Whistling Straits is likely one of the marquee programs in golf-rich Wisconsin.
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Even when our 50 states may appear divided some days, right here’s one thing innocent we are able to argue about: which of these states make the perfect golf locations.
The subject got here up on a latest episode of GOLF’s new travel-focused podcast, Vacation spot Golf, through which my co-host, Simon Holt, and I, went backwards and forwards, every of us ticking off our 4 favourite states for golf.
Simon’s first selection was robust to high. He went with Oregon, which you would possibly say has an unfair benefit as the house of Bandon Dunes Golf Resort. At Bandon alone, as Simon identified, all 5 of their 18-holers (Pacific Dunes, Bandon Dunes, Outdated Macdonald, Bandon Trails and Sheep Ranch) are on GOLF’s record of Prime 100 Programs You Can Play. However Oregon golf is greater than its southern coast. Head inland into the excessive desert, and also you stumble upon two different Prime 100 tracks, the Nicklaus and Fazio designs at Pronghorn, whereas over within the Portland space, a brilliant constellation of public-access programs await.
As a counter, I provided Wisconsin. I used to be considering of Sand Valley, with its 4 nice big-boy programs (Sand Valley, Mammoth Dunes, Sedge Valley and their semi-private sibling the Lido), but additionally of Kohler, Erin Hills, Lawsonia Hyperlinks, SentryWorld and on. The Badger State punches nicely above its weight.
Being grasping, I additionally claimed my dwelling state of California. A visit right here, I advised, might progress from San Francisco (Harding Park), south by way of Santa Cruz (Pasatiempo) and Monterey (Pebble Seashore), then on to Los Angeles (Rustic Canyon) earlier than turning east towards Palm Springs. The golf-loving Rat Pack hung on the market for good motive.
However California is a giant state, and Simon isn’t somebody who, as he places it, “likes to spend so much of time behind a windshield.” With that in thoughts, he shot again with North Carolina (you can spend a lifetime enjoying golf within the Sandhills with out becoming bored); South Carolina (Myrtle Seashore and Hilton Head, to call simply two high-quality/great-value swaths of the state); and Florida, the place Streamsong and Cabot Citrus Farms spotlight a wealthy roster of first-rate resorts.
With my two remaining picks, I went with New York (Bethpage Black was the biggie I had in thoughts, however there are 4 different programs inside that single state park, all value enjoying) and Michigan, the place, on the peak of summer time, it stays mild previous 9 p.m. That offers plenty of time to squeeze in rounds at must-plays like Belvedere, Forest Dunes, Arcadia Bluffs, American Dunes and others. Eight hours later, you’ll be able to rise up and do all of it once more.
You’ll be able to take heed to the complete best-state dialog right here.
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