Dr. Hurley is known as the bentgrassdoctor and has been breeding Improved bentgrasses since 1982 to Include the advanced generation varieties 007, 777 and 007XL.
These advanced generation bentgrasses have the greatest opportunity for success in cool season climates for grassing greens, tees and fairways.
Now designated as a class of "Super BentsTM" these varieties will produce a turf showing greater disease resistance / lower fungicide use, finer leaves, a denser turf that is more tolerant to close mowing.
Within the "Super BentTM" class are the varieties 007, 777, 007XL -- as well as MacKenzie, Flagstick and Tyee.
For "Super BentTM" information contact https://sroseed.com/super-bents
For "Super BentTM" variety qualities contact
https://www.sroseed.com/find-a-product/bentgrass
ph: 570-350-8906
hurlrich
75 Best Golf Courses in America and Europe
Richard Hurley
As a student of golf history, golf architecture, and avid golfer, my qualifications provide a worldly perspective to identify a “best course” list.
Of the hundreds of golf courses I've played, these sixty, in my opinion, are most deserving.
Course locations:
America, 36
Scotland, 24
Ireland, 6
England, 9
1. Turnberry (Ailsa), Scotland, is the finest linksland golf course in the world. With a beautiful links - dunes setting, Turnberry has all the elements of a classic tournament golf course. With the 2016 course renovations completed this classic course has been improved - you may ask how can a number one rated course be improved? When in Scotland, suggest you go out of your way to play this exceptional number one rated golf course.
2. Pine Valley, New Jersey, US, is deservedly the best inland course in the world. Recent lengthening of holes number 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 12, 13, 14, and 18 has greatly enhanced the overall shot-making quality of Pine Valley. Over the winter of 2018 trees were removed around the golf course to bring back what the course may have looked back in the 1920 - 1940's with a more open sandy look. Additionally, a new tee was build for hole number 17 that extended this short par 4 hole approximately 50 yards. Having played Pine Valley over 20 times, I can fully appreciate this magnificent golf course. What a masterpiece!
3. Augusta National, Georgia, US, has arguably the best contoured greens in America and is the best managed facility in golf. As an on course volunteer during the Masters tournament for 30 years, I feel I know Augusta National better than most on my "Best of..." list. My favorite hole at Augusta is number 13, a short dog leg left par five, where an eagle or bogey has changed the hopes of many a player contesting to win the Masters.
4. Cypress Point, California, US, has the best variation of holes to include sand, dunes, pineland, and the Pacific Ocean. If you had the opportunity, you would never tire of playing this "one of a kind" golf course. Cypress simply flows and meanders through the dunes and tall pine trees that finally leads to the ocean and the spectatular views of holes 15, 16, 17. Cypress is naturally beautiful, scenic, and challenging.
If I was to make one simple but important change I would exchange holes number 18 and 1. The current 18th hole has been widely critized as a dissapoiting short up hill par 4 for a world class golf course. Following up on my suggestion the new first hole would be the existing number 18 with the last hole of the day being the existing hole number 17. The 17th hole is a fine par 4 that plays paralell to the ocean and would make for a much better finishing hole compared to the current routing. Suggest building a small out building for the starter to work out of to accomadate starting the golf course at what is now the 18th tee.
5. St. Andrews (Old), Scotland, displays strategic golf with difficult bunkers that must be avoided if one is to advert disaster. After playing over 30 rounds on the Old Course I am still learning how to think my way through each hole and adjust to the ever changing winds. My good friend, Gordon Moir, Director of Greenskeeping at St. Andrews, has taught me what little I know about how best to play the Old Course.
6. Royal County Down, N. Ireland, has the best golf course routing plan in the world. The course flows from hole to hole with an extensive variety of shot values experienced. When I played Royal County Down and walked off the course, I said to myself, "You just played a golf course that must rate as one of the best in the world." That was over 20 years ago, and I have the same opinion today. Returned to play RCD in the summer of 2018 and confirmed what I observed over twenty years ago. This is a bucket list course to play.
7. Shinnecock Hills, Long Island, New York, US, is one of the most difficult tournament courses in the United States. Located on eastern Long Island, Shinnecock Hills feels more like Scotland than almost any other golf course in America. The USGA does not have to place pins such to make the golf course more difficult than it already is. When the US Open visits Shinnecock again, at some point in the future, all they need to do is locate the holes around the center of the greens - no more "on the edge" pin placements are necessary.
8. Royal Dornoch, Scotland, has beautiful scenery and classic linksland hole designs. Aside from the natural beauty of the sea (firth), which is very visual on many of the holes, this is truly a great golf course in all respects. Lots of thorny gorse can be found on the golf course, and if you visit in April, when the gorse is in bloom, it's a spectacular sight.
9. Royal Aberdeen, Scotland, has the most demanding first nine holes in golf. After playing this course a half dozen times, I came away with the same conclusion each time. If you want to play one of the hardest nine holes in golf, you'll find it on the first nine at Royal Aberdeen. Royal Aberdeen is a fantastic links golf experience.
10. Pebble Beach, California, US, has some of the finest examples of "ocean holes" in the world. The first few holes and the middle of the back nine are good but not great golf holes. The Pebble Beach Golf Course is all about the ocean holes, starting at hole number 4 through number 10 and finishing with holes number 17 and 18.
11. Carnoustie, Scotland, is one of the hardest tournament courses in the world. The golfing great Ben Hogan only played in one British Open, and that was at Carnoustie. He won the tournament in convincing fashion on this "most difficult" tournament golf course. Yes, Carnoustie does have fairway irrigation, however, they used it very sparingly in preparation for the 2018 Open, and for the fairways, not at all, as brown and firm is links golf.
If you watched the 2018 Open on TV Sir Nick Faldo had it right naming the "Sea Lyme Grass" also know as "Blue Lyme" found growing in the rough at Carnoustie that provide extra difficulty for players to hit from. The Sea Lyme is a coarse texteured light blue colored grass that grows naturally on sandy soils. David Feherty had it wrong as he called the Sea Lyme grass "blue fesuce."
12. Royal Birkdale, England, is best defined by the modest to large sand dunes through which the fairways flow. Birkdale is an excellent links tournament course that exhibits a wide variation of golf holes. After playing this course once, I came back the following year to play it again before the 2008 Open and liked the course better the second time around.
13. Sunningdale (Old), England, located outside of London, the Old course is half of a 36 hole golfing complex that, in my opinion, is "the best 36 hole facility in the world." A heathland course noted for massive and continuous heather groupings found lining the roughs. Over 100 years old and this golf course still plays to the modern game while traditional in every repsect . You will find strategic bunker placement and reasonablly contoured greens.
14. Royal Portrush, N. Ireland, is a fantastic 36 hole facility. The Dunluce course is a strong championship layout in every respect and the Valley course a great links course in its own rite. This is one of the best 36 hole golf facilities in the World. In the summer of 2018 I played the Dunluce course and was excited to see the improvements and new holes made for the upcoming Open Championship.
15. Bayonne Golf Club, New Jersy, US, is a links style golf course in an urban setting with Hudson River and New York City views on 13 holes. Anyone who has visited the links courses of Ireland and Scotland will attest that Bayonne is on the same high ground with the finest natural links courses - fescue grasses and all. Professional golfers Ernie Els, Lee Westwood, Rory McIlroy, and Jordan Speath have all played Bayonne and rave about the golf course as being a "true links." The most dramatic aspect to the property is the enormous scale of the site as observed from the clubhouse which is positioned high on a hill, in the center of the golf course. Holes number 16, 17, and 18 are as challenging as anyone's best.
16. Swinley Forrest, England, located outside of London, is a gem of a golf course. A very private facility Swinley Forrest has not received the public acclaim that other English courses have. This is a century old heathland course with large and continuous heather groupings found adjacent to the primary roughs. This course is traditional in every repsect and provides one of the most enjoyable experiences any golfer could expect. If you can arrange for an invite to play Swinley Forrest, I am sure you will share my opinion.
17. Sunningdale (New), England, the New course is the other half of the 36 hole facility. I played both the Old and the New courses at Sunningdale in the same day. I thoroughly enjoyed both courses, recalling this day as one of the most memorial golfing days in my life.
18. Walton Heath (Old), England, located outside of London, you will find another excellent example of a heathland course with continuous native heather found in the roughs. This course is over 100 years old and still qualifies for consideration as a major tournament site. Walton Heath is an attractive course, with a strategic design, that includes well placed bunkers.
19. Torrey Pines Golf Course, located near San Diego, California, is a 36 hole municipal facility. The property has breath taking views of the Pacific Ocean and coastal cliffs. Site of the 2008 US Open and a frequent PGA tour stop each January. This facility is every golfers dream for a pleasing and challenging day of golf.
20. Royal Troon, Scotland, starts out with holes that are not as visual as some of the great links courses. However, once you get to the middle of the front nine, the course gets very interesting, which holds your attention through to the 18th. I played Troon within weeks after the 2004 Open with my friends, Eric Bergstol and Gordon Moir – from St. Andrews, and can report that we enjoyed this course at first sight.
21. Sage Valley Golf Club, is a private golf club located in South Carolina about twenty miles from the Augusta National Golf Club. The setting for the golf course is within a southern pine forest on gently rolling land. Tom Fazio designed the course in 2001 and you will find it to be a gem if you have the opportunity to play this world class facility..
22. North Berwick, Scotland, has some of the most unusual golf holes in Scotland. The original "Redan" style green can be found at the 15th and the raised 16th green are among the unique features you'll experience. The clubhouse and the finishing 18th hole give you the feeling of the Old Course at St. Andrews. Having played North Berwick over a dozen times I still look forward to coming back each year to play with my friends, Stuart Greenwood, who is the Greenskeeper, and Alan Phillips, Club Captain (2009).
23. Royal St. George Golf Club, Sandwich, England, last hosted "The Open Championship" when Daren Clarke won his only "Major" as a fan favorite. I found the links at Royal St. Georges to have beautifully contoured green sites that provides extreme challenges to players of all talent levels. Course superintendent Paul Larsen was kind enough to provide Gordon Moir, of St. Andrews, Scotland and Eric Bergstol, of Bayonne Golf Club, NYC, and I personal insights on prepping his course for the next "Major" tournament.
24. Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club, Deal, England. What a find this great links golf course was for me. Located only a few miles from Royal St. George this is a must play links course suited for all who are looking to find a most enjoyable seaside challenge.
25. Bethpage Black, Long Island, New York, US, is big, bold, long, and strong. The Black is an expansive golf course with spacious room between holes. The features are bold, with a linksland feel to the site, even though it's an inland course with some tree lined fairways. If you want to experience one of the finest tournament golf courses in the world, then make arrangements to play Bethpage Black. As a side note, in 2002 and 2009 I worked the US Open week on the hole - pin setting team.
26. Oakmont, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, US, is a golfing experience that every low handicapper should try. Known for extremely fast putting greens, day in and day out, year after year. Oakmont is a great tournament course that has retained its high reputation for over 100 years. Oakmont is a very difficult golf course to score on. In 2007 I worked the US Open week on the stimpmeter and pin setting team and recorded a green speed of 15’ before Sunday’s final round.
27. Lahinch, Ireland, is one of the finest dunes/linksland golf courses in the world. Some people would argue that Lahinch is a better links course compared to Ballybunion Old. Lahinch is a great golf course, with all of the classic linksland fescue, sea, sand, beach, and great golf holes. As this course is relatively close to Ballybunion, you should play both courses if you are in the west coast of Ireland.
28. Ballybunion (Old), Ireland, is one of the best examples of holes routed between large fescue and marum (beach) grass sand dunes. The first time I played the Ballybunion Old, I fell in love with the large sand dunes and the way the holes flow through, around, and over the dunes. This is a great linksland golf course that every golfer should experience in his golfing lifetime.
29. National Golf Links, Long Island, New York, US, has excellent examples of linksland holes blended into natural settings. Built in the early part of the 1900's, the National Golf Links is the masterpiece of C.B. MacDonald, who spent a good portion of his life designing, constructing, and improving one of the greatest linksland courses in America. The National doesn't get the press that Shinnecock does (the two courses sit side by side), nor is it as difficult, but it's just as fun and rewarding to play.
30. Muirfield, Scotland, has a routing plan that allows for a change of wind direction as you play the golf course. Close to the sea, but not on the water, this very solid tournament course displays a variety of holes that reward good shot making. Not as visual as some links courses, Muirfield makes up for this with a wide variety of solid golf holes. After golf make sure you arrange for lunch in the clubhouse - absolutely fantastic!
31. Trump International Golf Links, Aberdeen, Scotland, was build in 2011 on a seaside site including sandy dunes and was constructed in true links style. I was most impressed with the routing of holes through and around the dunes. My first visit to the course was the year after opening and my second game was two years later. The golf course has matured significantly since opening and now plays hard and fast. This golf course should be added to the list of must play links courses in Scotland.
32. Kingsbarns Golf Links, located near St. Andrews, Scotland is a must play links layout. With panoramic views and holes placed close to the water front / rocky coast this is a fine example of a newly designed Scottish links layout.
33. Ballyliffin Golf Club, Ireland, located in the most north west part of the country this fantastic facility has two must play links courses. The Old Links is a Faldo redesign in 2009 and the Glashedy Links was designed by two Irishman, Pat Ruddy and Tom Craddock.
34. Prairie Dunes, Kansas, US, may be one of the most underrated golf courses in America. Constructed in the mid-1930's in south central Kansas, Prairie Dunes is a mix of great golf holes, native grasses, natural beauty, and classic golf course design. This is a must play course for those who appreciate the best golf courses in America.
35. Cruden Bay Golf Club, Scotland is a traditional links golf course located approximatey two hours north of St. Andrews on the east coast. The site features large sand mounds and panoramic ocean views. If you like links courses this is a must on your bucket list for Scotland golf.
36. Winged Foot, New York, US, West course is strong and long, with big sand bunkers guarding the greens. Be ready for a lot of "sandies" if you are going to score well at this golf course. One of Tillinghast's best architectural designs that includes the famous par three on hole number 10.
37.The Yale Golf Course (The Course at Yale), New Haven, Connecticut is owned and run by Yale University. This 1926 design by Seth Raynor working in conjunction with C.B Macdonald is a classic with deep bunkers around greens and rolling fairways. I was introduced to YGC by Colin Sheehan, Yale Golf Coach who hosts his annual "Punch Bowl" tournament each fall - which I played in twice and enjoyed the comradery amongst a group of self defined golfing nuts.
38. Western Gailes, Scotland, is a linksland course routed among a seemingly never ending string of small- to medium-sized sand dunes covered with fescue and marum (beach) grass. One of the most enjoyable links course to play in Scotland. If you are near Troon, Prestwick, or Turnberry you should play Western Gailes.
39. Merion (East), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US, is one of the finest examples of a "strategic" golf layout that forces you to think your way around the golf course. Shot placement is the key to scoring at Merion - this course has some of the best finishing holes in golf.
In the summer of 2018 Merion East was closed for a total renovation to include regrassing of greens, fairways and tees, rebuilding bunkers, and relocating some of the bunkers around the golf course. Look for a grand reopening of the Merion East course in May 2019.
40. Hillside Golf Club is located in Southport, England adjacent to Royal Birkdate golf club. The layout has the opening holes going south west along flat ground along side a railway line. The back nine holes are valleys and corridors through some of the highest and wildest sand dunes in England. Playing Hillside is a trully delightful links experience.
41. East Lake, Atlanta, Georgia, US, is a classic golf course that made me feel like Bobby Jones was just around the corner. Strong holes can be found at East Lake, with a very good long par three for the finish. East Lake is a tournament ready golf course and is a must play on your "bucket list."
42. Pinehurst (No.2), North Carolina, US, has putting green contours that make it difficult to hit close to the pin. The great golf course architect Donald Ross spent much of his life creating his most famous design. No doubt Ross was greatly influenced by what he saw as a young man growing up in Dornoch, Scotland. When I played Royal Dornoch I found green contours with collection areas that were similar to those constructed by Ross at Pinehurst.
43. Hudson National, New York, US, is located 20 miles north of New York City, up high on a plateau with spectacular views of the Hudson River and Manhattan in the distance. This is a beautiful Tom Fazio design that is bold in appearance with rolling hills and strong par fours and challenging par three holes. The golf course is extremely well maintained and groomed in every respect. The new (2018) practice facility is one of the best in the US for members and their guests to enjoy.
44. Philadelphia Cricket Club, Wissahickon course, US, recently completed a total course restoration in 2013 under the direction of golf architect Keith Foster. The Wissahickon course is a classic A.W. Tillghast design and is known for challenging greens, difficult par fours, and natural hazards.
45. Castle Stuart, Scotland, is only a few years old but is quickly gaining a reputation as one of the finest links courses in the country. Excellent views of the countryside and water, along with a wide diversity of golf holes makes this course a necessary stop.
46. Loch Lomond Golf Club, Luss, Scotland. Situated on the shore of Loch Lomond is a parkland golf course designed by Tom Weiskopf. With a classic traditional manor house clubhouse this facility is manicured and groomed to the highest standard. With the Loch on one side and mountains as a backdrop this championship golf course is one of the finest facilities in all of the UK. Loch Lomond Golf Club is true class all the way.
Starting in the winter of 2018 Loch Loamondi initiated a multiyear sand capping, drainage and regrassing project for all fairways. The first two fairways were sand capped and drained during the 2018 winter with more fairways planned for the fall and winter of 2019 and 2010.
47. The Machrihanish Golf Club, Argyll, Scotland. The course is set on the Machrihanish sand dunes with rolling fairways and undulating greens. While playing the course one can appreciate the attractive views across to the islands of Islay and Jura. It is about a three hour drive from Glasgow to this site. On my visit to this course, along with my friends Gordon Moir and Eric Bergstol, we actually arranged for a one day flight and golf package to the site with air transportation from Glasgow, taxi pick up and drive to the course, golf, lunch and return flight all in the same day. Wonderful experience on a sunny Scottish summer day.
48. Glen Eagles, Scotland, Kings course is a James Braid design that is over 90 years old. This course is an inland design set in a rolling countryside. Masterful examples of using the natural flow of the land to "set in" golf holes with a minimum of construction excavation. Great greens sites and surrounds.
49. Saunton Golf Club, England, has two Championship courses that have been rated on the list for the 100 Best Courses in the UK. Both the East and West are true links courses with many excellent golf holes.
50. The Nairn Golf Club, Nairn, Scotland. Founded in 1887 this championship golf course is situated on an elevated piece of linksland such that from every hole you can see water on the Moray Firth (Bay). Nairn is one of the most spectacular seaside courses in Scotland with the sea is in play on six of the first seven holes. Located close to Castle Stuart golf course, so, if you play one you should play both on your trip to northern Scotland.
51. Portstewart Golf Club, N. Ireland, will provide you with some very strong links dunes holes on the front nine and rolling links land on the back nine. Very enjoyable for anyone who likes links golf.
52. The New Course, St. Andrews, Scotland. Laid out by Old Tom Morris in 1895 this classic links sits next to the famed Old course. Virtually unchanged from its original design from over 120 years ago. You must play this one If you are playing the Old course at St. Andrews.
53. Jubilee Golf Course, St. Andrews, Scotland. When you visit St. Andrews to play the Old course suggest you play both the New (1895) and the Jubilee (1897) courses. The Jubilee may be a harder test of golf compared to the Old course and is a fun outing to experience some very good links holes.
54. Harbortown, South Carolina, US, has a masterful routing with strategic design concepts. The golf course architect, Pete Dye, must be given credit for setting a new direction for golf course architecture when he designed Harbortown in the 1960's. At Harbortown, you'll find a mix of great golf holes, where shot placement is the key to scoring.
55. Baltusrol Golf Club, New Jersey, US, Lower course,designed by A.W. Tillinghast in the 1920's is one of the strongest / hardest championship courses in America.
56. Baltusrol Golf Club, New Jersey, US, Upper course, also designed by A.W. Tillinghast is every bit the equal to its sister course. This makes Baltusrol one of, if not, the best 36 hole facility in America.
57. Metedeconk National Golf Club, Jackson, New Jersey, US, is a special place to get away and enjoy playing golf on an extremely well maintained course. This 27 hole Robert Trent Jones design is an expericence that all advid golfers will remember. The club practice facility is one of the largest and best designed as any found in the US. The hospitality and courtesy provided by the staff is noteworthy.
58. Aronomink, Newtown Square, PA, has been in its current location since 1926. This Donald Ross design was in his own words set to challenge even the best golfers to the "supreme test." Aronomink is a major tournament course hosting the 1962 PGA Championship won by Gary Player and the US Amateur in 1997 won by John Fought. In 2003 hosted the Senior PGA Championship with John Jacobs the winner.
59. Victoria National, Newburgh, IN, founded in 1998 is located on 418 acres of reclaimed Peabody Coal Company's abandoned strip mine in the south of Indiana. Tom Fazio designed a diverse landscape with native vegetation and deep spring fed lakes. Victoria National has a beautiful routing of holes using the lakes as focal point for many of the golf holes.
60. Garden City Golf Club, Garden City, NY, dates back to 1916 when Walter Travis was commissioned to design a championship golf course. Travis was one of the top golfers of the day in America as a result of winning the US Amateur in 1900, 1901 and 1903. In 1904 Travis became the first American to win the British Amateur Championship.
The Garden City golf course is now land locked in the middle of the city, however, the layout has a true links feel with fescues and native grasses. This old school golf course is a true gem and offers a great golfing experience not to be missed. I have played Garden City many times and have always enjoyed the experience.
61. Galloway National Golf Club, Galloway, NJ, designed for the serious golfer by Tom Fazio and set on a 200 acre wooded site with gently sloping Atlantic City bayside property. This course may be one of Tom Fazio's five best designs. With a solid course routing, beautiful native scenery Galloway is a great golfing experience.
62. Wanamoisett Country Club, Rumford, RI, US. This is a Donald Ross designed championship course that is often referred to as one of his finest layouts. Sitting only on 100 acres the course is noted for its undulating greens and classic "Ross" styled bunkers. This par 69 with back tees set at 6732 yards has only one par 5. Do not let the par and the distance fool you as this course offers a true challage for golfers of all abilities.
63. Spyglass Hill Golf Course, Monterary, CA, was designed by Robert Trent Jones in 1996. Close to the famed Pebble Beach and Cypress Point courses Spyglass opens with holes built on sand dunes and ocean views. The golf course is then routed though hills with tall Monterey pines guarding both sides of the fairways. This is a fine golf course that should be visited when playing the golf courses in and around Monterary.
64. Hollywood Golf Club, Deal, NJ dates back to 1898 and moved to its present site in 1912. The course was designed by Walter Travis who was one of the best golfers in American at that time - winner of the US Amateur three times and the British Amateur in 1904. The course is beautifully manacured to the highest degree. Playing Hollywood is a real treat for anyone who appreciates a classic designed course.
65. Links of North Dakota, near Williston, North Dakota. What a great story that I had placed in the back of my mind for many years until Stephen Kay reminded me of his / our adventure. In the early 1990's we had a student named Stan Weeks enrolled in our Rutgers Turf Management program. Stan would tell one of our instructors, golf course architect Stephen Kay, of the perfect rolling prarrie landscape nature offered for a golf course in his home town in North Dakota. One thing led to another and through the efforts of Stephen and Stan somehow and some way Stephen was starting construction on what would be the Links of North Dakota. Stephen and Stan asked if I would consult with the grasses and agronomy for this project. I visited the construction site in the summer of 1993 and found myself hitting golf balls to natural green sites while Stephen was laying out the golf course routing. I was playing the holes before they were holes and knew first hand that this was going to be a great natural links course. This was to be a true minimalist construction as there were natural rolling hills and valleys, barren buttes with no trees. The soil was six feet deep of sandy loam with no rocks that simply allowed Stephen to locate and complete a green site with no or minimal movement of soil. Most of the seeding was accomplished by rototilling the soil and seeding into the surface after raking and firming. The greens were seeded to Jamestown Chewings fescue and Seaside bentgrass as were the fairways and tees. All of the roughs were left natural as the native grasses that were growing for centuries were perfect for a links golf course.
66. Fraserburgh Golf Club, north of Aberdeen, Scotland is the 5th oldest club in Scotland and the 7th oldest in the world. I found this to be a great links course that is not on the radar for golfers who transit to Scotland to play the best links ocurses. I was introduced to this golf course at Fraserburgh by Gordon Moir, Links Managerat St. Andrews, in the early 2000's. This is the town and the golf course that Gordon was raised and where he learned to play golf and was the greenkeeper for a time during his early carreer. This is a true championship course designed by James Braid (five time Open winner) with large sand dunes and rolling fairways. There are some spectatular holes at Fraserburgh that are routed through and around large costal sand hills and mounds. Gordon asked me if I would come and play in the "Bukken Ferkin" annual golf tournament with him at Fraserburgh. Now a Bukken Ferkin is a barrel of fish - herring, as Fraserburgh is a fishing village and herring historically was the prime source of income for the local population. The official trophy for winning the tournament was a small wooden Bukken - wooden barrel, minus the fish. What an experience I had with good golf, good beer, solicalizing with the locals and hearing stories about putts missed and winning a match. Most importantly the Fraseburgh Golf course is a must play when you are in Scotland.
67. Dunbar Golf Club, Scotland. Located on the east coast of Scotland about 20 miles south of North Berwick, this links course is a very good one with a series of strong and challenging holes paralleling the rocky sea coast. If you are scheduled to play Muirfield, North Berwick, or Gullane suggest you also arrange to play Dunbar.
68. Peterhead Golf Club, north of Aberdeen, Scotland. This course is located on the North Sea and is the 18th oldest Golf club in the world. The only problem with the Peterhead golf course is that at some point in time they lost three golf holes to sea erosion and replaced them with three bland ones that are now holes 1,2, 3. From holes 4 through 18 this is a very solid links course with hills, mounds, rolling fairways and large natural costal sand dunes. At the far end of the first nine the large dunes grow in size and looking beyond the 9th and 10th holes there is a fantastic natural setting of large dunes just waiting for three new holes to be build to replace holes 1,2,3. If someone had the money and the time to follow through and build the new holes this course would be recognized as one of the best in Scotland.
69. Colonial Golf Club, Fort Worth, Texas, US. Ben Hogan won the Colonial PGA event five times during his career. Designed by John Bredemus of Texas and Perry Maxwell of Oklahoma opened for play in 1936. Colonial is noted for its fine bentgrass greens and has hosted a PGA tournament longer than any other club in the US. The golf course is a classic strategic / placement design that includes dogleg holes with pecan trees offering trouble for stray shots.
70. Palmetto Golf Club, Aiken, SC, US. The club was founded in 1892. In 1932, when Dr. Alister MacKenzie had completed the Augusta National Golf Club, he was asked to make plans for converting the Palmetto sand greens to grass and lengthened the golf course. If you are in Aiken, South Carolina or near Augusta, Georgia you must take the time to arrange to play Palmetto. The words to describe the Palmetto Golf Club include classic, sporty, fun, historic and challenging. Lots of golf history to be found when wondering the club house and the classic old original locker room with the names of Hogan, Nelson, Fazio, Bobby Jones, Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire.
71. River Bend Country Club, Great Falls, Virginia, US, is a private club located just outside of Washington DC in northern Virginia. Keith Forster was commisioned for a total course renovation that included all 18 holes. Golf course superintendent Tom Lipscomb supervised the planning and grow in of the golf course. Completed in October 2010 this course is maintained in immaculate condition and features strong golf holes, beautiful views, and a nice flow to the course routing.
72. Burning Tree Club, Bethesda, MD, US. Designed by architect Alister MacKenie, the club was founded in 1922. This facility is highly private, all-male golf club, that has been played by numerous US Presidents and members of Congress. Burning Tree is a beautiful woods lined golf course that is enjoyable to play. In 2010 the greens were regrassed from Poa annua to 007 creeping bentgrass that greatly improved the putting surfaces.
73. The Golf House Club at Elie, Scotland (Also known as the Earlsberry Links Golf Course) is where the great James Braid (Open champion) learned to play golf as a teenager in the late 1800's. Golf can be traced back to the 1500's at this sporty, fun, and senic links course. This is a most pleasureable course to add to your list of courses to play when you visit the St. Andrews area of Fife, Soctland.
74.Tain Golf Club, Tain, Scotland. My good friend, Iain MacLeod, has been the greens superintendent for 40 years at Tain and in my opinion has mentored and crafted some of the finest putting greens in Scotland. The Tain Golf Cub is located on the south side of the Dornorch firth (Bay) in the highlands. This 1890,s old Tom Morris layout is a wonderful example of how courses were laid out in the 1890,s with natural contoured green sites that provide for a true linksland experience. The 15th green is one of the most interesting totally natural and original rolly poly green I have ever played on. At Tain you will find a few of the best natural links holes in Scotland to include the long par 4 number 3 and the long par 3 number 17. If you appreciate great greens and a pleasureable walk on the links you must put Tain on your list of courses to play while in Scotland.
75. SentryWorld Golf Course, US, located in central Wisconsin, was totally renovated in 2013 by golf architect Rober Trent Jones II. This is an example of a significant upgrade to the original RTJ II 25 year old design. Beautiful wooded site that plays strong for the scratch golfer but fun to play for the average player. Excellent conditioning by superintendent Gary Tanko makes this a must play for those visiting Wisconsin.
Number 15 on my Best Courses list:
The Bayonne Golf Club - New York Harbor, opened for play in May of 2006. The BGC is a links style golf course in an urban setting.
The three photos below show the picturesque castle style clubhouse - with attached lighthouse located in the center of the golf course ninty three feet above the Hudson River.
The golf course was designed and developed by Eric Bergstol and sits on a 150 acre Hudson Rive site located just four miles from Manhattan.
Traditional links grasses were used to seed the golf course including fescues for the roughs, hills, and mounds, and Colonial bentgrass and Chewings fescue for establishment on the fairways.
The putting greens at Bayonne were seeded to a combination of velvet and creeping bentgrasses. All plant species selected for use were identified to produce a natural links look to the site. Plant groupings established around the golf course included junipers, beach rose, mugo pine and Scotch broom.
My "Top 75 Courses List" includes only courses that I have played and having played some of these courses more than once has helped to validate my thoughts and opinions.
There are still many great courses to see and play and that is an ongoing adventure.
I do update my list from time to time, as the opportunity presents itselt to play more of the great courses of the world.
When I see other "Best of ..." listings, I often wonder how many courses the raters have actually played themselves?
How can one effectively rate a golf course if they have not played most of the consensus "Best of" courses. There should be qualifications to be a golf course rater.
First, I would exclude all golf course architects from participating in "Best of" lists, only because some may have a greater affection for their own designs, especially if they have a dog in the hunt.
Second, raters should not be placed in a position that would influence their opinion due to commercial considerations. Wine and dine activities have moved many mediocre courses into a "Best of" list somewhere.
Third, raters who are editors or writers for golf related magizines are too close to commercial temptations to fairly participate in course evaluations.
Fourth, only those who have no commercial ties and have played most of the consensus "Best of" courses should be selected to identify the "Best Golf Courses."
Courses you should play if...
...you play Bethpage Black, US -- you should take time to play Bethpage Red. For the average golfer, you may have more fun playing the Red course, and the course design is very good.
...you play the Old course at St. Andrews Scotland, take the time to play all of the St. Andrews courses to include the New, Jubilee, Castle, Eden. Also, while in St. Andrews you should play the near by courses of Elie, Crail and Kingsbarns. If you miss playing the above courses you are leaving out some of the best golf in Fife, Scotland.
...you play Muirfield in Scotland suggest playing all of the great courses close by to include North Berwick, Gullane, Dunbar and a sporty fun course called Killspindie.
...you play Royal Dornoch, Scotland -- you should make time to play Castle Stuart, Nairn, Tain, Brora, and Golspie. All are close to Dornoch and are very good links courses.
Near Royal Dornoch, if you could play only one other course, I would suggest the "Old Tom Morris" original 1890's designed Tain Golf Club (with a reputation for good greens).
...you play Royal Aberdeen, Scotland -- you should play Murcar Golf Links. Located adjacent to Royal Aberdeen, the Murcar Links has some holes that are as good as any in Scotland.
Additionally, close to Royal Aberdeen is Trump's new links course. The new Trump course has a excellnt links design and is well worth playing.
...you play Royal Portrush, N. Ireland -- you should schedule to play Portstewart, which is close by Portrush,and Ballyliffin, about an hour's drive from Portrush. What a great ninety hole (five rounds) golfing trip this would make.
Copyright 2013 R.H. Hurley, LLC. All rights reserved.
ph: 570-350-8906
hurlrich