MikeBaileyGolf

If you like variety, then Angeles National is a good choice. With doglegs, long and short holes and interesting par 3s, this is a shotmaker's course both off the tee and on the approaches. The course also has great views of the surrounding mountains, and there are a couple of elevated tees.

I'm a big advocate of being able to hit and find it, and as long as you don't find the water hazards on the this course, you get to do just that with its wide fairways and excellent conditioning. There's a nice variety of holes, and while it isn't too difficult overall if you play the right tees (we played a combo), there's certainly plenty of challenge on certain holes. In a nutshell, Rees Jones gives you some birdie opportunities, but there are some difficult stretches as well that you need to negotiate to keep your round together.

Some people call it "over the Top of the Rock," but that's not necessarily a bad thing. I mean, I like Disney World, and that's manufactured, and much of Top of the Rock, with its waterfalls, etc.., is, too. But who cares? It's beautiful, and in incredible shape with views of the Ozarks that go on for miles and miles. Each hole is memorable (as is the driving range), making it one of the best, and possibly the most unique, par 3 courses in the country. Great short courses is a trend I'd like to see continue.

This falls under the category of "certainly worth the drive," since you can play it for $30 or $40 and there are 36 holes here. In fact, both of the golf courses here are excellent, but I only played the original, the Apache Links Course, this time around. It's interesting, well-conditioned, challenging and beautiful. Several holes stood out, and I felt like I remembered most of the golf course after playing it just one time. The back nine is especially good, and I loved the finishing stretch. I'd suggest getting a hotel in town and playing both courses over a weekend if you're not from the area..

For Texas golfers, this is a bucket-list experience if you can get on. From service to the locker room to the golf course, everything here is darn near perfect. Designed by Tom Fazio, the course has a lot of character with elevated tees, interesting doglegs, elevated tees, fabulous bunkering and most of all, it's very memorable. Conditioning is also impeccable as is the service by the forecaddies.

After a renovation last summer and fall, the Gold Course at Tiburon, home of the LPGA Championship and Greg Norman's Franklin-Templeton Shootout, is even more fun with new bunkering, new Tif-Eagle greens and general all-around improvements. Easier than the Black Course, there's plenty of room on most holes to hit driver and you can score out here if you play the right tees. The most beautiful enhancement, though, has to be the new Durabunkers, which have synthetic sod walls and give the course a certain Scottish look. The bunkers themselves require far less maintenance, too. As one of the few public options in the area, the Gold is worth checking out, even though it does come at a premium price.

First off, playing this golf course from the back tees would be insane, even if you hit the ball a mile. Why? Because you're going to have to be able to thread your drivers and probably work the ball both ways,. You're better off playing this course with clubs other than the driver off the tee if you can. There are quite a few holes where a hybrid or a long iron off the tee is the more prudent play. Of the two courses at Tiburon, this one is definitely tighter. With that said, I do think it's a little better than the Gold because it's more interesting. And when it gets a renovation this year -- adding the really cool synthetic sodwall bunkers -- it'll definitely be better. The reason is that the Black course is more interesting than the Gold, but only marginally. They compliment each other well.

If only The Wilderness were a half hour closer, I would probably play it all the time. But with that said, it's certainly worth the drive if you've got a day to kill with your buddies. The layout, the natural beauty and Jeff Brauer's wonderful design make this a treat. And as an added bonus, the hospitality here is second to none. I love the rustic clubhouse, which fits the theme of The Wilderness, including the back porch, which is the perfect place to relive your round over a cold one or two. As for the course, there's a green that's 60 yards wide (Brauer knew that would be a talking point), but the course is anything but gimmicky. Just one solid hole after another.

The Dye Course might have already been my favorite of the golf courses at PGA Golf Club, but after it got new greens and other bunker improvements, it's that much better. Conditioning was terrific and the greens, though firm, rolled flawlessly. As far as the design of this course, remember it was designed by Pete Dye, so it isn't easy. Yet it's generous off the tee, so very playable. Also of note, while I gave it four stars, if available, I would have given it 4 1/2.

With plenty of room off the tee, the Watson Course could be the most playable of the three courses at Reunion Resort, and it's certainly as enjoyable as any of them. As you get closer to the green, however, this course does get more difficult, mainly because of the bunkers and sometimes difficult to read greens. Fairway bunkers also loom large on several holes, so you're going to want to avoid those, but with a little course management and directional control, that shouldn't be a problem. Simply put, it costs a little more to play here, especially in season, but it's a solid, enjoyable all-around golf experience.

If this course flowed a little better, I would have given it five stars. It's set on 450 acres, and the distances between 1 and 2, and 17 and 18 are very long, which makes it difficult for spectators during the Shell Houston Open. But the holes themselves are terrific and most memorable. There's nothing boring about this golf course, and the finishing stretch is among the best in golf, culminating with one of the best par 4s you'll ever play (water down the entire left side with a foreboding fairway bunker on the right). Best to time to play by the way is the winter or spring because the course is heavily overseeded. It really is a cool-season golf course.

With a great history, elevation change not common in Florida and green fees well below what you find in Orlando, making the trip out to Mission Inn is well worth the hour drive or so from Orlando. The El Campeon Course has some of the most unique holes you'll ever play and some pretty interesting greens. With plenty of slope, you don't want to get above the pin or even much to the side of the hole as putts can easily get away. But that makes it all the more interesting. And as the golf celebrates a century here as one of the oldest courses in Florida, you can't help but appreciate a stretch of holes on the front side that will test your ability to hit off uneven lies, adjust for elevation change and work the tee shot. And on the back nine, the 17th, the no. 1 handicap hole on the course, is one of most unique par 5s you'll ever play with twists, turns, a large oak tree, large bunker in front of water, which then must be carried on the approach.

With the removal of some 30 bunkers, an improved irrigation system and excellent turf conditions, the newly renovated Patriot Course at Wigwam Resort is very playable by all levels of players. My only concern is that the removal of the bunkers took away some of the definition of this little 6,000 yard gem, but it's a minor concern. The integrity of the course remains virtually unchanged and one of the my favorite holes, the short par-4 14th still has its signature bunkers.

First off, I've never played a Coore-Crenshaw course I didn't like and this is among their very best. I rated this a notch over the Cholla Course, which I also love, simply because the holes are a little more memorable. They both share the incredible views of the Sonoran Desert and mountains and are impeccably conditioned. Depending on the set of tees you play, it can be incredibly challenging, too, but never boring.

I was tempted to give the Cholla Course, which was recently renovated, five stars, but in fairness to the Saguaro Course, which I like a little better, I'm giving it four, but it's really 4 1/2. It's obviously one of the best conditioned courses in the desert, and like its sister course, the views are amazing. This a course that never gets old, from the tee to the terrific greens complexes.

The combination of history with Rees Jones' magnificent restoration of this Donald Ross Classic makes East Lake a special experience in every way. Walking this course in the footsteps of Bobby Jones as well as the modern tour players is just part what makes this a bucket-list stop. Getting to spend time in the clubhouse with its dozens of historic photographs, trophies and other memorabilia just completes it.

If you're looking for a course with generous fairways, interesting holes and terrific conditioning, then come to Reynolds and enjoy any of the courses here. The Oconee Course, however, is exceptional. Designed by Rees Jones, the course offers great views of Lake Oconee with a magnificent set of par 3s as well as good risk-reward holes. Arguably, it's the best layout at the resort, holes 1 through 18.

Bear's Best is a collection of holes from Jack Nicklaus hundreds of courses around the world. So for me, I only recognized a handful of the holes, but honestly, all of them were pretty good in a Georgia hilly setting. I particularly liked the combination of par 3s from Muirfield Village and PGA National, which make for a great setting. The Scottish and Irish holes are a little more difficult to decipher, but I'm sure they are accurate nonetheless. As a collection of holes, Bear's Best (there's on in Las Vegas, too), makes for an outstanding golf course.

I got to play this course three times in one weekend and I never got bored. Best of all, I thought every hole was memorable and unique, the greens were perfect and you hardly saw another group. Pretty much a perfect experience. Loved the elevated tees and doglegs and the sixth hole is one of the best short par 4s you'll ever play. If you have a chance to play any of the courses at Champions Retreat, jump on it. The only nearby experience that might be better is on Magnolia Lane.

Like Granada, the 27 holes at Isabella is terrific golf. That I liked Granada more is the only reason I'm giving Isabella four instead of five stars, but it's barely a notch below. Like all these courses here, it's very playable, there are great views and conditions are superb. There aren't as many elevated tees and uphill shots as there are on Granada, but the course is plenty interesting. The ninth hole, by the way, on the Santa Maria nine is a bear, no matter what tees you play.