Golf Courses
Readers shook up the Platinum List golf courses a bit this year, with several ties and two Texas tracks making dramatic debuts. -- Thomas Bedell
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TOP 20 U.S.
1 PEBBLE BEACH GOLF LINKS, CALIFORNIA
Resort part-owner Arnold Palmer continues to oversee the tweaking at this golf shrine (a CL readers’ perennial favorite), looking toward next year’s U.S. Open. It will be the fifth Open contested here, the first since 2000, when Tiger Woods lapped the field. (800) 654-9300, pebblebeach.com
2 TORREY PINES SOUTH COURSE, LA JOLLA, CALIFORNIA
Last year’s unforgettable Open here was a 91-hole slugfest: Rocco Mediate against a limping Tiger. (800) 985-4653, torreypinesgolfcourse.com
3 FAZIO CANYONS, AUSTIN, TEXAS (TIE)
Best of four courses at Barton Creek Resort & Spa finishes in the money in its first year on our list. (866) 572-7369, bartoncreek.com/golf
3 MAUNA KEA GOLF COURSE, KOHALA COAST, HAWAII (TIE)
Robert Trent Jones Sr.’s reopened classic template has been burnished, black lava intact, by son Rees. (808) 882-5400, princeresortshawaii.com
5 SPYGLASS HILL GOLF COURSE, PEBBLE BEACH, CALIFORNIA
This RTJ Sr. course rating from the tips is 75.5; don’t play from there. (800) 654-9300, pebblebeach.com
6 PINEHURST NO. 2, NORTH CAROLINA
The Summer Tee package magically transforms a two-nights, three-rounds booking into three nights, four rounds. (800) 487-4653, pinehurst.com
7 HARBOUR TOWN GOLF LINKS , HILTON HEAD, SOUTH CAROLINA
Stick a candle on the iconic lighthouse for this Sea Pines Resort classic’s 40th birthday. (866) 561-8802, seapines.com
8 BLACKWOLF RUN (THE RIVER), KOHLER, WISCONSIN (TIE)
Readers love both this Destination Kohler/Pete Dye track and its Straits sibling (No. 13 on our list). (800) 618-5535, destinationkohler.com
8 THE OCEAN COURSE, KIAWAH ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA (TIE)
Pete Dye’s testy track jumped six spots, and The Sanctuary hotel notched another Mobil Five Star Award. (800) 654-2924, kiawahresort.com
10 THE PLANTATION COURSE, MAUI
The Mercedes-Benz Championship course’s No. 18 stretches 663 yards, making it the PGA Tour’s longest hole. (888) 227-6054, kapaluamaui.com
11 TPC FOUR SEASONS LAS COLINAS, IRVING, TEXAS
HP Byron Nelson Championship host course is new to the list, and sports a $10 million redo. (800) 819-5053, fourseasons.com/dallas
12 COG HILL COURSE NO . 4 (DUBSDREAD), LEMONT, ILLINOIS
Following a yearlong Rees Jones renovation, Dubsdread hosts September’s PGA Tour BMW Championship. (866) 264-4455, coghillgolf.com
13 BANDON DUNES, BAND ON, OREGON (TIE)
The Inn is the resort’s new lodging choice; next summer Old Macdonald will be a fourth course choice. (888) 345-6008, bandondunesgolf.com
13 WHISTLING STRAITS (THE STRAITS), MOSEL, WISCONSIN (TIE)
Vijay Singh won the PGA Championship here in 2004; the major tournament returns August 2010. (800) 344-2838, destinationkohler.com
15 BAY HILL CLUB, ORLANDO
The Arnold Palmer Invitational course closes May 15 for green renovations; the Charger nine remains open. (888) 422-9445, bayhill.com
16 TROON NORTH GOLF CLU B (MONUMENT), SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA
Reconfiguration of Troon’s 36 makes the Monument’s closest best-of-desert golf rival its sibling, the Pinnacle. (888) 876-6687, troonnorthgolf.com
17 THE CHALLENGE AT MANELE, LANA’I CITY, HAWAII (TIE)
A monster when the wind blows, this Nicklaus course earns its moniker. (808) 565-2000, fourseasons.com/manelebay
17 MONARCH BEACH GOLF LINKS, DANA POINT, CALIFORNIA (TIE)
Anyone for 106 holes along the Pacific? The Unlimited Golf Package foments temptation. (949) 240-8247, stregismb.com
17 TPC SAWGRASS (ST ADIUM COURSE), PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FLORIDA (TIE)
Site of the Tour Academy, the ultimate boot camp for improving your game. (904) 273-3235, tpc.com/sawgrass
20 BETH PAGE STATE PARK BLACK COURSE, FARMINGDALE, NEW YORK
The U.S. Open returns to A.W. Tillinghast’s muscular WPA-era design, and vocal New York fans, June 18 to 21. (516) 249-4040, nysparks.state.ny.us/golf
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TOP 20 INTERNATIONAL
1 ST ANDREWS LINKS (THE OLD COURSE), SCOTLAND
A routine round today might have been 22 holes if the Old Course hadn’t been reduced to 18 holes in 1764, eventually adopted as a standard. Teeing off here remains the thrill of a lifetime, the ground both iconic yet utterly contemporary. 011-44-1334-466666, www.standrews.org.uk
2 THE CASTLE COURSE, SCOTLAND
Only 14,000 rounds into its brief history, the seventh St Andrews Links course hits runner-up position. 011-44-1334-466666, www.standrews.org.uk
3 OCEAN COURSE, MEXICO
The Los Cabos desert meets the ocean at this Nicklaus windblown classic, and everyone goes home happy. (877) 703-4394, cabodelsol.com
4 OCEAN CLUB GOLF COURSE, BAHAMAS
The Golf in Paradise package includes three rounds and four nights at the alluring One&Only Ocean Club. (800) 321-3000, oneandonlyresorts.com
5 BALLYBUNION (OLD COURSE), IRELAND
Advance booking is essential, but then so is this essential Irish links; don’t neglect Robert Trent Jones Sr.’s Cashen Course. 011-353-68-27146, ballybuniongolfclub.ie
6 FAIRMONT CHATEAU WHISTLER GOLF CLUB, CANADA (TIE)
An RTJ II natural, granite epic chiseled into the slopes of the Coast Mountain range. (877) 938-2092, fairmontgolf.com/whistler
6 FAIRMONT BANFF SPRINGS GOLF COURSE, CANADA (TIE)
Stanley Thompson’s design drawing board gave life to this dazzling 1928 widescreen epic. (403) 762-6801, fairmontgolf.com/banffsprings
8 CARNOUSTIE GOLF LINKS (CHAMPIONSHIP COURSE), SCOTLAND
Best website for a classic links course? Makes booking any of the three courses here a sea breeze. 011-44-1241-802270, carnoustiegolflinks.co.uk
9 LA CANA GOLF COURSE, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
P.B. Dye’s must-play challenge will be joined by a private Tom Fazio course this year. (888) 442-2262, puntacana.com
10 OLD HEAD GOLF LINKS, IRELAND
Some call this Kinsale course Ireland’s most beautiful, no small boast. 011-353-21-4778-444, oldhead.com
11 GLENEAGLES (THE KING’S COURSE), SCOTLAND
James Braid’s course is now a nonagenarian, outdating the five-star hotel at this Perthshire palace. (866) 881-9525, gleneagles.com/golf
12 TEETH OF THE DOG , DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Of Casa de Campo’s three Pete Dye courses, the 40-year-old Teeth proves the first bite is the deepest. (800) 877-3643, casadecampo.com.do
13 THE K CLUB (PALMER COURSE), IRELAND
The Ultimate Championship Golf Offer combines rounds on the Palmer and Smurfit courses, and includes rental clubs. 011-353-1601-7200, kclub.com
14 ROYAL TROON GOLF CLUB (OLD COURSE ), SCOTLAND
Back on the list, after enough readers had the pleasure of playing the par-3 eighth, the Postage Stamp hole. 011-44-1292-311555, www.royaltroon.co.uk
15 THE GREEN MONKEY, BARBADOS
At the refurbished Sandy Lane, Tom Fazio’s jungle funhouse plays spectacularly up, down, and around an old quarry. (246) 444-2000, sandylane.com
16 PORT ROYAL GOLF COURSE , BERMUDA
A List debut: Roger Rulewich’s year-long design renovation debuts June 1; the Grand Slam of Golf will be in October. (441) 234-0974, portroyalgolf.bm
17 DOONBEG GOLF CLUB, IRELAND
This links land jewel is a must-play; its appealing luxury Lodge at Doonbeg is a should-stay. (866) 366-6234, doonbeggolfclub.com
18 KAURI CLIFFS, NEW ZEALAND (TIE)
The Ultimate Kiwi Luxury Experience tacks on a free sixth night at Kauri and sister resort Cape Kidnappers. 011-64-9-407-0010, kauricliffs.com
18 KINGSBARNS GOLF LINKS, SCOTLAND (TIE)
Not even a decade old, Kingsbarns is now considered an essential addition to a St Andrews-Carnoustie pilgrimage. 011-44-1334-460860, kingsbarns.com
20 DUNDONALD LINKS , SCOTLAND
Like Kingsbarns, this course is designed by Kyle Phillips, whose authentic work in the Old World belies his New World roots. 011-44-1294-314000, dundonaldlinks.com
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FOR A HANDY COMPILATION LIST OF THE RANKINGS AND TO CHECK OUT THE EDITORS’ CHOICES, SEE
“PLATINUM LIST” | |
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