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A SECOND TOP 10 LIST OF GOLF COURSES

[PERSPECTIVE FROM THE 19TH HOLE: This is the title I chose for my personal blog, which is meant to give me an outlet for one of my favorite crafts – writing – plus to use an image from my favorite sport, golf. Out of college, my first job was a reporter for the Daily Astorian (in Astoria, Oregon) and I went on from there to practice writing in all of my professional positions, including as an Oregon state government manager and a private sector lobbyist. This blog also allows me to link another favorite pastime – politics and the art of developing pubic policy – to what I write. If you are reading this, thanks for doing so and please don’t hesitate to respond so we can engage in a dialogue, not just a monologue.]

 

The other day I wrote a blog listing my Top 10 list of favorite golf courses. Now, the time seems right to produce a second Top 10 because, of necessity, a number of my favorite golf courses did not make the first list.

So, here goes.

  1. MOUNTAIN COURSE AT LA QUINTA

An excellent parkland-type track in the Palm Springs.

  1. DUNES COURSE AT LA QUINTA

A twin to the Mountain course, this track contains a few links-style holes.

  1. MISSION HILLS PLAYER COURSE

Named for all-time great golfer, Gary Player, this track in the Palm Springs is very playable, bringing water into play on a number of holes.

  1. EUGENE GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB

About 60 miles south of where I live in Salem, Oregon, this track in Eugene always gets the nod as one of the best in Oregon in rankings produced by golf magazines. It is a solid track, but, speaking as a member of Illahe Hills Golf and Country Club in Salem, I think Illahe ranks right up there with Eugene GC.

  1. COLUMBIA EDGEWATER

Sitting hard astride along the Columbia River, this track has served as host for a LPGA event in the last few years. It is very playable – tough, but fair.

  1. CASTLE STUART

I return to Scotland to name this course, a new one near – yes a castle — Castle Stuart. Designed by Gil Hanse, this course opened only a few years ago, but still looks like it belongs in the ranks of great Scotland courses which date back to the 1800s, if not longer ago. The links-style course gained fame three years ago when US pro golfer Phil Mickelson won the Scottish Open there before moving on the next week to capture The Open at Muirfield.

  1. SILVER ROCK

I return to the U.S. and the Palm Springs to cite this public track in La Quinta. It can play as long and as tough as you want with various tees. It also is not unusual to see Bighorn sheep come down from the hills to feed on grass on the course.

  1. DESERT PRINCESS

This course – actually a 27-hole track – lies close the Palm Springs Airport in Cathedral City. I have stayed in the surrounding golf course condos there many times over the years and taken advantage of a pricing structure that allows you to book 12, 20 or 40 rounds at a cost that ranges to about $60 per 18.

  1. BEND GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB

Nestled in the pines in the southern part of Bend, this private golf club is one of the best – if not the best – course in Central Oregon…in my judgment.   Like some other 40-50 year-old courses around Oregon, Bend GC has recently benefitted from an intentional effort to remove trees. The action helped to return the club to its original routing system.

  1. BLACK BUTTE RANCH

My family is fortunate enough to have a cabin at this destination resort about 100 miles east of Salem. There are two solid golf courses there – Big Meadow and Glaze Meadow. Under the direction of architect John Fought, Glaze Meadow underwent a major renovation three years ago, which made the course far more playable, as well as restored attractive sight lines.

There. That’s a second Top 10 list. Any suggestions for other great courses? There must be some.

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