XXIV Review of "Pinon Hills"

PINON HILLS, Farmington, New Mexico: Designed by Ken Dye, this course just may be the best value in the country. A great track (voted #1 muni in the U.S.A. in 2002) for too cheap. That's hard to say but true. I thought too cheap was impossible until I played it. It has a brutal front nine holes. This area of New Mexico is not the prettiest place, however the course is immaculate and not to be missed if you are passing through. RATINGS: 73.9/139 COST: $45-$50 including cart

visit my website here.

XXIII Review of "King's Course"

KING'S COURSE, Waikoloa, Hawaii: The Weiskopf/Moorish Hawaii lava masterpiece this is. It was built amongst the 'a'a (or Pahoehoe) lava fields on the Kohala coast of the big island of Hawaii. Even though the Big Island is constantly forming through volcanic eruptions, you have no worry about getting burned at this beautiful resort. (By the way, don't miss Hawaii Volcanoes Nat'l Park on another part of the island.) Stay in the fairway as balls don't get found in the lava fields-bouncy bounce. If they do get found, they don't play well and are gouged. This side of the island is awesome and dry (Hilo is the wet side) and 80 degrees and sunny. An interesting note: People don't believe there is snow here. There is, but not on this course of course. RATINGS: 135/73.4 COST: $195 including cart

visit my website here.

XXII Review of "Monument"

MONUMENT (at Troon North), Scottsdale, Arizona: The Weiskopf/ Moorish Saguaro masterpiece this is. All Phoenix area golf is beautiful, but this one is a speciality among them. The greatest things about this course: 1) Every hole is suitable for framing. Bring a digital so that you can take 5 pics on each hole. 2) The score don't matter. 3) Wowie-Zowie RATINGS: 72.9/147 COST: $55 (summer)-$170 including cart

Visit my web site here.

XXI Review of "Cholla"

CHOLLA (at We Ko Pa), Fountain Hills, Arizona: On the Fort McDowell Yavapai reservation there is a gem of a golf course (currently ranked in the top 40 "Courses You Can Play"). It is convenient to Phoenix and designed by Scott Miller.
This was the original We Ko Pa course and it made so much money (it couldn't have been the casino) that Ben Crenshaw & Bill Coore have added a course at the facility. Very good conditioning is a plus at this venue. RATINGS: 73.3/137 COST: $75(summer)-$180 including cart

Visit my web site here.

XX Review of "Golf Club of Illinois"

GOLF CLUB OF ILLINOIS, Algonquin, Illinois: This course is not listed on anyone's "best of" lists and that is a travesty. Built in Illinois native prairie, it is a must play. It boasts one of the longest par 5s in the country (just a hair under 700 yards). Go with driver, driver, 3 iron and two putt the tiered green. Routine par. Dick Nugent designed the course. RATINGS: 73.9/132 COST: $46-$59 including cart.

visit my web site here.

XIX Review of "Bandon Trails"

BANDON TRAILS, Bandon, Oregon: This is the newest of the Bandon Dunes Resort courses, finished in 2005. (There will be another in 2010). Coore/ Crenshaw know what they are doing a little bit. This course doesn't have the awesome ocean views that the other two courses on the property have, but it is the toughest. Boy, par 71's always seem tough. It's somewhat inland and not sooo windy (except for #18). The resort's lowest ranked course, it's still not too bad as a top 15 in the country (and underrated at that). The greens are murder. Missing the hole by an inch can mean 3 putts. RATINGS: 72.8/132 COST: $100 (rainy season)-$265 WALKING ONLY, caddies additional cost, carts for physically challenged may be available

Visit my web site here.

Golf Stuffs

Well, have you heard about the new course they are building in Australia that is going to be 1365 kilometers long? Yes it will be a par 72. It's not done yet, so as of now, the longest course in the world is no where near as long as the longest prime number. Longest golf course=about 4.8 miles long, longest prime number=20 1/2 miles long. My attention span is too short to remember this whole joke (you can look it up I'm sure) but here's the gist: Tiger Woods was talking to Stevie Wonder. Stevie said he was a scratch golfer. Tiger said "Let's play sometime." Stevie says "O.K. what night do you want to play?" Sorry I ruined it, but you heard it before anyway.

Visit my web site here.