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Played a new Trent Jones(opened last summer) called "Atunyote" located on a(I'll be politically correct) Native American Reservation(part of their casino resort, they have two other courses as well) in Verona, NY. It's my brother's 40th b-day so we grabbed a 4-some and headed up yesterday. Absolutely the finest golf experience I have ever had. Treated like royalty the second we got out of my car. This course WILL host some sort of professional event before all is said and done. We played the blue tees(right around 7,000), but it played significanly shorter as the course was playing very fast. The greens were running at a 12, and didn't have a single bump/ball mark/anything other than perfect bent grass on them. Very playable even from the blues, but it was also very easy to see how it could be set up very, very difficult(the blacks are around 7,300). If you ever have the chance, play it. Pricey, but worth every single penny. I will be back again this summer at least once.

So how "pricy" was pricy?

For my birthday last week my wife got me a gift certificate for 18 holes of golf on a course that I have wanted to play since it opened several years ago. Each year it has been opened it has been in the top 5 best courses in the State by Golf Digest. So after I get of this project that is requiring mandatory 10 hour days plus 8 on Sat. (will end around June 10) I will find out if this course is the best I have ever played, I give you guys and gals a report.

According to this website, the Atunyote course, designed by Tom Fazio, runs $175 from April 1-May 27 and Sept. 19 to closing and $200 from May 28-Sept 18. Resort guests get a slight break on the fees. I wish their site had more pictures, as it looks like they have some nice looking courses.

is that the course at Turning Stone?

Yes, it is at the Turning Stone, but unlike the other two courses there, Shenandoa and Kahuly'at(please pardon my spelling, it don't exactly know my native american) it's located well outside the main casino/hotel area. Apparently the "problem" with the first two course built there was they were located too close to the thruway(rt. 90) to ever be considered for any sort of tour event.... so the new course is about 3 miles away from that... not to mention 10 times better. And it was "only" $150, not the reported $175 from the website... I didn't even bother asking when I called for a tee time, but I guess it was a pleasant suprise when we got there. To be perfectly honest, it's as good a $150 as I'v ever spent...... I've played exactly 10 course who have either hosted in the past, or currently host a PGA Men's event... this one blows every single one of them away.

I read an article in Golf Digest recently about Fazio...his courses are very highly rated. According to the article though, a little too forgiving for Tour play.

I WILL NOT pay to play big buck courses (I would sell my soul to play Augusta though after being there). But I have 2 favorites in Oregon. Forest Hills in Cornelius has a little bit of everything and Stone Ridge in Eagle Point was built (rumor has it) by a guy who has played everywhere you could imagine, chose and constructed his favorite 18 holes, and built a BEAUTIFUL course.

Stlcard... you're right, I misspoke when I said Trent Jones.... instead of Fazio... regardless, spend the cash and go there if you have the opportnunity. And it was "only" $150, we were all pleasantly suprised of that for some reason. There could not have been more than 5 cars in the parking lot when leftFriday at 4:30).... very, very easy to get on.

I played the Rio Secco in Las Vegas. It is where the Butch Harmon Academy is. It would probably be considered the nicest. I am playing the Couer d'Alene course this coming weekend. From what I have read, I am expecting it to be my new favorite. It is also where I will be playing my OG match.

I played " The Machrie " on the Isle of Islay ( Scottish West Coast ) some years ago now (94 I think?) and even though I have played most of the "Open" courses in Gt Britain and most of the "biggies" in Spain/Portugal, "The Machrie" remains the best course that I have had the pleasure of visiting.
It had everything, blind tee shots, blind 2nd shots,undulating greens some small some large, windy one minute, glorious sunshine the next and the views...... you feel that you could just wade across the sea and be in Ireland, Oh and a par 3 called "Mount Zion" that is simply unmatched anywhere (180yds on the day,struck a 4 iron into a brisk breeze and sunk the resulting 10 ft putt)
I played with John(former Captain of Banchory Golf Club-thanks for the company) and our wives caddied for us.
Lastly, there were no others playing the course and I remember thinking why?

I am going this saturday to play the MOORS where the Champions tour plays the Blue ANgels Classic each year. will post afterwards.

Rio Secco looks great but I haven't been able to talk myself into spending the $$$ they want. Couer d'Alene looks awesome, I remember watching some "silly season" event there and the views were spectacular. Be careful playing the floating green hole.

The best course I have played would be The Quarry at Giants ridge. It's ranked 16th in Golf Digest's best public courses. The course was built on land that was used for strip mining. I've never played another course that was anything like it.http://www.giantsridge.com/courses/quarry/

Floating green ??? Like putting isn't hard enough as it is ?

Floating, Like they can lengthen and shorten the hole by floating the hole closer or farther away, they have a boat to take you to the green to putt out and return.