JasonDeeganGA

Take your pick about which course is better at Juniper Preserve - the resort course by Nicklaus or the private course by Fazio. I probably lean toward the Nicklaus since it's got some holes you just won't forget - the waterfall encounter at 13 and the island green, etc. It was in impeccable condition when I played it during the popular Linksoul 2Man. Everything about the experience is top notch - the clubhouse, the food, the resort accommodations. Its remote location is a blessing and a curse. It's great to have such beautiful natural surroundings but a bummer it's a 30-minute drive to enjoy the breweries and restaurants of downtown Bend.

What a pleasant surprise Juniper was. Within 15 minutes of landing at the nearby airport, I was on the first tee enjoying a really nice course in very good condition. When you're coming to Bend for a golf trip, this is a perfect starting or ending point thanks to its convenient location near the airport. It's probably better as a kickoff point, since it's slightly easier and less dynamic than many of the high-end resort courses you've likely come to play (Tetherow, Sunriver, Juniper Preserve).

The Fazio is treated like a private members club by the resort, but there might be a loophole or two for public players. I met some resort guests who given the opportunity to play it while my large group was playing a tournament on the Nicklaus course. Like anything else, timing is everything. If you're looking to check this course off your bucket list, then it might be worth planning your visit around an opportunity like this one. It's a really strong course.

Catamount is a very fine private club with stunning views, but I'm not sure I'd join. It's one of the more difficult mountain courses I've played. If you're not climbing straight uphill, you're playing downhill, staring at one of 17 forced carries off the tee. It's the hardest Tom Weiskopf courses I've played. Don't get me wrong. If you get the invite, play. Everything is first class and the views just can't be beat. It's just you probably need to tee it forward or bring a few extra balls.

Any time you finish a round in complete darkness, it's memorable. We played our final hole, the par-3 8th, in such darkness that we had to listen for a splash in the pond to know whether we hit the green. As the sun set, the course shimmered in the fading light. It's a beautiful layout with seven holes interacting with Fish Creek. There's a proposal in place for a major renovation, so improvements could be coming soon. It's already plenty good right now.

Although I only played 14 holes because I had to catch a flight, it was easy to see why locals love Haymaker so much. It's challenging and interesting. Every community should have a muni that feels like a high-end public course. It's mostly flat, but the scenery anywhere in Steamboat Springs showcases nice mountain backdrops. A few water hazards on the back nine crank up the difficulty.

It's a good thing Boulder Ridge features so many beautiful views. The stunning scenery across a landscape of boulders and twisting fairways from the elevated tees can help distract golfers from the inconsistent turf conditions. I last played the course three years ago and returned for a charity outing this fall only to discover a course that was in tough shape in spots. I hope this was just bad timing on my part, and things will improve as NoCal gets some rain and cooler temps this fall.

While you absolutely should play the North Course whenever you visit Silverado - it's the site of many PGA Tour events, including the current Fortinet - don't skip out on the South. It might be more strategic with lots of angles and nuances. Its par 5s are more gettable than the North except 13, which crushes my spirit every time. Hitting that diagonal green over the creek just seems so tough. Don't forget to order your burger dog at the turn. They're the best!

The coastal private clubs get all the love - Cypress Point and MPCC - but The Preserve can stand with any of them to deliver a once-in-a-lifetime round of golf. It takes passing through three privacy gates and eight miles driving up a mountainous road to get to this pastural paradise. Not a blade of grass was out of place, and you virtually have the place to yourself. The course gets progressively harder ending with a couple brutal challenges among the finish holes. If you can shoot a score here, you're a player. Consider yourself lucky if you ever find yourself standing on the first tee.

I fall for it every time. I see a scorecard with a 6,315-yard course and think it's ripe for the picking. This par 70 is tricky tough with narrow fairways lined with rough and two of the hardest par 3s, yard for yard, in the world. The 139-yard 8th and 93-yard 16th add up to 232 yards of pain thanks to the demanding greens that drop off on all sides. The course's opening five holes are the best as they roam along the shore. Sorry for the cliche but North West is as good a hidden gem as you'll find anywhere.

I can tell my grandkids I walked a golf course on the hottest day in Emerald Isle history. Playing Slieve Russell actually didn't feel 90-plus degrees because I was too distracted by my match on an excellent course as good as any parkland in Ireland. Too bad this course wasn't more centrally located on a tourist trek in the Southwest or closer to Dublin. It's legit. No wonder it helped groom LPGA player Leona Maguire's game. There's plenty of water and nice rolling hills to create engaging holes. The resort's very splendid, too. It's well worth the stop if you're heading to the Northwest or West like we did out of Dublin.

Every time I come back to Portstewart, the Strand wins me over just a little more. I used to be one of the haters who thought the back nine was a major letdown. I'm getting wiser with age. This links is one of the Emerald Isle's strongest. The first two tee shots might be the best combo in golf with No. 1 overlooking the beach and No. 2 an intimidating shot into monstrous dunes. The back-nine holes near the river are more beautiful than I remember. What the last three holes lack in aesthetics, they make up for in difficulty, and can quickly turn the momentum in a match. The food in the clubhouse is top notch, so stick around after golf for a bite.

The Island is the rare course I've given every category five stars. It's an incredible experience - welcoming in the pro shop, the links is inspiring and for the first time, I ate in the clubhouse and thoroughly enjoyed the curry!
Back to the golf, the changes by Mackenzie & Ebert debuted in 2020 have been met with a little bit of mixed feelings. Out is eight straight par 4s to start the round and in is more variety - a par 5 along the water at no. 3, a new par-3 fourth that's gorgeous and a couple completely new par 4s. The back nine is still the showstopper. There's the views of the Malahide Estuary and Marina, the skinniest fairway in golf at no. 17 and a mammoth par 3 at no. 16 that might require driver into the wind. Being so convenient to the airport, golfers can easily play the Island on arrival or departure day.

I played Galgorm as it prepared to host its second DP World Tour event that caters to both male and female players. Fresh off an Irish Open as well, this is a tournament ready parkland that's still very enjoyable to play for any handicap. I shot my best round of the week here. There's loads of water so choose your targets wisely. The snack shack is an ancestral home of the original family that occupied the land, so that's a cool touch. The resort itself is excellent. This is definitely a worthy stop next time you're touring the famous links in Northern Ireland. Pamper yourself at the resort and savor a parkland experience with a little less wind and weather. It will recharge your batteries.

I've always enjoyed Portmarnock Links, but never truly fell in love with it. Maybe that will change as major changes are coming soon. I don't have details yet, but hopefully it upgrades the routing and takes out a few bunkers. I played 10 holes on arrival day during a trip this summer and that's ultimately one of the best reasons to stay and play here. The convenience to the airport and Dublin is a major draw. A drink in the Jameson Bar in the resort hotel is a must for any American tourist as well.

You can call this links Kilmarnock or Barassie and get away with it. It's located adjacent to both Dundonald and Western Gailes, so it sometimes gets lost in the shuffle with such a competitive local golf scene. The club, which has produced a solid line of Walker Cup players over the years, continues to tweak its routing, with some solid changes in recent years. Watch out for a burn on several early holes. Overall, a solid choice among a deep tier of more affordable local clubs you can play in Ayrshire.

There are a number of beautiful holes and lots to like about Brodick. The beachfront setting near the ferry terminal makes it a convenient place to play. Two memorable par 3s play over a natural inlet. Unfortunately, I played the course in a pouring rain and the fairways were soaked. Beyond that, you could tell the course needs some TLC to reach its potential.

Don't let any negative reviews about the course conditions fool you. If you want to play an immaculate links, pay the big bucks at Royal Troon or Trump Turnberry. This is golf's greatest little gem. It might be scruffy around the edges, but that's to be expected for the green fees charged. All 12 holes are unique and stunningly beautiful with the backdrop over the water never leaving your sight. The third hole up and over the wall and the fourth hole playing down off of it might be the two greatest back-to-back par 3s on the planet.

The Gravel Pit is one of the best short courses I've ever played. Architect Scott Hoffman, best known for designing the nearby Classic at Madden's, did a wonderful job turning an abandoned gravel pit into an engaging and fun collection of holes. I'm not a fan of the second hole. It's too difficult and out of place on a course where most of the shots are 120 yards or less. If it were later in the routing, maybe I'd feel differently. Everything else is very cool. There's also a putting course, but it seems to narrow to be ideal. There's also talk of bringing in lights for night golf. Overall, a great addition to the Brainerd golf scene.

With two of the most famous links holes in the world - the Postage Stamp at no. 8 and the Railway at no. 11 - Royal Troon is definitely a bucket-list major championship venue. The routing gets criticized a bit, opening with several straightforward par 4s along the shore. But once you get past that early stretch everything gets more interesting and inspiring. Nothing's easy out here. The rough is tough and there's plenty of bunkers to avoid. The stately clubhouse is the perfect place for a post-round cocktail so you can relive your special day.