Four Exceptional Golf Course Reviews

Many prestigious golf magazines offer reviews byhazarded. The views from every tee are
professional golf writers. These reviews areawesome and often any hole, other than the one
sometimes rehashing opinions on the famousbeing played, is not in view. The price is also
courses that everyone, even non-golfers, hasincredible (50 dollars includes a riding cart!). That's
heard of. Do we really need more reviews onsouthern hospitality! This course is highly rated by
Pinehurst #2, Pebble Beach, and Augusta National?Golf Digest and Golflink. Some have likened it to
I think not. So let us discover some of the moreAugusta National. While that may be a little far
obscure, but great, courses that people needfetched, the similarities are there. The course
exposure to. These reviews are hopefully gearedrating is 74.6/slope 134.
to the regular golfer, which is to say the golferBANDON DUNES (Bandon Dunes Resort), Bandon,
who shoots triple digit scores. (The sad but trueOregon: While this course may not fit the
fact is that ninety percent of golfers are hackers).obscurity model any longer, it needs to be
I have decided to talk about some of the mostmentioned. The original Bandon Dunes Resort
difficult courses that I have played, golf being atcourse was designed by Scotsman David Kidd. It
its kindest inherently sweet sorrow for most ofrepresents beautiful, playable, European links golf.
us anyway. I have selected a special course fromHole #16 is one of the most eye pleasing holes in
each of the following areas of the United States:existence. If golf ever could make a person
the Midwest (or Great Lakes region),the easternmisty-eyed, this tee box view just might bring up
U.S.A., the west coast, and the southwesternthe emotions. The course is ranked #6 in the top
desert.U.S. courses "you can play" by Golf Magazine. Fine
THE BEAR (Grand Traverse Resort), Acme,Pacific Ocean views abound. This course may be
Michigan: This is a Jack Nicklaus beauty that theWALKED ONLY (carts available for the physically
man was proud enough of to bestow hischallenged). Caddies are available. December and
nickname on. In this case Jack was asked toJanuary can be quite misty so to speak. The
design a most difficult course, and he compliedcourse rating is 74.1/slope 143.
with a bear of a course. With only a five monthENTRADA AT SNOW CANYON, St. George, Utah:
growing season, northern Michigan's courses are inUtah's St. George area in the southwest corner of
the best shape in the country due to lack of play.the state is a little known tremendous golf
This course is rated among the twenty toughestdestination. This course is one of the best of the
courses in the United States (public or private) bygreat courses there. The back nine is devilish due
Golf Digest. Everyman won't break 100 but willto the Johnny Miller (architect) factor and the
enjoy every minute of the suffering. The mogulsvery narrow playing area through lava fields on
on #16 make a wonderful photograph, but beseveral holes. St. George is also not far from
advised not to hit into them. The course rating isMesquite, Nevada which has more great courses
76.3/slope 148.(and casinos galore if gambling is a persons
CLEGHORN PLANTATION, Rutherfordton, Northhobby). Negatively, the course is open to guests
Carolina: Who's George Cobb? Well he is theof the Inn at Entrada and property owners only.
course architect and he sure knew what he wasIt's worth the trouble. A non-summertime
doing. This is a lovely course (and mature, beingexperience is recommended as it gets very hot
forty years old) nestled in the southernJune through August. The course rating is 73.6
Appalachian foothills. It is heavily wooded, heavilyslope 131 but it's harder than that slope.