Must Plays
This article might get dated pretty darn quickly as I play more and more golf courses. Therefore, I will make
note that the date is August 8, 2009. Nevertheless, during those night time hours when I can not be on the golf
course I have been analyzing golf, golf courses, and golf course architecture.
One of the recurring themes in my analysis has been what courses I want to play next and what courses I
absolutely must play during my golfing career. To date, I have had the great pleasure of playing many
wonderful golf courses including, Kiawah Ocean, Inverness, East Lake, Cascata, and Cuscowilla to name a
few. However, there are many, many more that I must play.
Throughout the following paragraphs, I will detail the courses I have to play. Some of these courses will be
public or resort courses, while others will be private courses. Concerning the private courses…although I am a
member of a private country club, I am looking to join a national club to diversify my golfing experience. During
the process of finding my home away from home, I will have the opportunity to play a few quality gems.
However, some of my “must play” courses will be private courses of which I will have very little chance to ever
play. Nevertheless, I can always dream!
The public/resort courses that are must plays for me are:
Pinehurst #2…This is the great Donald Ross’ lifetime work. It is his baby that he tinkered with throughout the
bulk of his life. It is known for its shell-backed greens, deep rough, and lack of ball-losing hazards (thick woods
and water). It is a “Unanimous Gem” among the golf rating gurus and I am set to play it after the rehab relative
to my next hip replacement surgery. For good measure, I will be playing the Ross designed Pine Needles, the
Fazio #4 and #8 courses at Pinehurst, and the Mike Strantz monster of Tobacco Road during this golf trip. This
should be a wonderful golfing vacation!!! Played 05/01/2010
Shadow Creek…This just might be the 8th Wonder of the World. Tom Fazio and Steve Wynn took a barren
track of dessert waste land and built a lush, green, and fertile oasis of golfing nirvana. I have seen pictures
and any attempt to envision a barren dessert on this golf course is impossible. It is also rated a “Unanimous
Gem” by the golfing experts and I am planning to tee it up at this course during my annual March Madness trip
to Vegas in 2010. Played 3/17/2010
Sea Island (Seaside)…This is part of the Sea Island resort on the Atlantic Coast of Georgia. Although the
course is not a “Unanimous Gem”, it is highly regarded by the golfing community. The allure of the course to
me is that it is one of the few HS Colt and Charles Allison designs that I can play. Mr. Colt just might be the
most influential golf course designer in the history of the game. If I aspire to be a well rounded golfer, it is
imperative that I play a Colt course. Sea Island…here I come! In addition to this “must play” course, Sea Island
has many other top notch courses. The Plantation course, a Walter Travis design, is also on my list of
“Courses I want to Play”. Played 12/12/2009
Pebble Beach…If I have to explain this one, you are not a golfer and, therefore, you shouldn’t be reading the
articles on my website. Why do I want to play The Pebble Beach Golf Links? A great friend of mine says,
“Pebble is Pebble”. I think that sums it up quite succinctly. It is my understanding that nothing else compares
to it and I can’t wait to play it someday!
St. Andrews Old Course…The home of golf. I can not tell you how badly I want to play The Old Course.
However, I want to do it right. As I write this, I am an 11.9 handicap. I want to be well into single digits before I
approach the first tee at the Old Course. Also, I’ve only been playing this wonderful game for 2 years. During
this time I have studied a great deal concerning the history of the game, but I want more information concerning
the history of the game to be embedded in my head before I take my chances on the famous Road Hole. Long
story short, I want to play this course and at the same time be fully able to appreciate it. Played 5/10/2011
World Woods (Pine Barrens)…This Florida course has made my Controversial Courses List. It is a Tom
Fazio course that is highly regarded by Golfweek, recognized by Golf Magazine, but completely ignored by Golf
Digest. Interestingly enough, Golf Digest seems to be the one rating agency that appears to love Tom Fazio
courses. So, what gives? Simply put, I must play it to find out. Played 11/13/2009
Pasatiempo…An Alister Mackenzie course open to the public? I’m there! Mr. Mackenzie is considered by me
to be the greatest golf course architect of all-time and most of his courses are overseas or ultra-exclusive
private clubs (Augusta National, Cypress Point). However, Pasatiempo is a very highly regarded course in
California that affords the avid golfer the chance to experience Alister Mackenzie’s genius without traveling
overseas or being invited to join an upper echelon golf club.
Old Head…This Irish course has got me. It is ranked highly by many golf course rating agencies, but it isn’t a
“Unanimous Gem”. However, it has caught my eye. Its setting appears to be fantastic. I’ve heard the actual
golf course is OK, not overly great, just OK. But the setting appears to be mind blowing and I would have been
there yesterday if it was located anywhere near where I live.
Lawsonia…This is a very affordable links course in Wisconsin. It is full of history and legends. Originally
designed by William Langford and Theodore Moreau, it was renovated by Ron Forse in 2000. Langford and
Moreau have been said to be some of the finest and least known golf architects of all-time. I have a suspicion
that Lawsonia just might be an unheralded gem!
Oitavos… This course was recently ranked as one of the 50 greatest courses built in the last 50 years by Golf
Magazine. It is located in Portugal and was designed by Drew Rogers of Arthur Hills. The website Virtual
Portugal states the following; “The layout has been carefully crafted by one of the greatest golf architects of our
times.” Furthermore, CBS states that “Oitavos offers a links-style challenge, tough enough to test even the
scratch golfer to the extreme and from the forward tees, still a stern examination for the mid to high
handicapper. If you are looking for holiday golf, Oitavos may not be for you – despite being one of Portugal’s
most handsome layouts, this is serious golf with a sense of sobriety reminding us all that although golf may be a
game, it’s a game of skill and at this level, perhaps not the place for beginners.” DUDE!!!! Seems like it might
be a hidden gem to me!!!!!
The next few courses may not be on anyone else’s “must play” list, but they are firmly planted on mine. You
see they may not be the most highly maintained, posh, or immaculate courses that seem to litter the Top 100
lists. However they just might be the most historic courses in the world, this side of St. Andrews Old Course.
Downers Grove…The famous Chicago Golf Club, which is one of the original USGA member clubs, was
initially located at Downers Grove. CB MacDonald built this course in 1892. However, in 1895 the Chicago Golf
Club changed location. Nevertheless, that doesn’t change the fact that the original Chicago Golf Club was
located at Downers Grove and the course, which is located there today, was designed by CB MacDonald. You
can play this historic course for $17.75.
Musselburgh Old Links… This is the oldest playing course in the world. Mary Queen of Scots hit the little
white ball around this course as early as 1567. This Scottish course was the original home for the Honorable
Company of Edinburgh Golfers. It hosted the Open Championship 6 times from the 1870 through the 1880’s.
But when the HCofEG’s moved to Muirfield, so did Musselburgh’s shot at the Open. Played 5/7/2011
Oakhurst…Oakhurst Links of West Virginia is America’s first golf course. It was originally built in 1884, but it
was disbanded in 1910 as many of the members of the club moved away. However, it was restored for play in
1994. It currently is the home of the Hickory Golf National Championship.
Foxburg…The Foxburg Country Club in Pennsylvania is the oldest continuously operated golf club in the
United States. The course itself was built in 1887. So, it has been entertaining golfers for 122 years!!! I can’t
wait to become one of those golfers who have been entertained by this course.
The next group of courses are the private courses that I consider “must plays”.
Augusta National Golf Club…Augusta National is arguably the greatest golf course in the world. It is the
home of The Masters and I consider it the greatest venue for a major championship. Given that I live in
Georgia and Augusta National is in Georgia, it ranks #1 on my list of must plays. However I am a realist and
given the demographics concerning the membership of August National, it is highly unlikely that I will ever tee it
up at this historic course. Nevertheless, aside from the St. Andrews Old Course playing Augusta National would
be the biggest thrill I can imagine in the context of playing a golf course.
The Golf Club…This course is an extraordinarily private golf club located in central Ohio. It doesn’t host any
high profile golf tournaments and it has a very small membership. Given all these basic facts, it appears to be
very unlikely I will ever enjoy the honor to set foot on this golf course…but I certainly would like to. It is one of
the very first Pete Dye courses and is very highly acclaimed for its mold breaking, revolutionary architectural
achievements. I sum up the design methodology by saying it was minimalist before minimalist was cool. In fact,
it was designed in the late 60’s when Robert Trent Jones was spearheading a golf course movement centered
on heavy earthmoving equipment and awe inspiring man made structures on golf courses. The Golf Club is the
antithesis of this mindset. Frankly, this is a course I would love to tour and play in my search for my home away
from home or national membership course. Will it happen? I can’t say. In fact, I can only say I wish it would.
Played 7/1/2010
National Golf Links of America…When CB MacDonald built “The National” he may have, in fact, built the
perfect golf course. He toured the world and took extensive notes concerning the most interesting and
intriguing holes he played. Then he put all those notes and ideas together when he built this course. The
course itself is a “Unanimous Gem” and Mr. MacDonald is one of the greatest golf course architects of all-time.
The building of the National Golf Links of America was a watershed moment in golf course architecture in
America. Not only did it directly create a phenomenal golf course, but it led to the discovery of Seth Raynor
and it influenced other designers to build better golf courses. Playing this course would not only be enjoyable
from a purely entertainment focus, but it would also be a fantastic experience given all the history embedded in
the course and the club. Played 5/18/2010
Pine Valley…According to my aggregation of the “Big 3”’s ratings, Pine Valley is the best golf course in the
United States. And, in fact, many consider it to be the best course in the entire world. George Crump is the
golf course architect who put this New Jersey course together in 1918. I have heard many accolades
concerning Pine Valley, perhaps the most flattering is that there are no weak holes on the course. Given that it
is considered the best golf course in the world that has no weak holes, it has made my “must play” list.
Yale…This is one of the few private courses on my “must play” list that I will play for sure. A friend of mine is a
Yale graduate and I am making plans to play the course after the rehab following my next surgery. Given that I
am a big Seth Raynor fan and Yale is considered his monumental work, the course is certainly one that I want
to play. However when you add in the fact it has made my “Controversial Course” list and it is considered one
of the most difficult courses in the world by Golf Digest, then it becomes a “must play”.
Sand Hills…I have had the great pleasure to play the Coore and Crenshaw designed Cuscowilla course and it
ranks as one of my favorite courses. The more I research the dynamic duo of Coore and Crenshaw, the more I
am impressed. Sand Hills is considered their best work and it is considered by many to be the best course built
in the United States since the 1930’s. Its aggregate ranking on my “Unanimous Gems” list is 8. A “must play”?
I think so! Played 8/17/2010
Glen Arven Country Club…Founded in 1892, Glen Arven is Georgia’s oldest golf course. Given my
penchant for golf history, I must play it. It was designed by John Van Kleek and Wayne Stiles. These
gentlemen are considered to be some of the most unheralded golf course designers of all-time, despite their
magnificent work. Adding it all up, Glen Arven is a historic golf course that just might be a hidden gem.
Carthage…I read about this course on the Golf Course Atlas website. The article was written in 1999 about a
course that will open in 2009 called Carthage. I don’t even know if it is open for play yet or not. If anyone
knows, please reach out to me. However, the course is described as not having par, having only one set of
tees, the course will be extremely natural, and during construction very little earth will be moved. Furthermore,
there will be very few trees, the fairways will be broad, the greens will be widely varying in size, and the course
conditions will be scruffy. Rounds will be complete in 3 hours and children and dogs will be encouraged to
accompany golfers. Wow!!! This course sound unique and interesting! I wanna play! Someone let me know if
it exists. It doesn't exist yet. Maybe someday!
Well, there is my list. Of course, there are many, many courses I want to play. They are listed on this website.
But these are the courses I feel that I absolutely MUST PLAY. Frankly, I can’t wait to start the process!