Course Thread

[HDPM]

I have to go there next month. Anywhere that anybody strongly recommends? I have played the Stadium Course at PGA West and one other course at a development there. The place we are staying has a couple of signature courses by names that might be OK. So I might play one and try to get to a course somewhere else. I have an idea or two, but have not decided where to play.

[Hey_Porter]

Pumpkin Ridge

I've only been able to play Ghost Creek as of yet, but the course is amazing. Tucked away in farm land, it has pretty damn good off season rates for the quality of the course.

Also:
http://www.cdaresort.com/golf/

Only been able to play there once for a scramble. Crazy nice.

[sonartec23b]

tanglewood is a lot of fun to play, fairly long, i'll be playing there on saturday.

also play bethpage black when im back in NY for the summer, never gets old and never will

[MUD]

If you're talking value, Papago in Phoenix is the lock down nuts.

Designed by the guy who did Torrey Pines in San Diego, which will be hosting the US Open this year. Its a Muni, but one of the best in the country.

Best course in Phoenix besides Desert Forest and for under $30

[westhoff]

Sherrill Park, Richardson, TX (dallas) $8 to walk course #2 after 5pm. 2 great courses, easy to get to.

[Hey_Porter]

Actually, my "favorite" place to play in terms of all-around value, access, and fun, is this little course relatively near my house that's part of a retirement development. It's short, only nine holes, but you get a chance to use all of your clubs, and they keep it in really good shape. Only $10 a nine. Plus, from mid-fall until about now, the course is empty with all the retirees down in Arizona...

[Ballzack]

My favorite place to play is La Cantera. The Palmer course is the site of the Valero Texas Open. The resort course can easily be had for around $50.

[tuq]

[ QUOTE ]
If you're talking value, Papago in Phoenix is the lock down nuts.

Designed by the guy who did Torrey Pines in San Diego, which will be hosting the US Open this year. Its a Muni, but one of the best in the country.

Best course in Phoenix besides Desert Forest and for under $30

[/ QUOTE ]
Hmmm, you had me at hello until that last sentence. I've played Papago probably 6-7 times already this year alone, including last Sunday, when I made their merchandise sales quota for the entire quarter by dropping $120 on them.

Papago could get near Bethpage and Torrey Pines recognition (bearing in mind that those courses were unknown to most non-local casual golfers before their renovations) if they decide on one of the several bids out on it right now. They've got enough land to stretch it to however long they want if so compelled, although it's plenty of test right now.

BTW, I have a friend who just wrote a book on the history of Papago and he's doing an autograph signing out there this Sunday at 5PM.

Brag: had the best round of my life out there last month, 68 with seven birdies (six of which came between 3 and 11), no gimmies, mulligans, or liberties taken, and the last two holes were in the dark with spotters watching/listening for my shots up ahead.

[HDPM]

They need to be careful on that IMO. Bethpage sounds like it worked out OK, but Torrey sounds like it has some problems. Aside from any Rees Jones criticism, there was, and may still be a big political fight in San Diego about it. Seems like it cost a lot, locals have less access, prices up, budgets, bla bla bla. Torrey was well-known pre-renovation, although maybe not to the casual fan. I played both courses almost 25 years ago and it was crowded, a good deal for locals, less of a good deal for tourists like I was, but not like today I don't think. So Torrey may well be a better US Open venue (if they work out the current snag with the fair and parking or something) than a long term plan for for a public course. Sounds like Bethpage came out better. Also the danger of a public doing renovations and chasing big events might be being shown by Harding Park. Unclear how the Tour and the San Francisco powers that be will work that out, and the renovations were expensive I think.

What kind of event would the course want? Might not make sense to renovate. Also depends how much of a boondoggle they make it I guess. Might be that updating can cost a lot less than what some people spend doing it too.

Good round BTW.

[Doug Funnie II]

If you're in Western Mass check out The Ranch. Always in good shape and a pretty wide range of toughness depending on which tees you're playing from.

Theranchgolfclub.com