MAGAZINE Best New COURSES
2014
In terms of pure fun and playability, few courses can match Gamble Sands. LARRY LAMBRECHT
Jack Nicklaus ESIGN FANS HAD MUCH TO CELEBRATE IN BEST NEW COURSE OF THE YEAR / BEST NEW U.S. COURSE YOU CAN PLAY 2014. We’re witnessing a welcome new architectural enjoys a banner trend that’s moving away from difficult, hazard-filled courses that were primarily created as lush lots on year, while hen David McLay Kidd away from trouble. And absent of the snowcapped northern David McLay which to build McMansions. Now the emphasis is Gamble first walked this treeless is joy-killing conventional rough. Cascades, round out a complete on wider fairways, clever contours near the greens, Sands sand plateau above the Although vast, serpentine bunkers golf experience. Kidd now scoffs Kidd, Tom reduced rough and increased options for all handicap levels. David W Columbia River in remote frame many landing areas, there’s at the notion that golfers want D central Washington, he knew he also lots of room to avoid them. to be tested to their limits on McLay Kidd’s Gamble Sands, in Washington, exemplifies this move- BREWSTER, Doak, Gil Hanse had found what was probably the Huge greens beckon, many with hazard-filled tracks. “The design ment. Renovations of existing tracks are following the same path, WASH. and Robert 7,169 YARDS, best site he’d seen for a course helping backstops and sideboards, of Gamble Sands allows the player notably at Poppy Hills in Pebble Beach. Among our winners in the PAR 72; since his Bandon Dunes project in so you’ll hit more of them. While to determine a strategy, pick a line Trent Jones Renovation categories, selective tree removal, strategic bunkering $85-$150 the late 1990s. What he created the fescue putting surfaces have and swing with confidence,” Kidd Jr. amp up the and improved irrigation are hallmarks—and in some cases, inspired for the Gebbers family, one of the vexing contours, they roll pure and says. “There is nothing lurking to 509-436-8323, nation’s largest apple and cherry are maintained at exactly the right humiliate and frustrate, but plenty gamblesands.com fun factor reimagining has elevated courses to success levels they never knew growers, is appropriately sweet. speed to promote a quick pace of to navigate. I want every golfer to before. At price points ranging from $40 (Keller Golf Course, just In fact, it’s the most enjoyable, play—while still making you feel like play their best here.” With a great BY JOE PASSOV outside of Minneapolis) to $495 (Trump National Doral Miami), our player-friendly course to open you’re playing a big-time course. number giving up the game over best new and renovated courses of the year offer great golf for any since, well, maybe ever. Start with There are a few forced carries the last decade, golf needs faster rolling, massive (about 75 yards, over desert washes, but less play and a lot more fun. Kidd and budget. Course connoisseurs eagerly await 2015, with new tracks on average) sand-based fairways skilled players almost always have his Gamble Sands design deliver from Tiger Woods and Donald Trump and a Canadian cliff-top stun- leading to greens that are mostly an alternate route. Handsome in both departments, and we’re ner courtesy of Coore/Crenshaw. Until then, plenty of fun, forgiving open in front. Meanwhile, mounds high-desert scenery, including proud to present him with our new courses await you. These are the best of the year. and slopes redirect the ball Columbia River views and vistas Best New Course Award.
86 GOLF MAGAZINE / golf.com January 2015 January 2015 golf.com / GOLF MAGAZINE 87 MAGAZINE Best New BEST NEW COURSES OF 2014 COURSES
2014 BEST U.S. RESORT RENOVATION BEST U.S. MUNICIPAL RENOVATION
he best renovation could mostly be attributed 10th; increased options and rchitect Richard have captured PGA Tour the greens. And he even wasn’t his preference, Trump of 2014—the Blue to not-quite-mature greens excitement, such as the newly Keller Golf Mandell is best events there. Still, Keller left two controversial but he surveyed the National Monster course at and wild winds. Truth be told, watery, if shorter, par-4 16th; Course known for his never earned much trees in place, one of locals, and tradition T Trump National Doral architects Gil Hanse and and creative contouring on A role as founder of acclaim for its actual them directly in front won over convention. Doral Miami—is also one of the his associate Jim Wagner the greens, including the the annual Symposium design. Credit Mandell of the green at the 150- To which we say, MAPLEWOOD, Miami best renovations of all time. teamed with the Donald to small plateaus at the par-4 MINN. on Affordable Golf. for balancing the desires yard, par-3 fourth. That Power to the people! Every objective set forth to test the world’s best players 11th, a palm-dampening back- 6,675 YARDS, With his renovation of of the regulars with (Blue Monster) make the course relevant for the next 50 years—while left shelf at the par-4 14th, PAR 72; Ramsey County–owned a realistic look to the for PGA Tour pros, but still honoring the design integrity and the two-level beauty at $40-$55.50 Keller in suburban future. New grasses, MIAMI, playable for members and of the course’s first 50 years. the par-3 15th. Wisely, Team Minneapolis–St. Paul, he sand and irrigation have 651-766-4170 FLA. resort guests, was realized. Among many significant Trump left the iconic par-4 clearly practices what he improved playability, and ramseycountygolf. 7,510 YARDS, True, in the second round of changes: no more cupcake 18th largely untouched. The com preaches. This venerable Mandell consolidated PAR 72; the WGC-Cadillac event in par 5s, with the addition of 50 Monster now has sharper muni just northeast of the hodge-podge of $250-$495 March the pros howled about yards and water to the first fangs, yet with more variety the Twin Cities dates bunker formulations into 305-592-2000 shaved banks and unfair hole, as well as heightened than ever. It’s a tremendous to 1929. Olin Dutra and one cohesive, classic trumpgolfdoral.com results, but those complaints risk/reward drama at the achievement by any standard. Chick Harbert won PGA style. He also improved Championships here sightlines, restored in 1932 and 1954, and some greens to their The likes of Snead, The renovated Sam Snead, Ken Venturi original configurations, Venturi and Floyd Blue Monster begins to have won on this bare its fangs early at and Raymond Floyd and created needed venerable muni.
the long, all-carry are among those who space between some of DAVID A. PARKER par-3 fourth. BEST U.S. PRIVATE RENOVATION
hiladelphia was his home club; he removed 2,000 trees to (also seen at Baltimore Philadelphia Cricket Club is was a long-time member. improve turf circulation C.C. and Baltusrol, among Cricket Club less heralded After numerous subtle and uncover long-lost others) at the newly P than many of and major alterations views of an ideally numbered seventh, (Wissahickon) A.W. Tillinghast’s great over the past 90 years, undulating property. The in the form of a vast parkland courses, the club honored Tilly’s routing was reverted complex of bunkers and FLOURTOWN, PA. such as Winged Foot, legacy by restoring his to a 1920s version of rough grass between Baltusrol and Bethpage original design. They the course, with holes 4 the landing area and the PRIVATE Black. Yet Tillinghast enlisted restoration through 6 swapped for green. A smaller version had a special reverence specialist Keith Foster holes 7 through 9. Foster of this hazard now fronts for his 1922 creation. to assist, and the results reintroduced Tillinghast’s the par-4 14th. When After all, Philly Cricket are superb. Foster “Great Hazard” concept the restoration was complete, the greens, grasses, irrigation and bunkers were all restored or otherwise improved. Tillinghast, whose ashes were scattered in nearby Wissahickon Creek after his death in 1942, would no doubt cheer the makeover of his old haunt. For design aficionados, it’s now a lot sunnier in Philadelphia.
EVAN SCHILLER; OPPOSITE: COURTESY TRUMP NATIONAL DORAL Keith Foster resurrected Tillinghast’s “Great Hazard” concept at the 88 GOLF MAGAZINE / golf.com January 2015 Cricket Club’s seventh hole. 89 90 swaths of native sand. native of swaths large into rough converted traditional its of much had Hills Poppy 2, No. Pinehurst Like C B O GOLF MAGAZINE / golf.com / golf.com MAGAZINE GOLF quiviragolfclub.com 800-990-8250, $115-$295 PAR 72; YARDS, 7,139 MEXICO LOS CABOS, Club Golf Quivira poppyhillsgolf.com 831-622-8239, $70-$210 71; PAR 7,002 YARDS, CALIF. BEACH, PEBBLE Golf Course Poppy Hills e U 2014 s MAGAZINE t N R S e E w S January 2015 S B pros returned for a Champions aChampions for returned pros same those When polls. player Touron in the bottom three courses among ranked consistently it 2009, to 1991 from Pro-Am National Beach Pebble Tour’s AT&T PGA years later, with a wild layout layout awild with later, years afew fashion spectacular in resurfaced it But ahalt. to project the ground 2008 of collapse financial the when making the in years two was Quivira California, Baja of tip Located on the southern Quivira. of opening the with life to holes fantasy such brought seemingly Nicklaus Jack October, In Street. Wall of heart the into stories 100 plunging 3 apar or Canyon, Grand the above 4stretching a par as co-host for the the for co-host as served it when that original Hills Poppy the was o maligned illustrated golf calendars: calendars: golf illustrated on holes fantasy find only Tee—you’d Golden before 1980s—long the in ack Sports IllustratedSports BEST NEW INTERNATIONAL COURSE BEST U.S. RENOVATION SEMI-PRIVATE New International Course. Best our is Quivira routing, the of audacity sheer the and variety, dazzling design’s the views, the for But drives from high-handicappers. many capture to enough wide be not might fairways yawning the even so ocean, the off howls wind the Cabo, In bunkering. strategic and greens accessible do as round, the into factor all mountains and ridges dune Arroyos, Pacific. the above high soar they as even dunes massive thatjaw-droppers dive into includingchange, cliff-top three elevation of feet 350 featuring their over made radically which firm, II Trent Jones Robert the to goes hat the of tip biggest The did.” they job terrific the for back the on apat deserve They beautiful. It looks course. old the on improvement ahuge “It’s many: of feelings the up summed Price Nick been morehave different. couldn’t reception the 2014, Tour in event September
JOANN DOST with an ocean, that is. that ocean, an with Augusta.’ like looks it ‘Wow, like, you’re “At times III, Love Davis Gushed Bay. Monterey of view stirring a provide to trees enough clearing 4, par adownhill into 12th par-5 dogleg awkward the converted he and 11th, par-3 abrand-new created Jones also softened. contours their saw greens multilevel the and deleted, also were mounds Dated greens. the around and into options the increases and play up speeds which balls, for looking spent time less is result The grass. of cut height fairway- one just using and areas sand native-style with it replacing 2), No. Pinehurst la (à rough traditional eliminated also They fairways. bouncier created that amove turf, the beneath sand of layer afive-inch with course entire the sand-capped team his and original design. Jones 1986 as it is stunning. is it as quixotic as is Quivira at Jack Nicklaus’s design ” Augusta ” Augusta
ALLEN KENNEDY BEST NEW U.S.BEST NEW MENTION YOU COURSE PLAY—HONORABLE CAN
BRIAN OAR golfclub.com potomacshores 571-383-3050, $95-$115 PAR 72; 7,020 YARDS, VA. SHORES, POTOMAC Club Golf Shores Potomac A course from its fallow fallow its from course the raise to McGregor superintendent David and Rick Jacobson architect staff Nicklaus original paired and 2011 in emerged SunCal developer new After was. it it, Worth Bear. the from bull no that’s And us. told Nicklaus it,” worth was it but finish, to time along took “It May. last day opening to construction of start the from years eight took that Jack Nicklaus creation adramatic is Shores BEST NEW COURSES OF 2014 OF COURSES NEW BEST Potomac Potomac recession, 2008 the of survivor nother January 2015 2015 January golf.com / GOLF MAGAZINE /GOLF golf.com choked terrain. choked terrain. hardwood- rolling, River amid steeply near the Potomac setting a stunning and challenge, stern a fast, and firm play that fairways ample Nicklaus imprints: classic the bears It now added. boxes and tee expanded where needed, greens and changed identified and bunkers widened, reestablished areas landingwith overgrown achieved, team the what opened, that’s never renovate a course that can you If way. its on was layout D.C.–area Washington this state, takes full advantage full advantage takes Potomac Shores Shores Potomac Virginia setting. Virginia of its wooded wooded its of 91 MAGAZINE Best New BEST NEW COURSES OF 2014 COURSES
2014 BEST U.S. PRIVATE RENOVATION
lways well respected between the trees. Twelve mix of bluegrass rough and Medinah but never in the same of the 18 holes remain in the fescues, providing a more Country Club league as Medinah existing footprint, although natural look to frame the A Course Three (its they sport a completely fairways. Course Three will (Course One) brawnier, Ryder Cup– and new character and always be the torchbearer, major championship–holding sequencing. What’s more, but Course One is now a MEDINAH, ILL. sibling), Course One has the club elected to add a very worthy alternative. emerged from the shadows PRIVATE thanks to an inspired renovation by Tom Doak. With an original mandate to address flooding issues, Doak started work 13 hours after the Ryder Cup ended. He removed 770 trees and opened up the middle of the property for new holes that could be routed diagonally through the old corridors. That portion of the course Tom Doak removed is now open, in contrast hundreds of trees to create six new holes at to the previous narrow Medinah Course One.
back-and-forth routing EVAN SCHILLER
ARCHITECT OF THE YEAR
JACK NICKLAUS
y any measure, Jack Shores, his two award-winning Nicklaus enjoyed a creations. Simply put, people sensational year. love them. And give credit B His Gleneagles (PGA to Nicklaus the innovator. Centenary) course hosted the “Few realize it, but it was at Ryder Cup, and his renovated Glen Abbey and at Muirfield Valhalla was a drama-inducing Village that Jack built the first PGA Championship venue. spectator mounds,” Pete Dye But this award recognizes said. “It was Jack’s idea to excellence in new-course incorporate those mounds design, and in 2014 the Bear— into the course.” Nicklaus is who’s 75 in January—had a probably the greatest player banner year. With 380 courses of all time. Amazingly, he’s (and counting) to his name, forged a majestic design Nicklaus isn’t done yet. “I legacy that approaches have no desire to retire,” he the greatness he achieved told us. Jack reigns supreme on the course. For that With almost 400 courses in his preference for downhill triumph—and for the to his name, Nicklaus, who holes and spectacular visuals. remarkable new courses he turns 75 next month, shows Nowhere is that more true introduced in 2014—Nicklaus no signs of slowing down.
BEN VAN HOOK than at Quivira and Potomac is our Architect of the Year.
92 GOLF MAGAZINE / golf.com January 2015