The Rayburn Country Resort The Rayburn Country Resort is on the southeast side of Lake Sam Rayburn just north of Jasper, 2 1/2 hours from either Houston or Shreveport with 27 holes. The “Championship” 18 hole layout is carved through the pineywoods over rolling terrain with elevated greens and tees, numerous doglegs, and a variety of narrow and broad fairways. From the tips it’s 6,731 yards, 73.7/136 course/slope ratings with four shorter tees, original course designs by Jay Riviere, Robert von Hagge, and Robert Trent Jones, Sr. The post The Rayburn Resort, worth another look appeared first on ..read more

Tot Hill Farm Golf Club Only seven golf courses solely attributable to his name, but what an impact Mike Strantz had on golf course architecture. After originally intending study studio art, he moved on to agronomy and received a degree in turf grass management from Miami University. After a stretch with Tom Fazio as a shaper, he set out on his own. Several Myrtle Beach area renovations later, his first solo effort was Caledonia Golf & Fish Club on Pawley’s Island, SC. That was followed by True Blue, Royal New Kent, Stonehouse, Tobacco Road, and Tot Hill Farm. Tot Hill is located about an ..read more

The Wellman Golf Club Rees Jones, “The Open Doctor”, son of Robert Trent Jones, Sr., and architect of 250+ golf courses worldwide has recently completed, along with Bryce Swanson, the Wellman Golf Club renovation. The golf club is located in Johnsonville, SC midway between and about an hour each from Florence and Myrtle Beach. Why, you may ask, did Rees Jones, who’s had a hand in Bethpage, Pinehurst No. 2, Baltusrol, and Torrey Pines to name a few of the notables, take on this project in a town of 1,480 residents? First, the course and the community reminded him of his wife’s hometown just up ..read more

Eldorado Golf Course, Cadillac, MI Cadillac stopped production of its Eldorado line in 2002 after 50 years of production. Fortunately, this Eldorado, the golf course, is still in production and would be described, like the automobile, as a fine classic. It’s located is on the south side of Cadillac off US 131 at MI 115 to the north. It’s a quintessential, northern Michigan parkland layout through a mix of dense mature hardwood corridors and those more open and forgiving off the tee. There’s water features in play on 1/3 of the holes yet only a scattering of sand bunkers and generous green comp ..read more

The Coeur d’ Alene Public Golf Club The Coeur d’ Alene Golf Club is located just west of downtown of I-90 at Northwest Blvd. to the north. The Coeur d’ Alene area boasts a half-dozen excellent public access golf courses in our guide-a veritable golf destination. The layout is classic, Northwest style golf course featuring narrow, evergreen and pine tree lined fairways along a host of doglegs with just less than 30 sand bunkers defending the modest greens of varying shapes and sizes. There’s four sets of tees from 4,280 yards to 6,276 yards, 69.5/120, course/slope ratings off the tips. The post ..read more

Heron’s Glen Golf Club, N. Fort Myers, FL According to our guide to the best golf courses you can play in Fort Myers, there are eleven golf courses open to public play within 30 miles of downtown Fort Myers. Today, we profile Herons Glen which is between US 41 and I-75 in North Fort Myers within a residential development. The layout typifies Florida golf as it’s a centerpiece for a community of single family homes. There’s homes bordering one or both sides of the fairways throughout, a generous amount of conventional, pot, and waste area sand bunkers, and water in play on most holes. There’s m ..read more

St Andrews Golf Club, Shawnee Mission St. Andrews Golf Club is on the south side of Kansas City between I-35 and US 69 on 133rd St in a municipal park and sports complex. A couple of items here. The locals refer to this course as “Slow Andrews” owing to the pace of play, but after all, it is a municipal golf course. Second, if you’re looking work on your game, the practice facility here is very well done with target greens on the range in addition to short game and putting greens. The course winds through thick, three lined fairway over slightly rolling land with a mix of generous and confined ..read more

Olmos Basin Golf Course Olmos Basin is a municipal golf course located just north of downtown of Highway 281 at Basse Road to the West. It’s part of the Alamo City Golf Trail which includes eight fine golf courses for all levels of play. The layout is parkland style featuring rolling, tree lined fairways mostly straightforward save for several slight doglegs. There’s Olmos Creek and several ponds in play as well as 50+ sand bunkers, both conventional and pot. There’s five sets of tees from 4, 878 yards to 7,038 yards at the tips, the white trees play to. 6,026 yards, 69.4/125, course/slope rat ..read more

Wild Turkey Trace Wild Turkey Trace is about 30 minutes west of Lexington on the west side of Lawrenceburg on US 92. The layout is over slightly rolling, central Kentucky terrain with only a few homes alongside a couple of fairways. The fairways are are generally open with scattered tress and there’s multiple ponds/water hazards in play, but only 11 sand bunkers mostly defending the somewhat generous, oval greens. There’s four tees from 4,816 yards to 6,383 yards, 70.2/119, course/slope ratings, par of 71, designed by Bob Eitherton. The post Wild Turkey Trace appeared first on The best public ..read more

Sage Lakes Golf Course Idaho Falls is not generally thought of when it comes to a golf destination. It’s located a couple of hours west of the Tetons along the Snake River with a generous amount of mostly outdoor activities available. Here’s a good overview from the Visit Idaho Website. It also could be considered a definite golf destination with five golf courses located within a 30 mile radius of town and easily accessible on I-15. Check out our guide to the best golf courses you can play in Idaho Falls here. Sage Lakes is one of the better courses, a municipal layout on the north side of Id ..read more