVER SHAFT!!!

[markTHEblake]

I thought Bogor Raya is pretty good, one of Graham Marshes finest. (just outside Jakarta).

http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-65nLqcOFZns/Tu1dsv6fvzI/AAAAAAAAAZs/76IBSJxqrl4/s720/2011-12-16 13.19.41.jpg

[dave1]

Maffra in Gipsland in Victoria

For mine in a town of about 4000-5000 people they produce a great track on such a limited budget. Small membership base.

played 3 times and love it. I judge a course on what funds they have available to maintain and improve it.

[Ashes]

You judge the quality of a course on their budget?

[Johnny Canuck]

How do you find out every course's budget?

[simmsy]

I knew Hartfield was the best course in Perth!

Thx Dave1.

[rubin]

Sven/Svenny/Liar1/dave1/nev - honest question here:

do u think about or even mildly ponder what you are going to post before you do, or is it just a knee jerk reaction along the lines of: "seeanormAlpost somustdri;bblecra[p"

[Johnny Canuck]

Rubes, his name is Sven, Svenny or Liar1.

[rubin]

Rubes, his name is Sven, Svenny or Liar1.

my apologies. post edited.

[Outcast]

NSW, privilege of a services membership deal there for 12 months; beautiful course & a real test, particularly when the breeze is up. Whilst I've had the privilege of playing many beautiful & challenging courses across Asia, NZ & Australia, NSW is the standout for me

[gazgolf1]

Troon North, Scottsdale Arizona.

[Stuartd147]

Royal Hawaiin!

[PeteyD]

Sven/Svenny/Liar1/dave1/nev - honest question here:

do u think about or even mildly ponder what you are going to post before you do, or is it just a knee jerk reaction along the lines of: "seeanormAlpost somustdri;bblecra[p"


Settle down on the baiting.

[Lagerlover]

54 weeks to go.....

Cascata..
http://www2.cybergolf.com/sites/cour...050&page=61755
Bali Hai..
http://www.balihaigolfclub.com/cours...-video-tour/#1
Bear's Best
http://www.clubcorp.com/Clubs/Bear-s...s/Golf/Course2
TPC Las Vegas..
http://www.tpc.com/tpc-las-vegas

[Jarro]

54 weeks to go.....

Cascata..
http://www2.cybergolf.com/sites/cour...050&page=61755
Bali Hai..
http://www.balihaigolfclub.com/cours...-video-tour/#1
Bear's Best
http://www.clubcorp.com/Clubs/Bear-s...s/Golf/Course2
TPC Las Vegas..
http://www.tpc.com/tpc-las-vegas

I really think i hate you !!

:p

[BrettM]

I thought Bogor Raya is pretty good, one of Graham Marshes finest. (just outside Jakarta).

http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-65nLqcOFZns/Tu1dsv6fvzI/AAAAAAAAAZs/76IBSJxqrl4/s720/2011-12-16 13.19.41.jpg

I miss working on my course in Indonesia.

[Courty]

Why the green shirt?

Why not?


Courty, for someone as OCD as you are, FFS PLEASE REMOVE THAT DREADFUL RETAIL SHOP STICKER FROM THE BOTTOM PART OF YOUR DRIVER SHAFT!!!

It was a hire club. :roll:

[dc68]

Pinehurst No2 Great course with a shit load of history, loved standing next to the Payne Stewart statue for a photo. Hated making 7 up 18 to shoot 77 after being 160 from the green off the tee. I choked it big time.




With honorable mentions to The Old Course, Ballybunnion and Royal County Down.



Add Wolf Creek as the most visually stunning course...

Agree with Gaz Troon North is a very good track, Bear's Best is amazing too.

[TourFit]

Courty, for someone as OCD as you are, FFS PLEASE REMOVE THAT DREADFUL RETAIL SHOP STICKER FROM THE BOTTOM PART OF YOUR DRIVER SHAFT!!!


It was a hire club. :roll:

Worst. Excuse. EVER!




I thought Bogor Raya is pretty good, one of Graham Marshes finest. (just outside Jakarta).

http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-65nLqcOFZns/Tu1dsv6fvzI/AAAAAAAAAZs/76IBSJxqrl4/s720/2011-12-16 13.19.41.jpg

The chick on the right obviously earns some money caddying and some more doin' other stuff...?

The one in the middle is super cute...reminds me of an ex girlfriend I had whilst at uni

[Johnny Canuck]

Without the air valve.

[Bruce Dickinson]

East Course Kai Sai Chau in Hong Kong was the best as far having no expectations on arrival and being blown away with how much fun it was.

[markTHEblake]

Tourfit, I really don't know about the right one. She was new, very shy, didn't speak English, and I never knew she did that in the photo until I looked at my pics after the game. She must be a dark horse. Even her bag was surprised about that and he was fluent in info. The middle one was a huge tease/stirrer and very talkative, great fun worth requesting next time. My caddy was the lefty, girl next door type. All bloody good at reading greens which is what you really need.

[Goldy]

Haven't played it yet....but off to RM West course on Sunday.

oh.....wow

[Webster]

I give up Blakey, which one is the ladyboy?

[Ashes]

The one that looks like TF's ex??

[rubin]

TF's ex??

Fixed

[Steve57]

RM West closely followed by Barnbougle Dunes and The Lost Farm

[pt73]

Pasatiempo in Santa Cruz California. An Alister MacKenzie course recently restored by Tom Doak.

[jmitchell]

NSW and the Heath, best I've played anywhere in the world.

[Dotty]

National Old.

I haven't played NSW for 20 years, so it would be good to go around again, now that I have an awareness for course design.

[Bruce]

Royal Melbourne West.

[idgolfguy]

Barnbougle.

[golfbound]

Got to say I have 3 favorite courses

Dalit bay in Sabah http://www.dalitbaygolf.com.my/

The Australian http://www.australiangolfclub.com

and my Favorite is Ardsley Private Country Club http://www.ardsleycc.org

[Muscles]

Lost Farm. Heaps better than Barnboule I thought.

[markTHEblake]

Jack, wrong country its Indonesia not Thailand.

[petethepilot]

Royal County Down or Port Stewart. Both in Northern Ireland!

[idgolfguy]

Lost Farm. Heaps better than Barnboule I thought.
Had dinner with the owner and head greenskeeper a year ago with a group of 20 of us. We chatted a bit about the design and premise of both. Barny was designed to be more challenging of the two. Lost Farm had a couple if nothing holes.

I liked both but Barny because it was true links style.

[Muscles]

Had dinner with the owner and head greenskeeper a year ago with a group of 20 of us. We chatted a bit about the design and premise of both. Barny was designed to be more challenging of the two. Lost Farm had a couple if nothing holes.

I liked both but Barny because it was true links style.

yeh i'd agree with most of that.. the pro at Lost farm was the pro at my old course for a few years... Barnie was certainly tougher, i just really really really liked the layout at the Farm. Also that Restaurant is incredible.....

[idgolfguy]

yeh i'd agree with most of that.. the pro at Lost farm was the pro at my old course for a few years... Barnie was certainly tougher, i just really really really liked the layout at the Farm. Also that Restaurant is incredible.....

I stayed from Thursday to Sunday. Great restaurant and accommodation. Lost Farm was best for the money games.

Good value golfing holiday.

[LarryLong]

According to other peoples rankings, Kingston Heath.

However, I'm usually fairly ignorant of course design and impeccable condition is wasted on me, so I just rate courses by the Darryl Kerrigan scale. I'm a huge fan of Port Fairy.

[matty]

NSW for me. Not that I've played a huge amount of courses. Was everything I could imagine a course could be.

[Tongueboy]

NSW.

[irishamateur]

Royal County Down (N.Ireland) Rosapenna (Rep of Ireland)

[rhino62]

As of today TPC Scottsdale Stadium course - even parred the par 3 16th - stadium hole

[spanner039]

Kingston Heath
Royal Mel
Whistling Straights
Then
St Andrews beach
Then
Barny
Then
Believe it or not
Beatrice country club - Beatrice Nebraska.

It helps to work in the industry, get to play pretty much anywhere.

[petethepilot]

Bad luck today Spanner. It was a great game!

[spanner039]

Bad luck today Spanner. It was a great game!

Thanks Peter - time for an avatar change Buddy off, Slatter in!!

[davepuppies]

Best course I have played is Wolf Creek in mesquite Nevada

In aus, best course by my preference

Bonville golf resort

[Croydo]

Fontana in Vienna, Austria, is the best one I've played. They hold a European tour event there.

[spanner039]

Geez, we are such a well travelled lot!!!

Anyone played Pine Valley?

[Nut]

Best layout was Laguna Quays when it was at its best.
Best course is a close call between Waraikei in New Zealand and Red Mountain in Thailand.
Best overall experience is The Grand on the GC
Most interesting course was The La Paz golf course in Bolivia. The highest golf course in the world at 3,500m above sea level! The lunar valley landscape was incredible!

[Andrew]

Geez, we are such a well travelled lot!!!

Anyone played Pine Valley?

Yes, I have since I originally posted on this thread. I spent a few days there staying on site.
I know at least one other on the forum here who has been there a couple of times.

[spanner039]

I thought I had it good having access to courses

Friends in high places, I presume?

Im Just jealous !!!!!!!

[Andrew]

Spanner,

I played PV through a friend who is a member at Riviera & Olympic and has contacts at many of the top clubs around America, although the club captain of the club I was a member of at the time is an international member at PV.

My second day at PV I played with a guy who was a member at Oakmont & Chicago GC. We hit it off well & he has invited me to spend some time at both clubs when I’m over there next. Unfortunately, I’ve gone through 2 knee operations over the last 3 years and have been unable to take him up on the offer, but we have stayed in touch & he still asks when I’m coming over.

It tends to work like that. I played Crystal Downs through a guy I played with at Garden City. I got onto Oakland Hills & The Country Club through a guy I met from a couple of visits to Philadelphia CC. I was also on a ranking panel for an American magazine for a few years, so that helped as well.

[petethepilot]

So Andrew, the best in your opinion is...............?

[spanner039]

Andrew you have pretty much played my US bucket list!!

And to echo Pete's question, your fav/best is......

[rhino62]

Played Wolf Creek today. Very intimidating visually off the tee but plays easier than it looks. Played off the blue tees & had 32 points. May not be the course I have played but it is way up there.

[PerryGroves]

Most interesting course was The La Paz golf course in Bolivia. The highest golf course in the world at 3,500m above sea level! The lunar valley landscape was incredible!

Hey Nut, wished I would have played in La Paz, could have come on here and bragged about how far I could drive it. Given your avatar, did you have a go at the Road of Death



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtUaherTC50

[Andrew]

Pete & Spanner,

It’s very subjective, but Pine Valley would come close. The great thing about PV is, as penal as it is off the fairway; many of the fairways are extremely wide. Of course, you are still required to drive to the right spot for a reasonable approach. Before playing there I had been considering the worth of terms like Strategic, Heroic and Penal. Pine Valley was the course that confirmed to me those terms mean nothing.

Apart from PV, it’s the surprises that I like. When I played Myopia Hunt Club I knew a little historic information about the course, but the course totally charmed me. It was the same with Maidstone. Prairie Dunes was also a lovely surprise, whereas a few of the Seth Raynor courses I’ve played like Yeaman’s Hall, Blue Mound & Southampton left me quite underwhelmed.

In saying all that, I still probably prefer British links golf.

[oncewasagolfer]

I enjoyed port fairy great views and course.

[LeftyHoges]

I enjoyed port fairy great views and course.

Yep, I haven't played a lot of great courses but Port Fairy is always near the top of my list as well as a few select Sandbelt courses in Melbourne. But very proud of my club championship at Port Fairy.

[Nut]

Hey Nut, wished I would have played in La Paz, could have come on here and bragged about how far I could drive it. Given your avatar, did you have a go at the Road of Death



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtUaherTC50

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MPWWzBxbPk

Yeah absolutely rode death road! Was one of the most amazing things I've ever done! Starts at almost 5000m above sea level in snow and ends in the steamy amazon basin! 600m sheer cliff faces and amazing scenery.... 'twas absolutely fantastic! Couldn't recommend it enough.

The golf was incredible and the altitude really does change the game. At least 2 clubs longer and drives were pushing 300m with ease.