LIII Review of "Running Y Ranch"

RUNNING Y RANCH, Klamath Falls, Oregon: What is this great course doing here? It's hours from anywhere. Apparently, like the great Bandon, Oregon courses, it has done fine. "If we build it, they will come" is a theory that works for good courses. This Arnold Palmer/Audubon cooperative venture compares favorably with famous courses anywhere. IT'S TOUGH AND AWESOME! RATINGS: 73.4/132 COST: $75 (off-season)-$150 including cart

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LII Review of "Boulders North"

BOULDERS NORTH, Carefree, Arizona: This appropriately named Phoenix area course is built, as is the South Course, in an unreal landscape of ancient lava boulder formations. Both courses are Jay Morrish (who often works on Weiskopf masterpieces) designs, and well worth the $$$ just for the photos. RATINGS: 72.3/137 COST: $75 (summer)-$285 including cart

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All Things Considered....

I would say these 20 are the best that I have played. (Means generally, by my criteria, difficult and beautiful.) For me to split hairs to determine #1 and #20 would be futile, as these are all heaven on earth. In no particular order then and listed by difficulty regarding slope rating:
THE BEAR, J. NICKLAUS, 148, MI
MONUMENT, T. WEISKOPF/J. MORRISH, 147, AZ
PRINCE, R. T. JONES, JR., 145, HI
PEBBLE BEACH, J. NEVILLE/D. GRANT (EAGAN), 144, CA
SPYGLASS HILL, R. T. JONES, SR., 143, CA
MAKALEI HAWAII, D. NUGENT, 143, HI
KEMPER LAKES, K. KILLIAN/D. NUGENT, 143, IL
COG HILL #4, D. WILSON/J. LEE (R. JONES), 142, IL
CHOLLA, T. WEISKOPF/J. MORRISH, 137, AZ
COTTON RANCH, P. DYE, 136, CO
FRANCIS H. I'I BROWN, H. FLINT/R. CAIN/R. NELSON, 135, HI
REDLANDS MESA, J. ENGH, 135, CO
BOULDERS NORTH, J. MORRISH, 135, AZ
KING'S COURSE, T. WEISKOPF/J. MORRISH, 133, HI
CRESTED BUTTE, R. T. JONES, JR., 133, CO
BANDON TRAILS, B. COORE/B. CRENSHAW, 132, OR
CATAMOUNT RANCH, T. WEISKOPF, 132, CO
PACIFIC DUNES, T. DOAK, 129, OR
ENTRADA, J. MILLER, 127, UT
SAND HILLS, B. COORE/B. CRENSHAW, NONE, NE
Honorable mention, Black Mesa, B. Spann, 141, NM
() indicate reworked or upgraded

Well, even though they don't count on the domestic list, I'd love to add some of the great British Isles courses to my memories. In this country, Pete Dye's (Straits) Whistling Straits in Wisconsin would be nice. I'd like to try Tom Doak and Jim Urbina's new one in Oregon next year.

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LI Review of (The Golf Club at) "Redlands Mesa"

REDLANDS MESA, Grand Junction, Colorado: This James Engh designed course is in the Great Basin Desert of western Colorado. Engh delivers a very tough test strewn with eye-candy. I hear some people can score here, but not me. The "Redlands" refers to the red-hued mesas of the Colorado National Monument, a lesser known national park that is a geologic wonder (and a backdrop for this golf course). The park is well worth a visit. RATINGS: 72.1/137 COST: $105 including cart.

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L Review of "The Brute"

THE BRUTE, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin: Completed in 1968, this aptly named brute was part of the original Lk. Geneva Playboy Club Resort, when the empire was still in focus. The companion course, "The Briar Patch", was originally designed by Pete Dye/ Jack Nicklaus. They left the project over some dispute. That course is now "The Highlands", reworked by Robert Cupp in 1995. Lets play 36! The Brute is an oldie but a goldie, at the resort now called Grand Geneva. RATINGS: $55 (off-season)-$155 including cart

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XLIX Review of "Black Mesa"

BLACK MESA, La Mesilla, New Mexico: For my money, this is the best course in New Mexico, and one of the best in the nation. It's in an eerie desert landscape (if you like desert scenery, it's so beautiful that it seems like a mirage), and for all of it's difficulties, quite fair. Only finished in 2002, it ranks in the top 40 of Golf Magazine's "Top 100 Courses You Can Play" list already. This is a Baxter Spann design. La Mesilla is near the larger town of Espanola, where there is plenty of food and lodging. RATINGS: 73.9/141 COST: $82-$87 including cart

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XLVIII Review of "Sun Ridge Canyon"

SUN RIDGE CANYON, Fountain Hills, Arizona: If you do well at Eagle Mountain, play this one, which is nearby, and situated with the Superstition Mountains to the east and the McDowell Mountains to the west. Do you want to see sunrise or sunset over the mountains? Let's play 36! There's a chance to humiliate yourself here, though. It's a Golf Magazine top 50 "Places You Can Play" track, designed by Keith Foster and nature. Very little earth was moved in it's creation. A dangerous beauty where Saguaro-studded canyon vistas are everywhere. RATINGS 72.6/142 COST: $55 (summer)-$150 including cart

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XLVII Review of "Eagle Mountain"

EAGLE MOUNTAIN, Fountain Hills, Arizona: This is more great Phoenix Sonoran Desert golf. Even though the course rating is tough, Scott Miller designed a very fair course in the McDowell Mountains. If you're hitting it good you will be rewarded here, in a stunning landscape. Arizona golf publications have bestowed many accolades on the facility RATINGS: 71.2/136 COST: $60 (summer)-$195 including cart

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XLVI Review of "Eagle Ranch"

EAGLE RANCH, Eagle, Colorado: This is a great Colorado Rocky Mountain valley course designed by the Arnold Palmer organization. Like so many new tracks, it is on an old ranch. This trend is disturbing for ranching but great for golfing. Classic vistas abound on this very difficult layout. Access is easy from Interstate 70, a wonder in itself. There's a chance for that 130 score here if you count 'em all. RATINGS: 74.8ouch/141 COST: $69-$99 plus cart

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"Reverie", The Best Ever it Was

I tell you what. The first time I came around the corner on #4 at Bandon Dunes, my heart caught. It was like when I was much younger (and high on something other than golf), and the picture spun around in it's frame. Then a reaffirmation at the 16th. tee.
Now Tom Doak, Jim Urbina, and the Earth have created a special feeling at Old MacDonald at the same resort. I've played hundreds of great courses. The only other time I felt entirely that "this course is THE ONE what it's about", in the U.S., was at Sand Hills. O. M. is a must! Full 18 open late Spring 2010. Huge, undulating greens for 4 and 5 putts will be available. With inspiration by C. B. MacDonald.

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XLV Review of "Makalei Hawaii"

MAKALEI HAWAII, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii: Dick Nugent's design, built among lava tubes, is not as well known as some of the coastal courses, but it should be. It is built a little bit upland from the famous oceanside courses, near beautiful Kailua-Kona. What a special part of the world Kona is. Much flora and fauna on the islands occurs no where else in the world. If you can't stand the beautiful weather every day, it's a short drive across the Big Island to Hilo, where it rains A LOT. I love this course! RATINGS: 74.3/144 COST: $69-$99 including cart

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XLIV Review of "Mauna Kea Beach"

MAUNA KEA BEACH, Kamuela, Hawaii: It's just another scenic, tough Hawaiian golf experience on the coast of the "Big Island". Designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr. and finished in 1964, renovation was completed by son Rees in 2008. Oh boy, sand bunkers were kept just below 100. Just like my score. Not! RATINGS: 77.2/136 COST: $250 including cart

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XLIII Review of "(Francis H. I'i Brown) South Course"

SOUTH COURSE (Mauna Lani), Kohala Coast, Hawaii: Don't miss this great Big Island extreme experience. As, a matter of fact, make it the first course you play. It is quintessential Hawaii. #15, the par 3 signature hole, is one of the most photographed holes in the world. If you've seen any Hawaiian golf pics, you have seen it. I nailed the all ocean carry with a 3 wood. One of the best feelings ever there was! That's all I remember; probably 3-putted. The weather is hard to take here: 70 at night, 80 during the day, sunny usually. RATINGS: 133/72.8 COST: $260 including cart

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XLII Review of "Crested Butte Country Club"

CRESTED BUTTE COUNTRY CLUB, Crested Butte, Colorado: This course is not very accessible, so you may have this awesome Robert Trent Jones, Jr. Rocky Mountain beauty to yourself. Isolated by the Maroon Bells Wilderness, the historic town of Crested Butte is a circuitous route from anywhere to get to. Hang out here in the high country atmosphere awhile if you can. It's worth the trouble to get to this normal, penal Trent Jones layout. Like father, like son you know. Get ready to curse your bad luck on your great shots. At least you'll have some big drives at this altitude. RATINGS: 73/135 COST: $95 (off-season)-$135. I am uncertain if rates include cart.


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XLI Review of "Devil's Thumb"

DEVIL'S THUMB, Delta, Colorado: Opened in 2002, it was rated 2nd. in "Best New Affordable Courses" category that year by Golf Digest. Designed by Rick Phelps, it's kind of rough and raw, but a great design. "Devil's Thumb" is aptly named in a devilish, adobe high-desert landscape. Really, LOOK FOR THE THUMB! This facility offers another outstanding value. RATINGS: 72.9/132 COST: $35-$42 plus cart.

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XL Review of "Catamount Ranch"

CATAMOUNT RANCH, Steamboat Springs, Colorado: This typically brutal but awesome Tom Weiskopf course, at 6500 feet elevation, is built on old ranch land that was probably homesteaded in the Rockies. Just outstanding golf architecture on pristine land. Some of the old ranch structures were left in place for essential ambiance. The town of Steamboat Springs is now a scenic ski resort town. Unfortunately, Catamount is a members only facility. Fortunately, there are several great public access courses courses in town. If you know the right friend, T. W.'s design is the best. Warning: This ain't a cheap town to hang around in. Probably not as bad as Aspen or Vail though, as it is more remote than those two ski towns. RATINGS: 73.2/149 PRIVATE

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