Shadow Creek without a doubt... Manicured to perfection, great caddies and Air Force Thunderbirds flying over.... The limo to course wasn't too bad either!

Great pic and Awesome that the Thunderbirds were part of your golfing enjoyment...6

The Country Club in Brookline Mass stands out when they set up the open course

Tie between Ocean Course at Kiawah Island and Whispering Pines in Trinity, Texas

Great question. I have been lucky enough to play Canterbury Golf Club a number of times. Canterbury has hosted a number of different major championships throughout the years. The greens are perfect. On a slow day...they run 11+ on the stimpmeter.

John this question got me to thinking and I have two that are highly favored by me for different reasons but I don't know just how well known they are to the public.

Number one with me is Ross Bridge, a course on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail in Alabama, it is on the Trail but not one of the courses designed by Jones.  Ross Bridge is an 8,000 yard plus monster of a course based on length.  This is a resort course where I find the stay at the hotel along with the golf to be something to look forward to for both me and my non-golfing wife.  The course is always in immaculate condition with large fast greens and manicured fairways.  For me the holes are visually stunning and playable, when you tee up you see the hole and its challenges, no designer tricks, just play a conservative game and you do well.   As you finish 18 there is a bagpiper who plays as you finish up on the green, this is the only time I do not find a bagpipe to be annoying.  In the evening there is a relaxed, casual "night life" where you can sit pool-side and enjoy a proper martini with a fine cigar and make friends with others who enjoy golf and the resort setting.

Next is Whistling Straits in Wisconsin which knocked out The Greenbriar in my list.  Played The Straits once but can't wait for a few more rounds.   It is the most difficult golf I have played but tempered by visually stunning surroundings.  The caddies know their craft and help you through Pete Dye's attempt to make you take up chess.  The area is quaint, one minute you're driving among dairy farms then when you least expect it you see the Wind God Leu (?) at the entrance of the Straits.  Sleep well and be ready for serious challenges on the course.  The Kohler resort is also top shelf, best plumbing anywhere, you actually look forward to using the bathroom, how crazy is that?

Great question John L. I have played quite a few high end, high priced courses. But my favorite is my home muni where I also work. It was built in 1962 by George Fazio. Being owned by the county of Ocean, it doesn't have all the bells and whistles, but you better bring your A game to score. From the first tee, you can see Great Bay and Long Beach Island. The wind makes the course a different challenge everyday. Ocean County G.C.@ Atlantis gets my vote.

Play Well,

Steve S.

I've played a lot of nice courses but the best one yet has to be TPC Boston..  That course is just a  lot of fun to play...   I'm hoping someday I'll be naming another course...

For me it is Augusta National. Was lucky to get to play there in the late 80s when a friend of mine had someone drop out of there foursome at the last minute and so he called me. Told my boss I was going to play golf and if it wasn't OK then I quit. Although not a golfer he understood and had no problem with it.

Great topic!  Thanks for bringing it up.  I'd say, mine has to be a toss up between the Ocean Club at Paradise Island (Atlantis) or Kapalua in Maui...Vastly different courses, but I guess I like a course with a view of the beach!  I'd also say that my score at each of these courses has nothing to do with being my favorites - both are incredibly challenging!

Agree - great question.  I have to give two answers here:

Private = Newport Country Club

Public = Bethpage Black

Pinehurst #2 for me.

The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island is a sweet course to play and a beautiful layout.  Pete did an excellent job of concealing the course along the ocean and those winds will dictate your score.  Being I live about forty-five minutes from the course, I have been able to play it many times and it is truly a wonderful venue.  Ballybunion is high on my list also.   

Wow.  I had a friend do the same back in the 80's.  I have had  the pleasure to play, Kiawah, Oak Hill, Pebble Beach but I believe  my favorite so far is The Cascades in Hot Springs, Va. where my only teacher, Sam Snead ran the show.

Enjoie Golf Course here in Upstate New York. Current home of the Champion's Tour event the Dick's Open and former host of the BC Open, a PGA Tour event way back in the day. The aesthetics of the course are just beautiful. I find it amazing that a course like this can be found in a rather random part of Upstate New York.

That would be Mystic Rock at Nemacolin, former home of the 84 Lumber Classic. I had the chance to play this course shortly after taking up the game, and boy what an eye opener! Beautiful condition with amazing mountain views! A typical Pete Dye design that rewards great shots, but punishes poor ones.

I've never made it over to Nemacolin.  What is the Links like?  Is it worth playing both? 

Without question, Loew's Ventana Canyon in Tucson, AZ

In order of personal preference...

1. Forest Dunes(Roscommon, MI)

2. Bay Hill

3. Wolf Creek

4. Sawgrass

My entry would be Waterville in Ireland.  It was everything a golf course should be.

JOHN,

I have played upwards of 500 different courses in my golfing career and the course I think may be the nicest course was Arcadia Bluffs in Northern Michigan.  I have played courses in Florida to California. Canada to the Bahamas . Michigan is a state that is a hidden gem of golf.  I live in Colorado where we have some absolutely beautiful courses. But Michigan has Arcadia. Matt Ginella has played this and has said it is awesome. If anyone wants to play some great tracks make your way to Michigan where they boast some 850+ courses. Or come to Colorado can't beat the views and the ball flies here!!!

Primland which is tucked away in the Blue Ridge Mountains in Meadows of Dan,Va.  Primland is ranked one of the top 100 places to play by Golf Digest.  It's a fair challenge with breathtaking views at every hole.

www.primland.com

Caledonia Golf Club in Myrtle Beach

It would have to be Pebble Beach (have been lucky enough to have played there 3 times so far), but Kapalua is a close second (played twice).  Both courses play so different when the weather conditions change/winds kick up! Great question and I loved reading all of the replies! 

Best course I ever played so far was Bethpage Black Golf Course from the tips right after the NY state amateur tournament. Great course. 

Jeff Y.

I'd have to say TPC Sawgrass for most well-known. In terms of enjoyable course in great condition...check out Palencia Club in Florida. Man, what a beautiful course.