Top 5 Courses you played in 2018

[deadsolid...shank]

I don’t think I played any that are worth a spot on list. Pretty pathetic year.

[WestCoastHacker]

2018 has been a great year thus far, but I hope to be able to switch up this list one more time before it ends. Until then my top 5 courses played since the start of the year are (in alphabetical order):

 

Ballyneal (Tom Doak) - Holyoke, Colorado

Castle Pines Golf Club (Jack Nicklaus) - Castle Rock, Colorado

Pasatiempo (Alister MacKenzie) - Santa Cruz, California

Pebble Beach Golf Links (Jack Neville, Douglas Grant) - Pebble Beach, California

Pinehurst No. 2 (Donald Ross) - Pinehurst, North Carolina

 

The main takeaway has been that I don't understand how No.2 and Pasa end up on the overrated golf course threads.

[gambit]

I've barely played this year so the list isn't that impressive and in no particular order and only top 3:

 

1. Pasatiempo

2. Kapalua Plantation

3. King Kamehameha

[davep043]

So far, I'd include Prestwick, Western Gailes, and North Berwick. I expect to play two or three among MidPines, Tobacco Road, Dormie Club, and Pine Needles over Thanksgiving.

[TravelingGolfSticks]

In no particular order:

 

Mission Hills Dinah Shore

PGA National Championship

Trump National Doral - Blue Monster

Paa-Ko Ridge

Rainmakers

[RSinSG]

Pebble Beach

Spyglass

Big Horn (Palm Desert, CA)

The Reserve CC (Palm Desert)

TPC Las Vegas

 

Next 5:

 

Anthem CC

Southern Highlands

Dragon Ridge

TPC Summerlin (all in Vegas)

Eldorado CC (Indian Wells, CA)

[NoCaution]

I've played a few pretty good courses in 2018 and this sounds like fun.

 

In ranked order, even though I know my ranking will get shredded. Here goes:

 

#1 - Reflection Bay (My all-time favorite golf course. I played it three times this year before I left Vegas for Denver.)

#2 - Sanctuary (Completely bonkers experience from top to bottom. Should be my top pick, but nothing dethrones my beloved Bay.)

#3 - Bear Dance (Third time playing here, and it gets better each time.)

#4 - Ridge at Castle Pines (Amazing course that I have yet to play well on, but always have fun on.)

#5 - Pradera (Got an invite to play here, and would go back in a heartbeat)

 

I also played these ten courses:

 

#6 - Arrowhead (I loved it, but would need to play it a few more times before it cracked the top five. )

#7-9 - All three courses at Paiute (I could divide these up, but I won't bother. They're each great for different reasons.)

#10 - TPC Colorado (Incredible course, but won't ever go back. If you think I'm stupid for ranking Coyote Springs so low, you'd also love this one.)

#11 - Raven at Three Peaks (Amazing course, but I played it in less than great condition.)

#12 - Pole Creek (I'll be in the minority here for thinking the lowland nines are much better than the mountain nine.)

#13 - Coyote Springs (Neat course, but I always walk away feeling like I've punished myself for no reason.)

#14 - Desert Pines (This will be one of the cheapo gems I miss from Vegas the most)

#15 - Primm (I'd like to rank this higher, but every time I've played it the conditions were meh.)

[imakaveli]

I did a great Ireland trip this Summer: The Island, Royal County Down, Royal Portrush, Portmarnock. What a great trip it was, couldn't ask for a better weather also!

 

 

 

 

[benno_r]

1. Royal Melbourne West

2. Pasatiempo

3. Streamsong Red

4. Banff Springs

5. Barwon Heads GC

[deadsolid...shank]

I've played a few pretty good courses in 2018 and this sounds like fun.

 

In ranked order, even though I know my ranking will get shredded. Here goes:

 

#1 - Reflection Bay (My all-time favorite golf course. I played it three times this year before I left Vegas for Denver.)

#2 - Sanctuary (Completely bonkers experience from top to bottom. Should be my top pick, but nothing dethrones my beloved Bay.)

#3 - Bear Dance (Third time playing here, and it gets better each time.)

#4 - Ridge at Castle Pines (Amazing course that I have yet to play well on, but always have fun on.)

#5 - Pradera (Got an invite to play here, and would go back in a heartbeat)

 

I also played these ten courses:

 

#6 - Arrowhead (I loved it, but would need to play it a few more times before it cracked the top five. )

#7-9 - All three courses at Paiute (I could divide these up, but I won't bother. They're each great for different reasons.)

#10 - TPC Colorado (Incredible course, but won't ever go back. If you think I'm stupid for ranking Coyote Springs so low, you'd also love this one.)

#11 - Raven at Three Peaks (Amazing course, but I played it in less than great condition.)

#12 - Pole Creek (I'll be in the minority here for thinking the lowland nines are much better than the mountain nine.)

#13 - Coyote Springs (Neat course, but I always walk away feeling like I've punished myself for no reason.)

#14 - Desert Pines (This will be one of the cheapo gems I miss from Vegas the most)

#15 - Primm (I'd like to rank this higher, but every time I've played it the conditions were meh.)

 

Didn’t like TPC Colorado obviously, but anything specific as to why?

[1puttTUT]

#1 Forest Dunes - MI

#2 Rams Hill - CA

#3 Southern Dunes - AZ

#4 Coyote Moon - CA

#5 Warwick Hills - MI

[stevopagolf]

Aronimink

Philly Cricket Wissahickon

Kiawah Ocean

Saucon Valley Old & Grace

Torrey Pines

[jwellefson1]

I've got a clear cut top 3, but then there's a few public courses in Northern VA fighting for 4&5

1. St. Andrews Old Course

2. Bethpage Black

3. St. Andrews Castle Course

4. Laurel Hill

5. Westfields

Next year I've got Royal County Down and The Island booked and I plan on getting down to Kiawah with a buddy in the next few months. 2018 was a great year for me personally but I'm hoping 2019 is even better!

[Edinburghgolfer]

Muirfield

Turnberry

The Renaissance Club

Western Gailes

Brora

[Blockfader]

1. The prairie club - dunes course

2. Meadowbrook CC - MI

3. The prairie club - pines course

4. Red Run CC - MI

5. Western CC - MI

 

Not my best work this year, but the prairie club was pretty awesome and meadowbrook is sick. Hoping to play Pasatiempo in 19

[eboettne]

2018 so far:

1. Bethpage Black

2-5. everything else

 

My guess at what my list will be on 12/31/18:

1. Pacific Dunes

2. Bethpage Black

3. Bandon Dunes

4. Bandon Trails

5. Old MacDonald

[NoCaution]

Didn’t like TPC Colorado obviously, but anything specific as to why?

 

I don't know if I'd go so far as to say I "didn't like it". I did like it, but didn't feel like it was quite worth the money. It felt like they were so focused on building a technically good course, that they forgot to make it fun in certain places. There were stretches of holes that I loved, but a few that I felt were totally forgettable. I hate to make it about cost, but it was also one of the more expensive rounds I've ever played, so I kinda walked away feeling like I hadn't gotten my money's worth. The best comparison I can make is to Coyote Springs, outside Las Vegas. Coyote Springs is almost always listed as a top 10 course in Nevada. It's a beautiful course, and since I could play it for 40 bucks, I did. It's also the most difficult course I've ever played, by far. It's unbearably penal, and there's almost no such thing as a "safe miss", so the fun kinda gets sucked out of it. TPC Colorado was very much the same. If you don't nut your approach on 15, you're screwed, even though you may have hit two perfect shots to set up a short approach already. The super long par-5 13th is great, as is the par-3 16th. But holes 3, 4, and 9-12 are nothing spectacular, IMHO. I see the merits that others will tout about it, but when I can play Ridge at Castle Pines, Bear Dance, AND Common Ground for the same amount I spent for one round at TPC, it's hard for me to imagine ever going back.

 

For what it's worth, I did get THIS awesome shot of me playing 16, which was easily my highlight of the day. I stuck it to 4 feet, and it rolled to the back edge for an easy 2-putt. Sorry, it's kinda crooked.

[Roadking2003]

1. Erin Hills

2. Whistling Straits

3. The Bull

4. Monte Rei

5. Oitavos Dunes

[Schoolboy]

1. Olde Stonewall - PA

2. El Campeon - FL

3. Fowler’s Mill - OH

4. Ridge at Manitou - ON

5. The Fortress - MI

[deadsolid...shank]

Didn’t like TPC Colorado obviously, but anything specific as to why?

 

I don't know if I'd go so far as to say I "didn't like it". I did like it, but didn't feel like it was quite worth the money. It felt like they were so focused on building a technically good course, that they forgot to make it fun in certain places. There were stretches of holes that I loved, but a few that I felt were totally forgettable. I hate to make it about cost, but it was also one of the more expensive rounds I've ever played, so I kinda walked away feeling like I hadn't gotten my money's worth. The best comparison I can make is to Coyote Springs, outside Las Vegas. Coyote Springs is almost always listed as a top 10 course in Nevada. It's a beautiful course, and since I could play it for 40 bucks, I did. It's also the most difficult course I've ever played, by far. It's unbearably penal, and there's almost no such thing as a "safe miss", so the fun kinda gets sucked out of it. TPC Colorado was very much the same. If you don't nut your approach on 15, you're screwed, even though you may have hit two perfect shots to set up a short approach already. The super long par-5 13th is great, as is the par-3 16th. But holes 3, 4, and 9-12 are nothing spectacular, IMHO. I see the merits that others will tout about it, but when I can play Ridge at Castle Pines, Bear Dance, AND Common Ground for the same amount I spent for one round at TPC, it's hard for me to imagine ever going back.

 

For what it's worth, I did get THIS awesome shot of me playing 16, which was easily my highlight of the day. I stuck it to 4 feet, and it rolled to the back edge for an easy 2-putt. Sorry, it's kinda crooked.

 

Thanks. That all makes sense. And it is expensive. I’d like to play it once more, but in a year or two when it matures a bit. The fairways were soaking wet and the ball wasn’t running at all. I think if the fairways were as firm as the greens it would play more as intended.

 

I actually really like Coyote Springs, but it is pretty tough. Especially on and around the greens.

[PThomas]

Didn't get to play as much as wanted this year but managed:

 

1. Sand Hills

2. Maidstone

3. Sawgrass

4. Bethpage Black (I'm local and it will always make the list)

[tad950]

1) Ballybunion- Even though I wasn't a fan of #18.

2) Tralee- A pleasant surprise for me.

3) Dooks- Certainly the Best Value. Great views and great local atmosphere.

4) Green Hills CC- An Alister MacKenzie course with views of SFO

5) Montreaux- Not usually a fan of golf course community courses, but this one is fun and challenging.

[Fairwindsgolfer]

I don’t think I played any that are worth a spot on list. Pretty pathetic year.

Your situation is similar to what mine normally is.

I sympathize!

[JNewsted]

Royal County Down

Portmarnock

Sage Run

Olympia Fields North

Longaberger

 

I've got a few doozies planned for a week or two from now in Traverse City... you can guess where...

[EagleCity]

1. Boston Golf Club

2. Myopia Hunt

3. Bandon Dunes

4. Pacific Dunes

5. Pasatiempo

 

Playing Eastward Ho! soon which I suspect will make it into the top 5

[1puttTUT]

1. The prairie club - dunes course

2. Meadowbrook CC - MI

3. The prairie club - pines course

4. Red Run CC - MI

5. Western CC - MI

 

Not my best work this year, but the prairie club was pretty awesome and meadowbrook is sick. Hoping to play Pasatiempo in 19

 

So how do I get on Meadowbrook?

[collje26]

1. Olde Stonewall - PA

2. El Campeon - FL

3. Fowler’s Mill - OH

4. Ridge at Manitou - ON

5. The Fortress - MI

 

El Campeon is a brutal course off the tee.

[raynorfan1]

1. Boston Golf Club

2. Myopia Hunt

3. Bandon Dunes

4. Pacific Dunes

5. Pasatiempo

 

Playing Eastward Ho! soon which I suspect will make it into the top 5

 

Eastward Ho! is one of my all time favorites...but that's a tough list to crack...

[Schoolboy]

1. Olde Stonewall - PA

2. El Campeon - FL

3. Fowlers Mill - OH

4. Ridge at Manitou - ON

5. The Fortress - MI

 

El Campeon is a brutal course off the tee.

I would agree. Some tough tee shots on that track for sure.

[sabram]

Sleepy Hollow #16 par 3

 

Cabot Cliffs #16 b par 3 from tips

 

Rock Creek Cattle Co #17 par 3

 

Circling Raven #8

 

Winged Foot East #15 short par 4 approach over hazard

 

Edited to add an Honorable mentions:

 

Greenbrier Old White #18 par 3

 

Winged Foot West #18 pitch to green

 

Cabot Links #3 from tee

 

Ak Chin Southern Dunes #4 a par 3 165 yards

 

Highlands Links #3 par 3 Cape Breton