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Bargain courses you can play in the top 100


JBones

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I personally think there need to be more articles like this.  This is an article from Golf.com that is broke down below.  In the age of GolfNow and other such sites, does anyone even pay full price to play a round of golf?  I don't.  I would however pull out the pocketbook for one of the below courses.  I know a few people on here have played Bethpage, but has anyone played any of the other courses on this list?  Without further ado the top ten with their top 100 ranking in parenthesis.

 

Bargain courses you can play in the top 100 (according to Golf.com)

 

10.  Dancing Rabbit - Azaleas (#32) Choctaw, MS  $60-$130

 

dancingrabbitazaleas9_RussellKirk_0.jpg

 

 

9.  Bulle Rock (#48) Havre de Grace, MD $79-$130

 

bullerock2_courtesy_0.jpg

 

 

8. Forest Dunes Golf Club (#21) Roscommon, MI $69-$149

 

forestdunes3_LarryLambrecht_0.jpg

 

7.  Lakota Canyon Ranch & Golf Club (#90) New Castle, CO $99

 

LakotaRanch_0.jpg

 

6.  Circling Raven Golf Club (#91) Worley, ID $65-$95

 

circlingraven8_RobPerryPhotography_0.jpg

 

5.  The Quarry at Giants Ridge (#52) Biwabik, MN $62-$89

 

giantsridgequary14_courtesy_0.jpg

 

4.  World Woods - Pine Barrens (#36) Brooksville, FL $40-$119

 

worldwoodpinebarrens5_LarryLambrecht_0.j

 

3.  Paa-Ko Ridge Golf Club (#31) Sandia Park, NM $50-$117

 

paakoridge_RobertReck_0.jpg

 

2.  Bethpage Black (#4) Farmingdale, NY $65-$150

 

bethpageblack17_JimKrajicek_0.jpg

 

1.  Rustic Canyon Golf Course (#97) Moorpark, CA $36-$81

 

rusticcanyon10_RobBrown_0.jpg

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Have wanted to get up to Giants Ridge in Biwabick for years now.  TwinCitiesGolf.com has an annual trip, but it's always been a balance of going golfing for staying married  :blink:

 

From what I hear from folks who've played it - it's a HUGE bargain at $89.  At $62 during the week it's grand theft...

 

What's in the bag:
 
Driver:  :titelist-small:TSR3; :wilson_staff_small: DynaPWR Carbon
FW Wood: :wilson_staff_small: DynaPWR 3-wood; :titleist-small: TSR 2+
Hybrids:  PXG Gen4 18-degree
Utility Irons: :srixon-small: ZX MkII 20* 
Irons:;  :Sub70:699/699 Pro V2 Combo; :wilson_staff_small: D9 Forged;  :macgregor-small:MT86 (coming soon!); :macgregor-small: VIP 1025 V-Foil MB/CB; 

Wedges:  :cleveland-small: RTX6 Zipcore
Putter: :cleveland-small: HB Soft Milled 10.5;  :scotty-small: Newport Special Select;  :edel-golf-1:  Willamette,  :bettinardi-small: BB8; :wilson-small: 8802; MATI Monto

Ball: :bridgestone-small: Tour B RXS; :srixon-small: Z-STAR Diamond; :wilson_staff_small: Triad

Stat Tracker/GPS Watch: :ShotScope:


 
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Here is another of the Top 100....

 

Kearney Hills, Lexington KY

 

Pete Dye designed

 

Cost: $17 - $34

 

12t.jpg

Driver: image.png.6ba1c8a254ad57aa05e527b74c2e04ba.png0311 XF 10.5* w/Project X Cypher 40 gram Senior shaft or 0811 XF 12* w/Evenflo Riptide CB Senior shaft

Fairways:  image.png.80321f01fc46450b6f428c7daf7b3471.png0211 5W & 7W w/ Evenflo Riptide CB  regular shaft and Tour Edge E521 9W w/Fubuki HD50 regular shaft

Hybrid: None in bag at the moment

IronsTitleist T300 5-PW w/Fubuki MV Senior graphite shafts w/Golf Pride Tour

Wedges: Edison forged 49*, 53* and 57* wedges with KB PGI Senior shafts(80 grm).

Putter: 33” Evnroll ER6R or  ER2 or Bellum Winmore Model 707,   or Nike Method Core Drone  w/Evnroll Gravity Grip

Bag: Vice cart bag(Black/Lime). 

Ball: Snell MTB Prime X, Maxfli Tour/S/X CG, Titleist Pro V1x or Titleist TruFeel

Using Shot Scope X5 and Pinned Rangefinder

 

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Shot an 89 & 91 on it this summer....was the home for Champions Tour tourney for 9 years.

Driver: image.png.6ba1c8a254ad57aa05e527b74c2e04ba.png0311 XF 10.5* w/Project X Cypher 40 gram Senior shaft or 0811 XF 12* w/Evenflo Riptide CB Senior shaft

Fairways:  image.png.80321f01fc46450b6f428c7daf7b3471.png0211 5W & 7W w/ Evenflo Riptide CB  regular shaft and Tour Edge E521 9W w/Fubuki HD50 regular shaft

Hybrid: None in bag at the moment

IronsTitleist T300 5-PW w/Fubuki MV Senior graphite shafts w/Golf Pride Tour

Wedges: Edison forged 49*, 53* and 57* wedges with KB PGI Senior shafts(80 grm).

Putter: 33” Evnroll ER6R or  ER2 or Bellum Winmore Model 707,   or Nike Method Core Drone  w/Evnroll Gravity Grip

Bag: Vice cart bag(Black/Lime). 

Ball: Snell MTB Prime X, Maxfli Tour/S/X CG, Titleist Pro V1x or Titleist TruFeel

Using Shot Scope X5 and Pinned Rangefinder

 

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I've played both Lakota Canyon and Rustic Canyon.   Rustic a fine course but it is too close to the population center of LA so it is frequently crowded.

 

Lakota Canyon is in the middle of nowhere, I only played there because I was driving from SLC to Denver on I-70.   It is a fun course because nearly every tee is elevated and you are playing at such a high elevation that I guarantee you will hit the longest drives of your life there.

bag - SunMountain Synch with Ogio Synergy X4 cart
driver - :callaway-small: Optiforce 440, Paderson Kevlar Green stiff 46.5"
fwoods - :taylormade-small: Jetspeed, 3HL regular
irons - :taylormade-small:  Speedblades 3-8, 85g stiff steel, 2 up
wedges - :edilon-small: Scor 40, 45, 50, 54, 58
putter - :ping-small: Ketsch 35" slight arc, SuperStroke 2.0 mid-slim
ball - :titelist-small: ProV1x

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I have played Bethpage, Dancing Rabbit and Bulle Rock from this list.  Dancing Rabbit and Bethpage are just fantastic tracks; never really enjoyed Bulle Rock all that much but I guess I am in the minority in that sentiment.

WITB 2024

  :taylormade-small: Qi10 LS 9* SHAFT TBD...

  :taylormade-small: M5 15* Evenflow Black 75g 6.5

  :taylormade-small: Sim 19* HZRDUS Red 75g 6.5

  :taylormade-small: Sim2 Rescue 22* Diamana Thump 100x

  :callaway-small: X Forged CB 5 - PW MMT 105 TX 

  :callaway-small: Jaws Raw 50*, 54* & 58* TTDG "OG" Spinner

  :callaway-small: Toulon Madison BGT Fire 34.75"

  :srixon-small: Z Star Diamond

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I've played Circling Raven and Paa-Ko Ridge.

 

Circling Raven is on the south side of Lake Coeur d'Alene and has a hotel/casino there. You can get some pretty good package deals if you look for them. It's a good thing because there isn't much around there for food and lodging for about a 30-45 minute drive. Nice course, part of an Idaho golf trail of fun courses.

 

Paa-Ko is on the back side of Sandia peak outside Albuquerque, NM. It's been a long time since I played it, but I remember it being beautiful but tough. I remember a par 3 that had a long, narrow green with 3 or 4 levels. It was the only hole I have ever 5-putted!

We don’t stop playing the game because we get old; we get old because we stop playing the game.”

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I once got a 6 on a par 4 after hitting driver to the front fringe, used my putter and hit it off the back fringe.  Putter again 20 feet past and three more putts.   I think that still counts.

bag - SunMountain Synch with Ogio Synergy X4 cart
driver - :callaway-small: Optiforce 440, Paderson Kevlar Green stiff 46.5"
fwoods - :taylormade-small: Jetspeed, 3HL regular
irons - :taylormade-small:  Speedblades 3-8, 85g stiff steel, 2 up
wedges - :edilon-small: Scor 40, 45, 50, 54, 58
putter - :ping-small: Ketsch 35" slight arc, SuperStroke 2.0 mid-slim
ball - :titelist-small: ProV1x

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Had a great discussion with a golf course owner in Nevada about discount golf and his views that it's killing the industry.

I didn't have the hard to tell him that I don't pay full price for rounds and if a place doesn't offer discounts I don't normally play there unless it's a MUST PLAY track (I got into golf after the start of the discount wars, so it's what I expect)

Now I just need to show this article to my wife so she can understand that $80 is considered bargain golf

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Had a great discussion with a golf course owner in Nevada about discount golf and his views that it's killing the industry.

 

I didn't have the hard to tell him that I don't pay full price for rounds and if a place doesn't offer discounts I don't normally play there unless it's a MUST PLAY track (I got into golf after the start of the discount wars, so it's what I expect)

 

Now I just need to show this article to my wife so she can understand that $80 is considered bargain golf

 

I think thats BS.  There are so few people using them that it's not hurting a course and the course doesn't have to offer them.  Here is where it HELPS.......a course here struggled to book tee times in the middle of the day (11:00AM-2:00PM) during the summer, so they started offering discount through GolfNow for $16 (normal $40) during those times.  They sold out those tee times almost every day, where they had maybe 4-6 groups during that time frame before offering the discount.  So while they are offering play at a deep discount, it's better than not having anybody there at all.

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When traveling I got to play some nice courses at reasonable rates, unfortunately many of them were during their off season. Played TPC Scottsdale and Dove Mountain in July; PGA West and La Quinta also in July. But my wife was shocked when I paid $95 each for us at ChampionsGate in Florida about 8 years ago. I think it was a good price, but more than we had ever paid before. That was eclipsed a few years ago in Hawaii at Kapalua Plantation course.

 

At one of our local courses the pro gives us great rates when the course is empty. He says that something is better than nothing!

We don’t stop playing the game because we get old; we get old because we stop playing the game.”

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I'll throw my complete support behind Rustic Canyon being #1 on this list. This in no way has to do with it being my home course or anything. I've also played Circling Raven once. 

Driver: Callaway Epic Max LS 9.0*. (Oban Kiyoshi Purple 65)

FW: Cobra F9 3W (MC Diamana RF 60)
Hybrid:
Callaway Apex 19 2H (KBS - 85)

Hybrid: Callaway Apex 4H (MC - Kuro Kage 80 HY)
Irons: Callaway XR Steelhead 5I - AW (Project X 6.0 Steel)
Wedges: Callaway MD3 54* Standard; PM Grind 58* (Project X 5.5 Steel)
Putter: Odyssey Toulon - Atlanta (35")
Ball: Callaway Chrome Soft, Titleist Pro-V1, Whatever is in the Weeds
Resident of Southern California

 

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  • 5 years later...
Is anyone still trying to play the Top 100 public courses?  If so, has anyone found any bargains this year?
Thanks,
Pat

Probably depends on what “top 100” list you are looking at. But check out the Prairie Club in Nebraska. They have been open for business w guidelines in place - but open. Two courses to pick from in one spot. I’ve got some Picts posted in the gallery as I’m a big big fan...


Sent from my iPhone using MyGolfSpy

Walking ahead of my BagBoy QuadXL w Alphard eWheels
Driver: Callaway Mavrik SubZero 9* Neutral w stock Evenflow Riptide R flex shaft
3W  Titelist TS2 15* Draw w Tensei Blue R flex
3H, 4H Cobra One Length F9 Speedback hybrids (1”short) w Fujikura Atmos R flex shaft
5I-GW Cobra Forged TEC Black One Length (1”short, 2* flat) KBS 90 R flex shafts
56, 60 Cobra King MIM One Length Black (1” short) KBS HiRev2.0 125 S flex shafts
ER7  or Scotty Futura X - 35”

OnCore Elixr (lemon or lime)

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  • 2 weeks later...

Check out The Virtues GC in Nashport, OH (was Longaberger), they have a stay and play package with Eaglesticks in Zanesville, OH. You won't be disappointed.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N920A using MyGolfSpy mobile app

Set1
Driver - :cobra-small:Cobra King F6+ set 9.5 D, Matrix 65M4 Black Tie R-Flex 65g low-mid launch 
Fairway - :cobra-small:Cobra F6 3/4 and 7/8 both R-flex
Irons - Tour Edge Exotics E8 Steel R-flex 4-PW
Wedges - :cleveland-small:Cleveland CBX 50 and 54, and Smart Sole 3 58
Putter - Top Flite Tour Align 5
Rangefinder - Leupold GX-2i3

 

Set2

Driver - Custom Built - Accura SP-700 400cc 10deg 48.5" S-flex

Hybrids - :adams-small:Adams Idea A50s 3 and 4

Irons - :taylormade-small:Taylor Made Burner Oversize 3-PW, lightly used 3 and 4 still in original plastic(auction buy $15 w/bag and several other clubs)

Wedges - Snake Eyes 52 & 56 and Dunlop True Tech Lob 64

Putter - W :wilson-small:ilson Harmonized M1

 

Set 3

My original set approximately 43 years old and I occasionally take the irons out for a swing

:titelist-small:Titleist Lite 100

 

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  • 2 weeks later...
On 6/24/2020 at 10:46 AM, ChrisS said:

Check out The Virtues GC in Nashport, OH (was Longaberger), they have a stay and play package with Eaglesticks in Zanesville, OH. You won't be disappointed.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N920A using MyGolfSpy mobile app
 

Chris,

Those are both really nice courses.  I got to play them both many years ago.

Thanks,

Pat

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I’ve played Dancing Rabbit - Azaleas and World Woods - Pine Barrens.   The round on Rabbit was played in the hardest rain I’ve ever stayed out and played in, so I remember literally nothing about the course outside of the opening hole.    Trying to go back in August.   

 default_taylormade-small(1).jpg.85912868199b94e166402712fb9f64b0.jpg Stealth 2 Plus 10.5* driver

default_ping-small.jpg.f0dadf3a40970feec67664677f8eff49.jpg G425 14.5*, 17.5* FWs

default_ping-small.jpg.f0dadf3a40970feec67664677f8eff49.jpg G425 22* hybrid

default_ping-small.jpg.f0dadf3a40970feec67664677f8eff49.jpg i230 irons, 5 - W

default_ping-small.jpg.f0dadf3a40970feec67664677f8eff49.jpg Glide 4.0 S 50*, 54*, 58* wedges

EVNROLL.gif.c1122c4834ff1cdf4df48962afede4ed.gif  EV 5.3 33"

 

 

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On 6/9/2020 at 9:23 PM, Patpott said:

Is anyone still trying to play the Top 100 public courses?  If so, has anyone found any bargains this year?

Thanks,

Pat

I played the Links Course at Lawsonia in May on a Tuesday...they were running a promotion that you could name your own price. Paid $5 plus cart to play. I think Lawsonia is ranked No. 58 on Golf Digest's Top 100 Greatest Public Courses in the U.S. list.

Edited by sroel908

What's In My  :nike-small: Xtreme Sport IV Carry Stand Bag:

:srixon-small: ZX5 Driver (9.5*)

:cobra-small: Baffler XL 3 Wood

:taylormade-small: Burner Rescue 3 Hybrid

:cobra-small: F8 5 Hybrid

:Sub70: 699 Pro V2 Irons (5-PW)

:Sub70: 286 Forged Wedge: 50* and 54*, JB Forged Wedge: 58*

:wilson_staff_small: 8882 Putter

:srixon-small: Q Star Tour Ball

 

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