Famous courses that disappointed

[mci711]

Red gets talked about by a lot of people at their favorite Streamsong course. Not sure if it is disappointing for me or not, as I'd gladly play a round there tomorrow if possible, but I much prefer the other 2. Black is in the category of Mammoth Dunes for me as down right fun.

[david.c.w]

I fully agree. Nothing against Red, but Blue and Black were my favorites (for different reasons). Black was an "experience" and I thought Blue was spectacular. The holes on Red just kind of blended together for me.

[mci711]

I walked off black and my mind was blown. It was different than anything I've ever played before.

[duffer987]

Interesting, that's how I feel about Blue. Felt like a Doak paint-by-numbers fly in pick up the cheque and leave. (I know the backstory of Doak/Coore collaboration on it, so that's not the case but sure feels like it to me) I enjoyed The Rawls Course more than Blue actually.

Agree that Black is good fun, but being a bit of a C&C fanboy Red was my favorite. It's a nice destination for east coast golfers though, that's for sure.

[James the Hogan Fan]

I have only played 2 'Famous' courses; Royal St. Georges and Chambers Bay. Both were spectacular experiences and the most frustrating thing about them was knowing I wouldn't be able to play them again for a long time.

I have played Princes, and discussed it earlier in the thread. I did not find it memorable, but I did not find it disappointing. A links course that hosted the Open a few times 85 years ago, and that's what it was. First UK links I had ever played to boot, so not much to compare it with.

I am not often disappointed by golf courses... I suppose I do not play enough good ones!

[kevina001]

I think these are the only "famous" courses I've played that I can think of. .

1) Shinnecock Hills--not overrated at all. Incredible. Best course I'll ever play.

2) Kapalua Plantation--incredible views and holes. Conditions (mainly the greens) were pretty disappointing.

3) TPC Stadium--enjoyed. Not a bad course at all, but I enjoyed others I played in the Phoenix area more. I think the Troon North courses fit this description as well.

4) Caledonia--found it to be kind of overrated. Seems jammed in the space a bit. Wouldn't say I liked it any better than some other Myrtle courses I've played.

 

[Seidinho]

Torrey Pines South.. long, but not much variety. Definitely over-hyped and over-priced.

[mci711]

Troon North courses are good additions. I forgot about them, but I don't think they are worth playing at all. Would much rather go to We-ko-pa, AK-Chin Dunes, Wickenburg, Dove Mountain etc... I'd add Troon North as one of the most overrated 36 in the country.

[chachd]

Two public courses in Ohio - Fowler's Mill near Cleveland and EagleSticks near Zanesville have disappointed me in the several times that I have played them and I find very overrated.

I love Arcadia Bluffs!!

[CMCSGolf]

How did Fowler's disappoint? Did you think it would be very good and found it to be average? Or do you think it's not that great of a course in general?

[milesgiles]

If it’s individual preference, then this thread shows that basically any course on any top list will get a mention.

probably a more useful exercise is to take the group opinion,I go away with 20 golfers every year and play many of the uk top rated courses (excluding the priciest ones but mostly they have held tour events or are Open qualifiers or final qualifiers.

those that stand out in my mind for getting universally panned:

Perranporth (I don’t agree but it needs to be reasonably soft to be enjoyable)

St Enodoc (expensive, poor service the day we were there)

Sandmoor just meh

Dunbar (not worth the money)

Hesketh also meh

Royal North Devon (completely overshadowed by Saunton)

Leven (poorly setup)

 

 

And if you want complete Marmite, Nefyn takes the biscuit! It is impossible to be neutral about this course

[Argonne69]

Eaglesticks? I thought it was a fun layout with some great elevation changes. It's tight, but that makes it challenging. It wasn't in the same class as Longaberger, but it was a good value, and an unexpected treat.

 

[DoubleorQuits]

Ballyneal-nice enough course, but can’t say it moved the needle for me. Maybe I missed something.

Fishers Island-don’t get me wrong there are some all world holes there and the eye candy is off the charts, but it’s not top 20 in the US.

Crystal Downs-hey I love the place and 5-8 might be the best four hole stretch in America, but it is not top 20, thanks for playing.

 

 

 

[Schley]

Fishers Island is overrated? You have a Kevlar vest on I hope for bullets are coming. Fishers is in my top 10 comfortably and that is worldwide.

[PuttCurseRepeat]

I love how wide the range of people's perspectives can be. Whatever the "worst" hole at Arcadia Bluffs is, it would be one of the better ones on most other courses. And the 18th at AB might be the best finishing hole I have played. Teeing off the ridge with Lake Michigan at your back, then the glorious march up the dune to the amphitheater green, likely with an audience to greet you. Bonus points if the bagpiper is playing "Amazing Grace" as the sun sinks into Lake Michigan.

[King_Slender]

It's funny - I just played there and I think my perspective on that hole is entirely dependent on where the flag is. With the flag up front, it's a good hole - if you're right on the tee shot you might be a little blocked out, but not a huge deal. But if the pin on the right anywhere from the middle to the back of the green, it's a completely blind shot - hit and hope.

[PuttCurseRepeat]

I guess I can see it not being the way one would like to see their round end if it were their first time on the course and they found themselves on the right side of the fairway with a back right pin. Especially if they just double-bogeyed 17.

Luckily, I haven't been disappointed in too many courses. Ones that I had high expectations of generally met or exceeded them. I guess Pine Tree, near Boynton Beach FL was a pretty highly rated course and I didn't find it all that special. Flat target golf - kind of like my perception of Florida courses in general. This was well over 20 years ago, though and my judgement of courses has much evolved since then.

[mci711]

Every shot I hit is "hit and hope"

[RainShadow]

I worked at the hospital and played Torrey a lot when I was living there in the 90's. I found the South course to be exhausting to play, especially back then when I was a 15 cap. Other than the Par 3's it didn't have much character. The North was much more fun and interesting to me. Haven't played there in 20 years, so can't speak to the redo.

[zer0]

Gather round everyone and let me tell you about a little place called Whistling Straits.....

 

 

 

[klebs01]

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