America’s Baker’s Dozen Most Underrated Courses You Can Play
By Bob Fagan
Here is a list of some pretty special courses open to the public, ones I have found to be particularly overlooked for no good reason. Whether overshadowed by neighbors, limited by a remote location, lack of promotion or whatever, these courses just don’t seem to get their due. In fact, all are among my favorites anywhere. Try to play them all; I promise you won’t be disappointed!
Bethpage Red Course, New York
While everyone clamors to play the neighboring Black Course that hosted the US Open,
the Red Course at Bethpage is actually a very tough, good course complete with long
fescue rough and the same adjoining interesting terrain as the Black Course. What’s
more is that the opening par-four is one of the toughest openers on Long Island!
Desert Canyon Golf Resort, Orondo, Washington
Located in the high desert of central Washington high above the Columbia River, this
layout should rank among the best desert courses in America! The par-five 6th hole is
one of the best and most spectacular holes in America and the remainder of this beautiful
course will test anyone.
Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort & Casino, Mescalero, New Mexico
I am fond of many courses in New Mexico, most all of which are public, but this out-ofthe-
way one associated with a modern and very comfortable casino was a complete
surprise, and the one Ted Robinson design that really captures my attention. Its lake and
snow-capped mountain views are sublime and the narrow rolling tree-lined fairways
require an accurate tee-to-green game.
Lawsonia – Links Course, Green Lake, Wisconsin
This classic course compares favorably with any of the private Eastern seaboard gems
with its open vistas and waving long grasses punctuated by serpentine bunkering
surrounding many elevated greens. Built in 1930 for a whopping cost of $250,000, it
remains little known outside of Wisconsin, let alone the Midwest. Whether for its
celebrated William Langford architecture and strategy, or simply a most delightful golf
experience, you cannot visit a better vintage public layout.
Links of North Dakota, Ray, North Dakota
Situated in Northwest North Dakota not far from the Canadian border, this course may
just be the best, most out-of-the-way golf course in America. It is its location rather than
quality that justifies its place on this list. You drive for miles without seeing another car
and then encounter the welcomed sight of The Links. As its name would suggest, the
Stephen Kay-designed layout is a true links layout with little dirt moved. It stark, barren
nature, and the vistas of the plains and Lake Sakakawea define its unique character. Yes,
it is worth the trip unless you strongly prefer wooded parkland golf.
Makalei Country Club, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
How this jungle and mountainous Dick Nugent-designed course escapes attention is
totally beyond me? Though not easily walked, this layout situated high above Kona
affords breathtaking vistas from spectacular holes, and a wonderful, but fair challenge.
There is an abundance of wildlife including more than 150 peacocks. The local pros
whisper that this course rivals Hawaii’s best!
Mt. Mitchell Golf Club, Burnsville, North Carolina
This simple, gentle rolling layout situated in the Smoky Mountains just off the Blue
Ridge Parkway never seems to get mentioned in any “best of” lists, but it ranks right
among the favorites of the more than 2,100 courses I’ve played. The holes naturally
unfold by streams, meadows, and woods in this pristine mountain setting – one of
America’s best unsung courses!
Olde Stonewall Golf Club, Ellwood City, Pennsylvania
A dramatic Hurdzan-Fry design between Pittsburgh and the Ohio border gets the top
public course rankng in Pennsylvania, but it should be dancing with the elite nationwide.
Dramatic bunkering, elevation changes, spectacular scenery, and all the fair challenge
you could want make this upscale course a real winner!
Prairie View Golf Club, Carmel, Indiana
Robert Trent Jones, Jr. has designed many terrific layouts in some of the most beautiful
spots on the planet. The wooded plains I encountered at Prairie View would not
necessarily account for one of those scenes, but I was taken back with how interesting
and engagingly beautiful a layout was designed here, complete with abundant bunkering,
tall trees, streams, and long native grasses.
Running Y Ranch, Klamath Falls, Oregon
The Arnold Palmer Design Group featuring the late Ed Seay is generally underrated, and
so is the Running Y Resort. It is a wonderfully spectacular and scenic layout complete
with wonderful bunkering, dramatic lake vistas, elevation changes, and a very natural feel
– an exceptional golf experience!
Spyglass Hill Golf Course, Pebble Beach, California
Even though this is a top-rated course that hosts the PGA Tour, Spyglass Hill still gets
my endorsement as one of the country’s most underrated layouts. The first five holes
may be the best opening stretch in America with a Pine Valley-inspired motif and an
ocean view! The forested remaining holes complete one of the most beautiful and
straightforward tough tests of golf in America. In my opinion, this is Robert Trent Jones,
Sr.’s best course.
Tobacco Road Golf Club, Sanford, North Carolina
This Mike Strantz layout may be a bit too rough and tough for your average daily public
play or the novice, but if it were a private club, I cannot but help think the pundits would
be singing its praise. It has the quirkiness of an Irish links, the bestiality of Pine Valley,
and the bold character of a Charles Blair Macdonald design. This is a “WOW” layout in
my estimation.
Victoria Hills Golf Club, Deland, Florida
Ron Garl is among the best and more under-rated golf course architects in America with
many solid and wonderful designs to his credit. His creation at Victoria Hills in the
forested rolling hills north of Orlando reflects his solid, attractive designs with rugged
natural bunkering, and bold strategy and challenge. This is a refreshingly different “must
play” Central Florida course.
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