My Favorite Golf Courses

People often ask me, “What’s your favorite course?” It’s a tough question and I always struggle to narrow it down to one. So, here’s a list, in no particular order, of my favorites…

The Old Course at St Andrews Links – Fife, Scotland
I love how different The Old Course plays depending on weather. It’s a living, breathing parcel of land that changes every time I’ve played it.

Cypress Point Club – Pebble Beach, CA, USA
Cypress features some of the most breathtaking holes ever, mixed in with timeless strategy. It actually has three courses in one. The first six holes are a parkland style, the middle six dunes, then the final six coastal (bar the 18th hole).

Royal Melbourne GC (Composite) – Black Rock, VIC, Australia
The composite is as good as it gets but the entire property is an incredible expanse of amazing golf architecture that utilizes every club in the bag, especially the 15th!

Ballybunion (Old) – County Kerry, Ireland
With views of the Atlantic Ocean throughout, it’s a magnificent layout, and when the wind blows (which is pretty much every day) … look out!

Muirfield Village GC – Dublin, OH, USA
Host to The Memorial tournament, Jack Nicklaus’s strategic mind is at it’s finest over these 18 holes. Plus, during tournament week they have the best milkshakes ever in the clubhouse.

Sunningdale GC (Old) – Berkshire, England
With the grand old oak tree overseeing the final green, it’s a lovely walk through the English countryside that feels like you’ve been transported back in time.

Seminole GC – Juno Beach, FL, USA
I could sit in the men’s locker room for hours soaking up the history of who’s played and practiced here. The course itself is a Donald Ross masterpiece that requires pinpoint shot making.

New South Wales GC – Le Perouse, NSW, Australia
The wind determines everything around some of the most spectacular holes in Australian golf. Usually, I’m not a fan of blind shots but around here I am.

Augusta National GC – Augusta, GA, USA
The atmosphere during Masters week is like no other, with the 12th being my favorite hole in the world. Only a select few have walked onto that green.

Tara Iti – Mangawhai, NZ
One of the most unique experiences in the world. The service from staff is the best I’ve encountered anywhere, and the course just seemed to get better and better every time I went around. The views are not too bad either 😉

And here are a few on my wish list…

Pine Valley GC– Pine Valley, NJ, USA
Since watching Byron Nelson and Gene Littler play a Shell’s Wonderful World of Golf match on YouTube, I’ve always wanted to play this icon.

Royal County Down – Newcastle, Northern Ireland
There’s obviously a reason it’s been ranked number 1 in the world, and I want to find out what that reason is.

Muirfield – Gullane, East Lothian, Scotland
I missed The Open Championship here through injury several years ago and it’s bugged me ever since not having played this links masterpiece.

Barnbougle Dunes & Barnbougle Lost Farm – Bridport, TAS, Australia
Barnbougle’s received rave reviews and given it’s my type of golf (links), I must see what all the fuss is about.

Cheers,
Nick