The Next A-List Golf Architects
On an undeniably tall, slippery ladder, three acclaimed designers are primed to climb to the top rung. Every generation has its own collection of A-List architects. Naming them isn’t hard. A stiffer challenge is identifying who will comprise the next crop. Being an A-List architect means your name is on the short list every time […]
The Ace and the Hurricane: Katharine Hepburn’s Whirlwind Day at Fenwick
Katharine Hepburn’s very good, very bad day at Fenwick At the close of the 20th century, the American Film Institute named Katharine Hepburn “the greatest American screen legend” among females. For sheer drama, however, no scene she ever filmed could compare with her real-life role on September 21, 1938. Earlier that year, Hepburn was mired […]
Top 10 “Old” Courses You Can Play
When Old Barnwell in Aiken, S.C., opened in 2023, it got me wondering about the very best “Old” courses in golf—that is, courses ancient or modern that feature “Old” in the course name. While it’s true that some of these layouts go back many years, others are of considerably newer vintage. Old Barnwell is completely […]
Top 10 Southern California Courses You Can Play
Pick any major golf destination in Southern California and you’re bound to run into a celebrity or two. There are plenty of golf course stars in the region as well. Perhaps Northern California has more five-star public spreads, but for diversity (ocean, mountains, desert, parkland), perfect weather, and a fair bit of PGA Tour cachet, […]
Golf’s Most Intimate Layouts
Small wonder: Merion (East) is golf’s most intimate championship layout Unquestionably, the freedom to smash drives all over the yard is liberating. On occasion, however, it’s cathartic not to have to swing out of your shoes. Sometimes it’s fun to play small ball, to place thoughtful shots in the proper spots aboard a course with […]
Underrated Sibling Courses at Pebble Beach Resorts
The ultimate American public-access tee time for history, drama, and scenery, Pebble Beach Golf Links never fails to enchant our senses. Every red-blooded golfer alive yearns to play Pebble—but high demand and a special occasion green fee mean that not everybody can. Fortunately, Pebble Beach Resorts serves up a collection of sibling courses that are […]
Short Courses at Golf Communities Are on the Rise
What’s green, fun as well as challenging, and fits in just a couple of acres? The new breed of short courses, which are popping up in top golf communities nationwide. Nearly six years ago, Desert Mountain faced a dilemma. It revolved around a thumbprint of land with no obvious purpose. “The club owned a small, […]
The 8 Greatest Risk/Reward Holes on the PGA Tour’s West Coast Swing
For nearly a century, the PGA Tour’s West Coast Swing has reliably delivered drama in massive doses, thanks in part to venues that brim with exciting risk/reward holes. From history-soaked layouts such as Riviera and Pebble Beach to modern-day TPC spreads, what each has in common is at least one superb example of a risk-laden […]
Top 10 Widest American Courses You Can Play
Bow-and-arrow target golf can be fun on occasion. But if you just unwrapped a new driver, all you can think about is smashing the ball all over the yard. Fortunately for the big bashers out there, and the wannabes, too, there is a fistful of public-access courses in the United States that combine world-class design […]
The 10 Most Influential American Golf Courses You Can Play
If you’re seeking the best of the best and don’t have private club access, here are the top 10 influential American golf courses you can play.
