Top 10 Golf Courses I Have Played (Pt. 1)
7
22
1
Ranking based off 3 factors: Uniqueness, Condition, and Visual Beauty
Banff Springs Golf Course (Banff, Canada).
Banff Springs looks like it has been pulled straight out of a Macbook's wallpaper. The natural beauty of Banff National Park highlights all 18 holes and truly takes your breath away. The condition of the course is great, and while it may not be as pristine as some others on this list, the views more than make up for it. Playing golf at Banff Springs seriously felt as though I was playing on a different planet. If I had to choose a favorite hole it would be the 16th, an elevated tee shot with the Canadian Rockies as the backdrop. Definitely a bucket list place I would recommend to all golf and nature lovers.
2. Whistling Straits: Straits Course (Kohler, WI)
The Straits Course at Whistling Straits has one of the most stunning stretches of "ocean golf" I have ever played. What I love so much about this course is that every single hole is unique and fun in its own right. Some of the holes that go inland, like hole no. 5, Snake, are just as unique as the holes on the water. There are so many iconic holes to choose from but if I had to choose I would say the 7th. The 7th hole is the one pictured below, a par 3 with numerous of the resort's famous natural looking bunkers and the ocean along your right. The condition of all the courses at Whistling Straits is top notch.
3. The Preserve Golf Club (Carmel, CA)
Playing at the Saint Lucia Preserve was unlike any golf experience I have ever had. Maybe it was the fact that I was just a few days into summer break or that I didn't see another person on the course aside from my group mates. This course is the epitome of peaceful. Every hole is in its own world and surrounded by the beauty of the Saint Lucia Preserve. I'm gonna sound like a broken record but this course is also in unbelievable condition. The opening hole is my favorite, due to its harsh downhill tee shot which requires immense precision.
4. Pebble Beach Golf Links (Monterrey, CA)
Pebble Beach. What is there to say. From the moment you step onto the property there is a special feel to this place. Holes 4-10 and hole 18 provide some of the most gorgeous views of the California coast line you can get. Paired with unique holes like 6, 7, and 8, it is extremely hard to beat this golf course. The condition of the course is world class, with it hosting PGA golf tournaments annually. The only drawbacks are that it is an extremely expensive round of golf and does not have the laid back and private feel of some of the other courses listed. My favorite hole has to be hole no. 7, a downhill par 3 playing at a little under 100 yards, which can be vicious in high wind. This hole is a little extra special to me because it was my lone birdie of the round.
5. Half Moon Bay: Ocean Course (Half Moon Bay, CA)
I played this course a few months ago and it blew me away. I had heard a little bit about Half Moon Bay but didn't really know what to expect going in. The finishing stretch of 16, 17, and 18 are truly some of my favorite holes I have ever played. Hole 16's tee box is elevated and you get the first real look at the incredible coastline with the hotel in the distance. The holes off the water are great too, my favorite of the inland ones being the par 3 7th, which requires a precise 190 yard carry over a beautiful lake. However, the 16th hole has to be my favorite on the entire property due to its unbelievable panoramic views and the precision needed on the approach shot. The condition of the course is good, but definitely not on par with the four other courses on this list.
Great list!