Hardest Course You've Ever Played (in the U.S.)

[DaveP043]

55 minutes ago, jaskanski said:

Carnoustie in the wind takes some beating

Last time I heard, Carnoustie still isn't in the US.   It's dang tough, but this particular thread is about US courses.

[MmmmmmBuddy]

On 8/10/2018 at 7:14 AM, PING Apologist #9 said:

An update to my "hardest" course since the recent experience out in Oregon...

 

Easily for me it is the Jack Nicklaus Signature Course at Pronghorn Resort near Bend. I'm still reeling from the thrashing we both took out there last Sunday... Shoulda ponied-up and hired on the caddies...

 

+ 1 here.

 

This course absolutely gets easier the more times you play it, but it is not forgiving at all..

[jaskanski]

18 hours ago, DaveP043 said:

Last time I heard, Carnoustie still isn't in the US.   It's dang tough, but this particular thread is about US courses.

Oh - my bad. In that case...Oakmont?

[DaveP043]

2 minutes ago, jaskanski said:

Oh - my bad. In that case...Oakmont?

That's gotta be one of the toughest.  And I was only kidding you a bit, I was tempted to mention Carnoustie when I first read the thread.

[golfish!]

Has anyone mentioned PGA West Stadium Course in Palm Desert California? Played this weekend and not only is the layout tough but the heat gets you too! Rarely a flat lie to hit your ball from and if you are not familiar with the course, no idea where your landing zone is! Very challenging and for sure the most difficult course I have played in the US.

[dmc1368]

Trump National Jupiter and it's not close for me!

[Brookers]

If I had to play Essex County CC outside of a scramble, I think it would be my choice, I had the luxury of playing it 3 times, all in scramble format. The winning score was never better then -5 to my best recollection (my team came in at +1 as the best round those 3 yrs).

Red Tail GC in Devens, MA was the hardest I played out east, the distances were not excessively long but the shot making required was precise.  The course was always in great shape (I moved away in 2015) and greens ran 11+.

 

Harbor Shores GC is an extremely challenging course in SW MI (Benton Harbor), the greens are massive, which adds additional stress on that putting game (not to mention I played 2 day's after the Sr. Open so they were fast.)

 

The hardest course I have ever played, hands down, is Cog Hill, Dubsdread in Lemont, IL.  A few friends and I used to play this every year in the fall to "measure our game", unfortunately this course made sure we never measured up...  There is no "bail outs", you are either in the fairway, first cut or screwed!

[HeathS16]

Stadium course at PGA West, easily the toughest one!


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[Tom the Golf Nut]

I saw a few Bethpage Blacks out there. I agree. Played TPC Southwind this season and was no way near as hard as the Black.

[daviddvm]

Pebble Beach Golf Links on August 1, 2018.

[Tom the Golf Nut]

35 minutes ago, daviddvm said:

Pebble Beach Golf Links on August 1, 2018.

Ahhhhhh would like to be there!

[daviddvm]

1 hour ago, Tom the Golf Nut said:

Ahhhhhh would like to be there!

It is Heaven for a Golfer

[TCUfrog]

Pebble Beach Golf Links on August 1, 2018.

I’m there tomorrow. Couldn’t be more excited


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[daviddvm]

11 hours ago, TCUFrog said:

I’m there tomorrow. Couldn’t be more excited


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Take a lot of pictures and post some for us!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[carfig]

Wolf Creek Mesquite NV, was like playing golf inside the Grand Canyon....300 ft drops on most holes. 

http://www.golfwolfcreek.com/

 

[Popeye64]

Pinehurst #2. The level of difficulty that is as tough as any course out there. Greens that defy description But there is also a gravity to the moment... that you are in the cathedral of golf.
I did not rise to the challenge over all. But had a string of 4 pars on the backside and a final birdie on the closing hole.
I had many big number holes that I had myself out of position and paid heavy prices for.
A place that as you leave you just want a chance to play again.

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[Flog4]

I have played a few of the most difficult....Shattuck many times...short but every shot is target. Tobacco Road is much like Shattuck as short but precise.  Played Wolf Creek but only about 1/2 of the tees on the back. But my top 5 toughest were special...and soooo looong. Had a group of guys played with and we did an annual "This course is too long event" at the Concord Monster and Rick Smith was pro then and would set the course up for us with all pins on back of huge greens and tee boxes at tip...On paper it was around 7600 but with the set up around 8000 and that was in the early 80's. Also played the Reserve at Thunder Hill once from tips...Couple times you had to look hard to find the back tee... Played Whistling Straits the last day you could prior to the first PGA there. We played the tips and it was just stupid. Bethpage Black the last day you could play prior to the first US Open there, and the course was soaked and no roll...including sleeping in the car in the numbered parking spots with spot 7 when only 6 tee times available...but guy in truck who slept there was playing the Red so my son and I got on...Hit driver from two par 3's and a few times nutted driver like 20 yards short of where the fairway started...shot 96.....But the numero uno toughest was the Pines at the International...Played the Tiger Tees once....And those tees were named before Tiger was born...The course was 8325 yards with a rating of 81.3 and slope of 155....I shot a 90. 

Edited October 23, 2020 by Flog4

[Tarheelvolvo]

Was fortunate enough to play Kinloch Golf Club a couple times since it's about 15-20mins away from my house.

First thing that threw me was there were no carts. It's old school, caddies only, everybody's walking type course. The caddies certainly helped since my drives were all over the place and constantly in the rough thanks to smooth fairways sloped down towards the edges. Second thing that I had to massively adjust to was the greens. It was like putting on a granite countertop! At that point I realized how much skill the pros have over us regular joes when it comes to putting. I think my best putting performance was a 3 putt, lol. Overall, scored a strict 112 the first time. Second time I was a bit more prepared and shot a strict 97 and felt like I was ready to join the tour Great course (slope 139, rating 74.8), not terribly long (7200+yds), great atmosphere, and always in perfect shape - no wonder it's always a top course in the nation year after year.

[LICC]

For me the two toughest are Bethpage Black and Doral, but I have entirely different views of the experience. Bethpage is very difficult but a joy to play, with one memorable hole after another. If it were set up just slightly differently, with wider fairways mowed on a few holes and a bunker or two removed, it would be even more fun. Doral was just a slog with many small target areas that you are severely punished if you miss. 

[RobbyT]

I haven't played too many courses, but the hardest one I've played is probably The Cardinal by Pete Dye. Pinehurst No. 2 is probably second, just because of the greens, the course is wide open.