Sean Ogle
on November 12, 2019 at 12:43 pmEach year it becomes increasingly difficult to publish my list of my favorite top 100 golf courses.
It’s hard enough when I’m playing a couple dozen new courses each year, but then when you throw in the fact that there are many courses I now haven’t played in a few years – it’s quite the challenge.
But we must press on!
I’ve spent a considerable amount of time over the last month pouring over photos, scorecards, and my previous writings to come up with my list of my favorite 100 courses in the world.
But obviously, with only 100 on the list, there are going to be some great courses that get left out in the cold – and that’s why this year I decided to create an Honorable Mentions post to highlight some hidden gems or other notable tracks that just got edged out of the top 100 list this year – that I still wanted to mention.
The Top 100 Countdown will begin next Tuesday, November 19th. We’ll release 10 courses a day for 10 days until we reveal my #1 course in the world – so be sure to check back.
Best Golf Courses: Honorable Mentions
Aspen Lakes Golf Course – Sisters, Oregon
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I’ve played this course probably 30 times in my life, and it’s the course I keep coming back to when people ask me about hidden gem recommendations. When asking myself “would I rather play this, or this” Aspen Lakes often gets the nod over much more notable courses.
The routing is fun, has elevation, never laps you back and forth – and has beautiful scenery. Not sure what else you can ask for in a golf course.
Engineers Country Club – Roslyn, New York
The famous 2 or 20 hole at Engineers Country Club
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I played Engineers totally last minute after our scheduled round at a different course fell through – and honestly? I’m glad it did. Engineers is a wonderful, and brutally hard golf course.
The 2 or 20 hole is one of the great short holes in golf, and it has some very memorable elevated and sunken green sites. Definitely worth playing if you’re ever in the area and get an invite.
Aronimink Golf Club – Newtown Square, PA
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Aronimink was the last round we played on our June Philadelphia swing in 2016. It was a race against time from flood-like weather that didn’t hit until I was pulling out of the gate at the airport that night.
Aronimink is a beautiful club and one of the hardest courses you’ll find. By now you should know long, classic, championship golf is not necessarily my preferred style. But Aronimink has some fun holes, and if you’re playing from the correct tees, it’s a definite treat.
I’d expect this to rank higher now that Hanse has completed his restoration – I just haven’t played it since then. Also cool to see them finally get their major with the 2027 PGA Championship.
Full Recap:Aronimink Golf Club
Old Oaks Country Club – Purchase, NY
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I was supposed to go play Yale, but we pulled an audible the morning of and went to Old Oaks instead.
Man what a place. Stately, massive, and…completely unknown?
Most people I’ve talked to have never heard of it. It’s too bad as it’s a really underrated Tillinghast track. This might have been the round when I realized I much prefer Tillie’s courses to Ross’.
Tokatee Golf Course – Blue River, OR
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Is Tokatee the most difficult golf course out there? Nope.
Does it have the most interesting and varied hole designs? Nah.
Is it a really fun course in a truly unique setting? Absolutely.
I play Tokatee every single Memorial Day weekend, and it never gets old. It sits at the base of the Three Sisters mountains and doesn’t take itself too seriously – which usually leads to very good golf in my experience.