America`s Greatest Golf Retreats

The Measure of a Man’s Best Times
®
TM
Winter 2006-’07
50
America’s
P h o t ogra p h s by Chris Sanders
Greatest Golf Retreats
The best places to gather with kindred spirits for the ultimate golf experience By Topsy Siderowf
Posted with permission of Golf Digest, from the Winter 2006-’07 issue. Copyright © 2007 by The Golf Digest Companies. All rights reserved.
R A N K I N G R E T R E AT S
50
America’s
RANKING
1.
HOW WE RANKED
THE RETREATS
e asked Golf Digest’s
800-plus Course Rating
Panelists to help us create
this ranking of America’s
50 Greatest Golf Retreats.
W
They rated private clubs
on a scale of 1 (very bad)
to 10 (perfect). We queried
them about their overall
experiences and the clubs’
accommodations, meals,
wines and spirits, caddie
programs and service.
To make our ballot, a club
has to be on Golf Digest’s
list of America’s 100
Greatest Golf Courses, rank
among the Best in State,
or be a finalist in Best New
Courses surveys. They also
must be able to accommodate two or three groups
of members and guests for
overnight stays. Because
we wanted to highlight true
retreats from everyday life,
we did not consider clubs
in major cities, though they
might have rooms for overnight guests.
T.S.
THE CLUB
Augusta National G.C.
Augusta, Ga.
SCORE
9.78
(out of 10)
COMMENTS
Counting housing in the cabins, rooms in the clubhouse and the
fabled Crow’s Nest, Augusta National can sleep 110.
2.
Pine Valley G.C.
Pine Valley, N.J.
9.53
Nothing tastes better after a round than the turtle soup—with or
without a jigger of sherry.
3.
The Alotian C.
Roland, Ark.
9.48
The Tom Fazio design, set next to Lake Maumelle, the primary source
of Little Rock’s drinking water, was 2005’s Best New Private Course.
4.
Sand Hills G.C.
Mullen, Neb.
9.03
No buildings intrude on the seclusion of the course. The clubhouse
and the cottages are set half a mile away overlooking the Dismal River.
5.
National G. Links of America
Southampton, N.Y.
8.83
Guest rooms in the clubhouse are basic—but their views of Peconic
Bay and the course are spectacular.
6.
Sage Valley G.C.
Graniteville, S.C.
8.80
The club is known as much for food as for golf. If a guest requests
Dover sole for dinner, Sage Valley will fly it in.
7.
Kinloch G.C.
Manakin-Sabot, Va.
8.49
The Lester George-Vinny Giles collaboration, the Best New Private
Course of 2001, features five risk-reward holes.
8.
The Olde Farm
Bristol, Va.
8.41
Set in the rural, southwestern part of Virginia, the Bobby Weed design
was named Best New Private Course in 2000.
9.
Oakmont C.C.
Oakmont, Pa.
8.37
Preparing for the 2007 U.S. Open (the club’s eighth), Tom Fazio
restored bunkers and built a new tee on the eighth hole.
10.
Flint Hills National G.C.
Andover, Kan.
8.34
Designed by Tom Fazio, it has hosted the USGA Women’s Amateur
and is scheduled to host the 2007 USGA Senior Amateur.
11.
Whispering Pines G.C.
Trinity, Tex.
8.33
Half of the members’ dues go to charitable causes. Owner Corby
Robertson covers its other expenses.
12.
Sutton Bay G.C.
Agar, S.D.
8.31
Graham Marsh took acres of a South Dakota cattle ranch and turned
it into the state’s best course.
T13.
The Honors Course
Ooltewah, Tenn.
8.28
This club was designed to honor and celebrate amateur golf. The
range at this Pete Dye layout is 50 yards from the clubhouse.
T13.
Ocean Forest G.C.
Sea Island, Ga.
8.28
The wind off the Atlantic Ocean affects play on this Rees Jones
design, especially on the last three holes.
15.
Muirfield Village G.C.
Dublin, Ohio
8.27
College interns, some from Jack Nicklaus’ alma mater, Ohio State,
prepare meals for guests in the cottages.
16.
The Valley Club of Montecito
Santa Barbara, Calif.
8.25
Set in a bucolic enclave, this ultra-private Alister Mackenzie-Robert
Hunter design is open to play year-round.
T17.
Caves Valley G.C.
Owings Mill, Md.
8.21
Designed to look like a turn-of-the-century farm, the clubhouse is
connected to the outbuildings by a walkway.
T17.
Cherokee Plantation G.C.
Yemassee, S.C.
8.21
Lunch, featuring out-of-this-world fried chicken, is served in an
authentic lowcountry-style building.
19.
Castle Pines G.C.
Castle Rock, Colo.
8.17
“Home cooking” is the motto here. And it’s not limited to the food,
but the warm and caring attitude toward members and guests.
20.
Mayacama G.C.
Santa Rosa, Calif.
8.14
Along with the club’s cave and cellar for wine, members have private
lockers, each holding 48 bottles.
T21.
Double Eagle C.
Galena, Ohio
8.13
Designed by Jay Morrish and Tom Weiskopf, the course features
a 100-yard 19th hole to settle bets.
T21.
Rich Harvest Links
Sugar Grove, Ill.
8.13
Owner and course designer Jerry Rich keeps his massive collection
of antique cars on the property.
T21.
Wade Hampton G.C.
Cashiers, N.C.
8.13
The Tom Fazio layout in the Blue Ridge Mountains is best in autumn,
when the foliage is at its peak.
24.
Shoal Creek
Shoal Creek, Ala.
8.11
Double Oak Mountain, visible from every hole, adds to the beauty of
this Jack Nicklaus design.
25.
Victoria National G.C.
Newburgh, Ind.
8.10
Built by rubber magnate Terry Friedman in 1998, the club hosted its
first USGA event, the Senior Amateur, in 2006.
GolfDigest
INDEX
2 Magazine
RANKING
26.
T27.
THE CLUB
Seven Canyons
Sedona, Ariz.
Robert Trent Jones G.C.
Lake Manassas, Va.
SCORE
8.06
8.00
COMMENTS
The Tom Weiskopf design, set at an elevation of 4,600 feet, has
spectacular views on every hole.
Government leaders play here because of the proximity to
Washington and the seclusion of its property.
Spring Creek Ranch G.C.
Collierville, Tenn.
8.00
Many of the cottages and suites have oversize shower heads, steam
baths and pool and poker tables.
29.
The Farm G.C.
Rocky Face, Ga.
7.93
The ninth hole on this Tom Fazio design was the supply road in the
Civil War for the Battle of Dug Gap Mountain.
30.
The Preserve G.C.
Carmel, Calif.
7.90
Wild boar, bobcats and mountain lions roam this wildlife preserve in
the foothills of the Santa Lucia Mountains.
31.
Mayfield Sand Ridge C.
Chardon, Ohio.
7.86
The Mayfield and Sand Ridge clubs recently merged, with members
getting full privileges at both.
32.
Piping Rock C.
Locust Valley, N.Y.
7.84
The Charles Blair Macdonald-Seth Raynor design is known for, among
other attributes, its grass-walled bunkers.
33.
Laurel Valley G.C.
Ligonier, Pa.
7.77
The western Pennsylvania landmark has been tweaked by its most
illustrious member, Arnold Palmer.
34.
Old Waverley G.C.
West Point, Miss.
7.76
A typical buffet dinner, served every Wednesday and Friday, is the
all-you-can-eat fried catfish washed down with sweet mint tea.
T35.
Colleton River Plantation G.C.
Bluffton, S.C.
7.69
This exclusive Hilton Head Island-area community features courses by
Jack Nicklaus and Pete Dye.
T35.
Old Memorial G.C.
Tampa, Fla.
7.69
This club was built in 1997 by three Outback Steakhouse founders
who wanted a world-class course in their hometown.
37.
The Kingsley C.
Traverse City, Mich.
7.68
Architect Mike DeVries played Crystal Downs growing up, and its pro,
Fred Muller, helped with the design of Kingsley.
38.
Sleepy Hollow C.C.
Scarborough-on-Hudson, N.Y.
7.66
Guests stay in rooms on the second and third floors of the clubhouse,
a McKim, Mead and White design built in 1893.
39.
Eagle Point G.C.
Wilmington, N.C.
7.64
Tom Fazio designed this parkland course overlooking the Intracoastal
Waterway. The club also features a nine-hole par-3 course.
40.
Nantucket G.C.
Siasconset, Mass.
7.63
The logo at the Best New Private Course of 1998, a flagstick bowed by
wind, aptly describes conditions at this Rees Jones design.
41.
Yeamans Hall C.
Hanahan, S.C.
7.62
The 900-acre property includes a Seth Raynor gem, grounds laid out
by Frederick Law Olmsted and a whitewashed brick clubhouse.
T42.
Pete Dye G.C.
Bridgeport, W.Va.
7.61
Built on 250-acres at the base of a strip coal mine, the club took 16
years to complete.
T42.
Secession G.C.
Beaufort, S.C.
7.61
The tees are named for Civil War generals—Grant, Lee, Sherman—and
the holes for famous battles—Fort Sumter, Bull Run, Shiloh.
44.
Kittansett C.
Marion, Mass.
7.56
The wind is always a factor at this 1922 William Flynn-Frederic Hood
design next to Buzzards Bay.
45.
C.C. of North Carolina
Pinehurst, N.C.
7.53
There are two courses at this William Byrd-Ellis Maples design in the
Carolina Sandhills.
46.
Maroon Creek C.
Aspen, Colo.
7.52
The eponymous creek will catch mis-hit shots on this Tom Faziodesigned course.
T27.
47.
G.C. of Tennessee
Kingston Springs, Tenn.
7.49
Set in a 1,000-acre wildlife preserve, the club allows golfers to enjoy
complete solitude 25 miles from downtown Nashville.
48.
C. at Las Campanas
Santa Fe, N.M.
7.46
The Jack Nicklaus Signature Sunrise and Sunset courses, at an elevation of 7,400 feet, offer scenic vistas.
49.
Grandfather G. & C.C.
Linville, N.C.
7.42
The Ellis Maples design at the base of Grandfather Mountain is a
summer refuge for many members.
50.
Firestone C.C.
Akron, Ohio
7.41
Best known for the South Course, the club also has two other 18s, the
North and the West.
[
CATEGORY LEADERS
ere are the top 10 clubs
in each of five key categories, along with their scores
(maximum score=10).
H
ACCOMMODATIONS
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
The Alotian C.
Augusta National G.C.
Sage Valley G.C.
Flint Hills National G.C.
Caves Valley G.C.
The Honors Course
Castle Pines G.C.
Pine Valley G.C.
Old Memorial G.C.
Rich Harvest Links
MEALS
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Augusta National G.C.
The Alotian C.
National G. Links
Sage Valley G.C.
Pine Valley G.C.
Rich Harvest Links
The Honors Course
Castle Pines G.C.
Double Eagle C.
Muirfield Village G.C.
WINES & SPIRITS
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
T9
T9
Augusta National G.C.
The Alotian C.
Mayacama G.C.
Rich Harvest Links
Sage Valley G.C.
Muirfield Village G.C.
Pine Valley G.C.
National G. Links
Flint Hills National G.C.
Sand Hills G.C.
CADDIES
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Augusta National G.C.
The Alotian C.
Pine Valley G.C.
Nantucket G.C.
Muirfield Village G.C.
Kinloch G.C.
Rich Harvest Links
Sage Valley G.C.
Robert Trent Jones G.C.
The Honors Course
SERVICE
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Augusta National G.C.
The Alotian C.
Sage Valley G.C.
Kinloch G.C.
Pine Valley G.C.
Rich Harvest Links
Muirfield Village G.C.
Flint Hills National G.C.
Nantucket G.C.
Castle Pines G.C.
SCORE
9.50
9.27
8.99
8.71
8.54
8.41
8.35
8.30
8.18
8.11
SCORE
9.04
8.93
8.79
8.71
8.59
8.50
8.44
8.38
8.35
8.30
SCORE
9.44
9.43
9.07
8.71
8.56
8.50
8.46
8.44
8.20
8.20
SCORE
9.47
9.21
8.73
8.69
8.57
8.53
8.50
8.49
8.40
8.39
SCORE
9.64
9.61
8.99
8.74
8.71
8.66
8.64
8.61
8.50
8.49
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