Favorite Golf Courses

[HardcoreClone]

List the 5 favorite local courses you have played, 5 would like to play, and 5 worldwide bucket list....

Played:

1. TCI
2. Honey Creek Boone
3. Glen Oaks
4. Coldwater Links
5. Hyperion

Would like to play:

1. Harvester
2. Des Moines GC
3. Wakonda
4. Talons of Tuscany
5. Honey Creek Rathbun

Bucket List:

1. Augusta National
2. St Andrews
3. Pebble Beach (I know there's a few out there)
4. Whistling Straights
5. TPC Sawgrass

 

[Tre4ISU]

Played:

1. The Harvester
2. Spirit Hallow
3. Spencer Golf
4. Landsmeer
5. Emerald Hills

Would like to play:

1. DMGC
2. Talons
3. TCI
4. Hyperion
5. Bos Landen

Bucket List:

1. Augusta National
2. St Andrews
3. Carnoustie
4. Whistling Straights
5. Bethpage Black

 

[erikbj]

Favorite I played:

1. Olympia Fields
2. Chambers Bay
3. The 3 Kohler courses (WS, BWR, IS)
4/5. Local - Elmcrest / CRCC

Nothing locally i want to play that i have not already

Bucket List
1. Pinehurst #2
2. Beth Page
3. TPC Sawgrass
4. Pebble Beach
5. A bunch in Ireland / Scotland

 

[AdamJGray]

Bucket List:

1. Augusta National
2. St Andrews
3. Carnoustie
4. Whistling Straights
5. Bethpage Black

My bucket list would mirror yours. I was fortunate to play Medinah about 8 years ago, but wasn't much of a golfer then. Wish I could go back and play now and see how I could score.

Played:

1. The Harvester
2. Hyperion
3. DMCGG
4. Talons
5. Legacy

I like TCI, but don't love some holes. Same for Honey Creek and Bos Landen.

Would like to play:

1. Wakonda (playing soon)
2. Glen Oaks
3. Spirit Hollow
4. Riverside
5. The Preserve

 

[Cyclonic1]

Played in IA
Harvester
Hyperion
DMG&CC
Echo Valley (used to be fine back in the early 80's
Veenker
Others played
Pebble Beach
Spy Glass (not fun at all)
Cherry Hills
Crooked Stick (favorite)
Baltusrol Lower Course
Whistling Straits - was new and no carts or paths like I saw on TV this weekend - caddies only.
Black Wolf Run
Bucket list if I could still play
AUGUSTA National

 

[Fitzy]

Played:

1. The Harvester
2. The Preserve
3. Lake Panorama
4. Finkbine
5. Veenker

Would like to play:

1. Wakonda
2. Des Moines GC
3. TCI
4. Glen Oaks
5. Talons of Tuscany

Bucket List:

1. Augusta National
2. TPC Sawgrass
3. St. Andrews
4. TPC Scottsdale
5. Plantation Course @ Kapalua

 

[stateofmind]

Played:

1. Briarwood, (I have to say this as it's my home right?)
2. Amana
3. The Harvester
4. Bos Landen in it's prime
5. Veenker
6. Finkbine

Local, that I will play this fall or next spring:

1. Glen Oaks
2. Wakonda
3. DM Golf & CC
4. Hyperion
5. Urbandale Golf & CC

Not Local that I've played:

1. Wolf Creek, Mesquitte, NV
2. Harding Park, San Fran
3. TPC Scottsdale, both courses last week

Bucket List:

1. Augusta National
2. St. Andrews
3. Pinehurst
4. TPC Sawgrass
5. Bethpage Black
6. Pebble Beach
7. Whistling Straits
8. Just about any course I can...

 

[Bret44]

Haven't played a lot, but Albuagh's is fun, but my favorite is the Course in Souix Rapids.

 

[JRE1975]

Best courses played (sorry more than 5!)

1.) Bob O Link in Chicago area
2.) Kapalua Plantation Course
3.) Turnberry Scotland
4.) Black Wolf Run in Kohler
5.) Whistling Straights in Kohler
6.) Doral in Miami
7.) Butler National in Oakbrook

Favorite Iowa courses:

1.) Des Moines Golf North
2.) Des Moines Golf South
3.) Wakonda
4.) Harvester
5.) Legacy, not fancy, but I like the lay out


Bucket List:

1.) Augusta National
2.) Pinehurst #2
3.) Pebble Beach
4.) Pine Valley in New Jersey
5.) St. Andrews

 

[Cloned]

Played:

1. Talons
2. DMGCC
3. Glen Oaks
4. Harvester
5. Echo Valley

Would like to play:

1. Wakonda
2. Hyperion
3. Preserve
4. Riverside

Bucket List:

1. Augusta
2. St Andrews
3. Pebble Beach
4. Pinehurst
5. TPC Sawgrass

 

[erikbj]

Best courses played (sorry more than 5!)

1.) Bob O Link in Chicago area
2.) Kapalua Plantation Course
3.) Turnberry Scotland
4.) Black Wolf Run in Kohler
5.) Whistling Straights in Kohler
6.) Doral in Miami
7.) Butler National in Oakbrook

Favorite Iowa courses:

1.) Des Moines Golf North
2.) Des Moines Golf South
3.) Wakonda
4.) Harvester
5.) Legacy, not fancy, but I like the lay out


Bucket List:

1.) Augusta National
2.) Pinehurst #2
3.) Pebble Beach
4.) Pine Valley in New Jersey
5.) St. Andrews

I played doral 7-8 years ago and didn't think it was worth the money. Although the white course was interesting

 

[iowa_wildcat]

Played:

1. The Amanas
2. The Hill
3. Lake Panorama
4. Finkbine
5. Veenker
6. Waconda
7. Jester Park
8. Lakeside
9. Don Williams
10. Timberline
11. Homewood--where you can find me almost daily from April to October

 

[hoosman]

I thought Spirit Hollow (Burlington) was really nice - out of the 13 public courses in Iowa/W.Illinois I've played.

 

[enisthemenace]

I've played pretty much every course in Iowa that one would want to play, with these exceptions:

1. DMGCC (I've played neither course)
2. Glen Oaks
3. Spirit Hollow - Burlington

Because I've never played them, they are at the top of my "want to play locally list"

My favorite 5, in no particular order, which is no small task because I like something about a lot of course:

Harvester (18th hole, though scenic, is stupid, but the rest of the course makes up for it)
Amana (I don't think there is a hole I dislike on that course. Great layout)
Bos Landen (use every club in your bag. The 14th is dumb)
Riverside (longest hole in Iowa. All around good track)
TCI

I don't understand the love for:

Wakonda - it's a slightly "bigger" Waveland, and I actually think Waveland can play more difficult (The Wave is what I consider my "home course")
Hyperion - really short, and it's pretty easy once you figure out the greens, and that doesn't take long
Echo - for a CC, it's pretty "meh". I compare it to Beaver Creek

Miscellaneous:

Veenker will always have a place in my heart, though I have never played it in what I would consider "top form"
Coldwater is really nice, but I just don't like that kind of golf. Same for Landsmeer in Orange City (I like The Ridge in Souix Center better)
Preserve (Rathbun) is a fun course, but I've outplayed it. I go down there every year with a group of guys, and we play until our hands bleed for 4 days
Legacy almost made my top 5. I might like it more than TCI. It was tough to keep it out of my top 5
Honey Creek in Boone. The back 9, staring with 11, is incredible. There are some "OK" holes on the front, but not enough to balance it out (IMO)


***my gosh, I could talk about golf all day***

Bucket list:

Augusta National
Bethpage Black
St Andrews
Medinah
Pinehurst #2

 

[CycloneDaddy]

I've played pretty much every course in Iowa that one would want to play, with these exceptions:

1. DMGCC (I've played neither course)
2. Glen Oaks
3. Spirit Hollow - Burlington

Because I've never played them, they are at the top of my "want to play locally list"

My favorite 5, in no particular order, which is no small task because I like something about a lot of course:

Harvester (18th hole, though scenic, is stupid, but the rest of the course makes up for it)
Amana (I don't think there is a hole I dislike on that course. Great layout)
Bos Landen (use every club in your bag. The 14th is dumb)
Riverside (longest hole in Iowa. All around good track)
TCI

I don't understand the love for:

Wakonda - it's a slightly "bigger" Waveland, and I actually think Waveland can play more difficult (The Wave is what I consider my "home course")
Hyperion - really short, and it's pretty easy once you figure out the greens, and that doesn't take long
Echo - for a CC, it's pretty "meh". I compare it to Beaver Creek

Miscellaneous:

Veenker will always have a place in my heart, though I have never played it in what I would consider "top form"
Coldwater is really nice, but I just don't like that kind of golf. Same for Landsmeer in Orange City (I like The Ridge in Souix Center better)
Preserve (Rathbun) is a fun course, but I've outplayed it. I go down there every year with a group of guys, and we play until our hands bleed for 4 days
Legacy almost made my top 5. I might like it more than TCI. It was tough to keep it out of my top 5
Honey Creek in Boone. The back 9, staring with 11, is incredible. There are some "OK" holes on the front, but not enough to balance it out (IMO)


***my gosh, I could talk about golf all day***

Bucket list:

Augusta National
Bethpage Black
St Andrews
Medinah
Pinehurst #2

Have you played Echo since they added another 9 holes?

 

[enisthemenace]

Have you played Echo since they added another 9 holes?

Yessir.

EDIT: It's a fine course. Just like Wakonda and Hyperion are fine courses. The only real reason to play them though, IMO, is the exclusivity. I mean, one can easily find just as good or (far) better public courses, except you don't have to worry about the crowds at the privates.

 

[CycloneDaddy]

Yessir.

Fair enough then. Beaver South can suck my ballz though.

 

[isudizzle13]

5 Played:
1. Spring Valley (Seriously a gem tucked in Livermore)
2. The Preserve at Lake Rathbun
3. The Legacy
4. Coldwater
5. Riverside Resort

5 Want to Play:
1. DMGCC
2. Brooks
3. TCI
4. Wakonda
5. Deere Run

5 Bucket List:
1. Augusta National
2. Irish Trip - Doing this in a year (Portmarnock, Royal Dublin, The Island, The Euro Club, The K Club, Baltray)
3. Midwest Trip - Will try this in a few years (Whistling Straights, Black Wolf Run, Deere Run, Hazeltine)
4. Sawgrass Trip - Will try once the lady wants to go (Valley Course, Sawgrass)
5. Pebble Beach Trip - Same as Sawgrass (Pebble Beach, Spanish Bay, Spyglass Hill)

I could go on with the bucket list...

 

[enisthemenace]

Fair enough then. Beaver South can suck my ballz though.

Hahaha...yeah, Beaver South. Not sure what you don't like about it, but I know those pines have given me fits in the past. You go in there on some of those holes, and "good luck" isn't enough. I've had to just take a drop on a couple of occasions, because I couldn't even put a chunk swing on the ball...in any direction, including backwards.

I do like:

- #2 (long par 3, with 3 tiered green. There is room to bailout left, but that's it)
- #3 (tee shot looks daunting, but there is a lot more room than it looks like from the tee. Want to give yourself 130-150 to the island green)
- #7 (I like elevated tees, for no other reason than max hang time. The approach can be tricky too, but the green does give a good backboard)

I would like 6, but it takes an absolutely perfect drive, and a nutted 2nd to have any chance to reach in 2. A par 5 should be reachable, IMO, which is why holes like #14 at Bos are dumb. Again...my opinion).

The rest of that 9 require a certain level of precision due to the pine trees.

 

[mywayorcyway]

1. Spring Valley (Seriously a gem tucked in Livermore)

I haven't lived in Iowa in over 15 years, but I was wondering if I would see this on here. I probably haven't played it since the late 90s. It was a surprisingly good course considering the location. It doesn't make my Iowa top five, but even this many years later I still remember quite a few of the holes vividly.

Lake Mills is another BFE course that wasn't bad to make a lap around.