Courses, with ratings and comments

The Professor's Golf Course Grades

An "academic" appraisal of various golf courses played by a professor from Massachusetts.
Why? Because grading golf courses is more fun than grading exams.

This site is perpetually under construction, and was last revised on 10/30/2005.
You can email the Professor at: golf-vacationer(AT)earthlink(Dot)net

About the grader:

I'm a moderate length hitter, and presently have a USGA handicap index of 12.4. As far as equipment goes, I presently carry the following (all irons 1/2 inch long and 1 degree flat):

Driver: Taylor Made R580, 10.5 degrees loft, regular graphite shaft
3-wood: Tayor Made V-Steel, regular graphite shaft
5-wood: Taylor Made V-Steel, regular graphite shaft or Taylor Made Rescue Mid 2, regular graphite shaft
Hybrids: Taylor Made Rescue Mid 3 & 4, regular graphite shaft
5-PW: Taylor Made RAC OS, regular steel rifle shaft
Gap Wedge: Cleveland 53 degree
Lob Wedge: Cleveland 60 degree
Putter: Brassmaster (a Ping Anser 2 style brass head that I picked up for $30 in a golf store)
Ball: Callaway HX Tour or Titleist DT Solo. The Callaway is less durable than the Titleist (mostly light scuffing), but spins more on approaches. It might fly a bit farther if I really hit it squarely. The DT Solo is a good value for the money. I'll play with it when the greens are soft and spin matters less.

Explanation of the grading system used here (and unlike some of my classes, there is no curve)

Although there is reasonable agreement about the top courses in the country in lists published by Golf Magazine and Golf Digest (for example, ranking Pebble Beach and Pinehurst #2 among the top 10 courses), I doubt that any authoritative definition of a "great" golf course exists. It's also hard to compare golf courses with different styles. Desert courses, links courses, and parkland courses all feel different. I enjoy courses that offer varied and interesting strategic options. If there is a preferred location for the tee shot (e.g. a draw to the left of the fairway), it's challenging and fun if the shot introduces some risk (e.g. a bunker comes into play). I like courses whose holes offer different challenges. Perhaps some holes reward accuracy and wedge play (often the case with a good short par 4) while others reward power. A few forced carries are fun too - whether over rough, bunkers, waste areas, or water, as are greens that offer a good balance of risk and reward while mixing viable recovery options with (hopefully) temporary disaster. Courses should ask for your best game, but harder courses are not necessarily better. If even a small error always results in disaster, the fun disappears. At the same time, it needs to matter whether you hit a good shot. If it's a pretty routine two putt from 15 feet and from 40 feet, the course doesn't reward accuracy with irons. At the same time, if 40 foot putts are impossible, hitting the green offers no advantage to being in the rough. Great courses test you, yet keep you feeling like you can meet the challenge with your best.

There are a few other items that also affect how I perceive a course. Great courses should also be beautiful. History or fame adds to the experience. Playing major championships venues, tour stops, and famous courses is fun because you get a sense of the challenges top players have faced when the stakes are high. Conditioning also matters, especially as the price rises. And finally, the general facilities and services available affect the experience.

With all this having been said, here's how I grade the courses:

A+: Outstanding, often with history or fame adding to the overall experience of playing there. These are the very best, most memorable courses I've played.

A: Outstanding. Courses often as good as those in the higher category, but lack the history, fame or whatever it takes to be singled out as the cream of the cream.

A-: Excellent golf course. You'd really look forward to playing here, whether on vacation or as a special outing at home. These courses are challenging, interesting, or in a beautiful setting. However, desirable qualities (including history) may not be as consistently present as they are in courses graded A or higher.

B+: Very good golf. You'll enjoy the round and find some excellent holes, although the course isn't good enough to be a vacation highlight.

B: Good, enjoyable golf.

B-: It's golf, but I have some reservations about the course.

C, D: I'm not so sure it's golf. Don't play here unless you absolutely have to.

Next courses up:

Mauna Kea, August 2005

The Grades (within grade, courses are listed in descending order, along with date of visit):

A+

Pacific Dunes, Bandon, OR (June 2004): This Tom Doak course, which is routed through sand dunes overlooking the Pacific Ocean, is the most visually stunning course I've ever played. Many golf publications highlight the ocean views and the vistas up and down the coast, but the amazing thing to me is the natural, "unmanaged" look to the course. Other than the fairways and greens, there is little cultivated grass on the course. If you're off the fairway, you're in the native grass, sand, and gorse. I was told that very little earth was moved to build the course, and that only 4 greens were built. The remaining ones sit on the natural contours of the land. The routing itself is brilliant, offering constant strategic, technical, and psychological challenges. The fairways are generally wide, but often one side offers a much better approach to the green. Sometimes the preferred location is blind from the tee. Many of the greens are significantly elevated, with missed shots kicked down into chipping areas 5-10 feet below the green. If you miss badly, you might lose the ball over the cliffs and dunes. Most of the par 3's have forced carries, and it's often advantageous to play away from the flag. Then there's the firmness of the turf and the wind. The greens will hold only if you hit them with high, spinning shots in the front/center area. Everything bounces and runs unless you hit into a hill, and it is hard to hit your targets when the wind blows. Accordingly, knockdowns and low running chips are the order of the day. The caddies (I really recommend you take one at this course. They will save you many strokes with their local knowledge.) called for bump and runs from 70 yards out and putters within 15 yards of the green. All of these challenges are compounded by the visual intimidation the geography provides. It's one thing to ask a golfer to carry a ball across a hazard. It's scarier when you can't see where your shot will land, or when the green is protected by a yawning 6 foot deep bunker or a cliff that drops 50 feet to the beach. You may wonder why I have this course graded ahead of The Country Club and Pinehurst No. 2 when those courses are universally acknowledged as among the very best and have so much history associated with them. Simply put, Pacific Dunes is unique and memorable. You can play lots courses that offer similar challenges to The Country Club and Pinehurst, but you will not easily bump into another course like Pacific Dunes.
The Country Club (Open Layout), Brookline, MA (multiple visits): This is a terrific course, with a strong plus for its history as the site of Francis Ouimet's victory in the U.S. Open, as well as numerous other events including the Ryder Cup. The course tests every facet of a golfer's game - length, accuracy, putting, and short game. Some holes are long and wide open. Others short and tight. Some holes tempt you to drive the green, or at least get real close, but there's trouble if you miss - including some very difficult up and downs. Risk these challenges at your peril. The course features elevation changes and a couple of blind shots. The greens are small, so you'll chip, putt, and try the sand traps. And some of those greens have breaks I never would have guessed are there. Hard to imagine someone shooting under par here, especially with the rough up, but obviously it happens - once in a while. By the way, the Open Layout graded here is not generally in play at the club, as it is a composite course from the 27 holes the club has available. The usual 18 (the "Clyde/Squirrel") is an outstanding course in its own right. Only about 3 or 4 holes are different, and the thing that gets removed from the Open layout is the brute length of some holes on the back 9. Given the length (well into 400+ yards - par 5 length for par 4 holes) and how well guarded the greens on these holes are (one protected by water, another by trees), it is amazing to imagine how good you have to be to shoot par through this back 9.
Pinehurst No. 2, Pinehurst, NC (October 2002): Big history and aesthetics points for this course, which Donald Ross considered his finest. Of course it's a great layout. The greens are tricky, but it isn't that hard to put it in play from the white tees. However, the challenge gets a lot tougher if you stand back where the pros hit from and imagine the rough is 5 inches long and the fairways narrowed to U.S. Open width. The crowning of the greens means you have to put your approaches in just the right place, and from 185 it's a lot harder than from 140. Bogeys are relatively easy to make, pars are a challenge, and birdies are hard to come by. As for the resort, it's Pinehurst. Expensive, but really well set up for a golf vacation - lots of good courses, convenience, and nice accommodations. If you go, make sure you're hungry for breakfast. The buffet there is amazingly plentiful, with southern comfort food like grits and biscuits with gravy joining the fresh fruit, waffles, omelets, and pastries. And remember, it's part of the package deal!
Bandon Dunes, Bandon, OR (June 2004): This is a terrific course worthy of all the raves it gets. Like Pacific Dunes, it offers real links golf overlooking the Pacific Ocean. While both courses offer similar challenges, Bandon has a slightly more cultivated feel to it. The edgy contours of the dunes have been softened to give a look that's more like the courses we play every day. Still, there's no mistaking the links aspect of the course. Pot bunkers sit in the middle of fairways (although relatively few are in landing areas), and the gorse is always waiting to gobble up errant shots. Sooner or later, you'll get both lucky and unlucky in your round as the ball bounces off the natural sand contours of the fairways and greens. As for the resort itself, Bandon Dunes is set up for golfers and not much else. The food is good, if not spectacular (for example, the breakfast buffet at Pinehurst is way more elaborate). The lodge and rooms are very comfortable, but not unduly fancy. There aren't movies in the rooms, high speed internet, or luxurious bathrooms. But why have them when practically every guest will spend all day outside? And believe me, if you ever go to Bandon Dunes, you will play a lot of golf. Its courses (with a third on the way) present terrific challenges with beautiful scenery. 36 holes a day may be tiring, but it's good exercise and tons of fun. In fact, my group was talking (and I don't think entirely in jest), about trying to get in 45 or 54 in a day next time.
Paa Ko Ridge. Albuquerque, NM (June 2003): This is the best desert course I have played. It's on an elevated section of desert outside Albuquerque, so you get nice views of the surrounding area. The course is beautifully routed to take advantage of the elevation change and the wind. Conditions were excellent, and the golf challenges were tough but fair. There's room in the fairway (although there's sometimes disaster on one side or the other), but the angle of approach to the green often matters because of how the bunkers are placed. If played from the back tees with wind, this would be a heck of a challenge for a top player. Without wind, I think the course would be a bit easier, but I think that wind must be pretty prevalent given the exposed location of the course. I'm guessing people don't often play here because it's a bit out of the way, but if you're in Albuquerque, put it on your list of things to do. I'd love to play there again.
Mauna Kea, Kohala Coast (Big Island), Hawaii (August 2005): This is resort golf at its highest. The term ≥resort golf≤ often means a pretty, but forgiving, course designed primarily to make sure hackers on vacation feel that they have successfully taken on a ≥championship≤ course. Not so at Mauna Kea. The course is gorgeous, with stunning views of the Pacific. Its isolated location on the coast makes it so quiet that tiny little noises (like birds) seem loud. Youπre almost reluctant to tee off on some holes because youπll have to leave the serenity behind. But besides being gorgeous, Mauna Kea is fair to both the hacker and top golfer. With the exception of number 3 (the famous, often-copied par 3 over the ocean), the hacker never faces a serious forced carry. You could play the entire course (except number 3) with a 6 iron (Iπd say ≥putter,≤ but a few downhill tee shots require some carry down to the fairway.). At the same time, shooting a good score here is hard. Holes 1 and 2 arenπt too hard, but then the examination begins. Number 3 takes you over the water, and after that the course presents elevated greens with very tricky contours and constant exposure to the wind. The first time you play the course, the greens will look large (and they are). However, if you want a real crack at birdie, the actual target is very small, particularly when one takes the wind into account. A couple of holes (particularly numbers 11 and 14) are downright impossible when it blows. Downhill breaking putts are scary on this course. Robert Trent Jones partially made up for this difficulty by designing wide fairways, but the room is necessary to make things fair when the wind blows. If you decide to visit here, thereπs a great choice of hotels associated with this resort. The Mauna Kea itself is older, classic, with somewhat smaller rooms. The neighboring Hapuna Prince is new, with larger rooms, but less ≥established≤ elegance. Both hotels have beautiful beaches and good food.

Pinehurst No. 4, Pinehurst, NC (October 2002): Tom Fazio has given a kind of "Ross on steroids" look to this course. The greens are raised and crowned like Pinehurst No. 2, but in a more exaggerated way. The slopes on the sides of the greens are steeper. Also, the course has lots and lots of pot fairway bunkers. The starter advised us to stay out of them at all costs, and I'd say that is good advice.
Pine Needles, Southern Pines, NC (April 2003): A very aesthetically pleasing, comfortable Donald Ross classic. As set up for resort guests, the layout is very playable. To me, this course plays a lot like Pinehurst No. 2, but it's a bit more intimate. There's room off the tee, the greens aren't too fast. But with high rough and slick greens, the course would be a lot harder. Like other Ross courses I have played, the course makes you try all of your clubs. Things look very natural on this course. The sense of man-made golf perfection gives way to routing a course through the trees as if the open spots have always been there. As a pure layout, it might not rate an "A," but as a two (and soon to be three) time U.S. Women's Open site, the history bumps the rating up. The resort here (Pine Needles-Mid Pines) offers an extremely good value for a golf vacation. Excellent golf (36 holes per day), lodging, and food for about $240/night. It's easily the best value trip I've ever taken. I recently read that they are restoring Pine Needles and giving it some length to meet modern technology. That could really be something.
Grayhawk (Raptor), Scottsdale, AZ (February 2004): If you play here, bring your A game and lots of patience. Also, make sure you play the tees that are suited to your honest handicap. The design is pleasing to look at, challenging and a little punitive. The fairways are narrow enough so that anything less than a well struck drive finds rough or desert. Many greens are elevated so that if you miss by 3 yards, you're kicked into a tough spot - a downhill lie in a chipping area going back up to the green, bunkers, or the desert. Less comfortable and more punitive than other Tom Fazio courses I have played, especially for high handicappers. I have played this course twice and found it tough going. Both times, there were high handicappers in my group playing tees for 15 handicappers or less, and I'm not really sure they were having fun looking for all those balls in the desert. Torrey Pines South may carry similar (or higher) course and slope ratings, but you don't lose your balls or have no shot on that course as often because it's all grass. The desert at this course (and at Talon) means that wayward shots hit the gravel and take some long, nasty bounces.
Kapalua (Plantation Course), Maui, HI (August 2005): Kapalua is justly famous as the site of the Mercedes Championship. Itπs a visually spectacular, incredibly challenging tour along the higher slopes of North Maui. One person I played with said he was there to take photographs, and I can see why. You wonπt forget the stunning views of Lanai and Molokai. As for the golf, itπs hard ≠ very hard. The course features numerous forced carries over valleys of dense vegetation and blind shots. The fairways are wide, so you can rip it, but itπs not that much of a break because the wind plays havoc with your ball. The shorter par 4s feel awfully narrow when youπre dealing with a 25 mph trade wind. And then there are the greens. Iπve never misjudged so many putts as I did playing here. Sure, you may know that you are going uphill or downhill, but I constantly misjudge how much slope I had to deal with. Everything breaks towards the ocean (of course!), but I couldnπt see tell how much. Itπs borderline unfair if you havenπt played the course before. Unlike Mauna Kea, this course does not accommodate the hacker on vacation. Iπm sure that plenty of them have played the course, and I shudder to think what they shoot. Itπs amazing to realize that pros play here and shoot 65. I just canπt conceive how you could do it unless the wind dies down, and even then it seems pretty improbable.
Pinehurst No. 8, Pinehurst, NC (October 2002): An aesthetically pleasing, enjoyable Fazio course. Unlike Pinehurst No. 4, this Fazio course does not have the Ross look. The design is generally quite playable, although one of the par 5's (#6) doesn't have a good spot to lay up in.
Raven at South Mountain, Phoenix, AZ (February 2004): A really pretty, fun course to play. Although located in Phoenix, it's reminiscent of golf in the Carolinas - small pine trees with an occasional water hazard. There isn't a cactus on the course! In terms of the layout, it's fairly generous off the tee, with plenty of room on the longer holes to rip it. It's interesting to compare this course against one like Grayhawk's Raptor. I think this course is more fun to play in the sense that the average golfer will usually have a shot of some kind that's more than a chip out from the desert. However, the same space and forgiveness that makes the course fun to play also reduces the severity of the test of golfing skills. Even from the back tees, I don't think this course would challenge top golfers as sternly as most of the courses I have graded higher. However, it's still really fun and sufficiently challenging to play here that I'd do it again anytime.
The Sagamore, Bolton Landing (Lake George), NY (multiple visits): A terrific old Donald Ross design, restored not that long ago. Doglegs left and right, uphill and downhill approaches, but the greens aren't as crowned as Pinehurst no. 2, although a few are sufficiently elevated to make missing wide quite an adventure. The routing is through forest and meadow in the moutains surrounding Lake George, with a gorgeous view of the lake from the tee at #1. Compared to Pinehurst #2 and Pine Needles, the Sagamore is less generous off the tee, and certain holes really favor shaped shots. The pine forests are dense and not far from the fairway. There are also a couple of sloped fairways and blind tee shots. Too bad this resort doesn't have a couple more courses like this one, for then people would really come to play. My only complaint is that conditions there have been muddy on occasion. The resort itself is very pleasant, with an excellent breakfast buffet.
Red Tail Golf Club, Ayer, MA (multiple visits): This Brian Silva design is the best public course that I have played in the greater Boston area. It is a challenging layout routed through the landscape of an old army base, with old barracks, ammunition bunkers, and watch towers dotting the landscape. This gives the course a "different" visual look. It's unusual to see well-groomed tees and greens with waste areas in between that look like the army bulldozers were just there. My guess is that they left a lot of the land untouched after the army vacated the premises. Even so, some of the holes are visually stunning, particularly #11 (par 3 over a deep pit - do not miss right!) and #17 (a par 4 dogleg right "bite-off what you dare" from an elevated tee over a waste area). The course offers 3 different challenges. First, you have to stay out of the trees. Second, there are a number of forced carries over valleys, waste areas, and old gravel pits - particularly on the par 3's. Third, the greens have a number of contours, plateaus and collection areas with downhill chips back up to the green that make it very difficult if your irons aren't really accurate. This course is a thoroughly enjoyable challenge. I don't know how the USGA does its slope/course ratings, but this one plays tougher than the ones it has been given.
Sandpines, Florence, OR (June 2004): This is a really good course in an out of the way place. Florence, Oregon is about 1.5 hours west of Eugene, Oregon on the Pacific coast. You might not expect a really good course in such a remote location, but it's here. The first few holes run through a pine forest and have a parkland type feel. Starting with number 7, the course emerges from the pines and becomes exposed to the wind as it runs over and through various sand dunes. Rees Jones then gives the golfer a number of holes where length is an issue, especially when going into the wind. Like Bandon Dunes and Pacific Dunes, you have to keep your ball down and out of the wind. However, the greens and approaches aren't as hard or severe.
Beechtree, Aberdeen, MD (May 2004): Tom Doak's design philosophy is to work with the land, and this course reflects it. Located about 40 minutes northwest of Baltimore, the course gracefully winds through meadows and woods and offers an interesting mix of short holes and long holes. The open meadows part of the course has a quasi-links feel. There are forced carries over water, meadows, and marshes. It's exposed to the wind, and balls will run up onto the greens. There's also long (shin to knee high) grass bordering these holes. Hit your ball in there, and you probably won't find it - not that you could advance it if you did find it. As far as golf challenges go, the course is very playable. The landing areas off the tee are pretty generous, but you often get a much better angle of approach from the correct side of the fairway. The greens offer a mix between fairly contoured surfaces and reasonably flat ones. My lasting impression of the course is its natural beauty. It feels like someone took the meadows and woods behind a horse farm and put a golf course there. I don't think the course is as technically challenging as other courses like Red Tail and Grayhawk (Talon), but it was beautiful and a lot of fun to play.

A-

Grayhawk (Talon), Scottsdale, AZ (February 2004): Like Raptor, this course is hard. Tight for a desert course - you don't feel comfortable hitting driver on most holes, you can get blocked by trees if you're not in the right part of the fairway. Many greens are terraced, making the effective landing area very small if you want a shot a birdie or a routine par. David Graham and Gary Panks designed this course, and it's amazing how they did something so different from the Raven Course in the same valley. They're both good courses, but I'd rather play Raven.
Cyprian Keyes, Boylston, MA (June 2005): This course is in excellent condition and is very, very challenging. The blue tees at 6,498 yards carry a 73.3/134 rating, and it plays fully to that level. Most of the holes have forced carries over wetlands, sometimes from the tee and the fairway. Small landing areas and doglegs significantly complicate these carries. You can't just blast the ball off the tee because you could easily run too far into the woods or other trouble. Aggressive strategy often brings uneven lies, rough, and hazards into play. Conservative play takes away the really big number, but makes birdie and even par elusive. The approaches are no picnic either. Many of the greens are elevated and protected by mounds and bunkering. If you don't hit the surface, you can be kicked into bushes or the woods. The course requires accuracy and the ability to work the ball left and right. I'd rate this course about as difficult as any I have played, short of the Country Club's U.S. Open layout (the back 9 there is just brutally hard). Some people may find the course too target oriented and penal for its length. However, I found it just at the edge of getting too hard to be fun. If you want an enjoyable round with less severe (although still meaningful) challenges, I'd recommend Red Tail over Cyprian Keyes. However, if you want a stern test of ball striking, play here, especially from the blue or black tees. If you're not on, your score will be high. I originally rated this course and A, but on second thought moved it to A- because some of the shots are sufficiently awkward to be borderline unfair.
Silverado (North), Napa, CA (April 2004): This is an excellent old-style, mature California golf course. Designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr., the course rewards the strong ball striker who can work the ball in either direction. Only a few of the fairways aren't framed to favor a draw or fade. Sometimes trees overhang one side of the fairway, and other times the approach to the green is much easier from one side. A number of greens are guarded by bunkers or water, and OB is sometimes in play as well. The greens themselves weren't too tough, so if you strike it well you can shoot a good score. Spray it a few times, though, and you'll pay. The Silverado Resort itself is a very nice place to take a little vacation. The "suites" are actually small apartments with kitchens. Between the golf, tennis, pool, and the many wineries (take the Domaine Chandon tour), you can spend a very nice several days here.
Torrey Pines South, San Diego, CA (July 2003): Bonus points for being a tour stop and site of an upcoming U.S. Open. It's quite scenic from the holes along the ocean and the beautiful weather that San Diego has. This course is defended by its length and rough. It's 6,800 yards from the white tees, so most of the par 4's are hard to reach for the average golfer. They had the rough up when I played it, and that raised the challenge even more. If you can get it on the greens, it's not inordinately hard - but that's IF you can get it there. Additional challenges come from trying the shots the pros try - like on #18. The pin was front left near the water when I played, just like on Sunday at the Buick Classic. Being the chicken that I am (and protecting a good score), I played to the center of the green and two-putted for par. If you play there, you should go back to the championship tees (probably 7400 yards or so) and take a look. With the rough up and the greens slick, it will be something else for pros to shoot under par in U.S. Open conditions. It's scary long from back there, and the fairways look real narrow. I originally rated this course an A after playing. However, I now think it should be graded A- after playing more peer courses. Looking back, a lot of the challenge came from brute length and long rough, and any course can grow its rough or lengthen its tees. Good challenges, but not as fun as other courses that use geography, trees, water, and sand more creatively.
Stanford Golf Course, Palo Alto, CA (multiple visits): An excellent, mature California style course that winds through the foothills behind Stanford University. The course has the feeling of size - you want to use the driver, and you have to hit it well. There are a number of holes where length will be rewarded, and a few that reward accuracy. I didn't find it unduly tricky on the greens. Unfortunately, numbers 3 and 4 are being tinkered with because of a public road expansion. It's too bad because they're both interesting holes (a short, but treacherous par 3 and a short par 4 that requires position off the tee and a forced carry to the green). I don't know if the course will be as good after this "renovation."
Brae Burn Country Club, Newton, MA (October 2004): A challenging, interesting Donald Ross course that has hosted a U.S. Open, a U.S. Amateur, 3 U.S. Women's Amateurs, and 2 Curtis Cups. The course isn't terribly long on the scorecard - 6,531 from the tips and 6,218 from the blues, but most golfers will find plenty of challenge. First, many of the shorter holes feature significantly uphill approaches, increasing the playing length. Second, the greens are small, tricky, guarded by bunkers, and trouble often lurks nearby. Third, the course forces you to use all the clubs in your bag off the tee and to think carefully about your strategy. The preferred side of the fairway often has fairway bunkers or overhanging trees to put that touch of doubt in your mind. The course does have an awkward hole or too, but overall this is a course with a lot of old school character and charm. It's not quite Pine Needles or the Sagamore, but it's still excellent.
Osprey Ridge, Orlando FL (April 2004): This is the top course at Disney, and it's an excellent one. Designed by Tom Fazio, the course is fairly generous off the tee (a Disney design feature - you're on vacation, so you get to hit driver), but otherwise pretty demanding. Water is constantly in play, and the course has enough length to keep your less accurate clubs in your hands. The course finishes with its most difficult stretch of holes. The 2, 4, 6, and 8 handicap holes are among the last 5 holes, and they're all long, with water and bunkers guarding the fairways and greens. A strong finish here is something to feel good about, as you could easily make big numbers coming in.
Half Moon Bay Golf Links (Ocean Course), Half Moon Bay, CA (multiple visits): This course gets its high grade from the gorgeous setting. You can see the ocean from every hole, and no houses are along the course. The course is exposed to the wind, but it isn't a links course. When you turn for home for holes 16 (downhill short par 4, shallow green), 17 (par 3 with forced carry along the cliffs), and 18 (uphill blind drive, long par 5), the prevailing wind is into your face and raises the challenge considerably. If you can afford it, stay at the Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay. Now that's an excellent hotel, even if it is very pricey. This resort has the potential to be a really nice place to take a golf vacation. Two good courses, a beautiful location, excellent food, convenient to get to. I just don't understand why they didn't build a driving range and practice facility.
Orange County National, Panther Lake, Winter Garden, FL (Orlando area) (March 2005): This course is a very good place to test your game. The course has very few trees, so it is open and exposed to wind. This makes things especially tricky for the holes that border water. Three par 3's and a number of other holes have their greens guarded by water, and in many cases there is almost no room betwen the green and hazard. These greens offer pin placements that will make golfers nervous, and I expect to see some white knuckle moments when the PGA Tour's Q School is held here in the winter. An added feature of the course is the considerable variety of birds you can see around the water hazards, including numerous sandhill cranes that have become so used to golfers that you can walk right by them. The course, and its companion Crooked Cat, are part of a large golf complex that includes a lodge, golf school, and fabulous driving range. The accommodations themselves were on the spartan side, and there is little food at the resort. They serve breakfast and lunch, but the lodge restaurant closes at 7:30. This is a bit of a problem as the nearest restaurants are 15-20 minutes away. All in all, I'd play golf here again, but I wouldn't stay here again.
TPC Scottsdale (Stadium Course), Scottsdale, AZ (February 2004): No, I didn't ace number 16, I didn't try to drive the green on 17 (not that I could), but I did par number 18 after almost hitting it in the bunker on the right side of the fairway. That pretty much sums up why you'd play here - because the pros do. It's an excellent Weiskopf/Morrish design, relatively few trees, with houses along the course at various points. Compared to other Scottsdale area courses, it's not as pretty as Raven at South Point, not as challenging as either Grayhawk course, not as quirky as Wildfire Faldo, and similar in playability to Wildfire Palmer. As far as the value goes, the green fee here is a bit high considering the pure quality of the layout, but I suppose it's justifiable for the fun of playing where the tour plays every winter. You should look at the plaques in the clubhouse for those who have recorded aces at the course. There are regular folks who have aced 16, and their names are next to - yup - Tiger Woods.
La Cantera Resort Course, San Antonio, TX (February 2005): This course is a very nice resort layout in Texas hill country. It is a Weiskopf/Moorish design that plays a bit like TPC Scottsdale. The site of the PGA Tour's Valero Open, it has an interesting variety of holes. The overall design rewards thought off the tee. If you reflexively hit driver, you invite trouble for little strategic gain, especially on the shorter and narrower par 4's. There are also holes that offer room to pound your driver, and one par 4 that is drivable for truly long hitters. Number 1 measures well over 600 yards downhill, and number 10 is also very long, downhill and open off the tee, uphill to the green. Reaching either of these in two would be really something. The approaches to the greens are generally not too difficult, save for a few forced carries over canyons. The course is challenging, but fair in the sense that absolute disaster lurks relatively rarely - although those new to the course should keep an eye out for canyons and creeks that are hard to see bordering one side of the hole. The facilities are very nice, the service is first rate, and the resort - the Westin La Cantera - is excellent. Short of the Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay and the Phoenician, it's the nicest hotel I've stayed at for a golf themed resort, and the overall golf facilities here are better. Very good food, really nice room, and responsive service. Worth a visit, particularly in spring or fall when the hills are green and the grass is no longer dormant. On this particular visit, the course conditions were not particularly good because the winter overseeding had not gone well, and rain had muddied the course. I believe conditions are normally better.
La Cantera Palmer Course, San Antonio, TX (February 2005): This course is the companion course to the La Cantera Resort Course, and it offers an interesting contrast in design. Whereas the Resort Course offers a some challenging tee shots and reasonable approaches to greens, this one offers open fairways (short of yanking your tee ball into the scrub, you'll land in fairway) with difficult approaches. A number of greens are protected in reasonably punitive (but fun) ways. There are elevation changes, forced carries, water, cliffs (yes, cliffs), and rock outcroppings that ricochet your ball to heaven knows where. The course also offers some dramatic views of the hill country from its site on some of the highest points in the San Antonio area. No doubt this course is harder overall than the resort course (much higher slope ratings), but you might be frustrated more often too because shots that almost make it turn out worse than shots you advance 20 yards. Arnie invites you to go for it, but discretion may be the better part of valor. For example, 18 is a very long downhill par 4 with the approach over water off a downhill lie. Heroes go for the green, but may suffer the consequences. Ordinary folks aim for the rough to the left of the green and pitch it on. Is it better than the Resort Course? That depends on your taste, although I prefer the Resort Course by a nod. Make sure you play the right set of tees when you play here, or it will be a long day.
Celebration, Celebration, FL (Orlando area) (March 2005): This was the best conditioned course I have played in the Orlando area. The grass was in absolutely prime condition. The course bears the characteristics of its Trent Jones (Jr. and Sr.) design - varied length of the holes and defined target areas off the tee that make driver a gamble in many cases. The course also offers some very short tees for children to use. The general routing of the course takes it through the neighborhoods of Celebration, FL, a Disney designed community that has nice homes with a distinctive, very sterile, Disney feel. The buildings look like they could be found in the Magic Kingdom, even the homes that make up the "picture perfect" neighborhoods. This gave the course a more Disney feel than Osprey Ridge or Eagle Pines. Some people may like it, but others will find it too sanitized. It's like living on a movie set. Regardless, the course will give you interesting and fair challenges that reward length, accuracy, and a good putter.
Wildfire (Faldo), Scottsdale, AZ (February 2004, May 2005): This course is an interesting take on the desert motif, and one of two at the Wildfire Golf Club (the other is the Palmer course). You've got the gravel, sand, and cactus, along with some links inspired drama. There are a lot of bunkers out there that complicate life off the tee (especially if it's windy!) and near the green. The course is hard and fast. Drives here go VERY FAR, so allow for 30 extra yards or roll into a bunker you didn't plan on visiting. Bounce your shots in front and let them roll up, just like on a British Open course. The greens are also hard and sloped. There were a couple of spots where you could easily roll the ball off the green while putting. All of this sounds unfair, but the course is actually quite playable. There's almost always somewhere to put the ball, but birdies are hard to get. I don't know if the firmness of the course is deliberate, or the result of the course's youth, but I like it. Compared to the Palmer course, this one is going to frustrate you a bit more, but I think it's the more interesting of the two.
Wildfire (Palmer), Scottsdale, AZ (February 2004): Arnie lets you use your driver. The fairways are generous, and approaches to the green are reasonable. There isn't a single design feature or hole that defines this course, other than a couple of mild forced carries over desert. It's fun to play, and you leave the course smiling. I guess that's Arnie - he makes people feel good.
Mid Pines, Southern Pines, NC (April 20003): Another old Donald Ross course, affiliated with the Mid-Pines/Pine Needles resorts. Compared to Pine Needles, it's more narrow and slightly more awkward. I don't think it's as visually appealing as Pine Needles either. Nevertheless, it's still an excellent golf course.
Turtle Bay Resort, (Palmer Course): This course is located on Oahu's north shore, and is almost good enough to make it worth vacationing in an area where most travelers to Hawaii don't go. Like the other Palmer designs I've played, the course is visually pleasant, the course has enough room off the tee, and nothing is terribly strenous. The thing I remember about playing here is the wind. Although a few holes have trees, there are plenty of exposed areas where the prevailing winds can blow your ball around. Although most of the resort courses in Hawaii are very nice, I think this one has a bit more character than the Waikoloa courses.
Southern Dunes, Haines City, FL (Orlando area) (March 2005): Located south of the Disney area of Orlando, this course is located in a neighborhood of modest homes. The golfing challenges are very good. There are a lot of bunkers used to guard fairways and greens, and they are deep enough to case serious trouble sometimes. If all I considered were the golfing experience, this course would rate a bit higher. However, the homes are close enough to the course that it detracts a bit from the overall experience. Still, it's an excellent place to play.
ASU Karsten, Tempe, AZ (February 2004): Pete Dye goes desert. The course is kind of tight, and the penalty for missing is severe. Not really a complete desert course (water guards the 9th and 18th fairways), and a bit like TPC Scottsdale's Stadium Course (except that Stadium is less punitive). If you don't have a good day driving the ball here, it will be tough. The greens didn't seem inordinately hard though.
Eagle Pines, Orlando, FL (April 2004): A companion course to Osprey Ridge (both are located at Disney's Bonnet Creek Golf Club), Eagle Pines has the "do it or else" style of its designer, Pete Dye. There's a par 3 with a narrow, severely elevated green. Miss it here and you might not get onto the putting surface for a while. Water guards the greens on the last 4 holes. A couple of greens slope away from the fairway. Yet for all of that, the course remains playable. Dye included a drivable par 4 that's actually a pretty interesting hole. At less than 300 yards, he really tempts you to drive it, but bunker with a high lip keeps you from seeing the green. If you want to lay up, you still have to hit your tee shot over water, and the fairway is angled so that the correct club is absolutely vital. If you misclub, you wind up in the bunker or water. Not having played there, I was uncertain of club selection, so I pulled driver and made it onto the green by 1 inch. True to his style, Dye left me a 20 yard putt, up a hill, breaking right and then left, and onto a shelf. I three putted.
Orange County National, Crooked Cat, Winter Haven, FL (Orlando area) (March 2005): This course is less of an overall challenge than Panther Lake. It's shorter without becoming meaningfully narrower. However, the back 9 has some challenging holes that offer distinct targets guarded by water. I played this course in heavy rain, so maybe it didn't get a totally fair chance to show its character. However, I'd say if you only have time for one round of golf at Orange County, the Panther Lake course is definitely better.
Waikoloa (Beach), Waikoloa, HI: Nice resort golf among the lava flows of the Big Island. Conditions were immaculate when I played there, and I found the course playable and fun. I don't have strong recollections of this course, other than good grass, a few palm trees, and the extremely pleasant experience of playing golf in Hawaii. I really ought to play both Waikoloa courses again and re-grade them. I played there several years ago, presently remember them as pretty, very playable, and defended primarily by wind. As layouts go, they might really deserve B+ grades, but Hawaii creates a pleasant enough atmosphere to keep them at A-, at least for now.
Waikoloa (Kings), Waikoloa, HI: I had the same reaction to this course as I did to the Ocean course, except that I remember playing on the Sunday when Tiger Woods was locked in battle to claim his first PGA title.
Wailea (Blue), Wailea, HI: Still more nice Hawaiian golf, this time on Maui. The routing here is through trees, with relatively little lava. I'm a better golfer now than I was when I played this course several years ago, and I'd like to go back and try it again. More elevation change and a bit more golfing drama than the Waikoloa courses, but also less exposed with less wind. If you go here, consider staying at the Renaissance Wailea. Not that expensive for this part of Hawaii, nice rooms, really great fruit smoothies and onion rings, and a terrific beach with very good snorkeling.

B+

Newport National (August 2004), Middletown, RI: This course is located just north of Newport, Rhode Island on open land that has distant ocean views. Designed by Arthur Hills, the course is links inspired and reminscent of the Ocean Course at Half Moon Bay. The primary challenges are brush, long fescue grass, and the wind. However, the greens are typical Amerian style greens with chipping areas around them. All in all, this course is just short of being an A-. Conditions were absolutely first rate, especially the tee boxes. However, the holes don't have that individual character that makes the course memorable. Don't get me wrong - this is a nice place to play. But there's just something missing that keeps it from being excellent.
Pumpkin Ridge, Ghost Creek (June 2004), North Plains, OR: Both Pumpkin Ridge courses are known as premier layouts, but I wasn't as impressed as all the hype would suggest. Yes, it's a very good golf course that requires you to keep the ball between the trees, and often to one side of the fairway. You also have to keep an eye out for Ghost Creek, the little meandering man-made water hazard that flanks a number of the holes. The course offers the usual parkland challenges, with forced carries, bunkers, and pins tucked behind trouble. Nevertheless, I left the course thinking it was very good, but not itching to return. Of the four courses I played on this trip (the others were Sandpines, Bandon Dunes, and Pacific Dunes), this was clearly the weakest, although still a good golf course.
Stone Mountain Golf Club (Stonemont Course), Stone Mountain, GA (January 2004): A Robert Trent Jones, Sr. course, the Stonemont asks you to keep your ball between the trees. It's not really tight, but you can't just grip it and rip it. Most of the holes are quite playable, except #1. There's just no place to put it for a decent lie. You get uphill, downhill, or sidehill no matter what. Some of the holes have very nice views of Stone Mountain.
The Presidio, San Francisco, CA (multiple visits): The topography of this layout is really tough. Elevation changes, sidehill lies, sloped greens. I've never played Olympic, but I imagine that this course is similar - right down to its location in San Francisco. If they ever let some of these greens run at 10 or 11 on the stimpmeter, the downhill puts would be frightening. I'd consider rating it higher, but I have played there when the conditions weren't so great - too muddy and soft. Also, two of the par threes are short downhill target shots and a couple of the par fours don't do anything for me. All in all, this is a hard course. You won't often see white tees at 6,100 yards slope rated at 132. In fact, it's the hardest course of that length I have played. It feels like 6,600 because a lot of the length is uphill or into the prevailing wind, while the short holes are downhill. For example, #12 is a 439 yard par 4. The tee shot is downhill, but into the wind, so you don't get much help there. Then the approach is distinctly uphill and into the wind to a small, sloped green. Hitting this green in regulation takes two superb shots. A bogey on the hole is a good score.
Stow Acres (North Course) (multiple visits): This layout is demanding off the tee. Except for holes 1 and 18, there are trees in play on every hole, and in most cases this means a pine forest that makes hitting the green impossible if you aren't fairly straight off the tee. A few holes also feature water that adds intimidation to both sides of the fairway. If you drive it well, you can shoot a good score here. The greens are generally straightforward and large. The course favors a player who can hit the ball right to left, especially on the back 9. In past years, the course has suffered from uneven conditioning. However, this summer (2004), the course is in very good shape. The greens are as good as I've ever seen them here. The toughest hole is #4. The landing area for your drive is downhill, blind and narrow. Trees right, water left. A well placed tee shot (consider 3-wood for accuracy's sake!) leaves you about 150 to a large green protected front and left by water. An alternate strategy is to lay back off the tee at 200 yards. This leaves you plenty of room for your tee shot, but your approach will be off a slightly downhill lie over water. I have seen a lot of 8's and 9's made at this hole - a hooked drive (water), a short approach (water), and a chunked wedge (water), never mind the trees.
Shaker Hills, Harvard, MA (multiple visits): This is a very nice daily fee course northwest of Boston. It's routed through trees and has a good deal of elevation change. There are a number of tee shots that are significantly up or downhill, including one fairly long par 3 over water. It's not too tight off the tee, but there are enough trees to make you a little nervous on a number of holes.
Sterling Country Club, Sterling, MA (June 2004, June 2005): This is a Michael Hurzdan private club design which I have played twice for golf outings. It reminds me of Cyprian Keyes in its use of wetlands and forced carries. The doglegs, bunkers, and trees often make driver a risky play, but it is not as target oriented as Cyprian. The conditions are excellent, but I thought the design had a couple too many forced layups with short irons over wetlands. Don't get me wrong - I like this kind of hole and think that good short par 4's offer some of the most interesting and fun golf challenges. However, there are 4 of them on this course, and none of them struck me as a great hole, in part because there was no "go for it" option on 3 of the 4 holes.
Kierland Golf Club, Scottsdale, AZ (February 2003): Nice resort golf. Comfortable on the greens, enough room on the fairways, relatively few "so how am I going to get out of here" lies. When I played there, there was very little sand in the bunkers, and it was VERY hard underneath. I've decided to grade this course at B+ even though a lot of courses of this ilk are considered prime courses. Yes, it's fun, and conditions were good. But neither did I come away with the feeling that this was a particularly beautiful or testing course. If it were located in a different place, I might have reacted differently. But, it's located in Scottsdale where there are so many top courses, and this one doesn't stand out by comparison.
Silverado (South), Napa, CA (April 2004): Also designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr., this course shares many features with Silverado North. However, Silverado South has more open fairways, demands fewer shaped tee shots, and has more elevation change. Overall, I don't think the course is as good a test of golf as the North course, but it's still very good. Also, conditions were not as good as they should have been when I played there (April 2004). The fairways were particularly spotty, with some bare spots and considerable invasion of undesirable, coarse grasses.
Half Moon Bay Golf Links (Old Course), Half Moon Bay, CA (multiple visits): Actually a pretty nice course, but it's routed through a bunch of condos and houses that detract from the aesthetics. #18 is a great hole - downhill, downwind with a cliff on the right, to a small green also perched on the cliff. When I played it, the wind was howling from behind and the right, so you either had to risk hitting your ball over the cliff to find the fairway or be resigned to getting it blown into the left rough. I took the risk and landed in the fairway. When I got to the green, the Ritz-Carlton had its evening bagpipe player behind the green in a kilt. Hokey, faux Scottish atmosphere, but memorable too.
Chardonnay (Shakespeare), Napa, CA (April 2004): This is a somewhat unusual course. Routed through a young vineyard, the course is very exposed to the wind. It might be quasi-links golf, but the course requires a number of forced carries and has quite a few water hazards. All of the surrounding vineyards are OB, and some of them are pretty close to the fairway. These features, combined with the wind, make the course a bit of a white knuckle adventure. For example, the course features a par 3 with a severely downhill tee shot to an island green. That is a lot of time for a ball to hang in the air when the wind is blowing 25 miles an hour, as it was on the day I played. I aimed way left, saw the ball blow all the way over to the right and come to rest 8 feet from the water. Fun, scary, and maybe a little unfair in those conditions. At least I got it up and down for the par.
Empire Lakes, Rancho Cucamonga, CA (multiple visits): Arnold Palmer designed this course in the middle of Rancho Cucamonga's office parks. The course is a combination of a desert look with a tiny bit of links/Carolina feel thrown in. It's very playable and offers a pretty darn nice round of golf, reminiscent of some of the Phoenix/Scottsdale courses like Raven at South Mountain. It's just hard to get real excited when you look across a dusty lot at a non-descript office building.
Talamore, Southern Pines, NC (April 2003): A good golf course by Rees Jones, routed through homes. There are a couple of quirky holes and too much distance from green to the next tee box to give this course a higher grade. The long transitions through residential neighborhoods just detract from the aesthetics to the point that it's like leaving the course and returning.
Lake Buena Vista, Orlando, FL(April 2004): Resort golf in the land of Disney, routed through condos. One of three Joe Lee designs in the resort (the others being Magnolia and Palm), this course offers an enjoyable round of golf whose challenge depends a great deal on your skill. If you're a high handicapper, the numerous bunkers and water hazards will test you. If you're a low handicapper, the wide fairways and large greens will give you the opportunity to shoot a low score. This course is slope rated 129 from the white tees, but I don't think it plays anywhere near to that hard, especially with the rough at resort guest length.
Palm, Orlando Florida (April 2004): This is one of the two courses played by the pros in the Funai Classic. It is similar in feel to its Disney cousin, Lake Buena Vista, although there are no condos lining the course. Again, there's nothing to stop a good player from shooting a low score here, but high handicappers will have trouble with the water, sloped greens and bunkers. The course demands less accuracy in ball striking than Lake Buena Vista, but is harder on the greens. It's fun to play where the pros play, and the design is kind of fun - lots of chances to use the driver and reachable par 5's. However, the round I played there was quite slow. We were backed up 2 groups deep on the 14th tee. I'm not sure if this experience is typical, but if it is, I'd play the other Disney courses first (they all seem to have some degree of local management), as I had no significant pace of play problems on those. The starters on the other courses made sure that groups were kept sufficiently apart off the first tee, but the Palm starter did not.
Randolph Park (North), Tucson, AZ (multiple visits, 2000): A good Tucson muni golf course that hosted the LPGA Tour for many years. Mature trees, not much elevation change, and a very nice walk in the park - right down to the wintering ducks on the water hazards. This facility has a nice grass driving range. What a treat to go with muni golf!
Pueblo de Cochiti, Cochiti Lake, NM (June 2003): A Robert Trent Jones, Jr. course outside of Santa Fe, NM. The high desert setting is fabulous. The course features several holes with absolutely spectacular views of the desert. As for the layout, it's a little bit tight in spots. The architect doesn't always want you driving the ball, so don't necessarily play the longest tees you think you can handle. The course conditions were ok (a bit dry in spots), but not great. Overall, the course was not as cultivated as other desert courses I've played, but maybe that's not a bad thing. After all, who'd expect a course in the desert to look as vibrantly green as the ones in Scottsdale do? And most of the rough spots were to the sides of the holes or between holes. The major playing surfaces were generally fine. The course is well off the beaten path, but if you're in Santa Fe, I would consider making the effort to play here - assuming that I'd already had my fill of Paa Ko Ridge.
Stow Acres (South Course), Stow, MA (multiple visits): The other course at the Stow Acres complex. Compared to the North Course, there's more elevation change, a couple of very ordinary holes, and a few pretty tough holes (#2, #10, and #16). Some of the toughness comes from holes that are just a bit awkward. Perhaps this was intentional, but I think it keeps this course from reaching its potential. Sometimes it's a bit muddy in spots, but you'll have fun playing here.
Pinehurst No. 5, Pinehurst, NC (October 2002): This is a nice course, but it's weak in the context of Pinehurst. Routed through condos, it's a standard park-type layout.
The Phoenician (Oasis/Desert), Scottsdale, AZ (February 2003): Conditions at this course are very nice, but it's resort golf winding through houses with nothing particularly memorable. Also, it's way, way, way overpriced, even for Scottsdale in winter. You can play much better courses for the same money or less (try Raven, the Wildfire courses or Kierland). That having been said, the Phoenician hotel/resort is excellent. The rooms are comfortable and food is fabulous. A bit pricey, though.
Kapalua (Village), Maui, HI (August 2005): This course features the marvelous views and wind youπd also find at the Plantation course, but its shorter, tighter, and considerably more forgiving. The absence of the forced carries and the somewhat less sever greens (theyπre still no picnic, believe me), removes the drama that makes the Plantation course so memorable. Playing here is pleasant (and not too expensive by Maui standards), but itπs not the ≥so this is why I traveled 5,000 miles with golf clubs≤ experience that courses like the Plantation or Mauna Kea offer.
Kaanapali (North), Maui, HI (August 2005): The senior tour plays here, and itπs actually a pretty good course for one that winds through hotels and condos in a busy section of Maui. It features some elevation change, ocean views, and tricky greens when youπre up on the hillside. The setting makes this course feel a bit like resort courses in Florida ≠ palm trees, Bermuda grass, and buildings. The distinctive Hawaiian feel you get at Mauna Kea, Kapalua, or Waikoloa is missing, perhaps because thereπs no lava. If you do visit this area, make sure you go snorkeling at Black Rock. Itπs ≥behind≤ the Sheraton Hotel (a nice hotel with a good breakfast buffet!), and itπs blessed with a great variety of wildlife, including tropical fish, eagle rays, and sea turtles. The water is calm in the protected cove area, making it excellent for children or adults who arenπt comfortable swimming in the ocean.
Wolf Creek Golf Club, Americus, GA (January 2004): A new course in the Atlanta area, near the airport. This course could be pretty darn good if they smooth out some of the rough edges. The course has a lot of good design features. There's elevation change, a couple of blind tee shots, some tight holes, and some water. The rough spots are some green elevations and slopes that are too punitive. I hit #18 a few feet from the flag with a pitching wedge, and the ball rolled off the severely elevated green into rough that's 10-15 feet below the putting surface. #2 is a par 3 that shares the "hit the green or you're toast" design, combined with a tee shot that has to avoid a tree. I don't mind a couple of do or die holes in a course, but I thought the punitive aspects of this course were a bit unfair because you sometimes couldn't tell that there would be a problem from the fairway. Nevertheless, I had a pretty good time playing here, and would play it again sometime.
Fred Enke, Tucson, AZ (multiple visits, 2000): Muni golf in a state known for its resort courses. It doesn't have the polish and glamor of its more famous neighbors, but I enjoyed playing on this desert layout. Like Randolph Park, the course boasts a grass driving range. Kind of nice for the price.

San Dimas Canyon, San Dimas, CA (multiple visits): A course that winds its way along the base of the foothills east of Los Angeles. It's a pretty nice layout, if sometimes a bit dry. A couple of holes on the front 9 are uninteresting, but there's some pretty good challenge in the middle of the back 9. Number 10 is OB left and water right off the tee, with an uphill green. Number 11 is a reachable par 5, but it's a dogleg left with OB left, and a drop off down the hill right. Going for it in 2 risks disaster, and the green is uphill, small, guarded by a bunker, with a slick tilt. If you're conservative with the 3-iron or fairway wood, you can lay up and have about 100 yards from a flat lie for third shot. Interesting risk-reward. After that, you turn around and come back into the prevailing wind, with number 13 a long par 4 that forces a layup off the tee because of a water hazard. 18 is uphill all the way to a small, elevated green. I haven't seen too many pars made here. This course is slope rated 118, but I think it's tougher than that, especially in the afternoon when the wind comes up.
Brookline Golf Club at Putterham, Brookline, MA (June 2005): This course is adjacent to the famous Country Club (reviewed above). One of its holes is first rate and could easily be found on its more prestigious neighbor. Number 14 rewards a long hitter with a controlled fade. It's a routine bogey, but par is a very good score. Most of the fairways aren't hard to hit, but the course plays longer than the scorecard because many of the greens are significantly elevated. Downhill approaches exist only on par 3s. Taken individually, none of the elevated greens is unfair or inappropriate. Taken together, however, they make things a bit monotonous. My overall impression is that there's a pretty good course here waiting to bust out. It is a little bit reminiscent of Brae Burn Country Club, though with fewer bunkers protecting the greens. The par 4s vary considerably in length, making the golfer think about whether driver is worth the possible danger. The largest problem is the drainage. I played the course after rain the previous night, and casual water was ubiquitous. I lost two balls inside puddles so large that I couldn't get to the ball. Besides the drainage, the course is a little scruffy, but not inappropriately so considering the $30 greens fee. I'm told the course plays a lot faster when it's dried out in later summer. All in all, I'd grade this course one notch higher if conditions improved.
Biltmore (Adobe Course), Phoenix, AZ (May 2005): The conditions are very good to excellent, but the layout is no different than a good muni course from Southern California. Unlike most courses in Phoenix, it's a traditional park layout with water hazards and a little creek running through the property. There are trees, but they generally do not stymie your advance.
Wayland Country Club, Wayland, MA: Good golf in good conditions, but the layout is flat, a bit short, and with only a couple of interesting holes.
Sandy Burr Country Club, Wayland, MA: A layout that would have received a higher grade if the course had more variety, particularly around the greens. I understand that this course is an old Donald Ross, but it must represent his work when he wasn't terribly involved. A perfectly ok place to play, but it's not Pinehurst, Pine Needles, or the Sagamore.
Timlin Park, Berkeley, CA: A layout in the hills above Berkeley, with interesting potential, handicapped by an unenjoyable opening 2 holes. Some of the greens are small and uninteresting, and conditions were a bit muddy the day I played there. Some gorgeous views of SF Bay on the way to the course, though.
Santa Anita, Arcadia, CA: Muni golf near Pasadena. A few good holes, a few dull holes, nothing outstanding. Nevertheless, a pleasant "good walk spoiled," although I've played some excruciatingly slow rounds here. To me, the course is vaguely reminiscent of Randolph Park in Tucson because both have large mature trees and are on relatively flat parkland. However, Randolph Park is better conditioned and more interesting.

B-

Butternut Golf Club, Stow, MA: This course has a few nice holes, but it is crammed into space that's just not quite big enough. Most of the holes are shorter and narrower than modern courses, and the narrowness is compounded by brush and trees that are too close to the fairways to be fair. Then there's the 600+ yard long "par 5" that has no layup area, unless you count laying up 175 yards away, downhill, blind, to a small green fronted by water laying up. Ugh. Pencil me in for a 7.
Crystal Springs, San Mateo, CA: This course is built right along the San Andreas fault, along the tops of hills between San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean. Consequently, it has some really nice views that are the course's best feature. When it comes to the golf, though, I find this course narrow and awkward. There is no way that this course plays as easily as its slope and course rating suggest. There aren't too many public courses in this area of the peninsula, but I still think it's worth the time to drive up to San Francisco to play the Presidio, which is a much, much better golf course.
Marshall Canyon, La Verne, CA: Another course in the foothills east of LA. This one is handicapped by parallel fairways for holes that are pretty similar. You just change your sidehill lies is all. Drainage conditions sometimes a bit poor here, and there are only a few interesting holes. If you're in this area, I'd play San Dimas Canyon instead. The two courses are only 10 minutes or so apart.

Pine Meadows, Lexington, MA: A 9 hole course that's ok, but (like Newton Commonwealth) on too little land for the number of holes. Two of the par 4's are too tight, too short, and awkward. However, it's distinctly better than Newton Commonwealth because there are fewer holes that are completely unfair and unplayable.
Newton Commonwealth, Newton, MA: This course has 18 holes on land meant for 14 holes. Holes are too short, too tight, or routed along land not suitable for fair play. On one hole, a ball struck on one side of the fairway has a reasonable chance of rolling all the way off on the other side of the fairway and onto the cart path. There's just no place to put the ball. I wouldn't play here unless it meant not playing at all. A former student of mine insists that Newton Commonwealth should get a D.

Claremont, Claremont, CA: A 9 hole executive course that's too tight, with greens that are too small, with turf conditions that are too dry.