Played Pebble Beach back in 2000 as a walk-on. Heading back there on 10/6 and bringing my son and daughter along, and staying at the lodge so they can get the full experience. Am sure many memories will be made.
For combinations of beauty, visual uniqueness, and just amusement park fun (especially the green complexes) while ignoring whether they're great designs per the golf architecture textbook, here's a few braindroppings: Publics: Links at Spanish Bay (Pebble Beach), Castle Course at St Andrews, Southern Pines CC (NC) after restoration to return to Ross's original sandy scrub design, Tobacco Road in Sanford, NC, and AK-Chin Southern Dunes near Phoenix Private: Kingsley Club near Traverse City, MI and Harrison Lake CC in Columbus, IN (recent complete course redesign with really unexpected elevation changes, and incredible bunkering) I agree with Pebble Beach as your #1...just stunning. It's one of the courses that you know from TV and go to with immense expectations, and it exceeds them at every turn. But, the ones listed above, I played with no prior knowledge, and walked off thinking "Holy smokes, was that fun!!!"
Dreamed of playing Pebble Beach all my life & thought it would never happen as I live in Australia … Then with my sister living in California it became a reality & way surpassed my expectations … Walking down No. 1 & turning the corner towards the green still gives me a smile when I remember how fantastic it all looked opening up in front of us … Shot one of my highest scores ever but loved ever second.
Never played pebble my daughter had a magical week representing the first tee of Hawaii in the champions tour event. Pebble imo and Augusta National, as well St Andrew’s are almost in their own category at this point. More like pilgrimages. Augusta in person amazed me because sometimes the tv coverage felt like they hid the mess behind the cameras. But no everything is perfect no matter where u look. I did somehow find myself checking out the two iconic par 3s in person at cypress and it’s honestly haw dropping. That course has so much variety before those two par 3s and after it has those final 2 holes that are incredible as well. Cypress point is extraordinary. Everything at pebble is special. U feel like a million bucks at pebble. I’ll leave it at that.
I totally agree … PEBBLE BEACH is my favorite course in the world. I played it once, early 2000’s, and I still remember every shot, every hole. I’ve played St Andrews, TPC Sawgrass, Kohler, so many in the US, Ireland, the Caribbean, Australia, Hawaii and still, Pebble tops my list too 👍🏻 p.s. I must live under a rock, because I thought I played a lot of courses (like 20 off Golf Digest’ Top 100), but I’ve only played these on your list: Pebble, Sawgrass, the Old Course, Blackwolf Run, Pasatiempo, Estancia and the Mid Ocean club in Bermuda.
Would love to play all those be cool . Played North Berwick few times agree loads of character and quirky …..a classic . Sunningdale (Old course) a lovely setting and course in UK . Cheers 🍻
I have not had the good fortune to play Cypress Point. It is currently number one on my bucket list to play. I'm surprised there was no mention of Cape Kidnappers. That looks like it would be high on the fun meter
Like everyone else you gloss over the bigger question ….how do you get on the private courses? When you’re up in Rochester swing by for a round? Oh yeah …..I’m sure they’ll just fling open the doors.
Great question, I addressed this in my “honorable mentions” video earlier this week. Around the 2:30 mark: ua-cam.com/video/WaE23bhKzew/v-deo.html Also this post: breakingeighty.com/how-to-play-private-golf-clubs
Great video! I wish I could bring the energy that you do to your videos! I personally like Kingsbarns more than Castle Stuart, but that is kind of the point of list. The video below are my annual rankings of the courses I played int he prior year. ua-cam.com/video/CQb2XSDbiMY/v-deo.html My all-time favorites: 10) Royal Aberdeen- Aberdeen, Scotland 9) Incline Village Championship- Lake Tahoe, NV 8) Castle Stuart- Inverness, Scotland 7) Hamburger Falkenstein- Hamburg Germany 6) Cruden Bay- Aberdeen, Scotland 5) Champions- Houston, TX 4) Barton Creek Fazio- Austin, TX 3) Southshore Las Vegas, NV 2) Edgewood- Lake Tahoe, NV 1) Kingsbarns- St Andrews, Scotland If you are ever in the Reno/Lake Tahoe are let's play some golf! Cheers Trey
Played Pebble Beach back in 2000 as a walk-on. Heading back there on 10/6 and bringing my son and daughter along, and staying at the lodge so they can get the full experience. Am sure many memories will be made.
1. St. Andrews, 2. Augusta National, 3. Cypress Point, 4. Pebble Beach 5. Cape Kidnappers 6. TPC Sawgrass 7. Oakmont Country Club, 8. The Ocean Course Kiawah 9. Pacific Dunes 10. Plantation Course Maui
Now that's a solid list!
For combinations of beauty, visual uniqueness, and just amusement park fun (especially the green complexes) while ignoring whether they're great designs per the golf architecture textbook, here's a few braindroppings:
Publics: Links at Spanish Bay (Pebble Beach), Castle Course at St Andrews, Southern Pines CC (NC) after restoration to return to Ross's original sandy scrub design, Tobacco Road in Sanford, NC, and AK-Chin Southern Dunes near Phoenix
Private: Kingsley Club near Traverse City, MI and Harrison Lake CC in Columbus, IN (recent complete course redesign with really unexpected elevation changes, and incredible bunkering)
I agree with Pebble Beach as your #1...just stunning. It's one of the courses that you know from TV and go to with immense expectations, and it exceeds them at every turn. But, the ones listed above, I played with no prior knowledge, and walked off thinking "Holy smokes, was that fun!!!"
Dreamed of playing Pebble Beach all my life & thought it would never happen as I live in Australia … Then with my sister living in California it became a reality & way surpassed my expectations … Walking down No. 1 & turning the corner towards the green still gives me a smile when I remember how fantastic it all looked opening up in front of us … Shot one of my highest scores ever but loved ever second.
SO cool to hear this, thanks for sharing your experience! I'm the opposite, been a bucket list trip for me to go to Australia - leave in 2 weeks!
@@breakingeighty Wow ok … Hope you get to play some of our gr8 courses as well as see some of our country.
Never played pebble my daughter had a magical week representing the first tee of Hawaii in the champions tour event.
Pebble imo and Augusta National, as well St Andrew’s are almost in their own category at this point. More like pilgrimages. Augusta in person amazed me because sometimes the tv coverage felt like they hid the mess behind the cameras. But no everything is perfect no matter where u look.
I did somehow find myself checking out the two iconic par 3s in person at cypress and it’s honestly haw dropping. That course has so much variety before those two par 3s and after it has those final 2 holes that are incredible as well. Cypress point is extraordinary. Everything at pebble is special. U feel like a million bucks at pebble.
I’ll leave it at that.
I've got a tee time at Royal Dornoch in May this year. Couldn't be more excited!
Ooooh you've got a lot to look forward to!
I totally agree
… PEBBLE BEACH is my favorite course in the world. I played it once, early 2000’s, and I still remember every shot, every hole.
I’ve played St Andrews, TPC Sawgrass, Kohler, so many in the US, Ireland, the Caribbean, Australia, Hawaii and still, Pebble tops my list too 👍🏻
p.s. I must live under a rock, because I thought I played a lot of courses (like 20 off Golf Digest’ Top 100), but I’ve only played these on your list: Pebble, Sawgrass, the Old Course, Blackwolf Run, Pasatiempo, Estancia and the Mid Ocean club in Bermuda.
100% agree with doesn't matter how it is designed, it's about how fun the course is.
Pebble is iconic, great course. I had a much better time at Spanish Bay however. Def down to go play Cypress sometime!
haha just name the time and place for Cypress - I'm there!
your videos are always great your blessed to have played all these great courses keep the videos coming
I absolutely am. Appreciate the kind words!
Great list!! I’ve played several of these. Agree with Pebble and Merion
Right?? SO good.
Loved the inclusion of Bandon Trails. That stretch from 10-13 is golf nirvana as far as I'm concerned.
Couldn't agree more! Playing it on Saturday again.
@@breakingeighty Enjoy! I'll be back end of next month for the first time in 3 years
Would love to play all those be cool . Played North Berwick few times agree loads of character and quirky …..a classic . Sunningdale (Old course) a lovely setting and course in UK . Cheers 🍻
I still haven't made it to Sunningdale, or any UK courses outside of Scotland for that matter. Hopefully soon!
Wow, no Kiawah Island, Wolf Creek, Carnousti, or St. Andrews? If you haven’t played those, you should. Pebble is special.
Wait till you play Mauna Lani, Shadow Creek, and Bahia Beach in PR. Those R my top 3 n are simply goated
Sean, I need to know where you are slotting in New South Wales and Royal Melbourne? They will be tough to leave out of your Top 10, I bet!
I have not had the good fortune to play Cypress Point. It is currently number one on my bucket list to play.
I'm surprised there was no mention of Cape Kidnappers. That looks like it would be high on the fun meter
I only included courses I've played here. I have a feeling if Id played Kidnappers, it'd be on the list!
Like everyone else you gloss over the bigger question ….how do you get on the private courses? When you’re up in Rochester swing by for a round? Oh yeah …..I’m sure they’ll just fling open the doors.
Great question, I addressed this in my “honorable mentions” video earlier this week. Around the 2:30 mark: ua-cam.com/video/WaE23bhKzew/v-deo.html
Also this post: breakingeighty.com/how-to-play-private-golf-clubs
sagebrush in Merritt bc, if chambers, gamble sands, and Tobiano had a baby
Great video! I wish I could bring the energy that you do to your videos! I personally like Kingsbarns more than Castle Stuart, but that is kind of the point of list. The video below are my annual rankings of the courses I played int he prior year.
ua-cam.com/video/CQb2XSDbiMY/v-deo.html
My all-time favorites:
10) Royal Aberdeen- Aberdeen, Scotland
9) Incline Village Championship- Lake Tahoe, NV
8) Castle Stuart- Inverness, Scotland
7) Hamburger Falkenstein- Hamburg Germany
6) Cruden Bay- Aberdeen, Scotland
5) Champions- Houston, TX
4) Barton Creek Fazio- Austin, TX
3) Southshore Las Vegas, NV
2) Edgewood- Lake Tahoe, NV
1) Kingsbarns- St Andrews, Scotland
If you are ever in the Reno/Lake Tahoe are let's play some golf!
Cheers
Trey
Do you ever play up in Canada?
Actually hosting an event up in Alberta this July!