2
6
for this 6,818-yard, par-72 classic largely revolved around the par- 5 14th
and its “absolute joke of a green.” According to another, the two-tiered
putting surface holds the course back. “Never a 10 until they fix 14
green,” said one who is “not confident Arnold [Palmer] is the one who
should be doing it.” Players also did not take to Palmer’s new fairway
bunkers. “Not sure all of the recent changes are a good thing and hate
the bunkers through the third fairway.” Several suggested a restoration.
“It’s in desperate need of just a little TLC. Greens have gotten too small.
It’s an 8, but should be a 10.” Another player, who stays in The Lodge and
studies the old hallway photographs, said Pebble Beach “could be a 10,
but it’s a 6. In 1930 it was a 10.” Design quibbles aside, it’s still a player
favorite. “Never gets old. Excited to play it every time.”
l.C. lambreCht; Jim mandeville
colonial cc
Fort Worth
8. 40
The second Hogan’s Alley in our top five is “a great golf course,” a “lot
of fun to play” and for one player, “the best layout I’ve ever seen.” Not
surprisingly, the John Bredemus and Perry Maxwell-designed front-nine
stretch of Nos. 3-5 earned raves, with one player calling the fifth “one of
the best par 4s we play on tour.” Driving-distance leaders, however, feel
the 7,204-yard design and setup are “trying too hard to take the long
hitter out of the equation.” Another was more blunt, calling Colonial the
“most overrated on tour.” Criticism? “Could still lose trees, especially the
ones they keep to prevent us from hitting it too far.” Also, players lament
the time of year the tournament is played even after a Keith Foster restoration of this 1936 design improved drainage and agronomics. “Much
improved with recent work,” said one, noting that it’s “just a tough time
of year for conditioning there.” Another player was more honest: “Such a
great old course, wish we could play it when greens, could be presented
firmer.” One noted Foster’s “nice, sensitive restoration work, even though
I’m not a fan of the clean bunkering.” But most of all, this Texas icon is
“so solid” because “you know what you’re going to get.”
muirfield VillaGe Gc
Dublin, Ohio
8. 34
Jack Nicklaus and Desmond Muirhead’s “immaculate” design has been
hosting the tour since 1976 on a “great property” that “has a major feel
to it.” Said one player of the 7,366-yard, par-72 layout, “when you are
playing well, [there is] no more fun course to play … I think that’s the
ultimate compliment.” Noted for its “impeccable” conditioning, with
one calling it “the best-conditioned course on tour every year.” However,
players were mixed on Nicklaus’ course tweaks. One says the Golden Bear
“still gives you room off the tee to encourage some risk-taking.” Another
declared, “[Jack] needs to calm down,” griping that changes to holes
are made when “we’ve only had one pin position” on the par- 5 11th, “a
mistake too long overlooked.” Another praised Nicklaus this year for “
fixing 16,” a revamped par 3 with water “and a green that needs to mature.”
But another said of Jack’s tinkering, “too much ego: see changes to 17
and 18,” while one player said he’d “hate to be a member there because
it’s closed all the time.” For some the course “has become so setup dependent” and “not sure bunker-deepening is the way to go.” Others say it
has “gotten too long in spots,” but most feel this mainstay has been “at
the forefront of encouraging more courses to get better in all respects.”
SHauGHneSSy G&cc
Vancouver, British Columbia
8. 29
This “phenomenal” 1960 design Vernon Macan did just four years before
he died is “an awesome, amazing course” with “a lot of neat holes.” Host
of the Canadian Open in 2005 and 2011, one player wished “they played
here every year,” with praise for the greens and in particular, the bunkers,
which are “maintained like Australian bunkers with very little sand in the
faces.” The tree-lined 7,010-yard course featured heavy rough in 2011, a
setup touch players felt took away from the design. “Neat look to the
place but way too much rough for such a potentially great design.” Still,
this “good, tough course” has quickly become a player favorite.
