The one course that just DOES it for you

Is there that one course that just does it for you? You've probably never played it, but every time you see pictures you get goosebumps and picture a day at the club would be as perfect as humanly possible?

For me it is the National Golf Links of America. Those views. That lobster lunch. The throwback course design. I have chills just thinking about it. I had the fortune of playing it once and it was amazing. I can not wait to go back. No other course - outside of Augusta - gives me chills thinking about it like the National does.

(And you can't name Augusta National, Cypress Point or Pine Valley... too obvious.)

For me its Bethpage Black. Its a public course, but I love everything about it: Getting there an hour early to wait and line and check in, hitting balls off the mats on the range, putting around on the putting green overlooking the first tee, stepping up on to that first tee box and just ripping a drive down the fairway in front of a gallery of people. I love the massive bunkers, the fescue, the force carries, and the countless opportunitites to attempt seemingly impossible shots. I've hit meaningless shots on that course that I'll remember for the rest of my life, just because I stepped up and pulled something out of my hat that I didn't know I had.

Don't get me wrong, National Golf Links, Shinnecock, and Oak Hill would be thrills of a lifetime, but the Black never ceases to get me excited.

Valhalla.

I play it about once per year and every time I do I realize how much I love that golf course.

Colonial Country Club. Could play it everyday and never get bored. One day, I'll be in a position to do just that.

Never played: Cypress Point
Played: Trump International Golf Links in Aberdeen, Scotland

Never played: Bandon Dunes (any of the courses)

Played: Butler National

Tough call for the two favorites I have played because they are so vastly different in terms of terrain and view but I am going to give the award to both anyways
1 Spyglass Hill
1a Wekopa Saguaro From a design perspective Coore/Crenshaw hit it out of the park on this one [url="http://www.golfclubatlas.com/courses-by-country/usa/we-ko-pa-golf-club/"]http://www.golfclubatlas.com/courses-by-country/usa/we-ko-pa-golf-club/[/url]

For ones I have yet to play
Sand Hills Yup I am a huge Coore Crenshaw fan and a course does not need to be oceanside to appeal to me.

I've played Cypress,all the Pebble Beach Courses, Shadow, SFGC, Olympic, list can go on and on and the course I felt at most peace on was The Experience at Koele. Granted I played well shooting 69 from tips, this course just setup to my eye and was one of the most beautiful settings I have ever played. From the waterfalls to the lush setting I felt at home on the bentgrass greens and was drawn into my surroundings like I felt as one with the course. Hole 17 is one of the top 3 holes I have ever played with the mountains converging behind the green in a setting that will have you wanting to play it again.

My second would be Spyglass Hill. I've played numerous rounds there almost in the 100's category and I always get the same feeling when playing there. Everyone knows of holes 1-5 on the ocean but the journey up into the forrest starting on hole 6 is where its true beauty lies. Course is challenging for all players and breaking 80 for most is not gon happen. I always love driving into 17 mile gate knowin I'm going to Spylglass and this feeling is one I hope never gets old...

Highlands at Primland. Never played it, but I will some day.

My mom is from Meadows of Dan and it shocks me that they built a fancy course there, but the area is absolutely stunning. Give me tree lined mountain golf and I could be happy for the rest of my days. Same could be said if I never played a desert course again haha.

St Andrews Old. Nothing better. Every time I stand and look out from the starters hut I get a tear in my eye.

Saucon Valley Grace

Simply a great pure test of golf.All three courses at SVCC are excellent but this one stands above the rest imo,

Not the hardest but the most scenic to me are the courses at Desert Willow in Palm Desert CA. Great quality of golf but not too difficult that they lose the "fun" factor.

See the avatar.

Sunningdale Golf Club

Oakmont: every time I see it I just get Goosebumps . Luckily I will finally get my chance in July.

Arcadia Bluffs is just special to me as well. I have played it about 10 times, but it was the first nice course I had ever played

Yeaman's Hall. Call me an old course nut, but I love that place.

Prestwick!

Ballyliffins "Glashedy Links". One of the toughest courses I have ever played, but a wonderful design by Nick Faldo. A true (modern) links!!

Gozzer ranch always tickles my fancy.

Played: Old Macdonald- there is something about that course that just hit the right notes with me. While Pac Dunes is amazing in its own right, i feel like I could play Old Mac every day and learn something new about the course.

Not Played- this list is long, but right now i think that Lahinch and Ballybunion Old are doing it for me. (doesn't hurt that Ireland is next on my travel list)

Give me links..

Played: Minneapolis Golf Club -- because it's more or less where I learned to play golf, not to mention it's a beautiful course and a solid test of your game

Haven't Played: Pebble Beach -- because it's freaking Pebble Beach

Played - Forest Dunes. Awesome layout, one of the best courses I have ever played. One of those courses that is just plain fun to play.

Never played - Bandon Dunes. I love the way links courses like that look.

Honorable mention - Muirfield Village. I have played it a dz or so times and every time it's special.

Played: I echo the sentiment of Bethpage Black. It is the complete "golf experience" on a public course. Waiting in line for half an hour to check in like you're at DMV. The $7 bucket off of hard mats. Then you get to the practice green and push in a tee to putt to, and the feeling starts. You finally get up to the tee, and there is almost always a gallery watching you tee off. Off you go, living the Opens and Barclays of yore, humping your bag up and down those hills, over all those forced carries and deep, deep bunkers. It always brings a smile to my face no matter how many 'others' balance out the birdies on the card.

Yet to play: Spyglass Hill. I am awestruck every time I am playing this on freaking Tiger Woods on the PS3, and I can only imagine what it is like to play these holes.

[quote name='outwardnine' timestamp='1370117853' post='7150458']
St Andrews Old. Nothing better. Every time I stand and look out from the starters hut I get a tear in my eye.
[/quote]

Agreed, I can't even tell my story about my first trip to the Old Course with out getting choked up. So special.

[quote name='gin and tonic' timestamp='1370929917' post='7211898']
[quote name='outwardnine' timestamp='1370117853' post='7150458']
St Andrews Old. Nothing better. Every time I stand and look out from the starters hut I get a tear in my eye.
[/quote]

Agreed, I can't even tell my story about my first trip to the Old Course with out getting choked up. So special.
[/quote]

Seconded.

It's a guilty pleasure for JP: The Emerald Course at Wailea, Maui.

I am not one that excites much over pictures, so my answer is from experience. Yes, there are a number of courses that I truly enjoy, enough to regularly play them. But the Plantation in Maui, Desert Mountain in AZ, PGA West and Spyglass Hill in Carmel, CA; followed by a Beaumont, CA surprisingly unknown course named Oak Valley Golf Club stand out. Sure am fortunate to be able to enjoy what golf has to offer.

I would have to agree with a couple posters who mentioned Bethpage Black. When I lived in NY I got to play the course twice and it was a surreal experiences. Me and 7 buddies got there on Friday night and slept in the car to get the first two tee times on the Black. After finishing the grueling round we went right back to parking spots #1 and #2 to be first in line for the Sunday round. We decided to change it up on Sunday to play the Red course, which is a great track as well. It makes watching the US Open when it is there that much more enjoyable to me. Now that I live in Michigan I'm not sure when I'll get to play it again, but I'm glad that I've done it twice.

Grande Vista golf club in Orlando. Even though it's only a 9 holer the course is my favorite of all time. Makes you think on every shot and the course is just special to me.

Sawgrass Just love the design because each hole is tucked away in its own area but still playable if you miss the fairway. I've played a good chunk of the top20 us courses and I put sawgrass higher than the rest. Plus the last 3 holes are freakin hard and can change any match.

A little course not far from me called Oakland Hills.