The Golf Club of Cape Cod
Falmouth, Mass.
7,047 yards, par 72
tgccc.com
Architect: Rees Jones
Rees Jones tamed the glacier-impacted rocky terrain to yield of eye-catching, yet playable holes that entice every class of player. A pair of dramatic par-3s, the 175-yard 4th and the 190-yard 16th, illuminate the Jones design philosophy perfectly. A forced carry over an enormous sand sprawl at the 4th and a similar shot over a pond at the 16th are necessary to get the ball close, but perfectly proportioned bail-outs are available for those not up to the task.
The Golf Club at Ravenna
Littleton, Colo.
7,263 yards, par 71
ravennagolf.com
Architect: Jay Morrish
U2 once used Colorado's Red Rocks to dramatic effect, and now Jay Morrish has done the same. The distinctive outcroppings frame such holes as the par-4 7th and the par-3 9th, but for sheer drama, it's tough to top the par-3 16th, which demands a carry over a 50-foot-deep ravine.
Stonebrae Country Club
Hayward, Calif.
7,140 yards, par 72
stonebrae.com
Architect: David McLay Kidd
Young Kidd burst on the scene in 1999 with his epic Bandon Dunes creation, but subsequent efforts have proved he's no one-hit wonder. Kidd's latest winner meanders atop a hill through oaks and coastal shrubs and sports numerous grin-inducing vistas of San Francisco Bay. As usual, though, it's his emphasis on subtlety and strategy that will keep the faithful coming back day after day.
The Cliffs at Keowee Falls
Keowee Falls, S.C.
7,171 yards, par 72
cliffscommunities.com
Architect: Jack Nicklaus
With a half-dozen superb courses already in the Cliffs stable and a Tiger Woods track on the way, it would be easy to overlook this Jack Nicklaus design—but that would be a mistake, because this back-to-nature, core layout deserves its own spotlight. Handsome pine- and hardwood-covered mountainsides edge most of the holes, but most compelling are the watery, risk/reward par-5s on the back nine, numbers 14, 16 and 18, where fortunes in Nassaus and Skins Games can change dramatically.
Promontory Club (Painted Valley Course)
Park City, Utah
8,098 yards, par 72
promontoryclub.com
Architect: Jack Nicklaus
Nestled into the heart of one of America's foremost ski meccas, Promontory's Painted Valley opens with a downhill run of 718 yards and never lets up. At more than eight grand from the tips and with water in play on 15 holes, this is hardly a layout for novices, but with roomy fairway landing areas and unobstructed looks at the sagebrush-covered Wasatch Mountains, you'll warm to this test in short order.
