Dont Forget to Pack Your 7
Iron
A guide to the best golf courses in 15 of the most frequented
cities in the world (for AA, anyway). So, whatever you do, don't
leave home without those clubs - or this article.
BUENOS AIRES
The Jockey Club
Why Play
It? Designed by the legendary Alister MacKenzie, this
must-play is typically the highest-rated course in South America.
Your Chances of Getting On: Fair. All the
top courses in
Buenos Aires are private, but most make
accommodations for visitors, especially through concierges at top
hotels. Alternatively, specialty tour operator Golf in Argentina
(
www.golfinargentina.com) can
arrange one-day packages to the top courses, with transportation,
club rentals, greens fees, and a bilingual escort.
Peak
Greens Fees: Under $100.
Contact: Avenue Marquez 1702, San
Isidro; 011-54-11-4815-0561
Olivos Golf Club
Why Play It? Known as an extremely
challenging test, this world-class course has hosted the Argentine
Open many times.
Your Chances of Getting
On: See Jockey Club, above. Peak Greens Fees: Under
$100.
Contact: Ruta Panamericana Km. 32, Pilar;
011-54-11-4463-1076
CANCÚN
El Cameleòn at Mayakoba
Why
Play It? Greg Norman's design, the first to ever host
a
PGA Tour event in
Mexico, is named the Chameleon for the way it
changes character as it moves through desert, canals, beachfront,
canyons, and jungle.
Your Chances of Getting On: Good; very
good if you're a guest at the onsite Fairmont Mayakoba hotel.
Peak Greens Fees: $180.
Contact: 298 Playa del Carmen;
011-52-90-4206-3088;
www.fairmont.com/mayakoba
Moon Palace
Why Play It? Any combination of the three
signature nines by
Jack Nicklaus makes this one of the top courses
in the fast-booming Mayan Riviera.
Your Chances of Getting On: Excellent for
Palace Resorts guests; good for outside players.
Peak Greens Fees: $260 (includes
round-trip transportation from anywhere in Cancún).
Contact: Carretera Chetumal-Cancún Km.
340, Cancún; 011-52-99-8881-6088;
www.palaceresorts.com
Playa Paraiso
Why Play
It? This recent design from P.B. Dye, carved from
thick jungle and limestone ledge, is great fun from beginning to
end.
Your Chances of Getting On: Good. You
need to stay at one of the Iberostar hotels to get a tee time, but
with a whopping six sharing the layout, that shouldn't be
difficult. Peak Greens Fees: $182.
Contact: Carretera Chetumal-Cancún
Km. 309, Playa Paraíso; 011-52-98-4877-2847;
www.iberostar.com
CHICAGO
Cog Hill
Why Play It? Course No. 4 is the award-
winning "Dubsdread" and home of the BMW Championship.
Your Chances of Getting On: Good,
especially if you book far in advance (up to 90 days).
Peak Greens Fees: $138 (much less for
courses 1 through 3).
Contact: 12294 Archer Avenue, Lemont;
(866) 264-4455;
www.coghillgolf.com
The Glen Club
Why Play It? A
Golf Magazine "Top 100 You
Can Play" by master architect
Tom Fazio, this course oozes golf
tradition right down to the caddies.
Your Chances of Getting On: Hit or miss;
public tee times can be booked within seven days of play.
Peak Greens Fees: $113 to $165.
Contact: 2901 West Lake Avenue,
Glenview; (847) 724-7272;
www.theglenclub.com
DALLAS/FORT WORTH
Bear Creek Golf Club
Why Play It? No airport in the world is
as golf-friendly as American's main hub at DFW International
Airport, which has a 36-hole resort that has been ranked among the
state's top 10.
Your Chances of Getting
On: Very good.
Peak Greens Fees: $50 to $69.
Contact: 3500 Bear Creek Court; (972)
456-3200;
www.bearcreek-golf.com
Cowboys Golf Club
Why Play It? The world's first NFL-themed
course is challenging, immaculately conditioned, and the best
public golf in the
Dallas area.
Your Chances of Getting On: Very good, if
you book close to the allowed 30 days in advance.
Peak
Greens Fees: $180.
Contact: 1600 Fairway Drive,
Grapevine; (817) 481-7277;
www.cowboysgolfclub.com
Four Seasons Resort and Club Dallas at Las
Colinas
Why Play It? This five-star hotel is home
to the Tournament Players Course, which hosts the PGA Tour's annual
Byron Nelson Championship.
Your Chances of Getting On: Excellent for
hotel guests, as the course is limited to hotel overnight visitors
and their guests. It will reopen from renovations later this year.
Peak Greens Fees: $165.
Contact: 4150 North MacArthur
Boulevard, Irving; (972) 717-0700;
www.fourseasons.com/dallas
HONOLULU
Championship Course, Hawaii Kai
Why Play It? Pacific views from every
hole, a setting beneath the slopes of Koko Head Crater, and a short
drive from Waikiki make this a can't-miss.
Your Chances of Getting On: Very good;
tee times book up to two months out.
Peak Greens Fees: $110.
Contact: 8902 Kalanianaole Highway,
Honolulu; (808) 395-2358; www.hawaiikaigolf.com
Ko'olau Golf Club
Why Play
It? Put simply, masochism: Ko'olau is considered the
single most difficult golf course in the
United States, with a
rating and slope of 76.4/162 from the 7,310-yard tips.
Your Chances of Getting On: Very good;
book one month in advance.
Peak Greens Fees: $135.
Contact: 45-550 Kionaole Road, Kaneohe;
(808) 247-7088; www.koolau golfclub.com
LAS VEGAS
Shadow Creek Las Vegas
Why
Play It? A luxurious private experience, world-class
caddies, and a course perennially ranked in the top 10 explain why
the nation's most expensive golf course is worth every penny.
Your Chances of Getting on: Very good,
but you must be a guest of an
MGM Mirage property and can only play
Monday through Thursday. Weekend play is by invitation through
casino hosts.
Peak Greens Fees: $500 (includes
limousine transfers from and to your hotel, a cart, and a
caddy/caddie)
Contact: 3 Shadow Creek Drive, North Las
Vegas; (866) 260-0069;, www.shadowcreek.com
Lakes Course, Primm Valley Golf Club
Why Play It? Called "the poor man's
Shadow Creek," this layout is by the same designer, Tom Fazio; has
the same owners; and features many of the same gorgeous design
touches for a lot less.
Your Chances of Getting
On: Very good - it's still a
Las Vegas insider's
destination.
Peak Greens Fees: $175 to $200.
Contact: 1 Yates Well Road, Primm; (800)
386-7867;
www.primmvalleyresorts.com
Reflection Bay Golf Club at Lake Las Vegas
Resort
Why Play It? It's a
breathtaking Jack Nicklaus design that combines desert, mountains,
and the state's largest privately owned man-made lake.
Your Chances of Getting On: Very good if
reservations are made in advance, up to 60 days out.
Peak Greens Fees: $275 to $295.
Contact: 1600 Lake Las Vegas Parkway,
Henderson; (877) 698-4653;
www.lakelasvegas.com
Shadow Creek Las Vegas
Why Play It? A luxurious private
experience, world-class caddies, and a course perennially ranked in
the top 10 are why the nation's most expensive golf course is worth
every penny.
Your Chances of Getting On: Very good,
but you must be a guest of an MGM Mirage property, and you can play
Monday through Thursday. Weekend play is by invitation through
casino hosts.
Peak Greens Fees: $500 (includes
limousine transfers from and to your hotel, a cart, and a caddie).
Contact: 3 Shadow Creek Drive, North Las
Vegas; (866) 260-0069;
www.shadowcreek.com
LONDON
The Grove
Why Play
It? This new luxury golf resort on the site of a
centuries-old estate outside of
London just hosted the World Golf
Championships on its fine parkland layout.
Your Chances of Getting On: Good; very
good as a hotel guest.
Peak Greens Fees: 155 to 165 pounds
(about $309 to $329).
Contact: Chandler's Cross, Hertfordshire;
011-44-19-2329-4266;
www.thegrove.co.uk
Old Course, Walton Heath Golf Club
Why Play It? This former
Ryder Cup venue
is ranked among the world's top 100 and is the game's preeminent
example of heathland design, carved from a sea of heather with a
distinctive "inland links" feel.
Your Chances of Getting On: Good. For a
private club, Walton Heath is especially welcoming, but since the
course hosts frequent events, tee times should be made as far in
advance as possible.
Peak Greens Fees:
100 to 120 pounds (about $199 to $239).
Contact: Dean's Lane, Tadworth;
011-44-17-3781-2380;
www.whgc.co.uk
Stoke Park Club
Why Play
It? The very real movie site of fictional spy James
Bond's pivotal match against Goldfinger, this course was designed
by the greatest parkland architect of all time, Harry Colt.
Your Chances of Getting On: Good, but the
public is welcome only on weekdays, while hotel guests can also
play on weekends.
Peak Greens Fees: 125 pounds (about
$249).
Contact: Contact: Park Road, Stoke Poges;
011-44-17-5371-7171;
www.stokeparkclub.com
LOS ANGELES
Pelican Hill
Why Play
It? Long considered the top public courses near L.A.,
Tom Fazio's two oceanfront designs will be even better after their
major renovations are finished.
Your Chances of Getting on: Good. The
revamped courses open this fall, and a new hotel a year later, so
the public will have plenty of access.
Peak Greens Fees: TBD
Contact: 22651 Pelican Hill Road South,
Newport Beach; (949) 760-0707;,
www.pelicanhill.com
Trump National
Why Play
It? This dramatic clifftop design has the best
coastal exposure in the L.A. area, with stunning scenery
throughout.
Your Chances of Getting on: Good if you
are willing to pay top dollar, better during the week.
Peak Greens Fees: $250 to $375
Contact: 1 Ocean Trails Drive, Ranchos
Palos Verdes; (310) 265-5000;, www.trumpgolf.com
Palos Verdes Golf Club
Why Play It? This hilly, coastal,
exclusive course was designed by the renowned George Thomas, of
ultraprivate Riviera fame.
Your Chances of Getting On: Fair; the
semiprivate club allows outside play only during the week.
Peak Greens Fees: $215.
Contact: 3301 Via Campesina, Palos Verdes
Estates; (310) 375-2759;
www.pvgc.com
MIAMI
Biltmore
Why Play
It? This classic by all-time great designer Donald
Ross will transport you back to golf's golden design era, circa
1925.
Your Chances of Getting On: Great for
hotel guests; pretty good for anyone else.
Peak Greens Fees: $150.
Contact: 1200 Anastasia Avenue, Coral
Gables; (305) 460-5364; www.biltmorehotel.com
Crandon Park
Why Play
It? This windswept course on Key Biscayne has been
rated among the nation's top 75 and is considered the best public
course in the area.
Your Chances of Getting On: So-so. The
course is popular and accepts tee times only five days out.
Peak Greens Fees: $97.
Contact: 6700 Crandon Boulevard, Key
Biscayne; (305) 361-9129;
www.miamidade.gov/parks/parks/crandon_golf.asp
Doral
Why Play It? Ninety fine holes make this
Florida's best golf resort, but you want the venerable Blue
Monster, a classic parkland layout that has been a beloved stop on
the PGA Tour for four decades.
Your Chances of Getting On: Very good for
hotel guests; otherwise, hope to get lucky at the last minute.
Peak Greens Fees: $210.
Contact: 4400
Northwest 87th Avenue,
Miami; (305) 592-2000;
www.doralresort.com
NEW YORK
Ballyowen, Crystal Springs, New Jersey
Why Play It? Links-style Ballyowen is
rated number one in all of
New Jersey by numerous golf
publications. With three other good courses, Crystal Springs is one
of the premier golf resorts in the Northeast.
Your Chances of Getting On: Good. Members
love it, but it offers public access 10 days in advance and you can
usually get a time.
Peak Greens Fees: $105 to $140.
Contact: 105 Wheatsworth Road, Hamburg;
(973) 827-5996;
www.crystalgolfresort.com
Bethpage Black
Why Play It? This classic - and
notoriously difficult - U.S. Open venue is one of the most
desirable courses in the nation.
Your Chances of Getting on: Very slim
through normal channels, as New York State residents get first
dibs. But NY Golf Shuttle (www.nygolfshuttle.com) can provide
transportation and fairly reliable access to the Black - for $400
to $600 a head.
Peak Greens Fees: $100 to $120
Contact: 99 Quaker Meetinghouse Road,
Farmingdale; (516) 249-0700;,
www.nysparks.state.ny.us/golf
ORLANDO
New Course, Grand Cypress Golf Club
Why Play It? This unique links-style
experience is superstar player/designer Jack Nicklaus's homage to
the Old Course at
Scotland's St. Andrews.
Your Chances of Getting On: Very good
during summer and for hotel guests; fair for outside play the rest
of the year.
Peak Greens Fees: $120.
Contact: 1 North Jacaranda, Orlando;
(407) 239-4700;
www.grandcypress.com
The Palm, Walt Disney World
Why Play It? The Palm is the best of 99
holes at the Happiest Place on Earth. It's full of water and sand,
and it's home to the resort's PGA Tour event.
Your Chances of Getting On: Excellent in
summer; tough the rest of the year, except for guests of Disney's
dozens of hotels.
Peak Greens Fees: $89 to $99.
Contact: 1950 West Magnolia/Palm Drive,
Lake Buena Vista; (407) 939-4653;
disneyworld.disney.go.com
Panther Lake, Orange County National
Why Play It? One of the nation's best
high-end daily-fee courses, this was the first to be designed with
18 signature holes, which are always kept in top condition.
Your Chances of Getting On: Very good,
especially if you book in advance. Tee times can be booked months
out.
Peak Greens Fees: $65 to $75.
Contact: 16301 Phil Ritson Way, Winter
Garden; (407) 656-2626; www.ocngolf.com
SAN FRANCISCO
Harding Park
Why Play
It? In 2002, a massive redesign put this 75-year-old
municipal layout and its bay views into the nation's top 100. It
now hosts the World Golf--American Express Championship.
Your Chances of Getting on: Not good
using the municipal seven-day-in-advance automated system, but,
with a $10 surcharge, groups of two or more can call and book up to
30 days in advance, making it easy.
Peak Greens Fees: $135 to $155
Contact: 99 Harding Road, San Francisco;
(415) 664-4690;,
www.harding-park.com
The Course at Wente Vineyards
Why Play It? With jaw-dropping views and
huge elevation changes, this Greg Norman design is the best of
California's many winery courses.
Your Chances of Getting On: Surprisingly
good, as this is a bit of a hidden gem.
Peak Greens Fees: $85 to $105.
Contact: 5040 Arroyo Road, Livermore;
(925) 456-2475;
www.wentegolf.com
TOKYO
Kasuza Monarch
Why Play
It? Built at the height of
Japan's economic boom,
this Jack Nicklaus course, 90 minutes from downtown, is among the
nation's most exclusive.
Your Chances of Getting On: Good during
the week, or on weekends for overnight hotel guests. Tee times must
be reserved by fax (011-81-4-3929-3999) or online. As with many
other courses in Japan, singles are discouraged, a strict dress
code applies, and little or no English-speaking staff is available.
Peak Greens Fees: $110 to $193.
Contact: 856-2 Yanashiroji Yasurozawa,
Chiba;
www.giganet.net/kmcc/english/index.html
Sakawa Royal Golf Club
Why
Play It? This private club is a two-hour train ride
from downtown
Tokyo and sits in the shadow of the world's most
recognizable peak,
Mount Fuji, affording views of Fuji-san from
nearly every hole.
Your Chances of Getting On: Good, but
only on weekdays.
Peak Greens Fees: $80.
Contact: 2-5 Kanda Surugada, Chiyoda-ku;
011-81-3-3291-0478
TORONTO
Whirlpool Golf Club
Why
Play It? The immaculate conditioning showcases a
wonderful riverside setting - the namesake whirlpool, after all, is
Niagara Falls.
Your Chances of Getting on: Excellent in
advance - starting in the spring, they take bookings for the entire
season.
Peak Greens Fees: $60 to $69
Contact: 3351 Niagara Parkway, Niagara
Falls; (905) 356-1140;,
www.niagaraparksgolf.com
Glen Abbey
Why Play It? Steeped in golf lore, this
course was Jack Nicklaus's first solo design, the site of the
Canadian leg of Tiger Woods's 2000 Triple Crown achievement, and
home to the Canadian Golf Association.
Your Chances of Getting On: Good, but the
course is very popular.
Peak Greens Fees: $214.
Contact: 1333 Dorval Drive, Oakville; (905) 844-1811;
www.glenabbey.com Hockley Valley
Why Play It? This modern course by
Thomas McBroom, Canada’s top contemporary designer, offers a rural escape in the suburbs.
Your Chances of Getting On: Good for the public; excellent for resort guests.
Peak Greens Fees: $73.
Contact: RR #1 Orangeville, Ontario; (519) 942-0754;
www.hockley.com WASHINGTON, D.C.
Beechtree Why Play It? It’s the only course in the East by Tom Doak, the world’s hottest designer, and it’s consistently one of the Middle Atlantic’s highest rated.
Your Chances of Getting On: Good; very good during the week.
Peak Greens Fees: $85 to $95.
Contact: 811 South Stepney Road,
Aberdeen, Maryland; (410) 297-9700;
www.beechtreegolf.com Bulle Rock
Why Play It? Widely regarded as the capital area’s best public course, this ultrachallenging
Pete Dye design got 29 out of a possible 30 points in the recent Zagat Golf Survey and hosted this year’s LPGA Championship.
Your Chances of Getting On: Good to very good, especially in advance; tee times are taken up to 30 days out.
Peak Greens Fees: $145.
Contact: 320 Blenheim Lane, Havre de Grace, Maryland; (410) 939-8887;
www.bullerock.com The Links at Lighthouse Sound
Why Play It? This dramatic, modern coastal links is one of the best designs by acclaimed architect Arthur Hills, who has done more than 300 courses globally.
Your Chances of Getting On: Very good, as the course is entirely for public play.
Peak Greens Fees: $129 to $159.
Contact: 12723 St. Martin’s Neck Road, Bishopville, Maryland; (888) 554-4557;
www.lighthousesound.com