124 golf courses. Some you will find rate highly as some of the greatest courses in the world. Others you may never have heard of, and some that are so small they barely show up in most golf course directories. One rule that I made is that I have to have played at least nine holes at each of these courses. If I included golf courses I have simply been to, or visited for other purposes, my list might be double the size.
I would encourage all of my golfing friends to make their own list. Just doing so made me think of memories, matches, partners, scenery, great shots, and great times. If anyone would like their list to be posted on my blog, I will post them if they are sent to me at rsaturday@yahoo.com. I know there are people out there who have a bigger and better list than mine, but everyone should be proud of their own list and what each golf round has meant to them.
Some things I find interesting about my list. I have only played golf in three states, although I believe that despite its Nevada address, Palms Golf Club in Mesquite might actually be in Arizona. It is definitely right on the border.
I have played at several courses designed by the most famous historical architects
- Alister MacKenzie (Pasatiempo)
- Robert Trent Jones, Sr. (Spyglass, Mission Viejo, Valencia CC, Spring Valley Lake, LakeRidge and SCGA Members)
- Robert Trent Jones, Jr. (Poppy Hills, Coto de Caza North, Desert Dunes, Monarch, Spanish Bay)
- Pete Dye - (La Quinta Mountain, PGA West Stadium, Lost Canyons, Moreno Valley)
Several courses that have hosted some kind of relevant golf tournament worth noting. I am positive there are some that I might have missed in this category.
- U.S. Open - Pebble Beach (5 times)
- PGA Tour events - Pebble Beach, Spyglass, Poppy Hills, Spanish Bay, Valencia CC (1995), PGA West Stadium Course, Torrey Pines North, Las Vegas National, La Quinta Mountain, Hesperia (1950's and '60's), Brookside (LA Open 1968).
- Senior Tour events - Valencia CC, Coyote Canyon, TPC Las Vegas (Canyons).
- President's Cup - Harding Park.
- USGA Women's Am - Pasatiempo.
- Nike/Nationwide/Hogan/Buy.com Tour - Moreno Valley Ranch, Empire Lakes.
- PGA Tour Q School Final Stage - La Purisima.
- The Skins Game - PGA West, La Quinta Mountain, Terra Lago.
I have given some of the courses special recognition by awarding them with various titles. Read on to see
which courses hold a special place in my heart.
The List
The Elite (14)
Pebble Beach Golf Links - Pebble Beach, CA *Most Historic, Most Memorable, Most Beautiful*
 |
| Pasatiempo #11 |
Poppy Hills Golf Course - Monterey, CA *Best Public Course*
The Links at Spanish Bay - Monterey, CA
Pasatiempo Golf Course -Santa Cruz, CA *Most Difficult Greens*
Harding Park Golf Course - San Francisco, CA
PGA West Stadium Course - La Quinta, CA
La Quinta Resort Mountain - La Quinta, CA *Best Desert Course*
TPC Las Vegas (Canyons) - Las Vegas, NV *Best Vegas Course*
Torrey Pines Golf Course (North) - La Jolla, CA
Cascata Golf Club - Boulder City, NV *Most Extravagant, Best Condition*
Pelican Hill Golf Club South Course - Newport Coast, CA *Best Local Getaway*
Pelican Hill Golf Club North Course - Newport Coast, CA
Valencia Country Club - Valencia, CA *My Personal Favorite, Best Design*
Private Golf Courses (16)
Big Canyon Country Club - Newport Beach, CA *Best Private Club*
Dove Canyon Country Club - Dove Canyon, CA
Coto De Caza Country Club - Coto De Caza, CA
Mission Viejo Country Club - Mission Viejo, CA
Yorba Linda Country Club - Yorba Linda, CA *Most Underrated Private Club*
Los Coyotes Country Club - Buena Park, CA
 |
| Yorba Linda CC |
Mesa Verde Country Club, CA - Costa Mesa, CA
Seacliff Country Club - Huntington Beach, CA
Lomas Santa Fe Country Club - Lomas Santa Fe, CA
Woodland Hills Country Club - Woodland Hills, CA
Sunset Hills Country Club - Moorpark, CA
Antelope Valley Country Club - Palmdale, CA
Crystallaire Country Club - Llano, CA
Spring Valley Lake Country Club - Victorville, CA
Southshore Golf Club - Las Vegas, NV *Unknown Gem*
Notable Resorts or Golf Courses (13)
La Purisima Golf Course - Lompoc, CA
Bayonet Golf Course - Fort Ord - Seasisde, CA
Terra Lago (Formerly Landmark Golf Club) - Indio, CA
Monarch Beach Golf Links - Dana Point, CA
Bali Hai Golf Club - Las Vegas, NV
Presidio Golf Course - San Francisco, CA *Best Urban Course*
 |
| Presidio Golf Course |
Lost Canyons Golf Club - Simi Valley, CA
Brookside Golf Course (Number One) - Pasadena, CA
Industry Hills Zaharias - Industry, CA
Industry Hills Eisenhower - Industry, CA
Oak Valley Golf Club - Beaumont, CA *Most Underrated*
The Golf Club at Rancho California (SCGA Member's Course) - Murrieta, CA *My Lowest Score*
Los Angeles Area Golf Courses (16)
Vista Valencia - Valencia, CA *Most Times Played*
Robinson Ranch - Canyon Country, CA
Elkins Ranch - Fillmore, CA *Best Cheeseburger, Most Secluded*
 | |
| Elkins Ranch |
Lake Elizabeth Golf Course - Lake Elizabeth, CA
Olivas Park - Ventura, CA
Buenaventura - Ventura, CA
Simi Hills - Simi Valley, CA
El Cariso - Sylmar, CA
Hansen Dam - Pacoima, CA
Knollwood - Granada Hills, CA
Marshall Canyon - LaVerne, CA
Los Verdes - Palos Verdes, CA
Whittier Narrows - Rosemead, CA
Chester Washington - Los Angeles, CA
China Lake Naval Air Station - China Lake, CA *Boondocks Award*
Orange County/Riverside (35)
 |
| China Lake Naval Air Weapons Station |
Rancho San Joaquin - Irvine, CA
Strawberry Farms - Irvine, CA
Tustin Ranch Golf Club - Tustin, CA
Los Serranos North - Chino Hills, CA
Los Serranos South - Chino Hills, CA
Anaheim Hills - Anaheim Hills, CA
San Clemente Municipal - San Clemente, CA
Shorecliffs - San Juan Capistrano, CA
Casta Del Sol - Mission Viejo, CA
Costa Mesa Los Lagos - Costa Mesa, CA *Best Value*
Costa Mesa Mesa Linda - Costa Mesa, CA
Tijeras Creek - Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
Talega Golf Club - San Juan Capistrano, CA
Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club - Mission Viejo, CA
Moreno Valley Ranch (Mountain 9, Valley 9, Lake 9) - Moreno Valley, CA
Eagle Glen Golf Club - Corona, CA
Green River Orange Course - Corona, CA
Trilogy Golf Club - Corona, CA
Cross Creek - Temecula, CA
Redhawk Golf Club - Temecula, CA *Most Unique Design*
 | |
| Redhawk |
SCPGA Golf Course - Beaumont, CA
Coyote Hills Golf Club - Fullerton, CA
Diamond Bar - Diamond Bar, CA
Westridge - La Habra, CA
Willowick - Santa Ana, CA
El Dorado Park - Long Beach, CA
Skylinks - Long Beach, CA
Meadowlark - Huntington Beach, CA
David L. Baker - Fountain Valley, CA
Mile Square - Fountain Valley, CA
Cypress Golf Course (extinct) - Cypress, CA
Quail Ranch - Moreno Valley, CA
 | |
| Desert Dunes - Note the Bending Flagstick |
San Diego (5)
Carlsbad Crossings - Carlsbad, CA
Mission Trails -San Diego, CA
Coronado Island - San Diego, CA
Meadow Lake - Escondido, CA
Pala Mesa - Fallbrook, CA
Palm Springs (5)
Desert Dunes - Desert Hot Springs, CA *Windiest*
The Golf Club at La Quinta (Formerly Trilogy Golf Club) - La Quinta, CA
Desert Falls - Palm Desert, CA
Heritage Palms - Indio, CA
Northern California (4)
 | |
| Bodega Harbor Golf Links |
Bodega Harbor Golf Links - Bodega Bay, CA
Chardonnay Golf Club Shakespeare Course - Napa, CA
Coyote Canyon Tournament Course - San Jose, CA
Nevada/Utah (10)
LakeRidge Golf Course - Reno, NV
Las Vegas National Golf Course - Las Vegas, NV
Rhodes Ranch Golf Club - Las Vegas, NV
Badlands - Las Vegas, NV *Worst Design*
Royal Links - Las Vegas, NV *Coolest Design*
 | |
| Entrada at Snow Canyon |
Silverstone - Las Vegas, NV
Oasis Palmer Course - Mesquite, NV
Palms Golf Club - Mesquite, NV
Entrada at Snow Canyon - St. George, UT *Best Scenery*
Par-3's and Miscellaneous (6)
Lake Forest Golf Center - Lake Forest, CA *Best for Beginners*
Vista Valencia Chica - Valencia, CA *My First Golf Round*
Bixby Village Golf Course - Long Beach, CA
Hyatt Newporter - Newport Beach, CA
Driftwood Golf Course (closed) - Huntington Beach, CA *Wackiest*
Angel Park Cloud Nine Golf Course - Las Vegas, NV
So, that's it. My history as a golfer. In creating this list, I realized that there are so many courses that I have always meant to play, yet for some reason, I have never made the tee time. Look out Torrey Pines South, Rancho Park, Half Moon Bay, Paiute, Primm, Trump National, Maderas, and La Costa - you're next to make "The List".
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