Lay of the Land: Part II

This is a continuation of my last post about five old golf courses that are still very much involved in the game of golf. This week we look at the same story with five modern golf courses:

5. Whistling Straits: Straits Course – 1998

(Destination Kohler)

Coming in at number five is a modern day American links course that has already seen its fair share of drama in just eighteen years of existence. From Dustin Johnson’s infamous penalty in 2010 to Jason Day’s record setting performance in 2015, the Straits Course has proven to be made for championship golf.  Located along the coast of Lake Michigan, the course contains pot bunkers and rolling terrains that reflect the classic links golf courses of Ireland and the United Kingdom. In just a short lifespan, the course has already turned itself into a staple in the rotation of the PGA Championship, which many argue to be golf’s toughest major to win.

4. Kiawah Island: Ocean Course – 1991

(PGA)

We’ll stick with the coastal theme here as we head down to Myrtle Beach for the Ocean Course, the most famous track at the Kiawah Island Golf Resort. The course burst onto the scene with one of the most famous Ryder Cups of all time in 1991, which later became known as the “war by the shore.” Fast forward to 2012 when Rory McIlroy continued a breakout year by winning the PGA Championship here. Perhaps the most intriguing feature of this Pete Dye designed course is the fact that it has more seaside holes than any other course in the Northern Hemisphere with ten. The layout is exquisite although most amateurs wouldn’t think so once they start their rounds. Howling winds and natural sand can play a huge part in ruining a good score.

3. TPC Scottsdale: Stadium Course – 1986

(Scott Halleran/Getty Images)

I’m honestly a bit disappointed in myself for not ranking this higher because it might be my favorite golf course on the PGA Tour. It just reeks of fun. Highlighted by the infamous sixteenth hole, the course provides an electric atmosphere early in the PGA Tour season. While the entire course sets up for spectators to see every shot, the sixteenth hole is what truly pulls people in. Located inside a stadium with a capacity of 20,000, the par-3 is far and away the most rowdy hole in the world of golf. Additionally, the course partners with Waste Management to produce an annual event that really encourages people to become more eco-friendly.

2. Muirfield Village Golf Club – 1974

(Nicklaus Design)

Everyone knows it as “Jack’s Place.” Jack Nicklaus himself designed a course in his home state of Ohio that pays homage to Muirfield, a famous links course in Scotland where he won his first Open Championship in 1966. The beautifully designed course has hosted a variety of championships, including the Ryder Cup, the U.S. Amateur, the President’s Cup, and the Solheim Cup. Most importantly, both Nicklaus and the course host the Memorial Tournament, an annual event on the PGA Tour that takes place near the end of Spring. Tiger Woods currently holds the record with five Memorial Tournament wins.

1. TPC Sawgrass: Stadium Course – 1980

(Starcasm)

The PGA Tour headquarters could not be located at a more fitting site than TPC Sawgrass. The course defines what the PGA Tour is all about each year at the Players Championship, which always provides some of the best golf of the season. The Stadium Course is designed exactly as it sounds: like a stadium. Each hole gives spectators the opportunity to see the best players in the world play at their highest levels on a ridiculously hard course. Of course, you can’t mention the Stadium Course without mentioning the famous seventeenth. It’s only about 130 yards long, but the only place to land is the green. The hole provides all sorts of dramatics, both good and bad, and is always one of the crucial elements in deciding golf’s “fifth major.”