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View Full Version : What's the most spectacular course you've played?


eweissenbach
01-07-2012, 08:42 PM
Watching the Hundai Tournament of Champions at Kapalua. I played Kapalua Plantation Course 18 years ago, and would say it is the most spectacular I have played, with Wailea Blue Course, on the other end of Maui as second.

jebartle
01-08-2012, 06:31 AM
and it was outstanding....Also played Pebble equally fantastic and memorable (this is where seagull snatched a "just purchased" $10 sandwich):cus:

rjn5656
01-08-2012, 07:47 AM
Pinehurst and doral were fantastic.

PennBF
01-08-2012, 07:54 AM
I also played the Plantation Course. A friend of mine built and owned the home just off #18 and was one of the sponsor's of the tournament. This was in 1965. At the time there were only 2 homes on the course. It was pretty expensive to build the house as everything had to be shipped in. He did tell the TV people he would sue them if they said who owned his home when they ran a span of the area as he was afraid his children could be kidnapped. We played the course the day after the tournament was over and I could not get over how difficult the putting was. :popcorn:

glgene
01-08-2012, 09:48 AM
Torrey Pines, just north of San Diego. Love the ocean views from nearly all (maybe all) holes.

Best hole ever: 18th hole at Lassing Point, northern Kentucky-- Eagle on a par 4 (drive, 265 yds; 2nd shot holed-in from 110 yds, 9 iron). Lots of people can Eagle on a par 5, but not so on a Par 4 -- because it means you're probably not putting, unless you hit one he-- of a drive).

Hitting an Eagle on the 18th hole is a perfect set-up for the 19th hole <g>.

Gene

VillagesFlorida
01-08-2012, 10:12 AM
Sunday River and Sugarloaf in Maine. Both are beautiful mountain courses with lots of elevation changes and spectacular scenery. The day we played Sunday River a few years ago, the course was "cart-path only" and we didn't know it until we arrived after a 2-3 hour drive. I now know what it feels like to be a mountain goat, after navigating steep inclines on many holes. At Sugarloaf we were greeted on the first green with the snort of a moose somewhere just into the woods, nearby. I wasn't golfing when hubby played Kaanapali in Maui but have played Pukalani in upcountry Maui....spectacular views of both West Maui and Haleakala.

eweissenbach
01-08-2012, 12:02 PM
Sunday River and Sugarloaf in Maine. Both are beautiful mountain courses with lots of elevation changes and spectacular scenery. The day we played Sunday River a few years ago, the course was "cart-path only" and we didn't know it until we arrived after a 2-3 hour drive. I now know what it feels like to be a mountain goat, after navigating steep inclines on many holes. At Sugarloaf we were greeted on the first green with the snort of a moose somewhere just into the woods, nearby. I wasn't golfing when hubby played Kaanapali in Maui but have played Pukalani in upcountry Maui....spectacular views of both West Maui and Haleakala.

Any course on Maui is beautiful by definition.

VillagesFlorida
01-08-2012, 12:13 PM
Any course on Maui is beautiful by definition.

That is SO right! Wish I was there, teeing off. It's hard to concentrate on a golf shot when the views are so stunning. But, for me, the scenery and wildlife are the big reasons I love playing golf. If I happen to play well and get a good score then I got a bonus that day!

fwpc3
01-08-2012, 12:16 PM
Whistling Straits in Wisconsin, home of Dustin Johnson's PGA sand trap misadventure.

English Ivy
01-08-2012, 01:14 PM
Whistling Straits in Wisconsin, home of Dustin Johnson's PGA sand trap misadventure.

Was wondering if anyone would mention Whistling Straits. I never played it but attended the first PGA tournament there in 2004.

Who would think that little Sheboygan County Wisconsin is one of the finest golfing destinations in the world?

Did you also play Blackwolf?

glgene
01-08-2012, 02:15 PM
Torrey Pines, just north of San Diego. Love the ocean views from nearly all (maybe all) holes.

Best hole ever: 18th hole at Lassing Point, northern Kentucky-- Eagle on a par 4 (drive, 265 yds; 2nd shot holed-in from 110 yds, 9 iron). Lots of people can Eagle on a par 5, but not so on a Par 4 -- because it means you're probably not putting, unless you hit one he-- of a drive).

Hitting an Eagle on the 18th hole is a perfect set-up for the 19th hole <g>.

Gene

I forgot to say: My 265-yard drive was on a slightly downhill fairway (thank you, roll) and my second shot landed on a big green, which helped find its way to the cup. I'm really not a good golfer. But that day, I was lucky! Lucky helps <g>.

Gene

eweissenbach
01-08-2012, 02:18 PM
I forgot to say: My 265-yard drive was on a slightly downhill fairway (thank you, roll) and my second shot landed on a big green, which helped find its way to the cup. I'm really not a good golfer. But that day, I was lucky! Lucky helps <g>.

Gene

Lucky most definitely helps, but it takes some skill to hit the shot in the first place, congrats.

Mudder
01-08-2012, 02:19 PM
Agree about Sunday River and Sugarloaf !!
Most spectacular for me is Mangilo in Guam.

Mikeod
01-08-2012, 05:20 PM
I don't know if it would be considered spectacular, but the tee shot on the first hole at the Old Course was the most nerve-wracking shot I have ever hit. There are people crossing the first and 18th fairways, and the starter is telling you to play away. I have always been careful to not hit into anyone in front of me, and this man was telling me to go ahead and hit with men, women, and children well within my range. :22yikes:

eweissenbach
01-08-2012, 05:50 PM
I don't know if it would be considered spectacular, but the tee shot on the first hole at the Old Course was the most nerve-wracking shot I have ever hit. There are people crossing the first and 18th fairways, and the starter is telling you to play away. I have always been careful to not hit into anyone in front of me, and this man was telling me to go ahead and hit with men, women, and children well within my range. :22yikes:

By American standards the Olde Course looks pretty plain and dreary (have only seen it on TV, so may not be fair), but to play it would be most every golfer's dream come true.

Mikeod
01-08-2012, 06:18 PM
By American standards the Olde Course looks pretty plain and dreary (have only seen it on TV, so may not be fair), but to play it would be most every golfer's dream come true.
I think from the air or on TV it's not much to look at. But playing it is something else. Basically, what looks to be a good line of play isn't, and what looks like a disaster waiting to happen may not be so bad after all. There's a lot of "Hit it at that steeple." Can't wait to go back and try it again.

hedoman
01-09-2012, 06:17 AM
IMHO Pine Valley in NJ........ but I may be the only one on TOTV who has played it...very private, no women allowed (except after 12 on Sunday) and never on TV. Have played Doral, Oakmont, Pebble Beach, and many other top100's............ NOTHING compares to Pine Valley

Mudder
01-09-2012, 10:13 AM
tHE NO WOMEN ALLOWED IS A REASON TO DISLIKE THAT COURSE.......IT'S NOT JUST THE ACTUAL COURSE BUT THE OVERALL GOLF EXPERIENCE AND THEIR POLICY STINKS.....THEY NEED TO GET OUT OF THE DARK AGES !!

batman911
01-09-2012, 03:55 PM
Koolau Golf Course on Oahu. The best deal is you can play it in shorts all year long. Bring plenty of balls, the course is not easy.

http://golfcoursepics.com/southwest/golf_course_674.html

spk7951
01-09-2012, 05:17 PM
I guess it all depends upon how you define spectacular.

Played Bay Hill a couple of years ago and we had the pleasure of watching Arnold Palmer playing a few groups behind us with his grandson Sam Saunders. Even got to meet Arnold briefly and chat with him. For the four us that was definitely spectacular.

Irish Rover
01-09-2012, 06:43 PM
Mid Ocean, Bermuda - spectacular!

Jhooman
01-09-2012, 07:47 PM
Princeville on Kauai, Hawaii and Pacific Grove in Pacific Grove, California also known as poor mans Pebble Beach. Dang, life is good.

eweissenbach
01-10-2012, 11:34 AM
Princeville on Kauai, Hawaii and Pacific Grove in Pacific Grove, California also known as poor mans Pebble Beach. Dang, life is good.

Yeah, to quote Joe Walsh, Life's been good to me so far!!:coolsmiley:

Mikeod
01-10-2012, 12:51 PM
Princeville on Kauai, Hawaii and Pacific Grove in Pacific Grove, California also known as poor mans Pebble Beach. Dang, life is good.

I used to play Pacific Grove whenever I traveled from Mountain View down to Monterey. But they changed the rotation and it spoiled it for me. I used to just play nine and the first nine was the one along the coast. But they must have figured out what people were doing and changed so the front nine is the inland nine. Darn. That was the closest I got to links golf until I actually went to Scotland. The Ft. Ord courses were pretty nice until they gave them to Seaside and the rates went through the roof.