Whats the hardest course you have ever played?

[Is Golf Fun or Work]

The old Greenlefe West day after PGA Qual school, greens running about 14

PGA West Stadium

Blackwolf Run River

Torrey Pines South from tips

honestly didn't find Sawgrass that hard, didn't lose a ball, shot 82 first and only time around

 

[DoughBack18]

On 1/1/2023 at 1:34 AM, st1800e said:

TLDR, The Monster, Kiamesha Lake.  NY.  8000 yards , the tour played there back in the 50’s. Lots of pictures of the old tour pros in the clubhouse. 

Is that still open? I know a bunch of courses have closed up there and that one was maybe, potentially being redone…

[Wham49]

Thunderhawk in Beach PArk Ill about a half hour North of Chicago. Played the tips and it bit me pretty good. The Player course at Geneva National is pretty tough as well, think that was more operator error than the course though, but either course if your not at your best will make you not want to play anymore. The par 3's at Thunder are some of the hardest I have ever played

Edited April 6, 2023 by Wham49

[kwcsports]

Sawgrass by a mile. Brutally hard.

[st1800e]

4 hours ago, DoughBack18 said:

Is that still open? I know a bunch of courses have closed up there and that one was maybe, potentially being redone…

Apparently, but reopening.  When I played it we played it from the men’s forward tees, 6800yds, in 1995.  The Monster tees 8000yds, we’re not maintained.  
 

https://www.sullivantimes.com/post/monster-golf-course-plans-for-2023-reopening-moving-forward

[nsxguy]

4 hours ago, DoughBack18 said:

Is that still open? I know a bunch of courses have closed up there and that one was maybe, potentially being redone…

 

About the only golf course up there that's still open is Tarry Brae, not far from the old Concord Hotel. A pretty decent public track btw.

 

Kutsher's may still be around. Also a decent track.

 

The Monster closed around 2010 or so.

 

Grossinger's closed down 2017.  My NYC club used to play an outing at Grossinger's once a year. A few of us would head up as early as Friday and play Grossinger's before our official Monday outing where most of our club would be there.

 

We played Tarry Brae and/or Grossinger's again on the weekend before the Monday outing. Had my best ever round there (-1, with a triple )

 

 

29 minutes ago, st1800e said:

Apparently, but reopening.  When I played it we played it from the men’s forward tees, 6800yds, in 1995.  The Monster tees 8000yds, we’re not maintained.  
 

https://www.sullivantimes.com/post/monster-golf-course-plans-for-2023-reopening-moving-forward

 

It only took some 50+ years to get casinos in the Catskills. I'm sure the Concord will re-open shortly,,,,,,,,,

[akronswitness]

I've walked Firestone a few times for the Bridgestone Invitational and I can say if you dont hit your driver 270-300 dead straight consistently, you will shoot a 115. The course doesn't have a ton of sharp corners or dog legs, but it is by far the most long, narrow and straight course Ive ever seen. It feels like you need to hit your drives 225 just to get it TO the fairway and then the fairways feel like they are only 30 yards wide lined with tall trees on both sides of every hole.

 

Its definitely a pros course, designed by pros, for pros to play on. There is no way your average golfer can even have a remotely good time there unless you like the sound of golf balls clanking off trees for 4 hours.

Edited April 10, 2023 by akronswitness

[Chanceman]

On 4/11/2023 at 3:16 AM, akronswitness said:

I've walked Firestone a few times for the Bridgestone Invitational and I can say if you dont hit your driver 270-300 dead straight consistently, you will shoot a 115. The course doesn't have a ton of sharp corners or dog legs, but it is by far the most long, narrow and straight course Ive ever seen. It feels like you need to hit your drives 225 just to get it TO the fairway and then the fairways feel like they are only 30 yards wide lined with tall trees on both sides of every hole.

 

Its definitely a pros course, designed by pros, for pros to play on. There is no way your average golfer can even have a remotely good time there unless you like the sound of golf balls clanking off trees for 4 hours.

Is that where Tiger won about 8 times?

[Jbadger]

Wolf Creek! 

[akronswitness]

4 hours ago, Chanceman said:

Is that where Tiger won about 8 times?

 

Yep and then about 4 years ago they took it off the PGA tour and turned the event into a stop for the Senior Tour because we cant have anything nice.

[CDM]

I stand corrected... the hardest course I have played now:   

 

Royal Melbourne "Composite" Course

 

Played around 7140 yards.  An Aamazing collection of 18 holes of golf that requires 110% focus the whole round, every shot in the game and you better be able to land it tee to green in 10 yard windows or 5 yard windows.... OR be the best short game/putter in the world. LOL   

 

Simply amazing test of golf but if your just a bit off it bites you......!  

[Chanceman]

12 hours ago, CDM said:

I stand corrected... the hardest course I have played now:   

 

Royal Melbourne "Composite" Course

 

Played around 7140 yards.  An Aamazing collection of 18 holes of golf that requires 110% focus the whole round, every shot in the game and you better be able to land it tee to green in 10 yard windows or 5 yard windows.... OR be the best short game/putter in the world. LOL   

 

Simply amazing test of golf but if your just a bit off it bites you......!  

The RM Composite comprises the best holes of the West and East courses so no wonder its good. Very fortunate to get to play it every year or so. Like a lot of Mackenzie courses it is hard par/ easy bogey so you can score quite well there as a mid capper. But yeah it is a very impressive track. 

[sabram]

On 4/6/2023 at 7:30 PM, nsxguy said:

 

About the only golf course up there that's still open is Tarry Brae, not far from the old Concord Hotel. A pretty decent public track btw.

 

Kutsher's may still be around. Also a decent track.

 

The Monster closed around 2010 or so.

 

Grossinger's closed down 2017.  My NYC club used to play an outing at Grossinger's once a year. A few of us would head up as early as Friday and play Grossinger's before our official Monday outing where most of our club would be there.

 

We played Tarry Brae and/or Grossinger's again on the weekend before the Monday outing. Had my best ever round there (-1, with a triple )

 

 

 

It only took some 50+ years to get casinos in the Catskills. I'm sure the Concord will re-open shortly,,,,,,,,,

 The Article and the use of the name "Monster" is very misleading. When the Concord closed, they razed all of the buildings and built two hotels on parts of the two old golf courses. The Resorts World Casino Hotel is built on part of what used to be the Monster course and the Kartrite Hotel and water park was built on part of what used to be the International course. About 5 years ago Resorts World hired Rees Jones to build a new 18 hole course. 9 holes are on land that used to be part of the Monster and 9 holes are on land that used to be part of the International. The course was completed , grassed and ready for play more than two years ago. However it never opened and I could never get any information form anyone at Resorts World or the Kartrite about when it would be open for play. Two summers ago I visited the place and walked the course. Other than there were no holes cut on the greens and no signage identifying the holes by number, the course was ready for play with perhaps just a day of mowing the fairways, rough and green to correct heights. The course doesn't look at all like the old Monster and if you didn't know where you were, I don't think you would  guess that 9 holes were on former Monster land. Having said that, The course looked pretty good and I'll look forward to playing it if it ever opens. Hopefully it will actually open in 2023.  Click of the photo below to see photos of the new course.

 

 

PS Kutshers is closed. Swan Lake was still open as of last year and I think it will be open again this year

Edited April 14, 2023 by sabram
to add PS

[nsxguy]

43 minutes ago, sabram said:

 The Article and the use of the name "Monster" is very misleading. When the Concord closed, they razed all of the buildings and built two hotels on parts of the two old golf courses. The Resorts World Casino Hotel is built on part of what used to be the Monster course and the Kartrite Hotel and water park was built on part of what used to be the International course. About 5 years ago Resorts World hired Rees Jones to build a new 18 hole course. 9 holes are on land that used to be part of the Monster and 9 holes are on land that used to be part of the International. The course was completed , grassed and ready for play more than two years ago. However it never opened and I could never get any information form anyone at Resorts World or the Kartrite about when it would be open for play. Two summers ago I visited the place and walked the course. Other than there were no holes cut on the greens and no signage identifying the holes by number, the course was ready for play with perhaps just a day of mowing the fairways, rough and green to correct heights. The course doesn't look at all like the old Monster and if you didn't know where you were, I don't think you would  guess that 9 holes were on former Monster land. Having said that, The course looked pretty good and I'll look forward to playing it if it ever opens. Hopefully it will actually open in 2023.  Click of the photo below to see photos of the new course.

 

 

PS Kutshers is closed. Swan Lake was still open as of last year and I think it will be open again this year

 

Very interesting. Haven't been up there since 2013.

 

Not surprised at all the Monster is unrecognizable. Ah well, things change.

 

Thanks for the update. 👍

[PixlPutterman]

Do goat tracks count for difficulty....? 

[bcjim]

Bethpage Black or The Judge.

[tad950]

Ko’Olau, now closed. 
 

Whistling Straits

Formby Golf Club (74.0 R, 110 S) Played it on a brutally windy day. The most difficult round of the trip, which included a couple Open rota courses.

 

[sheepdawg]

Back in 1995, the week before I got married, some friends and I went to Pinehurst to see how much money we could spend in 5 days. The 3rd day there was #2. I was still a bomber back then so we agreed, play it from the tips. I never hit so many mid irons in my life, I had to make a magnificent birdie on 18 to shoot 84. My caddie told me good round, I wasn't happy.

[rooski]

I was recently humbled during a trip to Myrtle Beach. The Dunes Golf and Beach Club from the tips now ranks pretty comfortably as the hardest course I've found myself on (barring 50+ mph Bandon wind).

 

It's certainly not quite as hard as some of the others on this list, but for me it was the very first time I had played on Bermuda grass, coupled with some wild green complexes I think I got up and down maybe once. Brutal

[eddiebigeddie]

I may or may not have posted this…but Oldestone C.C. In Bowling Green, Ky. for me is the Hardest and also Nicest course I’ve played.  It’s been 6+ years ago since I played it, but literally every blade of grass was perfectly manicured, beautiful scenery and didn’t feel like I was in a City I’ve known for 30+ years. 
 

Now why it was so hard, we didn’t play the tips and still had a lot of tee shots that required 200+ yd carrie’s to reach fairways to mostly narrow fairways. Miss the fairway by literally a foot and you were in ankle deep rough that swallowed your ball. Miss it another 5-10 ft and you are in heather grass up to your waist. Once your able to get a shot on to a green they were firm and FAST.  Literally the fastest greens I’ve ever played on, like literally rolled a 13.  We could have been putting in the parking lot and probably been slower. 

[jci13]

My top 3 are

- Chicago Golf Club from tips on 20-30mph windy day

- Olympia Fields US Open layout 1 month after it was played

- Crooked Stick 10 days before the US Senior Open from the tips

 

[TheBiles]

Spyglass without a doubt. It absolutely savaged me.  Honorable mention to The Dye Stadium Course at PGA West. I went in expecting to shoot a little worse than normal, but the uneven lies and deep Bermuda rough really got to me. 

[Baitkiller]

Pete Dye course on Boca Grande. Wind was up and greens must have been at 15. Celebrated 2 puts.

[bazzle18]

Tralee in 45 MPH winds while jet lagged and hungover was easily the most challenging day to score I've ever played.

[bazzle18]

Conditions aside, a couple from the RTJ Trail in Alabama stand out:  The Judge, Ross Bridge, and the courses in Opelika.

 

Cog Hill Dubsdread was an absolute slug.  Pinehurst 3 for being the toughest wedge and strategy test.

[Golferpaul]

On 9/23/2023 at 11:37 AM, tad950 said:

Ko’Olau, now closed. 
 

Whistling Straits

Formby Golf Club (74.0 R, 110 S) Played it on a brutally windy day. The most difficult round of the trip, which included a couple Open rota courses.

 

I played Ko Olau about 20 years ago.  The slope was 162.

 

[PrincipalsNose]

[j.b.newton]

On 9/22/2023 at 10:11 PM, bcjim said:

Bethpage Black or The Judge.

Ive never seen those put in the same conversation.  Im not a fan of the judge for several reasons, but never have seen it in the same conversation as a US Open venue

[nsxguy]

11 hours ago, PrincipalsNose said:

 

Did you get rained out that day ? First tee patio looks wet.

 

And 4th tee par 5. Even if you can get home in 2 you're hitting a longer club into a shallow green tilting away from you.

[jibbs1082]

PV the 1st time

Bethpage Black - July, 105 heat index