Best Golf Courses

I would like to play St. Andrews because I believe there is is none other quite like it.

Definitely Augusta National, Pebble Beach would be my second choice.

Connor,

Two of the courses you mention are very private so very few of us get that opportunity.  But if you want to play a fun public course next time you are in the Pebble Beach area try Pacific Grove.  It is referred to as the poor man's Peeble Beach.  The back nine is a wonderful pitch and you will enjoy the view.   Also the Ocean Course in Charleston, SC is an excellent test.  If the wind is blowing it will more than you can handle.  I have been fortunate to have played a number of courses around the word think that you would also enjoy Ballybunyon in Ireland as well.  Being from South Carolina we proud of our golf tradition and of course Myrtle Beach being the number one golf destidination.  If you are in Charleston and get on at Yeahmans Hall it is a wonderful tract.  It was founded around 1927. 

Of the Courses I've played, my favorite were, Whistling Straits, TPC Sawgrass and Quail Hollow Club. 

Of course I'd love to play the 3 you mentioned. 

my favorites I have played are Pebble Beach, Whistling Straits, and Arcadia Bluffs. My holy grail is Oakmont and I will be playing that in July. Cypress and Pine Valley are dreams I don't believe will happen

Do yourselves all a favour and make a trip down to New Zealand and Australia. The courses are all accessible and rate as good as any in the world.

Barnbougle in Tasmania is sensational! My favourite in New Zealand is Kinloch the only Jack Nicklaus Signature course in New Zealand. A terrific risk and reward design. Now isn't this gorgeous - the 2nd at Kinloch.

One of my favorite is a course (i'm not sure the name) but its in Maui Hawaii. My family owns a golf villa on the course and the view is spectacular! I believe there are two courses and both are amazing! A must play if you are in Hawaii!

I got to play TPC Boston on Monday, and it ranks way up there with my favorite courses of all time. The course is in amazing shape and it's a really cool layout. The new green complex on 18 is unreal. They pretty much bikini waxed the whole thing, put the green on top of a huge mound, and then peppered bunkers and slopes everywhere. It's really going to test the guys during thenFedEx cup playoffs this year. 

Best resort I've played was by far Bandon Dunes

Those three are on my wish list too!!!  Great choices.

Love the Bandon Dunes courses,  Kohler Wisconsin, and anything on the Monterey Peninsula.

3 favorites I've played: Kapalua Plantation, Reflection Bay (when it was open), and last week the brand new Doak Course at Dismal River.  

On the list: Cypress, St. Andrews, Augusta, but I know those will be hard to cross off.  Another, Sandhills which I hope to finally play this year.  

I got the privilege of playing Oakland Hills last week, and it was nothing short of amazing.  It has been the host of PGAs, US Opens, and the Ryder Cup.  By far the nicest course I have played. 

Some of my favorite that I have played are Spyglass, Pasatiempo, Torrey Pines and Kapalua. I've played Pebble but I think Spyglass is a much better course.

A few courses that I want to play is Augusta, Olympic Club, Monterey Peninsula CC, Madison Club, Shinnecock.

Every golf course is the best.  Nothing beats playing Golf.

Newport CC in Newport, RI is hands down the top place I have played.  Augusta National is the best place that I walked (patron in 2010).  Pebble Beach is the best place that I had lunch at.  St. Andrews is the best place that I ever got a hole in one at while dreaming!

My favorites are Kapalua , Whistling  Straits,and Muirfield Village here at home. St.Andrews,Doonebeg and Ballybunion are my favorites across the water. Pebble Beach and Pinehurst are on my bucket list.

This one last Saturday.

Nice, but my arms hurt from holding the monitor upside down.  :)

My avatar is the 16th hole at Port Royal in Bermuda.  My slice of heaven . . 

Bucket list does include a trip to Pinehurst though .  .  .

My All-Time Playlist Top 16 Ranking.

1. Pebble Beach Golf Links

2. Whistling Straits

3. Spanish Bay Golf Links

4. PGA West Stadium

5. PGA West Tournament

6. Classic Club - Palm Desert CA

7. Torrey Pines South & North

8. TPC San Antonio

9. Tobacco Road Golf Club

10. Pine Needles Golf Club

11. Sandpiper - Santa Barbara

12. Copperhead Course - Innisbrook

13. Barona Creek Golf Club

14. Penn National Golf Club

15. Warren Golf Club University of Notre Dame

16. Duke University Golf Club

The list could go on.....

I chose these because they are accessible to the general public.

Everyone of these places has something special about them...each uniquely there own.

Cheers!

DR. K

If you get the chance, the Prince course at Princeville in Kauai is an awesome track, my personal favorite course!  jimr

Living in the area, I've been fortunate enough to play all of the Pinehurst courses.  Everyone raves about # 2 (and it is very nice), but my favorite is # 6.  The hardest course I've played was the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island.  We played in 35+ winds and it was brutal.... but lots of fun...

steve

I would like to play at baytowne at sandestin and orchard hills.

Top 10 courses I have played based on my rankings not just golf digest or prestige.

1. Lake Nona Golf and Country Club, Orlando, Fl

2. St Andrews Golf Links , Old Course,  Scotland

3. Palm Beach Polo , Cypress course, Wellington, Fl

4. Hill AFB Golf Course in Utah. ( hidden gem and best greens on this entire list)

5. Ledgerock CC in PA

6. Torrey PInes South Course,  SD, CA

7. Redlands Mesa Golf Club, Grand Junction, CO

8. Islesworth CC, Orlando, FL

9. Air Force Academy Blue Course, Colorado Springs, Co

10. Congressional CC Gold Course, Bethesda, MD ( Tougher than blue course and just as pretty.)

Wow that's an impressive list.  I've played Redlands- awesome course and tougher than it looks

For special occasions:

1.  Pinehurst #2, SC

2.  Harbor Town, SC

3. The Greenbrier, Old White, WV

Favorite more affordable:

1.  Magnolia Grove, Mobile, AL

2.  Ross Bridge, Birmingham, AL

3.  Cacapon, WV

I've got some bucket list places

Torrey Pines (North/South), Whistling Straits (Irish/Straits) ...been there,

St. Andrew's, Bandon Dunes, Pinehurst #2 (esp.with the renovation), Greenbriar (Old White and Green), and Bethpage (Black and another color) might still happen.

Pebble Beach, Augusta National, and Oakmont are probably out of reach.

When I travel to an area, I like to find the historic/old courses especially if walkable.  Places like Great Southern in Gulfport, MS.  A Donald Ross design that used to be a tour spot and time has since forgot, and Katrina tried to sweep away.  It has retained his small rectangular greens.  Had a ton of one putts, and a ton of chips from 30 feet from the pin but off the green.  They just got a club house and are improving the grounds as they finally turn around from Katrina.  Just gems that may be a little rough.  While in Ireland, the big name places needed to be booked weeks in advance, and I ended up at several links courses including courses designed by Harry Varden and Old Tom Morris.  Carne Golf Links at the far end of County Mayo was wonderful.  Just keep checking under the rocks and you don't have to follow the crowds to find some gems even if lacking polish.

Happy hunting.

Cypress and Pebble and my home course when I was a kid, Warwick Hills in Grand Blanc, MI.

Augusta, Torrey, Oakmont, Pinehurst 2, Brookline and of course St. Andrews are dreams to come true soon!

Great post!

Vern

My personal top 10 (as of Today)

1. University of Michigan

2. TPC Harding Park

3. Kapaula- Plantation Course

4. TPC Boston

5. TPC Sawgrass

6. Red Sky- Norman

7. Rhode Island Country Club 

8. Sandpiper 

9. The Prince Course (Kauai HI)

10.  Rock Barn- Jones Course

Josh G. no Portsmouth?  j/k...    Nice list bud!!!!

Highland Meadows Golf Club (home course), TPC Scottsdale, PGA National, PGA West, Legacy by Arthur Hills, Longaberger, Scioto Reserve, Red Hawk, Twin Warriors, English Turn, Stone Ridge, Ottawa Park

Favorite Courses I've played:

Pinehurst #2

Pinehurst #4

Bethpage Black

Harbour Town

Orange County National - Panther Lake

Shaker Run - Lebanon, OH

Want To Play... but who doesn't

Augusta National

Whistling Straits

Pebble Beach

Scioto Country Club

Muirfield Village

St. Andrews