What are some seldom or never seen courses that would hold up well in regard to both challenging Tour players and holding interest when watching them played?

[PedronNiall]

Was thinking about this during the Women's match play at Shadow Creek. Don't think I've seen anything there since the first The Match with Tiger and Phil. The course was superb to the eye and a test most of the way around. Had to agree with the commentary about it being capable as a great Major venue. It also doesn't get a lot of rounds on it from my understanding so it's probably ready for competition almost any time. 

 

Given the planning that goes into events it's easy to get why once stops are established the preference is to keep going back as everyone knows the ropes. There's also the history and legacy tied to many sites giving a strong pull to return out of nostalgia and to see how modern players handle the layout. Not expecting every great course to get its due. 

 

Still, would love to know, what are some great courses most of us may have never or rarely seen played in competition that would make for a great event and for great watching? Pics welcome if you've got 'em.

[WorkItBothWays]

The tour went to Shadow Creek for the CJ Cup.

[KrazyTrain18]

An Open Championship at Royal County Down.  I know it's hosting the Irish again this year but I would think it would be a great major championship venue and wouldn't need much tweaking to set it up well.  

[mat562]

I'd like to see some of the regular venues from the good old days (from my perspective anyway) of the European tour given another shot.

 

Fulford. St Pierre. Maybe Forest of Arden or St Mellion. Sunningdale would be great, but it's sadly too short now. Barsebaeck maybe? Hilversumshe or Noordwijkse?

 

 

[gvogel]

Pebble works for me. 

 

With all that I have read about Royal Dornoch, it would be fun to see a "Shell's Wonderful World" exhibition there.  Same with Ballybunion and Lahinch.

[Ghostwedge]

The PNW is still owed another Major after screwing up the last one at Chambers Bay. Get it together USGA, Chambers Bay is a fantastic course.

[PedronNiall]

2 hours ago, Ghostwedge said:

The PNW is still owed another Major after screwing up the last one at Chambers Bay. Get it together USGA, Chambers Bay is a fantastic course.

 

What was the deal there? They overseeded but with the wrong grass type? Just remember the greens being a bumpy mess and something about them being redone after. 

[m d g]

2 hours ago, gvogel said:

Same with Ballybunion and Lahinch.

 

I've only played Ballybunion and it was magical. But the clubhouse is really awful. I don't believe there is anywhere for fans to stay (hotels, etc.). 

[TiScape]

Can you please make the title a little longer.
 

-Thnx, nobody 

 

[SurfDuffer]

Pine Valley.   

[Dutch1008]

These are probably all too short but it'd still be fun to watch. 

 

Sand Hills

Seminole

National Golf Links

Friars Head

Ballyneal

Pacific Dunes

[aenemated]

18 hours ago, PedronNiall said:

The course was superb to the eye and a test most of the way around. Had to agree with the commentary about it being capable as a great Major venue. It also doesn't get a lot of rounds on it from my understanding so it's probably ready for competition almost any time. 

 

I walked it for the final round - first time I've been there. 

 

And yeah, the conditioning was near perfection and from what I could just see ... pretty damn difficult. The greens have insane undulations and are crazy well guarded. Very fast and very firm. Only bummer was Nelly closing it out before I could see the whole course! 

[PeterJP]

There's the old SWWOG that pitted Billy Casper against Harry Bradshaw at Dublin's Portmarnock -- a course I'd like to see much more often. And just from photos and videos and write-ups, Notts-Hollinwell in England has proven to be a stern test, and I'd love to see it hosting more high-profile tournaments. 

[ingy]

Bring the Australian Open back to Huntingdale! 😅

 

[PedronNiall]

8 hours ago, TiScape said:

Can you please make the title a little longer.
 

-Thnx, nobody 

 

 

I like to be descriptive

 

[jvincent]

20 hours ago, PedronNiall said:

Still, would love to know, what are some great courses most of us may have never or rarely seen played in competition that would make for a great event and for great watching? Pics welcome if you've got 'em.

 

Chambers Bay and Erin Hills both deserve another shot. The USGA messed up the setup for both of them.

[notsohard]

10 hours ago, SurfDuffer said:

Pine Valley.   

Yes.

[geauxt]

I just want to see more of Seminole

[mosesgolf]

I've never played Bandon Dunes but plan on doing so someday.  I would love to see an event there albeit logistically it would be pretty tough.

[Christosterone]

Turnberry

 

-chris

[caniac6]

Ocean Course. 

[KrazyTrain18]

On 4/17/2024 at 9:26 AM, PedronNiall said:

 

What was the deal there? They overseeded but with the wrong grass type? Just remember the greens being a bumpy mess and something about them being redone after. 

 

Chambers Bay originally had mostly fescue greens, which was ok during the first few years until the POA started to really grow through.  In the last few years they have converted all of the greens to POA and done away with the fescue, it would be interesting to see how different they would play now.  I have only played the course in 2017 prior to the redo, however the greens weren't as stressed then as during the US Open.  

[DoubleJay]

The L.A. Country Club deserves another chance.  Maybe they can limit the crowd size to only 20,000 per day next time.  

[StoutKing]

20 hours ago, jvincent said:

 

Chambers Bay and Erin Hills both deserve another shot. The USGA messed up the setup for both of them.

Perfect for a PGA.  Better than Valhalla for sure.

[widow-maker]

If they ever do come out with a rollback ball they should find a way to play at Crystal Downs.  It's one of Alistair McKenzie's(overseen by Perry Maxwell) best golf courses and the green complexes alone would be worth the watch.  The course is a hidden gem that because it's private few golf viewers have ever seen. 

[Petethreeput]

Cypress Point was amazing.  Almost every hole had a couple of ways to play it.

I think Ballybunion was super challenging but their teaching pro I played with finished -4, after 12 he was -6 so I wonder if it would stand up.

 

Maybe the only other two places are San Francisco Club which was fantastic

 

 

and oddly enough, Rock Creek Cattle Company.  I think with a little prepping it could be a great venue.

 

 

Those are the only places I have played that I think have the chops that don’t already host.

 

Cypress and SFGC don’t want them, RCCC has 12 hotel rooms within 20 miles of the place, and not sure Ballybunion has the capacity either.

[st1800e]

On 4/17/2024 at 10:41 AM, m d g said:

 

I've only played Ballybunion and it was magical. But the clubhouse is really awful. I don't believe there is anywhere for fans to stay (hotels, etc.). 

You play golf in the clubhouse, or a hotel? 

[m d g]

1 minute ago, st1800e said:

You play golf in the clubhouse, or a hotel? 

 

It makes a difference to the golfers, the sponsors, the VIPs, etc.

 

I don't care personally, but it's still a factor. The most important is no infrastructure nearby. But I was there 20 years ago so things have probably changed...

[st1800e]

2 minutes ago, m d g said:

 

It makes a difference to the golfers, the sponsors, the VIPs, etc.

 

I don't care personally, but it's still a factor. The most important is no infrastructure nearby. But I was there 20 years ago so things have probably changed...

Yes, the “infrastructure” is always a consideration.  Actually that’s the prime consideration,  right after the quality of the course, but it only takes money.   

[StoutKing]

1 hour ago, Petethreeput said:

Cypress Point was amazing.  Almost every hole had a couple of ways to play it.

I think Ballybunion was super challenging but their teaching pro I played with finished -4, after 12 he was -6 so I wonder if it would stand up.

 

Maybe the only other two places are San Francisco Club which was fantastic

 

 

and oddly enough, Rock Creek Cattle Company.  I think with a little prepping it could be a great venue.

 

 

Those are the only places I have played that I think have the chops that don’t already host.

 

Cypress and SFGC don’t want them, RCCC has 12 hotel rooms within 20 miles of the place, and not sure Ballybunion has the capacity either.

I was reading in an old book that the USGA wanted to hold an Open at SF not long after it opened.  Like you said it will never happen now.