Top 5 Courses you played in 2018

[jsedgew1]

A shout-out to nearly everyone in this thread for the awesome courses that have been played in 2018 - Well done folks.

 

As my list is perhaps not as exciting, I'll try to cover my favorites from several categories (which actually comes pretty close to my top 5). In no particular order:

 

Top Resort Course

Cabot Cliffs, Inverness Nova Scotia.

A Coore & Crenshaw design that needs no description as there are PLENTY to be found online. I haven't had the chance to play any other C&C designs but from what I've seen of their portfolio, many, if not all, look outstanding.

 

Top Public Course(s)

Bethpage Black, Farmingdale, NY.

Truth be told I borrowed this one from the end of 2017 but a trip back to the property for a round on the Red Course (another awesome track), made me feel like this one was warranted. This Tillinghast design is deceptively simple but the routing, green complexes and length make it an incredible test of golf. Again, plenty to be found about the course online so I'll leave it at that. Fingers crossed they're able to get the setup they want when the PGA Championship comes to the Black in May - could be a risky proposition given the unpredictable spring weather in the North-East.

 

Bethpage Red, Farmingdale, NY.

The lesser known of the Bethpage tracks, the Red is still an awesome course which offers greater playability over the Black but still boasts a demanding layout and has a mix of awesome holes.

 

Top Private Course

Beacon Hall Golf Club, Aurora, Ontario.

Designed by the late Bob Cupp, the course resides just North of Toronto, meandering through rolling terrain and is framed by mature pines for most of the front nine, whereas the back is lined by natural fescue, sprawling waste areas and a mix of three par 3's, 4's and 5's that are all unique and arguably boasts some of the best holes in Canada. Opened in 1988, the West end of the property where much of the back nine sits was originally owned by the Toronto and North York Hunt Club for over 3 decades and was used as a site for fox hunts and horse shows, reminders of which are present to this day with some of the original equestrian jumps scattered across the property. It's a very special course, well deserving of the many accolades it has received over the years and currently sits as the 10th best in the nation. Well worth the visit if you ever get the chance to play.

 

Top Hidden Gym

Pacific Grove Municipal Golf Links, Pacific Grove, CA.

It will never be mentioned in the same light as neighboring Pebble Beach, Cypress Point, MPCC, etc. but this little muni is a lot fun and of incredible value with green fees at less than $50. The course, originally built in 1932, sits at the northern tip of the Monterey Peninsula and took to its current layout in 1960 with the addition of 9 more holes, a development which saw a back-side built along the Pacific Ocean, perched among the sandy dunes and offers some of the greatest views in the world.

[kro88]

ANGC

Milwaukee CC

Lookout Mountain

Bandon Dunes

Pacific Dunes

 

gotta love the humble ANGC post. Scrolled by this at least 3 times before noticing haha. Was it first time? and was it everything we all dream it is?

[marks21]

Kiawah Island - Oceans Course

Erin Hills

Mammoth Dunes

Windsong Farms

Whistling Straits - Irish Course

 

Added TPC Sawgrass, Stadium and Valley, Caledonia and Dunes Club earlier in December.

 

Would slot the Stadium Course in to the #2 spot and drop off WS-Irish.

[Oliver Klozoff]

1. Turnberry - The renovation is fantastic. Wonderful course from #1-18. The wind switches and you play an entirely different course the next time, and it's still great. The resort wasn't that great, but the course is.

 

2. Cal Club - This could easily be #1. I've played SF and Olympic. SF may have more cache. Olympic has a long course that can host Opens. But Cal Club is far an away my favorite San Francisco course. Great routing. Laid back atmosphere. All about golf (and drinking!)

 

3. North Berwick - I knew almost nothing of this course when I played. It was quite the experience. There are about 5 goofy holes that are odd but so much fun. The rest of the course is solid and has great views.

 

4. Baltimore Five Farms - Still one of my favorites. Awesome green complexes. Tillinghast at his best.

 

5. Seminole - It was quite the privilege to play this place. But it was a bit of a let down. The greens are great. The place is special. But the course is probably overrated.

 

 

I could play all 5 of these every day and be happy for life. Carnoustie and Western Gailes just miss out. Both are fantastic, especially Western Gailes. Just a bit boring in stretches.

[Cblo]

1. oakmont

2. honors course

3. sweetens cove

4. riviera

5. the ace club

6. Hudson national

[jaw1978]

ANGC

Milwaukee CC

Lookout Mountain

Bandon Dunes

Pacific Dunes

 

gotta love the humble ANGC post. Scrolled by this at least 3 times before noticing haha. Was it first time? and was it everything we all dream it is?

 

You’ve never played Atlantic Needles GC before?

[jj270]

Goose Pond Lake Course in Scottsboro AL

Gunter's Landing in Guntersville, AL

Chariot Run in Laconia, IN

Ben Hawes In Owensboro, KY

Hillcrest in Owensboro, KY

 

Come to think of it, these were the only courses I played this year.

Are you from the owensboro area? I am. Some of these guys are gunna be disappointed with a google search of hillcrest. Lol. But we take what we can get. I grew up playing it all the time

[Schley]

Goose Pond Lake Course in Scottsboro AL

Gunter's Landing in Guntersville, AL

Chariot Run in Laconia, IN

Ben Hawes In Owensboro, KY

Hillcrest in Owensboro, KY

 

Come to think of it, these were the only courses I played this year.

Are you from the owensboro area? I am. Some of these guys are gunna be disappointed with a google search of hillcrest. Lol. But we take what we can get. I grew up playing it all the time

 

I LOVE Da Bears logo for the avatar!

[jj270]

Goose Pond Lake Course in Scottsboro AL

Gunter's Landing in Guntersville, AL

Chariot Run in Laconia, IN

Ben Hawes In Owensboro, KY

Hillcrest in Owensboro, KY

 

Come to think of it, these were the only courses I played this year.

Are you from the owensboro area? I am. Some of these guys are gunna be disappointed with a google search of hillcrest. Lol. But we take what we can get. I grew up playing it all the time

 

I LOVE Da Bears logo for the avatar!

Been a fan my whole life. Nice to be proud of it for a change.

[Fredk1107]

Montreaux (Reno)

TPC at Harding Park

Edgewood Tahoe

Yocha De He

Pasadera (Nicklaus Monterey)

[duffer987]

Tough call for 5 favorite new tracks in 2018, could come back in an hour and swap a few; however, let's go with:

• Royal St. Georges: 2 through 10 wow! And overall about as good a combo of fun and challenge as I can think of.
  
• St. George's Hill: Because it has George in the title... no no, another fantastic combo of fun and challenge. Hillier than many heathland courses, which added that bit extra, along with a superb combo of 1/2 par holes (and not the poncey new gen 1/2 pars, but OG 1/2 pars) and classic Colt par 3's.
  
• West Sussex: Ooh this was good. The coolest 230+ par 3 out there may garner the pics, but it really is one solid or better hole after the other.
  
• Formby: Strong driving course. Definitely a tourney worthy venue. Pine trees, sand dunes, holes running N/S/E/W. What's not to like?!
  
• Yale: For someone that doesn't have ready access to the East Coast/Mid-Atlantic classics, this is likely as good as it gets for inland golf in North America for me. Really toppier than Deal or SF? No but need something out side the UK on here.
  

 

Honourable mentions: Deal, Swinley Forest, Goswick, Holinwell, Royal Birkdale, and Royal Ashdown.

Streamsong and Long Island publics (bar Timber Point Blue 9) are just not quite there for me.

[kro88]

ANGC

Milwaukee CC

Lookout Mountain

Bandon Dunes

Pacific Dunes

 

gotta love the humble ANGC post. Scrolled by this at least 3 times before noticing haha. Was it first time? and was it everything we all dream it is?

 

You’ve never played Atlantic Needles GC before?

 

hahah is that the one built by Allister MacKinley?

[shotmark]

Royal Dornoch

Manchester

Huddersfield

Grimsby

Breightmet.

 

Worst Immingham. Should be donated to help with the housing shortage.

[jaw1978]

ANGC

Milwaukee CC

Lookout Mountain

Bandon Dunes

Pacific Dunes

 

gotta love the humble ANGC post. Scrolled by this at least 3 times before noticing haha. Was it first time? and was it everything we all dream it is?

 

You’ve never played Atlantic Needles GC before?

 

hahah is that the one built by Allister MacKinley?

 

Oh, you have played it! What a track. Not to be confused with the less impressive Atlantic Needles CC next door.

[FlopShotFred]

1. Caledonia Golf & Fish Club

2. Sweetens Cove

3. We-Ko-Pa (Saguaro)

4. True Blue

5. Harbour Town Golf Links

[Hilltopper413]

1. Victoria National

I know it’s a Top 50 course, but I still don’t think it gets enough love. One of the best tracks in the country.

 

2. Olde Stone

Another on my list of “underrated gems”. I believe it could host a U.S. Open. It’s that type of golf course.

 

3. Valhalla

Enough has been written about this place. I agree with most of it, but I still think Olde Stone is better.

 

4. Caledonia

This places oozes southern tradition. Great hospitality. Great golf course.

 

5. Harbour Town

I think it’s overrated, but still good enough to make my Top 5.

[6hcphacker]

1. Winged Foot (west)

2. Bethpage Black

3. Old Oaks

4. Mid Ocean Club

5. Sleepy Hollow

[nandoal]

1. Lawsonia Links

2. Rustic Canyon

3. Mammoth Dunes

4. Southern Dunes

5. Caledonia Golf and Fish Club

[Chanceman]

Ardglass NI

Connemara Ire

Macreddin Ire

Ocean Dunes Aus

Desert Forest AZ

Rams Hill CA

[TerpFangolfer]

Scotland trip this year...

 

1a. The Old Course

1b. Royal Dornoch

3. North Berwick

4. The New Course

5. Jubilee

[El Gringo]

My favourite five this year include three courses I have played loads of times

 

North Berwick

 

Kington...superb hilltop course featuring gravity shots and angles

 

 

Cavendish...a clever little Dr Mac course in a lovely part of England

 

 

One course I have played a handful of times

 

Elie...really one of the premier courses in Scotland overshadowed by Open venues and dunesy links

 

 

And one course I played again for the first time in over 20 years

 

Pulborough...a very classy design which is completely captivating

 

Ciao

[parpar41]

This was a Scotland summer for me. Of the 13 links courses I played in June, my favs, in no particular order, are:

 

the Castle

Gullane #1

The New

Dundonald

The Jubilee

 

BTW, to all of you lucky golfers who got to list "North Berwick" as one of your 2018 Top 5, you should really have said "North Berwick - West Links".

 

There are two fine golf courses in the Town of North Berwick (both of which I have played many times);

• the West Links, home of the original Redan hole and host to many American tour groups, and also
  
• the East Links, more commonly known as "the Glen", also a fine golf course with great ocean views but not as bucket list worthy nor nearly as expensive to play.
  

[Schley]

This was a Scotland summer for me. Of the 13 links courses I played in June, my favs, in no particular order, are:

 

the Castle

Gullane #1

The New

Dundonald

The Jubilee

 

BTW, to all of you lucky golfers who got to list "North Berwick" as one of your 2018 Top 5, you should really have said "North Berwick - West Links".

 

There are two fine golf courses in the Town of North Berwick (both of which I have played many times);

• the West Links, home of the original Redan hole and host to many American tour groups, and also
  
• the East Links, more commonly known as "the Glen", also a fine golf course with great ocean views but not as bucket list worthy nor nearly as expensive to play.
  

 

Technically yes..... however does one have to say Merion East Course? Do you have to say LACC North? Medinah #3 course or Olympia Fields North?

[slcgolfer]

1. Spyglass
   
2. Pebble
   
3. Teton Pines
   
4. Silverado North
   
5. Silverado South
   

[Ben Berube]

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

 

Hey man lets play. Im in Boston all the time and can get us out on some premier NH courses.

[jaw1978]

This was a Scotland summer for me. Of the 13 links courses I played in June, my favs, in no particular order, are:

 

the Castle

Gullane #1

The New

Dundonald

The Jubilee

 

BTW, to all of you lucky golfers who got to list "North Berwick" as one of your 2018 Top 5, you should really have said "North Berwick - West Links".

 

There are two fine golf courses in the Town of North Berwick (both of which I have played many times);

• the West Links, home of the original Redan hole and host to many American tour groups, and also
  
• the East Links, more commonly known as "the Glen", also a fine golf course with great ocean views but not as bucket list worthy nor nearly as expensive to play.
  

 

Technically yes..... however does one have to say Merion East Course? Do you have to say LACC North? Medinah #3 course or Olympia Fields North?

 

Of course not. Everyone knows when you say “Pinehurst” you’re referring to the driving range.

[Ray Jackson]

My top 5 ranking of courses I played in 2018.

 

1. Whistling Straits

2. Riviera

3. East Lake

4. Atlanta Athletic Club

5. Irish at Whistling Straits

 

Also played Erin Hills but wouldn't put it above any of the above.

[golfinrig24]

Could only think of 3 that stood out from this past year

1 Glencoe G&CC Forest Course Calgary AB

2 Westin Mission Hills Pete Dye Course Palm Spring AB

3 Sirocco Golf Club Calgary AB

[bbedell]

1. Sherwood CC, 2. Saticoy CC, 3. Bayonet at Fort Ord, 4. Blackhorse at Fort Ord, 5. Baylands Links Palo Alto

[duffer987]

This was a Scotland summer for me. Of the 13 links courses I played in June, my favs, in no particular order, are:

 

the Castle

Gullane #1

The New

Dundonald

The Jubilee

 

BTW, to all of you lucky golfers who got to list "North Berwick" as one of your 2018 Top 5, you should really have said "North Berwick - West Links".

 

There are two fine golf courses in the Town of North Berwick (both of which I have played many times);

• the West Links, home of the original Redan hole and host to many American tour groups, and also
  
• the East Links, more commonly known as "the Glen", also a fine golf course with great ocean views but not as bucket list worthy nor nearly as expensive to play.
  

 

Bold choice picking Moray - New

When you say "New" that is the course are you referring to? I guess we can limit it to a Scottish course, based on the preamble? Otherwise there'd be way too many options.