What makes a Golf Course a "Good" one?

[Dooby]

Is it a course that puts you in positions to use a variety of clubs more frequently? Is it simply the conditions and cost? Maybe it is reachable par 5s or driveable par 4s? Are you a fan of certain course architectures or designs and routing? What to you, makes a golf course "good" or even "great"?

[GolfSpy_APH]

Cost and variety... Good coffee helps also.

Really that's I'll I'm looking for.

[tony@CIC]

A course that makes you think more about strategy then just bombing the ball, is well kept and a friendly staff. Spacing between groups is an important criteria as well for me.  We were with some friends a couple of weeks ago, playing at one of our 'sister' courses. They were spacing the groups 6 minutes apart - seemed like we were waiting on every tee box and the group behind us was getting impatient and hitting balls close to us. The Marshall had come around several times telling people to move along more quickly. Very frustrating round. 

[EMacK1961]

A. Can I walk it? Does the course allow for transitions from hole to hole that aren't 200 or more yards away?

B. Is it a good challenge? Fair but tough

C. Is it interesting? A mix of holes/views that aren't all fades or draws.

[Rob Person]

As both a newb, and a budget conscious golfer, I look for cost, condition, and challenge. (Not challenging!)

  I'm fortunate enough to have  courses relatively close by (15 minutes up to 45 minutes away) average round is from $25-60. 

What makes it great, is if I enjoyed the overall experience of that particular course.

Edited January 13 by Rob Person

[TJ Hall]

Different holes, not just a straight par 4 for everything.  Something challenging and makes you think around the course.  And lastly, cost.

Edited January 13 by TJ Hall

[CFreddie]

Good question - my favorite type of course is one that can challenge both new and experienced players. For example - courses with wide fairways that allow the newer golfer to keep it in play, but still push strategy for better players to hit to certain spots.  
 

One that comes to mind is Sheep Ranch at Bandon - huge, wide open fairways but there is def a “preferred” path / strategy for each hole.   On the opening hole, you can take many different approaches to the par 5, but the better route is down the right (at least according to my caddy). Seeing these pictures really makes me miss Bandon…I need to get back there!
 

Besides that, how well the course is maintained is important, even if it’s more expensive to play. 

[cnosil]

I have seen this question before and my answer is a definitive I don't know.   I enjoy just being outside, some socializing, and hitting golf shots.   Maybe I am fortunate but I haven't found a course that I wouldn't play again   Things that disappoint are bad tee boxes, fairways, and greens and by bad I mean lots of bare spots.   Maybe if I was scratch or better and hit fairway, green, and 2 putted or less on every hole I'd have a different thought.  

[MGoBlue100]

3 minutes ago, cnosil said:

I enjoy just being outside, some socializing, and hitting golf shots.

Exactly. If it’s got tees and greens (and sometimes barely tees) I’m good with it. Let’s play!

[Middler]

Condition, layout and variety. I’d much rather play a meh layout in good condition than a great layout in poor condition, especially greens. I also like a mix of challenges - I don’t like courses where every hole is a back breaker, nor do I like a course full of easy holes. There should be some hazards, e.g. I don’t like courses where there’s essentially no rough, or too few traps. Cost is a factor, but IME (not always but) you get what you pay for more often than not. Most expensive courses are expensive for a reason.

Edited January 13 by Middler

[Kenny B]

I've played some nice higher end courses and dog tracks.  An interesting layout is preferable; not just straight, back-and-forth holes.  I prefer to play courses that have views rather than ones that wind through housing developments.  However, I also enjoy courses with houses if they are interesting and far enough away to not be part of the course!!   

Here I am at one of my favorite courses with houses in Indian Canyons South Course in Palm Springs... 1950's houses that are set back to where they are visible but not really in play.

Interesting, I went back through my old photos of our rounds and most all of them are on courses with no houses, or ones where they are not visible.  Being here in the PNW we have a lot of courses that are in the mountains and spread out with great views.  It's nice being outdoors, and these courses are my favorites.  

Here is Bill @fixyurdivot at Indian Canyon GC in Spokane WA at our PNW MGS Outing...

 

EDIT:  Notice the similar names of the courses!!

Edited January 13 by Kenny B

[Preeway]

A great course is a course with character. I don’t care about the length or hazards, but the layout design and thought that was put into the layout. 
For example, Wild Horse (in NE) has all four par 3s going in all four directions. You will get different wind each time. The par 5s are all reachable in two with good drives but the risk/reward component is always in play due to bunkers. 
I don’t like a course with a lot of hazards as that seems like the lazy approach to making a course hard. They serve a purpose and can be very functional but sometimes they can exist just for the sake of existing. 
And finally, I like a course that makes me hit a variety of shots into greens and might even have several holes where you shouldn’t hit driver. I like courses that are both challenging and fun. 

[Byrnzee]

A good golf course to me is one that you never want to leave. Challenging enough to keep things interesting, but not too punishing so you can still enjoy yourself.

I'm willing to pay top dollar for certain courses, but a good course to me is one where the cost is justified by the experience and the conditions, not just for a famous name. 

I prefer a course where the holes are all unique and interesting as opposed to a cookie cutter design. These type of courses keep you coming back to play them again and again because you'll never get bored when you have many different ways to play them.

[Dooby]

One thing I’ve learned over the past year is I don’t enjoy courses that have an abundance of blind tee shots. I don’t need tee shots that are easy or overly comfortable but I hate playing a course where I constantly feel like it’s a “hit it in this direction and hope for the best on the other side of the hill”. 
And then one thing I’ve learned to value is the variety in par 3s and variety overall. I seem to play my best golf and have the most fun when I use more clubs in my bag than not and I think par 3s play a role in that. If each of the par 3s is a different club/distance, I think that makes it more fun overall. 
Similar to what some have said in this thread, courses that require strategy are more engaging for me. Golf is a physical and a mental game and I like when both are required. 

[cnosil]

1 hour ago, Kenny B said:

 I prefer to play courses that have views rather than ones that wind through housing developments.  However, I also enjoy courses with houses if they are interesting and far enough away to not be part of the course!!   

You will see both at Kingsmill.  The "interesting" one is the house where John Hinkley used to live.    Most meet your desired far enough away to not be part of the course, but a bad shot can hit one.   

 

[Kenny B]

15 minutes ago, cnosil said:

You will see both at Kingsmill.  The "interesting" one is the house where John Hinkley used to live.    Most meet your desired far enough away to not be part of the course, but a bad shot can hit one.   

 

I don't hit bad shots.   

[LinksgolfFever]

So subjective but for me there are a few things I prefer and a few that are more requirements.

required:

Cost/value p.s.  Pebble is 30 minutes away, I think it’s overpriced @600+. Value is directly related to condition, if the course is over seeding/bunker repairs, reduced rates should be available.

Is it appealing/scenery, I love being outside and want to enjoy what I’m walking around.  

Group spacing/Marshalls on duty, 6 minute tee times are not fun, especially with slow players.  Regardless of skill you should know how to play time efficient.

The preferences: 

Variably challenging for all players.  If the above are met but the course isn’t very challenging, I’ll play with fewer clubs, irons only.

Friendly/knowledgable staff-  your at a golf course, be happy

 

[bens197]

At this stage in my life, I don’t want to spend more than 4:15 playing 18. 
 

Open times that aren’t stacked really does it. A local public I played often in HS was recently sold and times are 7 minutes apart. Needless to say they’re on Groupon weekly. 
 

Besides that, I’d like to play somewhere with a variety of holes. That’s really it. 

[Subdiver1]

Great topic. Some great pics shared too.  I agree, I love being outdoors and enjoy the scenery and relative peace a golf course provides.  Funny how everyone had elements that we can agree upon, and then there are the particular perspectives; geeze it almost sounds like we are all individuals, but still share commonality

#1, but not isolated is condition. I say not isolated because, as @Middlerand @LinksgolfFever mentioned, cost is also tied to that for me as some places have gotten ridiculous.  Especially when conditions and pace of play get factored in.

#2, pace of play; again that is coupled, though to a lesser degree, to $$.

Aside from those two considerations, i agree with other points already mentioned.  As an aside on "conditions" I consider bunker maintenance is a big one for me. For me, that detail speaks volumes about how serious a course is about maintenance and overall conditions.

Challenge, scenery, playability, check.

Hope you all find a great venue this week.

Cheers.

[DaveP043]

On 1/13/2024 at 11:06 AM, cnosil said:

I have seen this question before and my answer is a definitive I don't know.  

I'm in the same boat, I don't have specific requirements.  I'll separate the staffing and pace of play stuff out, that's separate from the "course" to me.  I like good conditions, variety in the layout (left/right/straight, long/short, uphill/downhill, harder/easier, wide/narrow), conditions and variety are probably the two most important factors.  I prefer golf courses that are not lined with housing, and prefer courses that are walkable, but neither one is critical.  I like an occasional quirky hole, and a blind shot, but not a steady diet.   I think in the end this is kind of "I know it when I see it".  

[Another Steve]

Sometimes i like a challenge. Variety of holes… dogleg left &/or right that you cannot cut. Maybe a dogleg that you can cut but there is severe penalty for being short and danger in going too far or off line. Risk reward drivable par 4’s that could be an easy par if you lay up or a bogey/double bogey if you go for it and are not perfect. Some Holes that force you to leave driver in the bag. Some holes that “can” be played with a straight ball but are designed for a draw or fade and if your only ball flight bends the wrong way it sucks to be you. 
 

other times i want wide open where it doesn’t matter how far off line you are you’ll find your ball and have a shot towards the hole 90% of the time. 

[ILMgolfnut]

On 1/13/2024 at 11:02 AM, CFreddie said:

Besides that, how well the course is maintained is important, even if it’s more expensive to play. 

Well-maintained does not always mean "green". There is such a thing as too much water; not only are the fairways and greens soggy, but the grass gets stressed, and it makes it a drag when your drive plugs at 190 instead of rolling out to 210. A little bit of brown turf is not a bad thing. Turf scientists (yes there is such a thing) will tell you that a lush green fairway (or lawn for that matter) is on the brink of disaster, and requires a lot more care.

I don't mind playing on dormant grass in the winter because you get some roll. Now if the options are grass and bare dirt... that's not a good thing.

[BallsLeon]

Appreciate when a course has been designed to be walkable, and any course that asks me to use most of my clubs. 

[CFreddie]

5 minutes ago, ILMgolfnut said:

Well-maintained does not always mean "green". There is such a thing as too much water; not only are the fairways and greens soggy, but the grass gets stressed, and it makes it a drag when your drive plugs at 190 instead of rolling out to 210. A little bit of brown turf is not a bad thing. Turf scientists (yes there is such a thing) will tell you that a lush green fairway (or lawn for that matter) is on the brink of disaster, and requires a lot more care.

I don't mind playing on dormant grass in the winter because you get some roll. Now if the options are grass and bare dirt... that's not a good thing.

Totally agree! 

[ILMgolfnut]

58 minutes ago, CFreddie said:

Totally agree! 

To dive down a little deeper, a huge part of the mounting expense of golf is that players see those emerald green fairways on TV with the fancy cross-hatch mowing patterns, and demand that for their home courses. Well, the Tour and host courses are spending boatloads of money to get them that way, and your home course has to do the same. Which gets passed along to us in club dues and green fees. Then they often have to back off after the tournament and let the turf recover.

[vandyland]

On 1/13/2024 at 8:51 AM, Dooby said:

Is it a course that puts you in positions to use a variety of clubs more frequently? Is it simply the conditions and cost? Maybe it is reachable par 5s or driveable par 4s? Are you a fan of certain course architectures or designs and routing? What to you, makes a golf course "good" or even "great"?

Great thread topic! Let me get my caveats out there first:

(1) It is good to have a variety of golf course styles, types, etc. Something for everyone
(2) This is just what I prefer to play (described below) not what I think EVERYONE should agree is a great golf course

I prefer W I D E R golf courses (think landing zones or fairways at least 50 yds wide) with more of the challenge or demand placed on the approach shot rather than off the tee. I like golf courses that give you OPTIONS off the tee rather than "hit it here or else" or courses that give you an easy out of the tee vs a challenging line of the tee that will give you a reward. I think a variety of hole templates (short 4s, long 4s, doglegs, redans, etc) keeps things interesting. Not a ton of OB or blocked out shots. 

Golf courses that fit this description: Pursell Farms (Farm Links), Mammoth Dunes, We-Ko-Pa Saguaro, Tobacco Road, Kapalua Plantation
Golf courses that are the antithesis of this: Harbour Town, Caledonia Golf and Fish Club, Colonial, Sahalee Country Club, many other Florida coast residential courses

[ILMgolfnut]

12 minutes ago, vandyland said:

I prefer W I D E R golf courses (think landing zones or fairways at least 50 yds wide) with more of the challenge or demand placed on the approach shot rather than off the tee. I like golf courses that give you OPTIONS off the tee rather than "hit it here or else" or courses that give you an easy out of the tee vs a challenging line of the tee that will give you a reward. I think a variety of hole templates (short 4s, long 4s, doglegs, redans, etc) keeps things interesting. Not a ton of OB or blocked out shots. 

on all counts

[downlowkey]

Flat tee boxes, properly cut holes and decent green surfaces are my Top 3. Beyond that, it’s nice to have features that encourage creative shot selection. I can still have fun at a course that is straight, flat and featureless but those designs don’t exactly inspire creativity. Certain aspects of conditioning can also play a role in having some latitude to play different shot types. Problematic drainage, for example, can discourage a whole class of shot options.

[Preeway]

11 hours ago, BallsLeon said:

Appreciate when a course has been designed to be walkable, and any course that asks me to use most of my clubs. 

I’ll double down on that. I really like courses that will find a way to make me hit approach shots from a variety of distances. I don’t want to hit 9i or less on every single hole except maybe for a par3 or two. 

[Tom the Golf Nut]

I enjoy the beauty of the course and the nature associated with it. If a course winds in and out of housing developments, housing on both sides of every hole, I’ll pass or play it once and not go back. Courses that require thought, ball placement, a variety of clubs for approaches have my attention and I look forward to playing it. I also prefer a variety of distances on the par 3’s. Don’t give me 4 holes that are between 165 and 175 yards. Courses along highways also bug me. Who wants to hear truck traffic while trying to enjoy your round.

I also expect decent playing conditions. Tee boxes with grass, greens without bare spots, and hopefully bunkers with sand in them (not hard pack under 1/4” of loose sand).

So many nice courses are out there at reasonable rates. I typically pass on the over $200 experiences. It just isn’t that nice. Having played around 200 golf courses, for every $200 plus round I played I can put up 20 courses just as nice  at a fraction of the price.