Omaha Country Club was founded in 1899 but it relocated to its present site in 1926. It’s been suggested that Wayne Stiles and Johan Van Kleek designed the club’s new course when it moved but, in The Life and Work of Wayne Stiles, the authors beg to differ...
Omaha Country Club was founded in 1899 but it relocated to its present site in 1926. It’s been suggested that Wayne Stiles and Johan Van Kleek designed the club’s new course when it moved but, in The Life and Work of Wayne Stiles, the authors beg to differ...
4.5
Omaha Country Club is a delight, albeit a very hilly delight beginning on the first hole. This is a championship golf course where low index players will be challenged but likely still score decently while high handicappers will struggle unless they move up one- two sets of tees from where they normally play.
Every aspect of this course is good including the routing, the variety of holes, the bunkering and the green surfaces.
The only two negatives to the course come from the hills which result in the par fours feeling repetitive starting from the ninth hole. In addition the course is difficult to walk unless one is very fit.
The course is 6973 yards, par 71, rated 75.0 131. The member tees are 6498 yards rated 71.8/128. There are seven sets of rated tees.
Par 4 - 391/355. If the tee shot does not carry the crest of the hill, then they will have a blind shot to the green. This dogleg right has an inner corner bunker as well as thick trees down the right. The land levels out about 140 yards out after that sharp rise. The green has three bunkers surrounding it. The green has most of its tilt near the front. It is a fair opening hole.
Par 5 - 553/507. I liked this hole playing flat but then with a gradual downhill followed by a bigger dip before rising to the green. Trees line the right side of this fairway while the left side has a single tree next to the only fairway bunker. The hole moves to the left after the tree and bunker. The next bunker is about 40 yards from the green on the left followed by two greenside bunkers on the left and one on the right. One must get their shot onto the green or it will tumble back down the rise. The green is slightly angled to the left but is not complicated once on it.
Par 3 - 250/234. This is a standard long hole with flanking side bunkers at the green. The green has a strong move to the front. It is a difficult hole due to its length.
Par 4 - 418/407. This is a very good hole playing flat but to a raised green. The fairway sits below slightly higher ground on both sides that provide a framing to the hole. Trees are set back down the right with a single fairway bunker on the left. The fairway snakes its way to the green with its height resulting in two deep bunkers greenside left. The green has a lot of movement as well as a sharper slant at the back left.
Par 3 - 193. This hole plays across a valley to a green that sits much higher than the ground before although the land behind the green is relatively flat with the green. The front of the green is slightly narrowed, pinched between two deep bunkers left and another deep one off the front right. The green has a strong tilt to the front. I did not think this to be the best part 3, but it is a good hole.
Par 5 - 543/513. For longer hitters this is a chance for an eagle as the hole plays shorter due to being sharply downhill on the tee shot. The hole doglegs to the right so tee shots need to be struck close to the trees on the right in order to stay in the fairway farther down, but there is a hidden fairway bunker on the right. Scattered trees are down the left. Shorter hitters will likely lay up before a crossing stream if their tee shot ends up on a downslope. The green complex is good with two deep bunkers on the front corners and one off the back right. The green has a strong tilt to the front but the back pin placements are to be feared.
Par 3 - 196/174. This was my favorite par 3 on the course playing down from an elevated tee. The green is slightly angled to the left with three bunkers surrounding it. Trees provide a lovely visual of a playing corridor from that high tee.
Par 4 - 483/432. While I liked the fourth hole a bit more this is a strong hole because it has the most fearsome green on the course. Trees are present on both sides, a bit thicker off the right. The first bunker is about 50 yards from the green on the left. Two bunkers are greenside right. A hill left of this green influences the green that has a thin shelf on its left third but then it falls away quickly to the right. Any putt from the lower right side to the higher left side must be judged perfectly.
Par 4 - 437/405. This is the first of what will be several sharply uphill par 4’s even if it begins from a high tee across lower land. The hole plays essentially straight up the steep hill with scattered trees to either side and two fairway bunkers stacked on the right. This is a heavily bunkered green with four surrounding the slightly raised green. The green itself is not difficult to read but getting there is a challenge as the hole plays about 40 yards longer than its listed yardage.
Par 5 - 506. I thought this par 5 had the most character and possibly the most difficult green. The hole spills downhill and one can get a favorable rollout as much as 60 yards if they go beyond a shelf. Due to the heavy rain over the past week and rainfall prior to our round, I did not quite catch the down slope but it did prevent me from going into the single fairway bunker on the left. From its low point the hole steadily rises to the green. Shorter players will have to play straight between flanking bunkers about 100 yards out. The green is long and tilted back to front with a movement also to the right side. Two greenside bunkers are on the right. The par 5’s are a strength of the golf course, rich in character and variety of length and land movement.
Par 3 - 173/150. This hole plays a club shorter as it is downhill. It is well gaurded by four bunkers. One can argue it is better than the seventh, but as it has no trees near it, it seemed out of character to a course that has a fair number of trees. It does have a terrific green on it, better than the seventh but not quite as good as the third.
Par 4 - 479/450. This hole is very difficult. The back tee is up high near trees and the fairway looks very narrow. The hole is straight but appears to go right because the fairway narrows on its left side about 200 yards out. A single bunker is greenside left as the hole rises again to the green.
Par 4 - 315/291. A chance for longer hitters to drive the green and shorter players to have a chance for a birdie. This hole plays downhill for most players to a low point before it rises yet again to the green. For most players they will need to stay to the right of two left side bunkers while longer players need to stay away from trees just behind those bunkers. Another bunker is short of the green on the right. The green has two deep bunkers fronting it with a green surface that is sloped quickly to the front. It is a fun hole.
Par 4 - 382/335. This hole climbs to the green but not as steeply as other holes. It sits essentially at the highest point of the property. A double hazard is on the left in the form of a bunker near two trees. The green itself is standard in its defense with two front corner bunkers although the green is angled to the left with a steeper fall-off on the left.
Par 3 - 226/210. The final par 3 is another long one although it plays downhill. It is another well-defended hole this time with three bunkers. The green surface is more like the seventh, not quite as severe as the third or eleventh.
Par 5 - 561/508. This is one of the top three holes on the course playing basically level. Scattered trees are down the right while the left side has tall grass and feels almost like wetlands. I loved how the fairway had numerous rolls and falls to it. The only fairway bunker is about 120 yards from the green on the right. The green sits slightly higher and is the most guarded with five surrounding bunkers of which two are at the back. The green is sloped quickly to the front left. I was told there was a tree on the left about 75 yards from the green of which a portion of it hung over the fairway but it had been recently removed. I am not normally a fan of trees but that should likely be put back.
Par 4 - 403/357. This hole is nearly as steep a climb as the ninth. Scattered trees are on both sides, but many more on the left. There are no fairway bunkers but three await at another elevated green. The back right corner of this green is very tiny.
Par 4 - 463/435. You go down from the tee shot but then a final rise awaits to the green. A single fairway bunker is off the right. There is a nuisance center-line bunker about 15 yards from the green along with flanking side bunkers. This green is not as fearsome as many others perhaps because most players have had a very challenging round.
Omaha is a classic championship parkland course with a very good set of par 3’s and par 5’s. I believe it would be more highly rated if the par 4’s beginning with the ninth did not have such a substantial change in elevation. The bunkering is very good, many of the greenside bunkers being very deep while the green surfaces are also filled with character, particularly the eighth green. I wish the tree near the green on sixteen was still there.
Mark White
Round Information
Date Played
September 19, 2026
Standout Holes
#16, #4, #8
Rating Breakdown
Strategy
Green Complexes
Variety
Facilities & Amenities
The latest ranking of the Top 100 Golf Courses in the World serves as the ultimate global golf bucket list. Most members of our World Top 100 Panel are seasoned golfers, each playing 20-30 of these courses annually while travelling extensively over decades to form their opinions on others. We recognise that opinions vary—even among our panel members. Rankings are subjective, and there are undoubtedly 50 or more courses in the UK and USA alone that could easily fit onto this list. Links Golf Pilgrimages The rankings
California, United States
New Jersey, United States
Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
New York, United States
New York, United States
The United States is home to some of the world's most celebrated golf courses, from spectacular coastal layouts to historic clubs that have hosted the game's biggest championships. But playing America's best golf is not always as straightforward as booking a tee time. Many of the country's highest-ranked courses are private clubs, while some resort venues require visitors to book accommodation before they can play. So where are America's top-ranked courses concentrated, and how many can the average golfer actually play? A state-by-state breakdown of the Top100 Golf Courses USA ranking reveals a striking divide. New York and California lead the way by course count, but of the 100 courses listed, just 16 meet our criteria for playing without knowing a member or staying at a resort. The remaining 84 have some form of access restriction, whether through private membership, accommodation requirements or other visitor policies. For golfers planning a trip to the United States, that distinction matters: a state might have an impressive collection of top-ranked courses, but that doesn't necessarily mean visitors can build a holiday around playing them. New York and California Lead the Rankings New York tops the state-by-state breakdown with 14 courses, narrowly ahead of California with 13. Massachusetts follows with seven, while Ohio and Wisconsin each have six. New Jersey and South Carolina account for five courses each. The figures highlight the strength of golf in the Northeast, alongside California's long-standing reputation as one of America's premier golfing destinations. New York is home to some of the country's most exclusive golf venues, including Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, National Golf Links of America and Fishers Island Club. However, it also has one of the world's most famous public courses. Located on Long Island, Bethpage Black has hosted multiple US Opens and the 2025 Ryder Cup. Its public status makes it an important exception in a ranking where access is often far from guaranteed. Demand is high and securing a tee time requires planning, but golfers do not need a private-club membership to play it. The other 13 New York courses in the ranking do not meet our public-access criteria. California presents a different mix of courses, from celebrated coastal layouts to championship venues further inland. Pebble Beach Golf Links is perhaps the best-known example, with its dramatic Pacific Ocean setting making it one of the most recognisable courses in golf. The state offers a wide range of golfing experiences, but green fees, booking conditions and accommodation requirements can influence whether a course is a realistic option for visiting golfers. Its size is another consideration, with distances between destinations potentially shaping how many courses golfers can fit into one trip. The States Where Top-Ranked Golf Is Hardest to Access Some of the states with the most courses in the ranking are also among the hardest for visiting golfers to explore. New York has 14 ranked courses, but 13 do not meet our criteria for playing without knowing a member or staying at a resort. California has 13 courses, with 11 falling outside those criteria, while none of Massachusetts' seven entries qualify. The contrast is striking. New York and California offer plenty of choice on paper, but their highest-ranked courses are often difficult to access independently. Massachusetts presents a similar challenge, with its rich golfing heritage reflected in a list dominated by venues that aren't straightforward for visitors to book. New Jersey faces a comparable issue. Its five courses include Pine Valley Golf Club, frequently ranked among the world's finest, but its reputation as a private club makes it a difficult destination for golfers without the right connections. These figures underline why course rankings alone don't tell the whole story. For visitors, the practical question isn't just how many highly ranked courses a state has, but how many they can realistically play. The Best States for Golf You Can Actually Play Of the 100 courses in Top100 Golf Courses' USA ranking, just 16 can be played by the public without knowing a member or staying at a resort. Wisconsin and Oregon lead the way, with four qualifying courses each, followed by South Carolina, Florida and California with two apiece. Oregon is an obvious choice for a multi-course golf trip. All four qualifying layouts are at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort on the Pacific coast: Bandon Dunes, Pacific Dunes, Bandon Trails and Old Macdonald. Having four highly ranked courses in one destination allows golfers to experience a variety of layouts without spending their holiday travelling between different parts of the state. The rugged coastal setting is a major part of the appeal. Wisconsin offers four qualifying courses across two destinations. Whistling Straits' Straits course is one of the state's best-known golfing venues, having hosted major championships on the shores of Lake Michigan. Further inland, Lawsonia Links offers a different style of golf, while Sand Valley and Sedge Valley give visitors two more courses to explore within the same resort destination. Together, they make Wisconsin a compelling choice for golfers looking to combine several highly ranked rounds in one trip. South Carolina has two qualifying courses, each offering a different experience. Kiawah Island's Ocean Course is known for its exposed coastal setting and championship pedigree, having hosted major events including the 2021 PGA Championship. Old Barnwell provides a contrasting inland experience, adding another option for golfers planning a trip around the state's top courses. Florida's two entries are Streamsong Red and TPC Sawgrass' Stadium Course. Streamsong Red is characterised by its expansive sandy terrain, while TPC Sawgrass is home to one of golf's most recognisable holes: the island-green 17th. The two courses offer very different experiences, from Streamsong's distinctive landscape to the chance to play one of the PGA Tour's most famous venues. California completes the group with Pebble Beach Golf Links and Pasatiempo. Pebble Beach is renowned for its Pacific coastline and history of major championships, while Pasatiempo, designed by Alister MacKenzie, offers a celebrated layout with a distinctive place in American golf history.
The stigma that good golf has to be expensive is one worth challenging. From windswept prairie in Nebraska and oceanfront holes in California to championship layouts in the shadow of Hazeltine and Bethpage, these are courses that offer much more than a cheap round. All 10 can be played for $100 or less, but the price is only part of the appeal. They have tournament history, famous designers, memorable settings and the kind of layouts that can stand alongside much more expensive golf. Green fees listed are standard rates and do not take twilight or off-season discounts into account, meaning some courses can be played for even less. Wild Horse Golf Club (Nebraska) Nebraska Ranking: 6th | Green Fees: From $68 Why Play it: Outstanding value on a natural prairie layout Best For: Golfers who love natural, windswept courses If you’re looking for proof that great golf doesn’t have to come with a great big price tag, head for the Nebraska prairie. Wild Horse Golf Club is one of the best-value public courses in America, combining excellent golf with a setting that feels a world away from the usual resort experience. Designed by Dave Axland and Dan Proctor, Wild Horse opened in 1999 after the pair spent more than a decade working for Ben Crenshaw’s design company. The result is a natural-looking layout shaped by native grasses, rolling prairie and dramatic blow-out bunkers rather than rows of manicured hazards. Wild Horse has earned plenty of recognition over the years, including a place in the Top100 US rankings, although it has sometimes been overshadowed by nearby Sand Hills. Tom Doak once described it as a “very good golf course” that is often overlooked because of its affordability. Warren Golf Course at Notre Dame (Indiana) Indiana Ranking: 7th | Green Fees: From $75 Why Play it: A Coore & Crenshaw design on the Notre Dame campus Best For: Fans of Coore & Crenshaw Set among 250 acres of woodland on the northern edge of the University of Notre Dame campus, the Warren Golf Course offers the unusual combination of championship pedigree and accessible green fees. Designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, the course opened in 2000 and has since become one of Indiana’s most highly regarded public layouts. The Warren Course is home to Notre Dame’s men’s and women’s golf teams and has hosted a string of major amateur events, including NCAA Division I regional championships and the 2010 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links. It also hosted the U.S. Senior Open in 2019, bringing some of the biggest names in senior golf to South Bend. The setting is a big part of the appeal, with the course winding through mature woodland within a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary. For golfers visiting Notre Dame or passing through Indiana, the Warren Course offers a chance to experience one of America’s leading modern design partnerships without a leading-edge green fee. Pacific Grove Golf Links (California) California Ranking: 71st | Green Fees: From $66 Why Play it: Oceanfront golf just minutes from Pebble Beach Best For: Golfers looking for a Pebble Beach alternative Just five miles from Pebble Beach, Pacific Grove Golf Links offers a very different way to experience the Monterey Peninsula. This old-school municipal course runs along the Pacific Ocean, with a front nine that feels more like a traditional parkland course before the back nine heads into the dunes overlooking the water. The course has an impressive design lineage, too. US Amateur Champion Chandler Egan, who helped Alister MacKenzie redesign Pebble Beach, laid out the original nine holes in 1932, while Jack Neville, one of the original designers of Pebble Beach, later extended Pacific Grove to 18 holes. The result is a quirky and enjoyable layout, beginning with back-to-back par threes before throwing in consecutive par fives at the fifth and sixth. On the oceanfront back nine, short par fours and tumbling fairways provide plenty of character. Bethpage - Red Course (New York) New York Ranking: 6th | Green Fees: From $90 Why Play it: A championship-calibre course in the shadow of the Black Best For: Golfers who want a taste of Bethpage without playing the Black Bethpage Black might get all the attention, but the Red Course at Bethpage State Park is a formidable test in its own right. Known by some as “Baby Black”, the Red is widely regarded as the standout alternative to its more famous neighbour and offers a chance to experience Bethpage without the Black's famously difficult tee-time scramble. The course features a series of strong doglegs and demanding holes, with Tom Doak once suggesting that the Red might have received similar acclaim had its more famous neighbour never been built. He particularly praised the opening and closing holes, the long fifth and the short sixth, where an aggressive drive can quickly turn into trouble. The Red doesn't have the Black's enormous bunkers or intimidating reputation, but that doesn't make it easy. For golfers visiting Long Island, it offers another opportunity to play championship-level golf at one of America's most famous public facilities. Bandon Crossings (Oregon) Oregon Ranking: 21st | Green Fees: From $70 Why Play it: Affordable golf in one of America's biggest golf destinations Best For: Golfers visiting Bandon Bandon has become one of America's great golf destinations, but you don't have to play the resort courses to enjoy a round in the area. Bandon Crossings was created specifically to offer affordable public golf for locals and visitors, providing a lower-cost alternative to its famous neighbours. Built on the site of an old cattle and sheep ranch, the course was developed by local couple Rex and Carla Smith with Oregon architect Dan Hixson. Rather than compete directly with Bandon's collection of links courses, Crossings takes its inspiration from the heathland golf found around London. The course may sit away from the Pacific coastline, but that doesn't make it an afterthought. Its fairways move quickly across the property and around Twomile Creek, creating a challenging and enjoyable test that offers a different experience from the resort layouts. Montauk Downs State Park Golf Course (New York) New York Ranking: 80th | Green Fees: From $95 Why Play it: Robert Trent Jones design at the tip of Long Island Best For: Golfers exploring Long Island At the eastern tip of Long Island, around 120 miles from downtown New York City, Montauk Downs feels a long way from the hustle of Manhattan. Golf has been played here for decades, with the current layout shaped by Robert Trent Jones Sr. and his son Rees Jones in 1968. The Jones family connection is one of the course's biggest attractions, with Rees returning alongside Bryce Swanson in 2008 to restore the bunkers and tees on the par-three holes. The result is a classic parkland layout that combines the character of an older course with the challenge expected from a Jones design. Its location also makes Montauk Downs a natural addition to a Long Island golf trip, particularly for golfers looking to explore beyond the courses closer to New York City. Gold Mountain Golf Club - Olympic Course (Washington) Washington Ranking: 13th | Green Fees: From $35 Why Play it: Championship golf at a 36-hole public facility Best For: Golfers looking for a full day of golf The Olympic Course at Gold Mountain Golf Club is proof that you don't need a famous resort or hefty green fee to find championship-calibre golf. Part of a 36-hole public facility owned and operated by the City of Bremerton, the course was designed by John Harbottle III and opened in 1996, 25 years after the original Cascade Course. The tree-lined layout is slightly hillier than its older sibling but remains eminently walkable, with annual bluegrass covering the tees, fairways and greens. Its quality has been recognised on the national stage, hosting the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship in 2006 and U.S. Junior Amateur Championship in 2011. There are plenty of memorable holes, including the short fourth, the water-guarded ninth and the 188-yard 16th, which plays across a lake to the green. The closing par four also offers a tempting birdie opportunity. With the Cascade Course next door, golfers can play 36 holes at Gold Mountain for less than $100, with green fees for the second 18 starting at just $30. Chaska Town Course (Minnesota) Minnesota Ranking: 26th | Green Fees: From $63 Why Play it: Championship golf just minutes from Hazeltine National Best For: Golfers visiting the Twin Cities Just a few miles from Hazeltine National, the Chaska Town Course offers a chance to play a highly regarded championship layout without the private-club price tag. Owned and operated by the local municipality, the course occupies 285 acres of oak groves, open prairie and marshland. Designed by Arthur Hills and opened in 1997, Chaska Town has even shared the stage with Hazeltine. The two courses co-hosted the 2006 U.S. Amateur Championship, while Chaska Town was also scheduled to co-host the 2020 U.S. Junior Amateur before the tournament was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The layout plays to 6,817 yards from the back tees and features two returning nines, each finishing with a par five. The short fourth and 16th offer opportunities to score, while the right-doglegging ninth provides a tougher test. Brackenridge Park Golf Course (Texas) Green Fees: From $56 Why Play it: A Tillinghast classic with Texas Open history Best For: Golfers who love historic golf courses The oldest public 18-hole course in Texas, Brackenridge Park Golf Course has been a fixture in San Antonio golf for more than a century. Designed by A.W. Tillinghast in 1916, “Old Brack” went on to host 21 editions of the Texas Open between 1922 and 1959. The course has retained much of its historic character thanks to a restoration by John Colligan, who brought the layout back to life while preserving Tillinghast’s original design. The front nine is relatively tight, while the back nine opens out and provides some of the course’s strongest holes. Brackenridge is also part of the Alamo City Golf Trail, making it easy to combine with several other public courses in the San Antonio area. Brown Deer Park Golf Course (Milwaukee) Green Fees: $81 Why Play it: A former PGA Tour venue with Tiger Woods history Best For: Golfers who like tournament pedigree Brown Deer Park Golf Course combines affordable public golf with a notable place in PGA Tour history. Located just north of Milwaukee, the course hosted the Greater Milwaukee Open from 1994 to 2009, with Tiger Woods making his professional debut here in 1996. Founded in 1929, the course was originally designed by George Hansen before being partially redesigned by Andy North and Roger Packard. Today, its tree-lined fairways and stream that winds through the property provide a classic parkland setting. The Tiger Woods connection is an obvious draw, but Brown Deer offers more than a famous name in its history. Its accessible layout and location make it a practical option for golfers visiting Milwaukee. For golfers who enjoy playing courses with a tournament past, Brown Deer offers a chance to follow in the footsteps of some of the game's biggest names without paying resort-course prices.
Q & A with Bill Coore Interview with M. James Ward SOUTHAMPTON, NY. The tandem of Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore are among the world's finest golf course creators. The duo have reshaped -- no pun intended -- by re-emphasizing classical golf architecture with some of the finest modern designs including the likes of Sand Hills in Nebraska, Friar's Head on Long Island, NY, Bandon Trails in Oregon, Sand Valley in Wisconsin and among others Streamsong (Red) in Florida, as well as major restoration work with the likes of Pinehurst #2 leading the way, and as course consultants to this year's US Open site – Shinnecock Hills. Among their upcoming newest layouts is Ozarks National in Branson, Missouri opening later this year. In sum, the twosome continues to bring to life golf architecture that embodies designs working in total concert with their native sites. Backgrounder Like his partner Ben Crenshaw, Bill Coore was exposed to traditional golf architecture during his formative years. A native North Carolinian, Coore played much of his early golf at the Donald Ross courses of Pinehurst and the Perry Maxwell designed Old Town Club in Winston-Salem. A 1968 graduate of Wake Forest University, Coore began his professional design and construction career in 1972 with the firm of Pete Dye and Associates. Under Dye’s guidance, Coore was introduced to the elements of creative design and physical construction. It was also Dye that first introduced Coore to the written classics of golf architecture – the same books that Crenshaw was then collecting and studying. The information within these books was to later form the foundation for the Coore and Crenshaw partnership. During the succeeding ten years, Coore was involved in the design, construction and maintenance of golf courses in Florida, North Carolina, Virginia, Canada, and Texas. Coore formed his own design company in 1982. Thereafter, he completed courses at Rockport Country Club in Rockport, Texas (featured in the 1986 issue of the USGA Golf Journal) and Golf du Medoc in Bordeaux, France – named one of the ten best courses in France and one of the top fifty courses in Europe. Bill Coore and his wife, Sue, reside in Scottsdale, Arizona. Ben and yourself have been consultants at Shinnecock Hills, what’s your take on the course’s best hole? COORE: In my opinion, there is no best hole at Shinnecock Hills and fortunately there is no worst hole or even less good holes. There is a collection of 18 distinctive, extremely high quality holes that fit seamlessly together. What’s the most underrated hole? COORE: The first hole may be the most underrated because of its position in the round, and it's not one of the course’s most difficult holes, yet it is a marvelous introduction to what is about to be experienced. The view from the first tee located so near the iconic clubhouse, the angle of the fairway to the tee shot, the bunkering, the contouring of the green, its surrounds and the precision demanded of the shots played to the green combine to make it one of the most attractive and interesting holes on the course. Shinnecock is considered to be one of the most impressive courses in the world. Why is that? COORE: The most impressive overall feature of the course is the amazingly interesting way in which the holes lay on the natural landforms and are oriented in such a way that holes play toward all major points on the compass, therefore assuring that during a round the almost always present winds will be encountered at every possible angle. I'm not sure I can think of another course about which that can be said. Golfers have their own respective bucket list of courses to see/play. What’s yours? COORE: Amazingly enough, during my travels, I have yet to see Muirfield in Scotland, so that would certainly be on my bucket list. What’s the hardest thing about being a golf architect? COORE: If you’re successful in the business, saying "no" to a given project. In so many ways you do wish to say "yes" but if you don't feel as if you can really attain the goals set by the ownership it's best not to go forward. What’s the tipping point in making that decision? COORE: Ben and I have been good naturedly kidded about taking forever to make a decision. When we first started we knew we had to run the operation as a business but we also wanted it to be fun too. Truthfully, when we first started we wondered if anyone would hire us. When making a decision we're going to study the site. We're going to listen to what the ownership wants. We're also going to be candid to ourselves -- can we accomplish the goals being set? Sometimes a given site requires extreme alterations and we may not be the appropriate fit to do what is being sought. What’s the most satisfying aspect for Ben and yourself? COORE: The early stages are the most rewarding, discovering the natural attributes and spending time with the ownership on the property. The whole discovery process shows whether the site plays to our design strengths. Can we accomplish the goals set by ownership in tandem with our skills? It's tough when you like an owner personally and professionally and really want to see things move forward to make that dream a reality, but there are times when you don't see how we can make that happen. What have you learned from when you first started creating courses to what you do today? COORE: When you're a young designer there's a temptation to show what you can do. You often try to do too much. It's understandable to happen -- particularly early in a career. It's tempting not to have much restraint. We've believed that if we could mange our impulses we'd be better off. We try to establish the concept and the goals collectively with the guys we work with to allow that process to evolve and come to life. If something happens in the field – even by mistake – that seems to be a better end result then our team is free to move in a better manner. If you allow the process to happen and don't get hung up on some preconceived concept so many wonderful things can in fact happen. What’s harder to do, a completely new course or one being restored? COORE: A restored course by far. You have to first decide what are you going to restore it to. This happened during our time at Pinehurst #2. The course had gone through various looks over the years and when we got involved that question needed answering. Are you going to go back to its earliest days by using aerial photography? Or is there some interim period of time? So one needs to ask restore it to when and what. When Ben and yourself walk onto a property for the first time, what generally do you both discuss? COORE: The very first day can prompt some general impressions of the potential a given site has to offer. We will assess if the site plays to our strengths. Does it have interesting natural features? Is it adaptable to golf if it doesn't need major alterations? What are the most interesting features and whether we can work with that site? Can we do it justice? Clearly, when talking with the ownership, you get some guidance on what the goals are to be. From what you have mentioned, you spend plenty of time listening to others. How important is that in getting the final assessment on whether you will be involved? COORE: It's an absolute priority.
