BTG’s 10 Favorite Golf Courses
10. Cypress Point Club
It’s an incredible piece of property with a routing that leaves something to be desired. I enjoyed every second of my time at CPC, even though the weather did not cooperate. I thoroughly enjoyed watching the Walker Cup played out there, as holes 15-17 are some of the best on the planet. I'd also put the 8th and 9th holes as two of my favorites anywhere in the world. It certainly deserves a spot on this list.
Favorite Hole: 17
9. Huntingdon Valley Country Club
An underrated William Flynn gem in the greater Philadelphia area, HVCC presents a challenging layout that is sure to test all aspects of your game. You won't find many flat stances outside of the tee boxes, and it's a memorable walk up down and across the Valley. I played the Centennial 9 a bunch as a junior, so it holds a special place in old BTG's golf heart.
Favorite Hole: 18
8. Sankaty Head Golf Club
As fun of a course as I've ever played. Sankaty is a memorable walk along the sand dunes and coast of Nantucket. It possesses and old-school charm that not many other courses can replicate. From the club house to the lighthouse perched on the cliffs, it's a walk you won't soon forget.
Favorite Hole: 14
7. Fox Chapel Golf Club
A Raynor gem, and a much more interesting and fun golf course to play than its brawny and more well-known brother, Oakmont. The Biarritz 17th is one of the best green complexes in the world, and the routing and variety of holes work in perfect complement to one another. It makes this list because I have not played there since I was 15, and didn’t full appreciate the architecture and variety of golf holes while I played.
Favorite Hole: 17
6. St. Andrews (Old)
What needs to be said? The home of golf is the only international course on this list, and rightfully so. It's firm turf, quirky undulations and double greens leave hints at the origins of the game with every step. The Road Hole is my favorite hole in the world, and the walk up 18 over the Swilcan Bridge toward the R&A is the best walk in all of golf.
Favorite Hole: 17
5. Seminole Golf Club
Pure Golf. Those are the two words that come to mind when I think of my rounds at Seminole. It's golf paradise. With pace of play more important than final score, the club honors the traditions of the game above all else. Want to lounge around, drink, and have dinner? Not the place for you. Show up, grab a quick lunch, play golf, and go home. It's unique in all the right ways. A pure golf experience.
Favorite Hole: 17
4. Pebble Beach
The best golf course on the Monterrey Peninsula. I fell in love with Pebble Beach the minute I stepped onto the first tee. The small, undulating greens combined with the old school nature of the golf course on the cliffs of the Pacific left me speechless. 6-10 is my favorite stretch of golf on the planet. Jack Nicklaus famously said if he had one round left, he’d play it at Pebble Beach. He is correct.
Favorite Hole: 6
3. Fishers Island Club
Raynor's masterpiece. It's a miracle the golf course even exists, much less exists in it's original state. With the help of Gil Hanse, Fishers has returned to its rightful glory as the greatest oceanside golf course in the world. It's Golden-Age, all-world green complexes highlight masterful design that has stood the test of time. The course simply should not exist, but it does. Given the presence of the wind and variability of the conditioning on the golf course, it’s the most fun and re-playable course I’ve ever been lucky enough to play.
Favorite Hole: 10
2. Pine Valley Golf Club
Not only the greatest golf course in the world, but the best golf experience you'll ever have. Every hole is it's own experience, it's own adventure. The architecture, routing, and variety of shots you hit as a player is second to none. From the perfectly manicured grass to the Snapper soup, it's everything you could ever want in a club. As you walk off the 18th green, you can't help but think about how lucky you were to walk the hallowed grounds built by George Arthur Crump.
Favorite Hole: 2
1. Merion Golf Club
The best routing of any golf course in the world. How it shows so much variety in such little acreage astounds me. The mix of brutally long, demanding, holes mixed with fun short holes makes Merion a unique mix of fun yet demanding golf shots. The wicker baskets and plaques honoring Ben Hogan and Bobby Jones add a timeless touch that makes you feel as though you are walking through an outdoor museum.
Favorite Hole: 16
