The 10 Best “Hills” Courses in American Golf
In Alister MacKenzie’s Golf Architecture, published in 1920, he espoused 13 General Principles of Architecture. Number four stated: “The greens and fairways should be sufficiently undulating, but there should be no hill climbing.” Yet, he also preached about the necessity of variety and placed great emphasis on utilizing natural features. In diametric opposition to what […]
The Top 10 Thanksgiving-Themed Golf Courses
More than 400 years old, Thanksgiving is marked by history and traditions, from the Pilgrims to the dinner menu of turkey, cranberries, and pumpkin pie. We celebrate our national day of gratitude by highlighting courses with names that reflect those rituals. 1. Pilgrim’s Run Golf Club Pierson, Michigan (top photo) Thanksgiving Tradition: The Pilgrim’s voyage […]
The Best Public Golf in California
Ranking the states for the quality of their golf is a subjective business, though it’s clear some are better than others. Florida, Michigan, New York, Hawaii, Arizona, South Carolina, Wisconsin, and even Ohio all get high marks, and another ever-present in the conversation is California whose course count almost reaches 1,000, and which boasts an impressive number of layouts […]
The Real Cost of Hosting a USGA Event
Hosting a USGA National Championship can bring a club notoriety and prestige—along with a major financial headache During the PGA Tour’s Valspar Championship this past March, Innisbrook Resort owner Sheila Johnson sipped on a cocktail at a media reception when her phone buzzed. After checking the incoming e-mail message, a smile creased her faced. She […]
Must-See at the Masters
It’s (almost) the most wonderful time of the year. The wait from the end of August’s PGA Championship to the Masters in the first week of April feels interminable. Soon the golf world will converge at Augusta National, one of golf’s most cherished cathedrals. I’ve been going since 1998, and it is one of those […]
10 Courses That Should Host the Ryder Cup
In theory, you could play the Ryder Cup at your local muni and it’d still be exciting. But the venues do contribute to the magic. The “War by the Shore” wouldn’t have been the same if it hadn’t taken place at Kiawah. Nor would the “Battle of Brookline” have been as dramatic if it had […]
Ben Wright: Days at the Beach
It’s nearly time for another Bing Crosby National Pro-Am—I’m sorry, make that AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am—which means memories of that great event come flooding back to me like the giant breakers that crash along Pebble’s famed 18th hole. Unfortunately those memories don’t include my actually having played in the Crosby, as it will always […]
Ben Wright: Feeling Chipper
Christmas came early for me this year—on August 27, to be exact. Who would have thought an aging hacker, ailing with pneumonia and consigned to playing “game improvement” clubs, was capable of championship golf and highlight-reel theatrics? But I’m getting ahead of myself. It all started when I ventured to Northern Michigan for Crystal Mountain […]
The U.S. Military is One of the Biggest Golf Course Operators—Here’s Why
Top Gun or Top Flite? You might come across golfers looking for both at Miramar Air Station in San Diego. The MCAS Miramar Memorial Golf Course is among more than 140 courses nationwide and overseas operated by the U.S. Armed Forces, offering a valuable recreational and social outlet for military members and their families. And […]
The Masters Par 3 Contest
Matt Wallace is 1-for-1 at Augusta National. The 28-year-old from England has played in one competition at the home of the Masters, and won it. Of course, Wallace didn’t win the Masters (not yet anyway) but the Par 3 Contest which precedes the main event. The debutant won in a playoff at the third extra […]
