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first time I stepped on No. 11 tee box at Augusta National, I nearly teared up ...

... of course, I was really on No. 5 at Tour 18 in Humble, but that hump in the fairway on the right and the ensuing view of Amen Corner's 11 green-12-13 tee box is close enough to make you feel at least that tiny bit connected to the real thing.

in no order:
-Tour 18
-old Waterwood National on Lake Livingston
-High Meadow Ranch in Magnolia
-Cambrian Ridge on the Robert Trent Jones Trail in Alabama

In SE Michigan, here's the top 5 I've played:

#1: Golf Club at Apple Mountain (http://www.ushandicap.com/golf..) in Freeland, Michigan. Also, the priciest course I've ever played. ($65 if you don't use a discount card or take advantage of the occasional holiday promotion... for instance, last year for Memorial Day, 4th of July, and Labour Day weekends, they only charged $45) But this course is well worth it, from the spectacular views, the elevation changes, the lush greenery, the exquisite customer service (I pull up in my little Volkswagen Jetta in a parking lot full of BMWs, Maseratis, the occasional Rolls and Bentley and they still hop out, take my bags from my trunk and set up the golf cart for me while I'm inside paying, wiped down, scorecard placed, everything). One of the more challenging courses (68.8/131 from the white tees) I've ever played, but I've always scored well here. If any of you all ever come up here, this is an absolute must-play.

#2: Bices. You can play there for less than $30/pp, with cart (and trust me, you'll need it!! Some of the distances from one hole to the next are close to a mile apart, winding through hills, "mountains" and trees.) It's owned by a husband-and-wife team and they always treat people very well! It's rated (66.0/114 from the white tees) like it's an easy course, and it would be, IF you're accurate off the tee, but there are 4 straight holes that I call my "little house of horrours" because you have a significant forced carry and the window is exceptionally tight. The views are stunning, but those 4 holes always ruin my scorecards there! LOL

#4: Copper Ridge Golf Club (http://www.ushandicap.com/golf..) in Davison, Michigan. Always well-maintained, this carts-only golf course is short (5,622 yards and generally the furthest from one hole to the next is around 150-200 yards) enough to walk, but you're not allowed to. The fairways are extremely generous, combined with the

In SE Michigan, here's the top 5 I've played:

#1: Golf Club at Apple Mountain (http://www.ushandicap.com/golf..) in Freeland, Michigan. Also, the priciest course I've ever played. ($65 if you don't use a discount card or take advantage of the occasional holiday promotion... for instance, last year for Memorial Day, 4th of July, and Labour Day weekends, they only charged $45) But this course is well worth it, from the spectacular views, the elevation changes, the lush greenery, the exquisite customer service (I pull up in my little Volkswagen Jetta in a parking lot full of BMWs, Maseratis, the occasional Rolls and Bentley and they still hop out, take my bags from my trunk and set up the golf cart for me while I'm inside paying, wiped down, scorecard placed, everything). One of the more challenging courses (68.8/131 from the white tees) I've ever played, but I've always scored well here. If any of you all ever come up here, this is an absolute must-play.

#2: Bfact that it IS only 5,622 yards, makes this an extremely easy course (67.4/118 from the silver tees) to score on. In fact my last 7 rounds there (from oldest to most recent) were: 100, 92, 104, 103, 102, 99, and 103. The 92 is my all time best for 18 holes and as you can see, this course was the site of 2 of my 3 all time sub-100 rounds, giving me some very nice memories.

#5: Rackham Golf Course (http://www.ushandicap.com/golf..), a City of Detroit municipal golf course, even though it is actually located in the suburb of Huntington Woods, Michigan, next to the Detroit Zoo. This Donald Ross parkland design has NO water (except for any casual water after a majour rainstorm) and the only real OB threat is I-696 to the left of hole #1 and a side street to the left on a hole on the back nine (#11 or #12, IIRC?), making it difficult to lose balls. In fact, this was the course I first managed to go an entire 18 holes on a single golf ball! :-) This is an easy (69.2

In SE Michigan, here's the top 5 I've played:

#1: Golf Club at Apple Mountain (http://www.ushandicap.com/golf..) in Freeland, Michigan. Also, the priciest course I've ever played. ($65 if you don't use a discount card or take advantage of the occasional holiday promotion... for instance, last year for Memorial Day, 4th of July, and Labour Day weekends, they only charged $45) But this course is well worth it, from the spectacular views, the elevation changes, the lush greenery, the exquisite customer service (I pull up in my little Volkswagen Jetta in a parking lot full of BMWs, Maseratis, the occasional Rolls and Bentley and they still hop out, take my bags from my trunk and set up the golf cart for me while I'm inside paying, wiped down, scorecard placed, everything). One of the more challenging courses (68.8/131 from the white tees) I've ever played, but I've always scored well here. If any of you all ever come up here, this is an absolute must-play.

#2: B/116 from the white tees) course that is also fun, historic, and awe-inspiring. The clubhouse is absolutely stunning as is the fountain in the middle of the parking lot.

With the exception of #2, since it's been a few years since I've been to Black River (though I need to go back there this year), if anyone wants to see what the other 4 courses look like, browse my photos that I tagged for the individual courses. :-)

Shaun

In SE Michigan, here's the top 5 I've played:

#1: Golf Club at Apple Mountain (http://www.ushandicap.com/golf..) in Freeland, Michigan. Also, the priciest course I've ever played. ($65 if you don't use a discount card or take advantage of the occasional holiday promotion... for instance, last year for Memorial Day, 4th of July, and Labour Day weekends, they only charged $45) But this course is well worth it, from the spectacular views, the elevation changes, the lush greenery, the exquisite customer service (I pull up in my little Volkswagen Jetta in a parking lot full of BMWs, Maseratis, the occasional Rolls and Bentley and they still hop out, take my bags from my trunk and set up the golf cart for me while I'm inside paying, wiped down, scorecard placed, everything). One of the more challenging courses (68.8/131 from the white tees) I've ever played, but I've always scored well here. If any of you all ever come up here, this is an absolute must-play.

#2: Black River Country Club (http://www.ushandicap.com/golf..) in Port Huron, Michigan. Open to the public but you get member-like treatment, the views are very nice (it's especially nice when teeing off at 7am, before the fog has lifted... by the 2nd and 3rd hole, it lifts and it's an absolute gem along the water!) and the best part is? It's NOT expensive to play a course where they treat you so well! Usually, it's $25/pp, with a cart and for about 2 months in the middle of the summer, gets as high as #38/pp. Rated at (70.3/126 from the white tees), it's not a terribly difficult course, but it's definitely very nice!

#3: Bramblewood Golf Course (http://www.ushandicap.com/golf..), a semi-private course in Holly, Michigan. The clubhouse is rather spartan, the location is rather remote (you have to drive on some rather rough dirt roads to get there), but it's absolutely gorgeous! It's like being in Northern Michigan, without the gas or the high pr

Doral Blue

Going a little to the west and Maui. People going there, take note; DO NOT play Kapalua, Kaanapali, Wailea, and Makena (those are the resort courses). PLAY THE DUNES AT MAUI LANI. Unbelievable design that's both fun and extremely challenging. Staff is nicer than the word nice, the food is unbelievable, the course is in great shape, because it's so unknown the course is almost always to yourself. If I had to choose a golf course I'd most want to play every day, it'd be this one.

well here is our source for best courses and course reviews. anyone have questions, come on here and see if there is one listed in the area you are visiting or planning to play. start another one about places to avoid.

Eagles Landing, Maryland. Great course, spectacular scenery, love playing here! If you ever play in the OCM area, make this a priority!

Rancocas, New Jersey. My home course, Robert Trent Jones design. Have played this course close to a
hundred times, it never seems to get old.

Raven's Claw, Pennsylvania. Only played once so far, had a blast. Lots of interesting twists and turns, elevation changes, all kinds of fun stuff to keep me on my toes.

Massenutten Mountain Course, Virginia. Hit the fairway and it rolls down into the woods, there are fenders like hockey boards along some of the fairways. The smart play is to hit into the woods and let the ball roll back into the fairway. I had to laugh!

Marriott Grand Pines, Florida. Teed off at high noon in July, kept a towel soaked in ice water to wrap around my neck. Then got a re-round and played another 18!! Great day...

Texas Star was a nice course. I remember seeing a bobcat or something stroll across the fairway

1) Water Chase - A very hard but awesome course at the same time!

2) Southern Oaks - A beautiful and open course! I also score well there too!

3) Angel Park the Palms/Mountain in Las Vegas - This was the first time I had ever played a "desert" style course and I had a blast doing it! Plus it is in Las Veges...

4) Texas Star - Same reasons as Goynes...

5) Tour-18 - It is just fun getting to play on holes you've seen on TV!

I have one out of town I've played 3 times is all, enjoy playing there and my scores have been good.

Tour-18 in Humble, TX mostly the front 9 though, you get to play amen corner and the 17th at Sawgrass before the turn. How fun is that.

Give us your favorites!