Crestmont

The knowledgeable golf course architecture aficionado will instantly recognize that they are playing a Donald Ross when they step up to the first tee; after all, the designer often connected the fairways of his No. 1 and No. 10 tees to create a recognizable “fork.” What may be surprising to players is that when they arrive at the No. 1 green is that another putting surface is nearly attached to this one. That’s not actually the No. 10 green, but rather that of the par three No. 11.

Quirks like these — both the expected and the unexpected — are what make it a treasure among Ross enthusiasts. The club’s status among that audience has grown dramatically in recent years, as Ron Forse led a major restoration of the Donald Ross features during 2008.

That includes a collection of more than 90 bunkers. Among these are several classic Ross cross bunkers, as well as numerous greens that are completely surrounded by sand hazards. Ponds and other water hazards also play more of a role here than at other Ross designs, but these are all authentic from the original design and not leftovers from Robert Trent Jones’s work during the ‘70s.