Whats your favorite place to play? public or private?

Grand National: Robert Trent Jones Trail, Opelika
, Al. Two 18 hole beauties, and a par 3 course they call the short course (they are not short par 3s). First class facilities and very reasonable rates even on weekends. Public

RTJ Trail: Grand National

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Spyglass Hill. It's like three courses in one. Holes off the ocean then go up into the forest, then holes with picturesque lakes. Even better with a good smoke.

Life is good!

Spyglass is a spectacular experience. As is Pebble Beach. Much grander than that I have not played. I hear Bandon Dunes is breathtaking. There are many, many on the east coast, grand old courses. I've walked among the fairways of the Olympic Club, and that is an amazing, almost mystical place. The SF Club is supposed to be even more breathtaking than that. I was able to go to The Masters a few years ago, and that place is deserving of all its accolade. There are so many...Merion, Shinnecock, Winged Foot, Pine Valley, Pinehurst, Blackwolf, and on and on...

Well since I've started the thread I guess I should go, I have not played at Winged foot, but I did caddy there for a few events when I was in High school. I know they beefed it up for the open this year, but it was nearly impossible when i was there, for a regular fund raiser. One of the better public courses in the NYC area is Sterling Farms in Stamford CT. A lil difficult to get a time, but once you get out there you will know why. It's manicured like a private course, greens are almost always perfect, and its just really a sight to see. I guess I'm partial cause I suck a 90 yard PW for an eagle there. And If anybody can get up to Fishkill before September, Branton Woods is a great, but very difficult course. Right now it is semi-private, but it will go fully private Sept. 1st.

My favorite is probably Bethpage Black. I have never played anyplace which lived up to its expectations like the Black course. I haven't been out west to play any of the Bandon or Pebble properties.

I am hoping to get to SD this fall to play the 2 courses @ Torrey Pines.

The White course @ The Greenbriar is really nice, especially walking it with my dad while the caddies chugged along behind us. We had the whole course to ourselves. The Blue course @ Congressional has a very old and classic feel to it. Its a special place, but it didn't strike me as massive in the way Bethpage Black did.

I played Bay Hill in the foursome behind Palmer 3 years ago. Other than catching Arnie and his grandson at the turn, it was a very overrated experience.

Probably Somerset C. C. near St. Paul, MN. Gorgeous course, and it is a private club with a very small membership (someone told me there are only 75 members) so it does not get much play.

The course at the Cliffs at Keowee Vineyards in SC is also amazing. Outstanding course, especially for one that has not been around for very long. It was designed with the idea that you cannot see any other hole than the one you are playing -- this was also employed at Pine Valley in NJ.

Poipu Bay on Kauai is nice, as is The Prince on the northern part of the island. The latter is absolutely the most frustrating course I have ever played. Desert Forest G. C. in Carefree, AZ is good if you like "target golf."

I could go on and on. But the first two I mentioned are probably my favorites. Now, does anyone know how to keep me from blocking the ball? He he.

Teeth of the Dog in Casa de Campo, Dominican Republic, is a breathtaking course. Many of the holes are set right on the ocean. Tough little test. One par-3 in particular stands out--both the tee box and the green jut out into the water, so it's all carry to the green. Not a bail-out area in sight.
From our new golf section, a CA story on Teeth of the Dog: http://www.cigaraficionado.com/Cigar/CA_Features/CA_Gol...il/0,4475,10,00.html

I had the pleasure this summer of playing Ekwonak in Manchester, Vermont, a private club founded by Robert Todd Lincoln in 1899. If you like the wooded scenery of the northeast, this can't be beat--plenty of mature white birch trees in groves around many of the fairways, stunning mountain views, and simply a lovely course.

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Soo many favorites!!

Merion East is a treat with those crazy wicker baskets in place of flags.

I loved the beauty of Torrey Pines, but they had recently punched the greens whe i was there this past June (too bad), I have also had great rounds at Hawk's Head Links in South Haven Michigan -- breathtaking Hills design just off lake ...think secret cousin across the lake from Kohler Wisc.

My annual guys trip -- a Ryder Cup style team event -- has been on Hilton Head Isle lately and shot my low round at the Palmetto Dunes RTJ course...an 84.

I just moved from Dallas back to NJ and can say it was ectasy having access to great courses 11 mos. out of the year and never having the metro NY etiquette problems or tee time issues and only once in four years did a Saturday am round take more that 4:40!! Miss dearly playing Gentle Creek, Cowboy's Club, Royal Oaks, Stonebriar, Prestonwood CC and Texas Star. And don't forget weekends at Barton Creek (Austin) or La Cantera (San Antonio). Maybe I miss the great burritos and beer post round in Texas as much as the golf.

Where in NJ mr Fingers, I know a couple really nice courses that aren't that bad with tee times, if you are willing to drive 30 or so miles

PSSST! Can you guys get on Pine Valley??? I'll bring the cigars....good ones!

My favorite course would have to be Pine Hills in Jensen Beach, FL. It's a small excutive course; public but it reallys makes you use your irons. Eighteen holes, one par four, and the rest are par threes. The challenge is that the fairways are narrow and if you aren't in the fairway you are either in a small line of trees or in the fairway of another hole.

Learned to smoke cigars on the course too.

quote:

Originally posted by ryj7x47:
PSSST! Can you guys get on Pine Valley??? I'll bring the cigars....good ones!

A funny story.

Playing at the local dog (Blue course @ East Potomac Park) track last summer, my bud and I get paired up with this older fellow and his son. It turns out the father in addition to being a member at Pine Valley, was an Olympic gold medalist @ the Helsinki games, part of the NYC 2012 Olympic Bid team and was the athletic director at Cornell for a while.

I wasn't able to ingratiate myself sufficiently to get an invite, but playing with this guy was a pleasure. I have never met a nicer guy. When I went home and Googled, it turns out he was Charlie Moore.

Yachties -- We are in Lawrenceville (next town south of Princeton)...eager to hear your recos!

Played Rancocas last week and eventually will get my Mercer Cty. card to get times at Mercer Oaks.

Fingers, if you are willing to take the drive, Black Bear is a great public course. It was in great shape last time I played there. Probablly a bit of a drive for you, its in Newton NJ, and if you were willing to go a bit further Walkill up route 17 is a great course, as well as the Architect. Bear will run you about 50 during the week 80 on the weekends, the others are about 80-100.

Yachties,

Before the 4 years in Dallas we were in South Orange...played Black Bear, Wild Turkey, and Ballybunion a few times... that cluster up there is great. One of my best friends and weekend rival is in Philly, so I tend to drive south to meet him 1/2 way.

Architects is on my way to the in-laws and I have been there...I'm always a little mixed on the replica courses...wish they'd done somehting original, but it is (if memory serves) well groomed.

"...it turns out he was Charlie Moore."


Wasn't he on "Hee-Haw"?

Never know WHO you're going to be hooked up with, eh?

Favorite private courses I've played are National Golf Links, Somerset Hills, and Piping Rock. All classic old style courses that I've managed to get business invites to.

Favorite public courses are Pebble Peach, Pinehurst #2, and Leatherstocking in Cooperstown. To play, all you need is the dollars and a dream...

quote:

Originally posted by Mr. Fingers:
Yachties,

Before the 4 years in Dallas we were in South Orange...played Black Bear, Wild Turkey, and Ballybunion a few times... that cluster up there is great. One of my best friends and weekend rival is in Philly, so I tend to drive south to meet him 1/2 way.

Architects is on my way to the in-laws and I have been there...I'm always a little mixed on the replica courses...wish they'd done somehting original, but it is (if memory serves) well groomed.

Architects is a good layout...not axactly all copycat holes...greens get a bit chewed up from the play...I would put them on my favorites list if people repaired their ball marks more often.

Yeah, that is a shame! Since I haven't been there in several years I am surprised to hear that.

Ball-mark-pocked greens and ringing cell phones are two etiquette issues that really fry my egg.