Most Fun Golf Course in America

[I3erto]

I just finished a round at spyglass hill, and while it was a great golf course I wouldn't exactly say it was a "fun" round.  More of a survival round.  So I was wondering what are the funnest golf courses around.   Clearly this is very subjective, but there are some really really fun courses out there, and I was curious what the people on here would list as their "funnest" courses.  I think i would start the list with Sheep Ranch at bandon.  Cheers!

 

 

 

[Abh159]

I've been playing for 20+ years and have played hundreds of courses over that time, but I'm guessing I haven't even played 5% of the courses available in the US.

 

However, I did play Mossy Oak in West Point, MS a few months back and had a great time. It's a Gil Hanse design that opened recently (2015 I believe).

 

Aside from being in great shape, the layout is awesome. It really feels like the course was built using the land available and not that someone came in and completely altered the terrain. There are several drivable high risk/high reward par 4s, interesting green complexes that can really punish you if miss on the wrong side, a few blind shots but not so many that it gets frustrating, and outstanding bunker placement. 

 

An added bonus is that it's extremely walker friendly. We rode, but all of the tee boxes were just steps from the previous green. 

 

If you get the chance to play it I highly recommend checking it out!

[Bbo569]

There is only one answer to this question.  There are plenty of courses that will blow you away with aesthetic appeal/views, historical prominence, unworldly good conditions.  However, if you question is solely what is the most fun course to play then the answer is Tobacco Road in NC.  It is unlike any other course you will ever play from the site lines to the insane greens.  While somewhat target golf, it will have you thinking and playing a style of golf that isn't replicated anywhere else.

 

For reference, I have played Congressional, Interlachen, Ke'olu, Ocean Course, Sage Valley, all the Pinehurst courses, as well as many more prominent courses, but none of them pass Tobacco Road on sheer fun.

[sabram]

36 minutes ago, Bbo569 said:

There is only one answer to this question.  There are plenty of courses that will blow you away with aesthetic appeal/views, historical prominence, unworldly good conditions.  However, if you question is solely what is the most fun course to play then the answer is Tobacco Road in NC.  It is unlike any other course you will ever play from the site lines to the insane greens.  While somewhat target golf, it will have you thinking and playing a style of golf that isn't replicated anywhere else.

 

For reference, I have played Congressional, Interlachen, Ke'olu, Ocean Course, Sage Valley, all the Pinehurst courses, as well as many more prominent courses, but none of them pass Tobacco Road on sheer fun.

I've played more than 800 courses. When I saw the caption of this thread, the first course that came to mind was Tobacco Road. I'm not sure that will be my final answer, but it will be among the finalists. I'll post again after I've given the question some consideration

[miss0033]

I'd echo what others have said; the most fun I have ever had playing a round of golf was at Tobacco Road.  And since I have played it 3 times, it is probably #1, #2, and #3 on the list with another round scheduled soon.

 

I haven't been to Bandon or many other bucket list courses.  But TR was just an awesome experience all around, everything about it.  Might not be the "Best" course I have ever played, but has consistently been the most fun and memorable rounds of golf I have ever played.

 

Hoping to play Mammoth Dunes before the end of the year.  I have heard people describe that course in a similar fashion.

 

EDIT:  I will add, on one of my visits to Tobacco Road we also played Pinehurst #2...  That felt like survival golf, and while it is a beautiful and historic course, I don't think I will be playing it again.  I was mentally drained after playing that course, and at $400+ it provided the least value of the trip for me personally.  

Edited July 26, 2021 by miss0033

[sabram]

After giving it a little thought, these are the courses I've played that are the most fun. I don't know if I can choose just one, but out of 800 courses played, I limited it to 20 U.S. and 20 outside the U.S. I think what they all have in common is great greens with lots of movement, routings that keep your interest with a lot of variety, they don't beat you up, you don't spend a lot of time looking for golf balls, they don't have a lot of (or in some cases, any) water in play and almost all are walkable. Some of the English heaths might not be on the list if the heather is too close to the fairways, but I am a short straight hitter off the tee so the heather doesn't bother me most of the time.

 

Private

Sleepy Hollow NY

Whipoorwill NY

Garden City NY

Ballyneal CO

Kingsley MI

Merion East PA

Cuscowilla GA

Forsgate Banks NJ

 

Public Access

Yale CT

Tobacco Road NC

Greenbrier Old White WVA

Southern Dunes FL

Ak Chin Southern Dunes AZ

Sand Hollow UT

Paiute Snow NV

True Blue SC

Old Macdonald OR

 

Outside the U.S.

Sunningdale Old & New (Eng

Walton Heath Old & New (Eng)

Berkshire Red and Blue (Eng)

Woking (Eng)

New Zealand (Eng)

St Georges Hill (Eng)

Addington (Eng)

 

North Berwick (Scotland)

Western Gailes (Scotland)

The Old Course (Scotland)

Prestwick (Scotland)

Dunbar (Scotland)

 

Cruit Island (IRE)

Narin & Portnoo (IRE)

County Sligo/Rosses Point (IRE)

Portsalon (IRE)

Corballis (IRE)

Carne/Belmullet (IRE)

 

Teeth of the Dog (DR)

 

Cabot Cliffs (CAN)

Cabot Links (CAN)

 

 

 

 

 

Edited July 26, 2021 by sabram
edited to correct typos

[Steele47]

Wolf Creek.   NV

[mtg6193]

Echo back Tobacco Road or really any Strantz track to be honest.  Just so special.

[Chanceman]

1 hour ago, sabram said:

After giving it a little thought, these are the courses I've played that are the most fun. I don't know if I can choose just one, but out of 800 courses played, I limited it to 20 U.S. and 20 outside the U.S. I think what they all have in common is great greens with lots of movement, routings that keep your interest with a lot of variety, they don't beat you up, you don't spend a lot of time looking for golf balls, they don't have a lot of (or in some cases, any) water in play and almost all are walkable. Some of the English heaths might not be on the list if the heather is too close to the fairways, but I am a short straight hitter off the tee so the heather doesn't bother me most of the time.

 

Private

Sleepy Hollow NY

Whipoorwill NY

Garden City NY

Ballyneal CO

Kingsley MI

Merion East PA

Cuscowilla GA

Forsgate Banks NJ

 

Public Access

Yale CT

Tobacco Road NC

Greenbrier Old White WVA

Southern Dunes FL

Ak Chin Southern Dunes AZ

Sand Hollow UT

Paiute Snow NV

True Blue SC

Old Macdonald OR

 

Outside the U.S.

Sunningdale Old & New (Eng

Walton Heath Old & New (Eng)

Berkshire Red and Blue (Eng)

Woking (Eng)

New Zealand (Eng)

St Georges Hill (Eng)

Addington (Eng)

 

North Berwick (Scotland)

Western Gailes (Scotland)

The Old Course (Scotland)

Prestwick (Scotland)

Dunbar (Scotland)

 

Cruit Island (IRE)

Narin & Portnoo (IRE)

County Sligo/Rosses Point (IRE)

Portsalon (IRE)

Corballis (IRE)

Carne/Belmullet (IRE)

 

Teeth of the Dog (DR)

 

Cabot Cliffs (CAN)

Cabot Links (CAN)

 

 

 

 

 

To those categories I would add:

Sand Hills us/Priv

Wickenberg Ranch us/pub

Huntercombe eng

Brora sco 

Lahinch ire 

 

 

[shadowCLV]

No one mentioned or maybe they have not played -- Shadow Creek - Las Vegas. Def my #1 

Tobacco Road 

Rio Secco in LV is great as well

 

Edited July 26, 2021 by shadowCLV

[nauticaltownship]

Looking back, probably the most fun I've had playing golf was on Bethpage Black. I just thought that the tumbling terrain, huge scale of the place, and challenge made for a really exciting round. Every hole was memorable to me. I realize this is probably a hot take since most people's idea of fun is probably something a bit easier, and maybe Bethpage would be more fun with some wider fairways, but for other reasons I had a ton of fun. 

 

Mid Pines was another really fun course and a bit less demanding off the tee. Very tricky around the greens and I had a blast trying to get creative with the short game. Also just really good vibes around there. Chill and makes you feel like you stepped back in time. 

[mci711]

Mammoth Dunes!!! 

[Dancin]

Ballyneal and it's accompanying Mulligan par 3 is the most fun golf experience in the US.

[BdubBoston]

Tobacco Road by far. I was grinning the whole time. 

[sabram]

12 hours ago, Chanceman said:

To those categories I would add:

Sand Hills us/Priv

Wickenberg Ranch us/pub

Huntercombe eng

Brora sco 

Lahinch ire 

 

 

Don't know if I'll ever get a chance to play Sand Hills.

 

My trip to the Highlands was canceeled due to the pandemic, but I'm booked for Brora next June and am expecting a lot of fun.

[BirdieRoll]

Gotta give a shout out to Gamble Sands. The fun starts early as the second hole is a drivable par 4 overlooking the Columbia River and something about those fescue fairways (or whatever grass they use there). I really liked walking on that turf.

 

Mammoth Dunes is tons of fun as well with all the pinball action around the greens.

[Wander Bread]

15 hours ago, mtg6193 said:

Echo back Tobacco Road or really any Strantz track to be honest.  Just so special.

 

Couldn't agree more. Wish he didn't pass away way too young.

[vallygolf]

Streamsong black was a fun experinece.  Not a popular take, but I have a blast playing that course.  Tobacco road would be high on that list as well, but it just seems more quirky than fun.  

Edited July 27, 2021 by vallygolf

[sabram]

23 minutes ago, vallygolf said:

Streamsong black was a fun experinece.  Not a popular take, but I have a blast playing that course.  Tobacco road would be high on that list as well, but it just seems more quirky than fun.  

To me quirk means not plain vanilla. Quirk adds to fun. 

Edited July 27, 2021 by sabram

[thezinfan]

1 hour ago, BirdieRoll said:

Gotta give a shout out to Gamble Sands. The fun starts early as the second hole is a drivable par 4 overlooking the Columbia River and something about those fescue fairways (or whatever grass they use there). I really liked walking on that turf.

 

Mammoth Dunes is tons of fun as well with all the pinball action around the greens.

This might be an East Coast vs West Coast, but having played both Tobacco Road and Gamble Sands multiple times, Gamble Sands is a tooooooooooooon of fun. Course plays easier than on paper. Huge rollout on drives, blind shots, backboards, etc... Way more fun than Tobacco Road. 

[vallygolf]

5 minutes ago, sabram said:

To me quirk means not plain vanilla. Quirk adds to fun. 

Totally agree with this, but it is also subjective.  Part of what to me made the black fun was its quirk.... but for the most part that is all in front of a player and there are so many different shots to hit that a player may not always be asked to hit.  Tobacco roads fun is full of quirky sight lines that a player is not typically presented with, many of which are blind or illusion.  Also very fun, just different.

[mci711]

56 minutes ago, vallygolf said:

Streamsong black was a fun experinece.  Not a popular take, but I have a blast playing that course.  Tobacco road would be high on that list as well, but it just seems more quirky than fun.  

 

I mentioned Mammoth Dunes earlier, but really agree with Streamsong Black as well. I'd put those 2 pretty high atop my list. 

[puttnforthe8]

Guess Tobacco rd will get a stop in Oct.

 

For me:

Kauri Cliffs, NZ is my #1; Although, I will say the NZ courses were all very fun for me.

Pinehurst #8 was pure enjoyment for me.

Enniscrone, Ire - before I had a car, I jumped on a train to go play often.

Pacific Dunes, OR - had a really good weather day and finished birdie, eagle, par, birdie.

Old Mac, OR - I have fun no matter what because of how you can play so many shots.

Cabot Cliffs - Enjoyed this course a lot.

Honorable Mention to Coeur d'Alene with an asterisk - Golftoberfest with brats and beer on holes 1 & 9; plus colors of the trees. 

Edited July 27, 2021 by puttnforthe8

[callawayjay]

The Plantation Course at Kapalua 

The Harvester in Rhoades, IA

just 2 of many 

[Argonne69]

I concur with Mammoth Dunes. Tons of room to flail away off the tee, and yet tricky greens to keep you guessing. 

 

I had a blast at Chambers Bay. Great views, and some really fun holes.

 

Wolf Creek is also up there. 

 

[postfold]

18 hours ago, mtg6193 said:

Echo back Tobacco Road or really any Strantz track to be honest.  Just so special.

 

Tobacco Road is quite fun, especially after the first time.  Going to disagree with the any Strantz just a bit, I did not find Tot Hill Farm to be fun.  

 

I'd add the Cradle at Pinehurst to the list.  Who says a course has to be long to be fun?

[mtg6193]

1 hour ago, postfold said:

 

Tobacco Road is quite fun, especially after the first time.  Going to disagree with the any Strantz just a bit, I did not find Tot Hill Farm to be fun.  

 

I'd add the Cradle at Pinehurst to the list.  Who says a course has to be long to be fun?

Took playing tot hill a few times for me to enjoy but it’s one of my favorites.  If you aren’t in control of your game out there you’re going to shoot a million that’s for sure.

[sabram]

2 hours ago, postfold said:

Going to disagree with the any Strantz just a bit, I did not find Tot Hill Farm to be fun.  

 

Who says a course has to be long to be fun?

I agree with your "any Strantz" response.

 

Tot Hill was a little to hard to be fun. So were True Blue and Royal New Kent when they first opened. However. he made some tweaks to both of them and they were turned from punishing to fun. True Blue after the tweaks became one of my favorites in Myrtle Beach region

 

I also agree with long doesn't equal fun. Playing from tees that give a player a chance to score on at least most holes is a key to having fun. Who enjoys getting beaten up by not being able to reach any holes in regulation, ( or for that matter, loads of punishing rough on narrow fairways or water in play on too many holes)? The length point is why I didn't have BP Black on my most fun list. It is brutal for me even from the regular tees. However, when I move up, it can be fun, just not in my top 10 for fun.

 

I'll have to play Mammoth Dunes and Gamble Sands some day. 

[burnsniper]

Easy: TPC Sawgrass, Rivera Country Club, Pebble Beach, and Harbour Town (or Augusta National lol).  Getting to play iconic holes that you see the pores play every year is epic.  Like getting to play baseball at Fenway or Yankee Stadium.

Edited July 28, 2021 by burnsniper

[Young Provolone]

Greywalls or Redlands Mesa