Other thread on Private vs. Public made me start thinking - what are the best public courses you’ve played that aren’t widely recognized by any of the major lists (golf digest top public courses for example) or major resort courses. Try to keep to courses under $100 greens fee
Top of the list for me is Bryan Park - Champions (NC) - hosted USGA Pub Links in 2010.
Bethpage Black get’s all the attention around here, but I would say that the Red course is perhaps the most underrated public course out there. If you get a chance, play it! I often say they should swap the 18th at Black and Red, it’s one of the best (and most challenging) finishes out there.
Montauk Downs and Eisenhower Park are also great public tracks in the NY Metro area.
Pine Dunes in east Texas is a quality track and never charges more than $100 for a green fee…
I wouldn’t put it with some of the big boys, but from a $ to quality perspective it is the best deal in the state of tx
Good call - maybe this topic should be best under $100
Whistling Straits
Shadow Creek
Pinehurst #2
Erin Hills
Streamsong Red
The Prairie Club (Dunes)
Probably in that order.
Getting out to Tobacco Road, Caledonia, The Ocean Course, and Harbour Town next May. Really looking forward to that.
***I missed the under $100 thing.
Arrowhead Golf Course in Littleton, CO ($70 for afternoon weekday round). Most beautiful place I have ever played golf, literally hitting shots between red rock formations. It was 15 years ago now, but from what I’ve read they recovered nicely from from green rot and it’s now back to the level it used to be at.
I have yet to play it, but Memorial in Houston was just re-done by Doak
They spent 15mm getting it up to speed for the Houston open
Under $50 to walk during the week, but the tee sheet is known to sell out in minutes
Jon,
It seems like California and the East Coast does a better job of supporting quality public golf.
Texas kinda drops the ball IMO.
Any thoughts on some of the drivers there and thoughts on how to support public golf?
Could be a good article
For instance, public golf around San Diego is awesome. Obviously you have Torrey but there are multiple muny’s around San Diego that are kept in great condition
That’s a complicated issue, and I’m not sure I can provide much value/analysis on the topic. I think there are a lot of other golf outlets that focus more on issues like those. I’ve chosen to (mostly) stick to game improvement as the main theme on PG, but hoping to get more outside voices on the site soon to cover some other topics. Thanks for the suggestion!
I haven’t played Tobacco Road but hear great things. I’ve played Tot Hill Farm, which is also a Mike Strantz and isn’t far from Tobacco Road. That is a fun course (and also about $60). Think Tobacco Road runs around $150 but can find deals for stay and play packages in the area. It may also drop to around $100 in the middle of summer since it’s so hot/humid there.
Interesting - I know in NJ where I grew up the public golf was great.
I live in Ft Worth, haven’t been out there yet, but when I do I’m planning to do 36 in a day. Heard great things!
My favorite muni and ‘home’ course is Rockwood in Ft Worth, $43 walking on weekends. Several other great muni’s in DFW area including Stevens Park(Dallas) and Squaw Creek (Willow Park) designed by Kemp/Colligan are up there as well.
Would put my college course Diamondback in Abilene, Ross Rogers Mustang and Wildhorse in Amarillo, and the redesigned Memorial Park(Houston Open course) up there as well.
Only in Florida:
World of Woods
Southern Dunes
Palmer Course (Reunion)
I haven’t played much outside of the Vegas area but I would say in this order:
Wolf Creek, Mesquite NV
Sand Hollow, St. George UT
Coyote Springs, Somewhere outside of Vegas, hahahaha
The Ledges, St. George UT
Paiute (all 3 courses, especially wolf) Las Vegas, NV
Im heading to Vegas (again) for anniversary next Mar; I’m desperate to play Wolf Creek…is the achievable form the strip? Do i need to pre book? Club rental etc…sorry for lots of questions
Kinderlou Forest right outside of Valdosta, GA is a very nice and challenging course. Green fees are about $75. They used to play a minor league (what is now the Korn Ferry) tour event there for many years. The tees they played are way out of my league at around 7800 yards. Challenging enough for me at 6600.
It’s about an hour and 15 minutes from the strip, probably need to rent a car. Depending on when you’re going, I wouldn’t mind playing there again, so I could be your ride, and I’ll have clubs so you won’t have to rent. However, if I’m not available because of work, they do have club rentals. Pre-booking isn’t necessary more than a month out.
Torrey for $35 when I lived in San Diego was definitely the best value!
I’ve played some nice course for under $100 personally, because others picked up the tab!
Not many great public courses for under $100 in Kentucky…There is a Donald Ross course in Indiana that is $125 with cart that I’ve wanted to play.