Best Clubcorp Courses

[goody79]

I have seen a few posts discussing best ClubCorp courses in specific regions (most recently San Diego area). For those who have traveled extensively, please help identify any courses that stand out as among the best and it would also be helpful to identify those that you wouldn't play again. We have traveled to Palm Springs area and would rank Indian Wells CC and Mission Hills CC highly. Thanks!

[PorkChopExpress]

Mission hills

Firestone

Medinah

[thejuice]

LPGA International

Firestone

Barefoot Dye

 

I haven’t had the pleasure of playing the courses out west yet.

[tjblue]

Firestone

Bedford-resort

Black creek

Pete Dye club-sniff...sniff...

[act0fgod]

I posted this previously on another thread.

 

To be honest a lot of the club corps courses are pretty similar so it's really hard to rank them. Nothing spectacular but nice enough, safe courses designed by big name designers. The other thing is available courses change constantly. Here's how I put what I've played (with club corp area listed). Hard task because they are all pretty vanilla and similar.

 

Davenport CC - Davenport

Saddle Creek (no houses when I played) - Stockton

Traditions - Dayton

White Columns - Atlanta

Mission Hills (Dye) - Palm Desert

Firestone (West I really like the front 9) - Akron

Missin Hills (Dinah - mostly because they hold the LPGA event) - Palm Desert

Dayton Country Club (old classic that I really like but tough to compare to the modern courses) - Dayton

Country Club of the South - Atlanta

English Turn - New Orleans

Coto De Caza (South - most will probably like the north) - Orange County

Anthem (Ironwood)- Phoenix

Gainey Ranch - Phoenix

Ealges Landing (27 holes) - Atlanta

Coto De Caza (North) - Orange County

TPC Michigan - Detroit

Mission Hills (Palmer) - Palm Desert

Indian Wells (Classic) - Palm Desert

Glen Abbey - Toronto

Bears Best - Atlanta

Firestone (North - I don't really like the course) - Akron

Atlanta National - Atlanta

Pinehurst #9 - Pinehurst

Royal Hawaiian - Oahu

Diamond Run - Pittsburgh

Fair Oaks - San Antonio

Seville - Phoenix

Carmel Valley Ranch - Monterey

Tucson National - Tucson

Omni La Costa (Legend) - San Diego

University Club of Milwaukee - Milwaukee

Old Ranch - Orange County

Indian Wells (Cove) - Palm Desert

Regatta Bay - Pensacola

Shadow Ridge - San Diego

Aliso Viejo - Orange County

Desert Falls - Palm Desert

Morgan Run (don't know which combo I played) - San Diego

Santa Rosa - Santa Rosa

Porter Valley - Los Angeles

Canyon Crest - Orange County

Lost Key - Pensacola

[tjblue]

I posted this previously on another thread.

 

To be honest a lot of the club corps courses are pretty similar so it's really hard to rank them. Nothing spectacular but nice enough, safe courses designed by big name designers. The other thing is available courses change constantly. Here's how I put what I've played (with club corp area listed). Hard task because they are all pretty vanilla and similar.

 

Davenport CC - Davenport

Saddle Creek (no houses when I played) - Stockton

Traditions - Dayton

White Columns - Atlanta

Mission Hills (Dye) - Palm Desert

Firestone (West I really like the front 9) - Akron

Missin Hills (Dinah - mostly because they hold the LPGA event) - Palm Desert

Dayton Country Club (old classic that I really like but tough to compare to the modern courses) - Dayton

Country Club of the South - Atlanta

English Turn - New Orleans

Coto De Caza (South - most will probably like the north) - Orange County

Anthem (Ironwood)- Phoenix

Gainey Ranch - Phoenix

Ealges Landing (27 holes) - Atlanta

Coto De Caza (North) - Orange County

TPC Michigan - Detroit

Mission Hills (Palmer) - Palm Desert

Indian Wells (Classic) - Palm Desert

Glen Abbey - Toronto

Bears Best - Atlanta

Firestone (North - I don't really like the course) - Akron

Atlanta National - Atlanta

Pinehurst #9 - Pinehurst

Royal Hawaiian - Oahu

Diamond Run - Pittsburgh

Fair Oaks - San Antonio

Seville - Phoenix

Carmel Valley Ranch - Monterey

Tucson National - Tucson

Omni La Costa (Legend) - San Diego

University Club of Milwaukee - Milwaukee

Old Ranch - Orange County

Indian Wells (Cove) - Palm Desert

Regatta Bay - Pensacola

Shadow Ridge - San Diego

Aliso Viejo - Orange County

Desert Falls - Palm Desert

Morgan Run (don't know which combo I played) - San Diego

Santa Rosa - Santa Rosa

Porter Valley - Los Angeles

Canyon Crest - Orange County

Lost Key - Pensacola

 

The firestone triple is worth building a vacation around. What didn't you like about the North course?

 

Traditions is Cinci/Kentucky not Dayton

 

I've played 9 of the courses on your list and they are far from vanilla. The four I mentioned above are good to excellent with the Dye club outstanding (top 100 in world)

[act0fgod]

The firestone triple is worth building a vacation around. What didn't you like about the North course?

 

Traditions is Cinci/Kentucky not Dayton

 

I've played 9 of the courses on your list and they are far from vanilla. The four I mentioned above are good to excellent with the Dye club outstanding (top 100 in world)

Regarding the North course at Firestone it started at the first hole where I didn't like the narrow opener with water left and OB right. I didn't like the buzzing power lines. I didn't like the chain link fence along the border. In comparison to other Dye template finishing stretches I liked it the least. It's still fairly high up on the list, but of the courses at Firestone it was my least favorite (I also think the South course is rated higher than it should be - realize that isn't saying it is a bad course).

 

You are right about Traditions not being in Dayton. Clubcorp however considers the region Cinci/Dayton and I was in Dayton which is why I classified it as Dayton. Understand it's not even in Ohio.

 

I also played Pete Dye Golf Club a couple of times and it would be top of my list but unfortunately the course is no longer part of the ClubCorp program. Personally I wouldn't call it top 100 in the world, top 100 US is where most publications have it. Either way it is a good course and the single clubcorp course I made trips to play just for a single course. I do think Atlanta is a good trip for ClubCorp. I also considered making a trip to Bedford PA as my wife would enjoy that trip as well but haven't yet.

 

I stand by my statements. I think the value is great and it's why I've kept my ClubCorp membership but the courses aren't really world class, just nice. Nice is pretty good. I'm happy to play golf almost anywhere. I just finished a round at Ala Wai a municipal course in Honolulu that is dead flat and would be on the bottom of my list above.

[tjblue]

The power lines didn't bother me so much compared to the chain link fence. You're right it is ugly and rather muni looking.

 

My wife and I played the North and then traveled down to the Dye club. That was our first experience using ClubCorp and really enjoyed both courses.

 

It's really a shame about The Dye club. I was only able to play it once and it was a real treat. Get to Bedford ASAP before they change their mind. The volcano hole is anything but vanilla.

 

Sure there are plenty of cookie cutter courses on the list (with good to great conditioning) but there are plenty of gems and as I said courses to build a vacation around.

[goody79]

Good information! Thanks for taking the time to share your experiences!!

[ryder2015]

Sonnenalp in Vail Colorado is not bad. Not the best course in the area but you have to consider the area has a lot going for it besides just golf

bes

[baddomes]

The firestone triple is worth building a vacation around. What didn't you like about the North course?

 

Traditions is Cinci/Kentucky not Dayton

 

I've played 9 of the courses on your list and they are far from vanilla. The four I mentioned above are good to excellent with the Dye club outstanding (top 100 in world)

Regarding the North course at Firestone it started at the first hole where I didn't like the narrow opener with water left and OB right. I didn't like the buzzing power lines. I didn't like the chain link fence along the border. In comparison to other Dye template finishing stretches I liked it the least. It's still fairly high up on the list, but of the courses at Firestone it was my least favorite (I also think the South course is rated higher than it should be - realize that isn't saying it is a bad course).

 

 

North Course at Firestone is RTJ, not Pete Dye. It's a difficult course, but I liked it a lot. They use the lake very well. Good elevation changes.

 

Fun to spend the night in the Men's Locker Room as well. Pretty unique experience.