MikeBaileyGolf

It's not as if the Pinnacle Course wasn't already one of the top golf courses in the country before a recent renovation. But after it reopened in the fall following a reworking of the greens and bunkers, it's simply that much better. Which is pretty much perfect. Conditioning doesn't get any better than it does at Troon North, and in this case, the Pinnacle Course, which is arguably the better of two terrific courses there.

The Pinnacle, with its all its beauty, is also one of the most challenging courses in the area. This is desert target golf, so you'll have to be on your game, especially on the approaches, if you want to shoot a good score. Even if you're not on your game, though, it's still thoroughly enjoyable with all the elevated tees, mountain backgrounds and beautiful desert landscapes. Plus, you still have the great practice facilities (music on the range), courteous service, fantastic pro shop and grill to go with the experience. In short, Troon North always lives up to its premium experience reputation.

It had been a few years since I played The Champions Course at TPC Scottsdale, so I had forgotten how much I liked it. But this time around I gained a new appreciation for how straightforward this course is and ultimately how enjoyable it is. While I'd still probably prefer to play the Stadium Course knowing its PGA Tour history, this is a pretty good second fiddle. With wide fairways, terrific conditioning and greens, it's very playable. There are a few nice risk-reward holes, and you can certainly score out there. All in all, The Champions Course is a very solid choice.

Sometimes you get addition by subtraction, which is exactly what happened at The Phoenician Golf Club after a renovation by local architect Phil Smith. What was once 27 uneven holes is a much cleaner 18-hole golf course now. Gone are some of the holes that were shoehorned into the mountainsides. The fairways are more generous now, and the course flows much better. Many of the holes are still recognizable, but with the repositioning of tees and greens, they are a lot more user-friendly.. Best of all, it's in fantastic condition with great scenery, much like most of the premium courses in the Scottsdale/Phoenix area. While I wouldn't rank The Phoenician among the very best, it's certainly a premium play that won't beat you up.

I played this course in dormant conditions with a light overseed, so it wasn't at its best. Still, it was easy to see how enjoyable this course is, even during wet, cold conditions. The holes are laid out nicely with a good deal of variety around the five lakes on the course. Greens are interesting, but not severe, and the topography is beautiful, which I'm sure I would appreciate even more if it were spring or especially fall. In short, this is a course anybody can enjoy.

Kissing Tree is less than 6,600 yards from tbe back tees, which means it's plenty of golf course for 99 percent of all players. Bravo, Gary Stephenson, for not designing a course at 7,300 yards so it can bid for top-level tournaments. Nope, that's not what the folks at Kissing Tree, a new senior community in San Marcos, had in mind. They built a course that's not only senior friendly (it can play as short as 4,000 yards), but playable by almost everyone.

The holes are memorable and different. The greens are large and certainly undulated, but everyone can get the ball to them since there are opportunities to putt to them from off the green. Yet, those with a great short game will still have an advantage if they can pitch the ball to some difficult hole locations.

There are also some elevated tees, a few water hazards and a smattering of bunkers that don't overwhelm the golf course. In short, it's a course I wouldn't mind playing every day. Most of all, it's just plain fun. Add all the other stuff you can do near the course like Pickle Ball, horseshoes, bocce and tennis, and you've got a great setup.

For Atlanta golfers -- and visiting golfers, for that matter -- the new Bobby Jones Golf Course is a gift that should keep on giving. It's just one of a handful of reversible golf courses throughout the country, but it's very unique, even among that group.

This is a completely new design by the late Bob Cupp. And there are really no similarities between what was here before and what Cupp and later his son Bobby Cupp completed. It's nine holes one way and nine mostly entirely different holes the other way, so you definitely feel like you're playing two entirely different golf courses when you play the Magnolia Course vs. the Azalea Course.
My only issue with the course right now is the design of the ninth holes on both courses. Both are par 5s that are pretty much right next to each other (the Azalea is considerably shorter and perhaps reachable in two), but they don't seem well defined, Our group, even with the help of GPS in the carts, was confused on how we should play the holes, especially off the tee. Playing the course multiple times would probably clear up the confusion, but this is the only reason I didn't give the course five stars right off the bat. With that said, if I lived in Atlanta, I would play this course regularly.

Some other cool innovations included the LongLeaf Tee System. Each hole has eight different teeing options, which are suggested not by handicap, but by the golfers' average drives, so all players can reach greens in regulation.

The facility now has great practice facilities, which is a huge boost to this part of Atlanta, which lacked any sort of quality range for at least 10 miles.

And now golfers (as well as tennis players) have new, safer parking options, thanks to parking garage that sits underneath the 12 new hardcourts that were added to Bitsy Grant Tennis Center. It's a symbiotic relationship between golf and tennis I've never seen before.

And finally, conditioning on the fairways and greens is perfect. The Tif-Eagle greens rolled flawlessly. And because of the new model (this course is run by a foundation with involvement from multiple golf associations and serves as the home to the Georgia State University golf team), you can expect conditions to remain top notch. And with dynamic green fees ranging from $40 to $80, including the advanced Greg Norman Experience-equipped Club Cars, that's a pretty good deal.

For me, this was the pleasant surprise of my stay at Chateau Elan. I knew they had a par-3 course at Chateau Elan, but had never played it until my most recent trip there. They don't even charge hotel guests to play it, and when I got out there, I was the only one on the course. In front of me were eight picturesque holes (the ninth is across the street) with plenty of elevated tees, water hazards and great green complexes. It wasn't in tip-top shape, but the bentgrass greens rolled well enough. Best of all, it's the perfect place to either work on your iron play and short-game or play a little game with friends or family.

While Chateau Elan is certainly known for its winery, the golf is nothing to sneeze at, and that certainly includes the Chateau Course. From the wine bottle-shaped and named tee markers to the wide fairways, nearly everything about this course is fun. No two holes are alike, the routing is terrific and if you play the right tees, it's not overly difficult. Best of all, it was renovated two years ago, so it has a fresh new look, including new Tif-Eagle greens that rolled perfectly.

I agree with GA editor Brandon Tucker's assessment that it's a shame this "exclusive" course isn't available to resort players or the rest of the members at Reynolds Lake Oconee. Because The Creek Club is definitely the most scenic and striking course at Reynolds. I thoroughly enjoyed it. With its wide fairways and bowled greens that feed balls toward the holes, you can make a lot of birdies out there, which makes The Creek Club a lot of fun, especially when you consider the amazing views. If regular golfers got to play this course, The Creek Club would certainly be a course that would be talked about when people mentioned Reynolds Lake Oconee.

With that said, this course isn't for everyone, especially seniors or any golfers who might have difficulty dealing with the deep bunkers or even the climbs back and forth from the cart paths down to the greens. It's a bit zany, especially on the greens. The par-3 13th yields more aces than the rest of the par 3s combined, but if you don't put it reasonably close to the hole, a four-putt is certainly possible (I know; I had to make a four-footer to prevent a four-putt).

Yes, it's anything but traditional golf. Variety is certainly the spice of life, and golf is no exception. Not everyone will like it, but that can be said about almost any golf course.

It took twice as long as planned thanks to Hurricane Harvey, but the new Gus Wortham was worth the wait. Baxter Spann did an awesome job restoring the course. The bunkering, new greens, new shaping of fairways -- everything about the course (clubhouse to come later) is top notch. And best of all, it's here to stay. It's also one of the few courses in Houston you can comfortably walk with greens and tee boxes nearby. There really isn't a bad hole on the course, either. And the landscape is unlike anything you'll find in the Houston area, with plenty of up-and-down holes, great views and a great variety of shots. Best of all, it's very affordable, on par with Houston's flagship municipal, Memorial Park. Only negative was the condition of the tee boxes. It seems an army worm invasion, which affected many courses in the area, thinned them out, but the new Tif-Eagle greens (and fairways for the most part) were top notch.

First off, The Oconee Course is simply beautiful. At almost every turn, the routing is solid and interesting, and there are lots of beautiful water features, including streams, waterfalls, ponds and lake views. Conditioning is also top notch and the greens were perfect the day I played them. This is certainly one of Rees Jones' best layouts. I didn't find one single hole boring. I could play this course every week. In fact, I've liked this course more each time I've played it.

One of three courses open to the public at The Sea Pines Resort, Atlantic Dunes by Davis Love III is pretty dazzling. Unlike Harbour Town, the greens at Altantic Dunes are quite large, so the targets are inviting, but you still have to avoid water on much of the course. Fortunately, there are lots of options on many of the holes, including forward tees that avoid the forced carries. While much is made of the par-3 15th, one of just two true Atlantic Ocean holes on Hilton Head Island, the rest of the course is anything but boring. The front nine ends with an outstanding par 5 that features a terrific risk-reward opportunity. And the back nine ends with dazzling stretch of finishing holes, including the difficult 18th with water along the right side. Add well-thought out and very playable bunkers to the mix and outstanding conditions, and Atlantic Dunes comes in at five stars.

The Harbour Town experience is top notch from the clubhouse to the first tee to the 18th hole with the famous red and white lighthouse in the background overlooking the sound. The course is known for its last couple of holes, but really the inland holes are just as interesting as they set up the fantastic finish. It has a great collection of par 3s, the par 5s are pretty good, too, and every par 4 is different. In other words, there's great variety. With greens on the smaller side, a good short game is a must, and you really do have to think your way around the golf course.

There's is nothing boring about the Links Course at Lawsonia. Not one thing. Every hole on this Langford/Moreau gem is a game unto itself, and every hole is unique, whether it's the shape of the hole itself, the bunkers or the large greens, which have more angles and slopes than 99 percent of the golf courses you'll ever play. But they all have a purpose and are most interesting. Half the fun is trying to figure out if your putts are uphill or downhill and once you do that, how severe the slope is. Often, you might think you have a slick downhill putt and leave your approach four feet short. I loved everything about this experience, from the starter and opening tee shot to hanging out in the clubhouse afterwards. It's an experience every golfer who comes to Wisconsin should enjoy,

Pevely Farms is a very solid golf course and certainly one of the better public options in the St. Louis area. It's laid out on a beautiful rolling piece of farmland with holes that meander up and down and around trees and water features. What makes it especially challenging is that even if you find the fairway, chances are you won't have a level lie. At just over 7,000 yards from the back tees, it's plenty of golf course, and wayward tee shots can find the fescue rough, which in some places is certainly too high to find your ball. All-in-all, though, the golf course is fair, but it would help to play it a couple of times.

Simply put, Bellerive is one of the finest private clubs in the Midwest and a great choice for the PGA Championship. Despite a very hot summer, the course is pretty much in perfect shape, and they aim to keep it that way. In fact, the greens were off-limits, and you had to play to 8-inch cups cut in the fairways in front of the greens. But even so, you could still appreciate how good a test Bellerive is. Off the tee, there's really plenty of fairway, and you want to avoid the rough. I'm not sure it will need to be any thicker for the PGA because it was plenty healthy and difficult as is. Most of all, Bellerive is a beautiful walk in the park. Each hole is well framed by bunkers and a smattering of water hazards, and greens and tees are close. Spectators will also have plenty of good vantage points. We also got to have lunch in the men's grill, where there's all sorts of memorabilia detailing the championships played at this club. All-in-all, playing Bellerive is a real treat.

if you're looking for a sold play in the Kansas City area, you can't go wrong with Shoal Creek. With six sets of tees, which can play as long as 7,011, it's a great test for every level of golfer. The course has a great variety of holes, is in above average shape, and there are no homes that come into play. Best of all, no two holes are alike. Greens are also interesting and in great shape.

This isn't your everyday muni. And don't let the yardage (6,224) from the back tees fool you. This is a really good test. Originally designed by A.W. Tillinghast, the holes go up and down, with elevated tees, elevated greens and some terrific views (you can even see downtown Kansas City at one point). It's also in really good shape. And while there are some very short par 4s, you have to be pretty accurate if you're going to try to hit driver on them. The course also has an excellent finishing stretch. The par-5 17th at 566 yards is no joke, and the 404-yard par-18th plus longer than its yardage.

Unless you're from Kansas or western Missouri, Firekeeper is pretty much in the middle of nowhere. But if you're anywhere in the area, this is definitely worth the drive. First off, Jeff Brauer doesn't do bad golf courses, and Firekeeper is an example of how good his work is. The course is plenty playable, especially if it's not windy (which it was for us... hot, too), and plenty interesting. It features a terrific variety of par 3s and par 5s, the latter of which aren't exactly birdie holes for the most part. The fourth, at 640 yards, is particularly difficult, especially into the wind. My only complaint on the entire golf course is that the tee shot on that hole is blind, and it doesn't take a particularly bad shot to find the rough (which I did). And the rough is thick, which meant finding that ball took a while. Other than that, conditions were terrific, the greens were interesting, and the course is a fun ride throughout.

This is a course that has long been on my bucket list, and it certainly didn't disappoint. And that comes playing it on perhaps the hottest day of the year (103 degrees). What's remarkable is that we still saw people walking this course, which is a testament to how walkable it is. We, however, opted to ride, and it was still difficult getting through the round in the heat. What wasn't lost, however, was how terrific the original Perry Maxwell design and subsequent renovation by Coore-Crenshaw is. Every hole is memorable, with multiple options. The fairways are firm, and the holes are beautiful. This is a course that's pretty much right in front of you, though you have to pay attention to the greens. Finding the right portion is critical to scoring and avoiding three putts. I also love the overall vibe of the club, the history and how laid back the atmosphere is. Although it’s a country club (there's a pool and tennis courts), golf is clearly the focus. And it's great golf at that.