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

[Middler 3,084]

Muirfield Village in OH, and Cog Hill in IL are the toughest courses I’ve ever played myself, but I haven’t been to as many bucket list courses as some here. Recently played Tobacco Road, looks really rough but not as hard as it looks - the most unique course I’ve ever seen/played - fascinating!

[ballplayer002003 1,400]

On 4/27/2021 at 6:15 PM, KC Golf said:

I agree that Pinehurst #7 is very difficult.  I remember #2 being very difficult on approaches with long irons.  I didn't play the tips on #2 and the greens were more receptive given it had rained that week, but it was still hard getting the ball close.  I can see how it would be amazing as test for the world's best with a US Open set up.

I would say that on a typical windy, Fall day in Bandon, OR.  Pacific Dunes and Bandon Dunes are some of the toughest courses to play in America.  Even with caddies telling you where to hit it, it can still be very hard to hit and keep it on the greens and make putts.  Some par 3s were next to impossible with the wind gusts.  I learned how to take half swing 5 and 6 irons for trajectory distance control.  I should note that I was very impressed at how good the caddies were.  

 

My buddy played Bandon and said the same thing!  He absolutely loved the courses.  Bandon is on my bucket list for sure.  Call me crazy, but I hope we play when it's windy as hell...I just feel like it's only right to do that.  haha

[Ben_Howell34 386]

Toughest I’ve ever played was Fallen Oak in Biloxi. Beautiful course in the middle of nowhere, greens like glass. To be fair I’m no golf savant and about an 11 handicap, not well traveled golf wise, but looking to change that!! 

3 minutes ago, Ben_Howell34 said:

Toughest I’ve ever played was Fallen Oak in Biloxi. Beautiful course in the middle of nowhere, greens like glass. To be fair I’m no golf savant and about an 11 handicap, not well traveled golf wise, but looking to change that!! 

Edited May 9, 2021 by Ben_Howell34

[Dodgerfan 6]

Hardest most difficult course I ever played was in Zionville Indiana called Wolf Run.   It had a stretch of three holes that Nick Faldo was quoted as saying were the hardest three holes in a row he has played.    Unfortunately the club closed in I believe 2017.

[J0K3R 16]

I'll just put this one in there as well.  Can't find the actual scorecard but numbers here are accurate.

[BEEJ 6]

Hardest course and best course I ever played was the Kampen Course at Birick Boilermaker Golf Complex. Pete Dye redesigned both courses at Purdue. I have to admit my bias as I am Purdue alum. Indiana has an underrated golf scene.

[Brian A 1,398]

Played in a charity outing at Laurel Valley in PA. Didn’t realize how prestigious it was. That being said it was the hardest course I have ever played. The greens were the fastest I’ve ever seen. Normally I am a decent putter (avg 31 putts per round) and I couldn’t hit a putt to save my life. Beautiful course though

[WildcatGolf 29]

Hardest Course I have ever played is Bellerive, and it just happened to be the week before a Mid-Am event at the club. They had the greens rolling almost a 12 on the stimp-meter, and the greens were hard and fast.

Shot 84, 14 greens in Regulation, and had 45 PUTTS. On the Day I played it was 92 degrees and we teed off at 1:30. 

[Bosox04 139]

Musgrove Mill Clinton, SC

[tchat07 1,809]

Local course in Maryland. The Club at PB Dye. Was ranked the 27th hardest course in the country in 2007 by Golf Digest. Multiple blind tee shots and approach shots. Multi tiered undulated greens. Tall fescue rough. Yeah that course can be an absolute brute if you are playing for the first time.

[EasyPutter 1,671]

Hardest 9 hole course for me is the par 35 Chautauqua Point Golf Course in Dewittville, NY.  Difficult because 6 of the 9 holes (2 par 5s and 3 par 4s) are across the slope so it is either ball high or ball low to the feet, a real skills challenge as the ball is significantly higher or lower than feet for fairway and irons shots.  The last two holes 8 & 9 are not in ball high or low, but both par 3 with significant vertical, about 1:2.5 gradient elevation change, 8 is down and 9 is a longer up, so if you cannot hit a high lofted wedge over 120 yards (like yours truly) then you are not going to land the green from the tee box.

On the plus side they always have Groupon discounts available, if you like that kind of challenge...

 

[Shapotomous 4,125]

Toughest days of golf I have experienced were in heavy wind on courses in the Ocean City, MD area on our fall golf trips.  One year we played Rum Pointe the day after a hurricane brushed the coast.  The wind was still blowing about 30mph and that course is right on the bay.  We knew we were in trouble that morning when we saw whitecaps in the hotel pool.  We actually used our brains and moved up a set of tees that day but it was still an extremely tough day of golf! 

Another year we played a Nicklaus course, Bayside in Selbyville, DE in some serious wind and I was the only one to break 100.  We didn't move up a set of tees that day and it showed.  The group actually took that course out of the rotation for quite a few years because everyone found it so difficult.

[QuantumGolf_X 0]

BAYONET at Bayonet and Black Horse near Monterey. The course is long, add the marine layer and the ball doesn't fly at all. The par 4 9th is probably the toughest hole I have ever played. Uphill, dogleg right, and the green is surrounded by bunkers. The golf course is punishing, but it is a great classic layout in a beautiful setting. I'm always game for some torment out there.

[Paul Hedrick 223]

For me it would have to be Tobacco Road in Sanford North Carolina.  This course was so far out of my skill level; it was horrible.  I enjoy courses that are challenging, just not ones that are soul crushing.  I know that given the chance to play there again, I will pass on it.