Coore Crenshaw Quest

I started playing golf in the 1990s. Digital was just a twinkle in the eye at that time so if you really wanted to know a course you had to get your hands on a physical yardage book. Of course during my Coore Crenshaw quest, you know I was going to collect as many yardage books as possible. Since we are living in modern, digital times, many golf courses have phased out the physical yardage book but those that I do have I figured, why not rank em?  These rankings are COMPLETELY subjective and only reflect the yardage books I have collected on my quest at the halfway point. Once my quest is finally over, I hope to have a definitive ranking (I can tell you are all waiting with baited breath for that one). Courses NOT ranked because no books were printed or available at the time of my visit include Sand Valley and Barton Creek. Here we go! 10) Tie We-Ko-Pa and Talking Stick Sigh Arizona. I know you are like 1,000,000 degrees during the Summer so yardage books made out ...

When people think of Coore/Crenshaw courses their minds typically drift to the more fantastical routings like at Sand Hills or the vistas at Kapalua. However, I put it to you that the specialness of Coore & Crenshaw can really shine through in a resort course like Barton Creek which often doesn't get lauded as much as other picture-ready courses in C&C's portfolio. The course was renovated throughout the summer and fall of 2018 and was in great shape when I played it. It starts and ends by playing over Barton Creek and with a few forced carries on the day, the track is reminiscent of We-Ko-Pa in that while the forced carries create tension in the brain but in reality all can be navigated by most golfers. The rest of the front 9 is what I would consider be "resort" golf. The C&C course is one of 4 courses part of the Barton Creek resort and the front nine is there for guests to get their "sea legs" under them as the course has slight...

I came, I saw I played. If you get a chance to play this course, I highly recommend it! 

At the end of 2016 when I played Trinity Forest, it was as new as you could get, having only opened in October of that year, and I had no idea what to expect. What I found was a fantastic inland links course that marries the best of Sand Hills and Ballyneal and birthed a challenging and super fun course. *Apologies in advance for only a few photos appearing of the course, both of my cameras went to the great beyond during this round so you may have to use your  imagination  for some of this.* The Front 9 : The front 9 (which may become the back 9 for tournament play) is a rock n rolling start to the course. Undulations abound on the fairways and on the greens. Often, I felt the greens were really oceans on a windy day. The tee boxes of TF are VERY similar to the style employed by Doak in Ballyneal, namely, the tee box is one continuous grassed area where tees can be easily set in interesting configurations each day. Hole 1 featuring plenty of fairway but with bunke...

As all three readers of this blog knows, I am on a quest to play as many of the Coore-Crenshaw designed golf courses as I possibly can. This year I am really ramping up my C+C game and thought I would update you guys on what is going on! In a month I am going on an Arizona golf adventure and will be knocking off 3, count em 3, Coore-Crenshaw courses, We-Ko-Pa and the two courses at Talking Stick. I have never played golf in Arizona and I am expecting hot, heaping, heat but also great golf courses. Next up, and BIG news, I have been invited to play at Sand Hills Golf Club!!!! I am beyond excited and have been bouncing off the walls since the invite. So many people say its a golf-life changing experience and I can't wait to experience it for myself! Part of my Sand Hills trip will take me through Colorado and if I can manage it, I am hoping to get a round in at Colorado Golf Club, which sounds like an ultra-hard C+C track. This hopefully won't be my only trip to the...