Golfweek is out with it's new list of America's Best courses. If you're a well-traveled golfer at all, it's great fun to scroll through the state-by-state rankings of "Best Courses You Can Play" to see which ones you've played.Note: The asterisk next to a course denotes it new to the list. The (m) and (c) denote modern or classic courses.
Pennsylvania
1. Nemacolin Woodlands (Mystic Rock), Farmington (m)
2. GC at Glen Mills, Glen Mills (m)
3. Olde Stonewall, Ellwood City (m)
4. Bedford Springs Old Course, Bedford (c)
*5. Inniscrone, Avondale (m)
*6. Hershey CC (West), Hershey (c)
7. Lederach, Harleysville (m)
8. Hershey Links, Hummelstown (m)
9. Club at Morgan Hill, Easton (m)
10. Raven’s Claw, Limerick (m)
Personally, I think Inniscrone and Lederach are both ranked too high, although they both have ardent fans.
New Jersey
1. Atlantic City CC, Northfield (c)
2. Ballyowen, Hardyston (m)
3. Twisted Dune, Egg Harbor Township (m)
4. Sand Barrens, Swainton (m)
5. Pine Hill GC, Pine Hill (m)
6. Royce Brook (East), Somerville (m)
7. Scotland Run, Monroe Township (m)
8. Neshanic Valley, Neshanic Station (m)
9. Architects GC, Lopatcong (m)
*10. Shore Gate GC, Ocean View (m)
11. Seaview (Bay), Absecon (c)
12. Wild Turkey GC at Crystal Springs Resort, Hardyston (m)
13. Hominy Hill, Colts Neck (m)
14. RiverWinds, Thorofare (m)
*15. Vineyards at Renault Winery, Egg Harbor Township (m)
If you ask me, Jersey has a stronger list of courses than Pennsylvania. Major props to local architect Ed Shearon, who has two courses on the list, RiverWinds and Vineyards at Renault Winery.
Delaware
1. Bayside, Fenwick Island (m)
2. Deerfield Golf & Tennis Club, Newark (c)
*3. Back Creek, Middletown (m)
4. White Clay Creek, Newark (m)
*5. Baywood Greens, Long Neck (m)
For the full state-by-state list, click here.
7 comments:
I find it very interesting that RiverWinds is 14th in New Jersey. All the reports I've heard lately is the course is in horrible shape. Unless new owners have finally come in and made improvements, it makes me wonder about whether GolfWeek actually had anyone visit the course or were just going off past reputation. GolfStyles Magazine also ranks RiverWinds as one of their 100 must play, but later admitted in an e-mail that I saw posted on a discussion board that they were basically going on past reputation and the course would be re-visited for future inclusion. I'm not trying to put RiverWinds down. I played there about a year after the course opened and liked it, although it still needed to mature. But, as I stated earlier, I've not heard many good things about it lately.
Totally agree about RiverWinds. No way it's in the top 15. With apologies to Shearon, Blue Heron Pines is far better than RiverWinds or Vineyard. In fact, I like Blue Heron Pines better than Sand Barrens, which they have ranked #4. Twisted Dune is also overrated at number 3, and Architects is underrated at number 9.
for PA, I feel that Lederach is too high. While Raven's Claw is nice, neither Lederach or RC compare with Broad Run (Tattersall in West Chester). The views are fantastic and the course never gets boring.
I'm glad to see a list that ranks the courses you CAN play. Riverwinds would be a great course with a little more cre of the greens, and frankly the fairways don't really have to be 40-50 yards wide.
SteveMG
The other funny thing about Rivewrwinds is that without a yardage book, it's really hard to find your way around.
Played RiverWinds today - it is in horrible shape - grass is not cut, greens are diseased in many areas, teeboxes are very shabby and overgrown, and the cartpaths are almost unusable, many deep ditches and holes - it's a shame too because I really enjoyed the layout in prior years... hopefully the new owners sink some money into it, because it could use it.
Maybe Joe could make a post about this.
I've played Mystic Rock at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in SW Pa. It is quite deserving of its #1 ranking. Well worth the 4 and a half hour drive from Philly. Golf is just one of the many activities at Nemacolin. Spa, sporting clays, fly fishing, off-road driving. I can't wait to go back.
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