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10 Most Beautiful Courses
Chris Santella February 21, 2008
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The vista from the second tee at Pacific Dunes features enough challenges to give one serious pause: one hundred and twenty yards of scrub land to be cleared, followed by two ominous bunkers left and center, then a six-pack rippled fairway leading to an elevated green. Beyond the green lies a small copse of pines, and then the Pacific. Like any great golf course, Pacific Dunes is both inspiring and terrifying.
Bill Coore
Tom Doak
John Fought
John Olenoski
Damian Pascuzzo
What makes a golf course a true classic? For some, it's the scenic beauty a course affords—jaw-dropping expanses of verdant nirvana. Others favor the strategic value presented by each hole, and for that matter, each shot. Finally, there is history: the chance to walk on the fabled fairways where champions fought, and tournaments were decided.
Considering the wide range of strategic and aesthetic preferences that come to bear in compiling a list of great courses—and the fact that there are somewhere in the vicinity of 12,500 public courses in the United States—this can be a fairly contentious enterprise. We asked five renowned golf course architects to name five of their favorite public golf courses—hereby defined as a daily fee or resort course.
See our slideshow of golf designers' U.S. masterpieces.
Three courses floated to the top of almost everyone's list. The first is Pacific Dunes, a 2001 Tom Doak design at the Bandon Dunes Golf Resort on the Oregon coast (note—this course finished at the top of the list without Tom's vote). "Pacific Dunes is one of the extraordinary works of architecture in our lifetime, it will stand the test of time for many years to come," said Bill Coore. "All the properties at Bandon provide sensational land to work with," Damian Pascuzzo chimed in. "With Pacific Dunes, you have a great piece of property showcasing the work of a seasoned architect."
The architects were also nearly universal in their praise for Bethpage Black in Farmingdale, New York, one of A.W. Tillinghast's last designs, and certainly one of his best. Bethpage Black, along with Pebble Beach and Pinehurst #2, is among a select group of public courses that regularly hosts U.S. Open Championships. "It's great that the public is able to play a US Open Venue with plenty of 'bite' to the golf holes, said John Fought. "Though I think it is a bit too difficult for most players, it is a wonderful course on a great rolling property." "I love Tillinghast's work," added John Olenoski. "There's great strategy at play, and nothing is tricked up. A course like Bethpage Black looks pretty docile, but it bites you."
Pinehurst #2, in the sand hills region of North Carolina, was another favorite. "This is one of the greatest golf courses in the world and is fun for championship golf and for the average player as well," John Fought said. "Everyone should play this course and experience the gently elevated greens and their unique design." "From a historical perspective, it's one of those places that everyone needs to visit in their lifetime," Bill Coore chipped in. "After all, it was the home of Donald Ross (who lived in a cottage behind hole #3)." Indeed, Ross, who initially designed Pinehurst #2 in 1907, tinkered with the course until his death in 1948.
Again, this is admittedly a subjective exercise. But we consulted the experts, and we're not arguing with their recommendations. And what are lists for, if not to provoke some healthy debate?
See our slideshow of golf designers' U.S. masterpieces.
Campton Place
Xaviera Yriberry moved to San Francisco in 2003 from her native Peru to attend the California Culinary Academy, and joined Campton Place in 2005, where she works as a Guest Service Agent.
BEST RESTAURANT
Michael Mina.
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Shreve & Co.
BEST GOLF COURSE
The Olympic Club.
BEST DAY TRIP
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