Opinion & Analysis
What’s your hidden gem?
Golf is expensive. I know, quite the earth-shattering observation. But seriously, golf is so expensive that it’s driving people away from the game and keeping newcomers out of it. The last thing a beginner wants to do is drop thousands of dollars on a set of clubs and spend an additional $100 every time to tee it up. It can be frustrating and financially draining.
So where can golfers play at a decent price and still have a great experience? You just have to know where to look.
There are courses around the world that offer amazing scenery and intriguing layouts without burning through your wallet. These are the diamonds in the rough, the hidden gems. They’re the hole-in-the-wall pizzerias that have way better food than the over-priced, sit-down Italian restaurant with the long wait and pretentious vibes.
A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of playing one of these courses with my dad.
At the North Shore of Oahu, there sits a large field of green grass adjacent to the beautiful Hawaiian ocean. On this patch of land are randomly scattered checkered flag sticks stuck into four and a quarter-inch, round holes. They call this area of grass, sticks and holes Kahuku Golf Course.
My description is being slightly facetious, of course. Kahuku does have distinguishable greens, bunkers and fairways. It is, however, rudimentary in nature.
The clubhouse would compare more readily to a chicken coop than a functioning pro shop, but it truly captures the character of a hidden gem.
My dad, being on vacation in Hawaii, didn’t have any golf balls with him, so he asked to buy a sleeve inside the “pro shop.” The manager, a Hawaiian native, said they don’t sell golf balls. Instead, he put a box of used golf balls on the counter and told us to take a couple, and to “just give them back if you don’t lose them.” Yes, he really said that.
We asked if we needed a tee time. He pointed to the first tee and said to go after the group teeing off. We paid the $15 dollar greens fees (no typo) and slung some clubs over our shoulders. It all seemed so simple.
The course itself, although it only has nine holes that you play twice in order to play a full 18, had nothing but interesting holes and phenomenal views: a few drivable par fours, long par 5’s and challenging par 3’s right on the water. We kept our camera’s handy throughout the round. Even at a resort course with $200 greens fees, the cameras can usually stay safe in their case aside from the signature holes.
This is what a hidden gem looks like, and we’re on a mission to find more golf courses around the world just like it. We want to hear your story, see your pictures, and get informed about the less expensive options to play golf without sacrificing the golfing experience.
Below are pictures from my “hidden gem” nominee. Tweet (@GolfWRX) or post your story in our forum to share your nominee with GolfWRX and our readers. By submitting, you have a chance to see your picture and story featured on our front page!
Not quite Augusta National’s club house, but still something of a Crow’s Nest.
The Men’s/Women’s Locker Rooms are just outside, down the stairs to your right (pictured above in blue and green).
“We don’t sell golf balls. Take a couple and bring them back if you don’t lose them.”
Stopping to pose at a local muni? That’s what makes this place a hidden gem.
Sergio-type lag right here.
View from No. 7 tee box, a par 5 of 560 yards.
View from No. 4 tee box.
This picture captures the true character of Kahuku, and embodies the concept of a hidden gem.
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19th Hole
Vincenzi’s LIV Golf Singapore betting preview: Course specialist ready to thrive once again
After another strong showing in Australia, LIV Golf will head to Sentosa Golf Club in Singapore looking to build off of what was undoubtedly their best event to date.
Sentosa Golf Club sits on the southern tip of Singapore and is one of the most beautiful courses in the world. The course is more than just incredible scenically; it was also rated 55th in Golf Digest’s top-100 courses in 2022-2023 and has been consistently regarded as one of the best courses in Asia. Prior to being part of the LIV rotation, the course hosted the Singapore Open every year since 2005.
Sentosa Golf Club is a par 71 measuring 7,406 yards. The course will require precise ball striking and some length off the tee. It’s possible to go low due to the pristine conditions, but there are also plenty of hazards and difficult spots on the course that can bring double bogey into play in a hurry. The Bermudagrass greens are perfectly manicured, and the course has spent millions on the sub-air system to keep the greens rolling fast. I spoke to Asian Tour player, Travis Smyth, who described the greens as “the best [he’s] ever played.”
Davis Love III, who competed in a Singapore Open in 2019, also gushed over the condition of the golf course.
“I love the greens. They are fabulous,” the 21-time PGA Tour winner said.
Love III also spoke about other aspects of the golf course.
“The greens are great; the fairways are perfect. It is a wonderful course, and it’s tricky off the tee.”
“It’s a long golf course, and you get some long iron shots. It takes somebody hitting it great to hit every green even though they are big.”
As Love III said, the course can be difficult off the tee due to the length of the course and the trouble looming around every corner. It will take a terrific ball striking week to win at Sentosa Golf Club.
In his pre-tournament press conference last season, Phil Mickelson echoed many of the same sentiments.
“To play Sentosa effectively, you’re going to have a lot of shots from 160 to 210, a lot of full 6-, 7-, 8-iron shots, and you need to hit those really well and you need to drive the ball well.”
Golfers who excel from tee to green and can dial in their longer irons will have a massive advantage this week.
Stat Leaders at LIV Golf Adelaide:
Fairways Hit
1.) Louis Oosthuizen
2.) Anirban Lahiri
3.) Jon Rahm
4.) Brendan Steele
5.) Cameron Tringale
Greens in Regulation
1.) Brooks Koepka
2.) Brendan Steele
3.) Dean Burmester
4.) Cameron Tringale
5.) Anirban Lahiri
Birdies Made
1.) Brendan Steele
2.) Dean Burmester
3.) Thomas Pieters
4.) Patrick Reed
5.) Carlos Ortiz
LIV Golf Individual Standings:
1.) Joaquin Niemann
2.) Jon Rahm
3.) Dean Burmester
4.) Louis Oosthuizen
5.) Abraham Ancer
LIV Golf Team Standings:
1.) Crushers
2.) Legion XIII
3.) Torque
4.) Stinger GC
5.) Ripper GC
LIV Golf Singapore Picks
Sergio Garcia +3000 (DraftKings)
Sergio Garcia is no stranger to Sentosa Golf Club. The Spaniard won the Singapore Open in 2018 by five strokes and lost in a playoff at LIV Singapore last year to scorching hot Talor Gooch. Looking at the course setup, it’s no surprise that a player like Sergio has played incredible golf here. He’s long off the tee and is one of the better long iron players in the world when he’s in form. Garcia is also statistically a much better putter on Bermudagrass than he is on other putting surfaces. He’s putt extremely well on Sentosa’s incredibly pure green complexes.
This season, Garcia has two runner-up finishes, both of them being playoff losses. Both El Camaleon and Doral are courses he’s had success at in his career. The Spaniard is a player who plays well at his tracks, and Sentosa is one of them. I believe Sergio will get himself in the mix this week. Hopefully the third time is a charm in Singapore.
Paul Casey +3300 (FanDuel)
Paul Casey is in the midst of one of his best seasons in the five years or so. The results recently have been up and down, but he’s shown that when he’s on a golf course that suits his game, he’s amongst the contenders.
This season, Casey has finishes of T5 (LIV Las Vegas), T2 (LIV Hong Kong), and a 6th at the Singapore Classic on the DP World Tour. At his best, the Englishman is one of the best long iron players in the world, which makes him a strong fit for Sentosa. Despite being in poor form last season, he was able to fire a Sunday 63, which shows he can low here at the course.
It’s been three years since Casey has won a tournament (Omega Dubai Desert Classic in 2021), but he’s been one of the top players on LIV this season and I think he can get it done at some point this season.
Mito Pereira +5000 (Bet365)
Since Mito Pereira’s unfortunate demise at the 2022 PGA Championship, he’s been extremely inconsistent. However, over the past few months, the Chilean has played well on the International Series as well as his most recent LIV start. Mito finished 8th at LIV Adelaide, which was his best LIV finish this season.
Last year, Pereira finished 5th at LIV Singapore, shooting fantastic rounds of 67-66-66. It makes sense why Mito would like Sentosa, as preeminent ball strikers tend to rise to the challenge of the golf course. He’s a great long iron player who is long and straight off the tee.
Mito has some experience playing in Asia and is one of the most talented players on LIV who’s yet to get in the winner’s circle. I have questions about whether or not he can come through once in contention, but if he gets there, I’m happy to roll the dice.
Andy Ogletree +15000 (DraftKings)
Andy Ogletree is a player I expected to have a strong 2024 but struggled early in his first full season on LIV. After failing to crack the top-25 in any LIV event this year, the former U.S. Amateur champion finally figured things out, finished in a tie for 3rd at LIV Adelaide.
Ogletree should be incredible comfortable playing in Singapore. He won the International Series Qatar last year and finished T3 at the International Series Singapore. The 26-year-old was arguably the best player on the Asian Tour in 2023 and has been fantastic in the continent over the past 18 months.
If Ogletree has indeed found form, he looks to be an amazing value at triple-digit odds.
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In Tampa, there is a golf course that boasts carts that do not work, a water range, and a group of players none of which have any chance to break 80. The course is overseen by a staff of crusty men who have succeeded at nothing in life but ending up at the worst-run course in America. However, this place is no failure. With several other local courses going out of business — and boasting outstanding greens — the place is booked full.
While I came for the great greens, I stayed to watch our resident instructor; a poor-tempered, method teacher who caters to the hopeless. At first, it was simply hilarious. However, after months of listening and watching, something clicked. I realized I had a front-row seat to the worst golf instructor in America.
Here are some of my key takeaways.
Method Teacher
It is widely accepted that there are three types of golf instructors: system teachers, non-system teachers, and method teachers. Method teachers prescribe the same antidote for each student based on a preamble which teachers can learn in a couple day certification.
Method teaching allows anyone to be certified. This process caters to the lowest caliber instructor, creating the illusion of competency. This empowers these underqualified instructors with the moniker of “certified” to prey on the innocent and uninformed.
The Cult of Stack and Jilt
The Stack and Tilt website proudly boasts, “A golfer swings his hands inward in the backswing as opposed to straight back to 1) create power, similar to a field goal kicker moving his leg in an arc and 2) to promote a swing that is in-to-out, which produces a draw (and eliminates a slice).”
Now, let me tell you something, there is this law of the universe which says “energy can either be created or destroyed,” so either these guys are defying physics or they have no idea what they are taking about. Further, the idea that the first move of the backswing determines impact is conjecture with a splash of utter fantasy.
These are the pontifications of a method — a set of prescriptions applied to everyone with the hope of some success through the placebo effect. It is one thing for a naive student to believe, for a golf instructor to drink and then dispel this Kool-Aid is malpractice.
Fooled by Randomness
In flipping a coin, or even a March Madness bet, there is a 50-50 chance of success. In golf, especially for new players, results are asymmetric. Simply put: Anything can happen. The problem is that when bad instructors work with high handicappers, each and every shot gets its own diagnosis and prescription. Soon the student is overwhelmed.
Now here’s the sinister thing: The overwhelming information is by design. In this case, the coach is not trying to make you better, they are trying to make you reliant on them for information. A quasi Stockholm syndrome of codependency.
Practice
One of the most important scientists of the 20th century was Ivan Pavlov. As you might recall, he found that animals, including humans, could be conditioned into biological responses. In golf, the idea of practice has made millions of hackers salivate that they are one lesson or practice session from “the secret.”
Sunk Cost
The idea for the worst golf instructor is to create control and dependency so that clients ignore the sunk cost of not getting better. Instead, they are held hostage by the idea that they are one lesson or tip away from unlocking their potential.
Cliches
Cliches have the effect of terminating thoughts. However, they are the weapon of choice for this instructor. Add some hyperbole and students actually get no information. As a result, these players couldn’t play golf. When they did, they had no real scheme. With no idea what they are doing, they would descend into a spiral of no idea what to do, bad results, lower confidence, and running back to the lesson tee from more cliches.
The fact is that poor instruction is about conditioning players to become reliant members of your cult. To take away autonomy. To use practice as a form of control. To sell more golf lessons not by making people better but through the guise that without the teacher, the student can never reach their full potential. All under the umbrella of being “certified” (in a 2-day course!) and a melee of cliches.
This of course is not just happening at my muni but is a systemic problem around the country and around the world, the consequences of which are giving people a great reason to stop playing golf. But hey, at least it’s selling a lot of golf balls…
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The PGA TOUR heads to New Orleans to play the 2023 Zurich Classic of New Orleans. In a welcome change from the usual stroke play, the Zurich Classic is a team event. On Thursday and Saturday, the teams play best ball, and on Friday and Sunday the teams play alternate shot.
TPC Louisiana is a par 72 that measures 7,425 yards. The course features some short par 4s and plenty of water and bunkers, which makes for a lot of exciting risk/reward scenarios for competitors. Pete Dye designed the course in 2004 specifically for the Zurich Classic, although the event didn’t make its debut until 2007 because of Hurricane Katrina.
Coming off of the Masters and a signature event in consecutive weeks, the field this week is a step down, and understandably so. Many of the world’s top players will be using this time to rest after a busy stretch.
However, there are some interesting teams this season with some stars making surprise appearances in the team event. Some notable teams include Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele, Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry, Collin Morikawa and Kurt Kitayama, Will Zalatoris and Sahith Theegala as well as a few Canadian teams, Nick Taylor and Adam Hadwin and Taylor Pendrith and Corey Conners.
Past Winners at TPC Louisiana
- 2023: Riley/Hardy (-30)
- 2022: Cantlay/Schauffele (-29)
- 2021: Leishman/Smith (-20)
- 2019: Palmer/Rahm (-26)
- 2018: Horschel/Piercy (-22)
- 2017: Blixt/Smith (-27)
2024 Zurich Classic of New Orleans Picks
Tom Hoge/Maverick McNealy +2500 (DraftKings)
Tom Hoge is coming off of a solid T18 finish at the RBC Heritage and finished T13 at last year’s Zurich Classic alongside Harris English.
This season, Hoge is having one of his best years on Tour in terms of Strokes Gained: Approach. In his last 24 rounds, the only player to top him on the category is Scottie Scheffler. Hoge has been solid on Pete Dye designs, ranking 28th in the field over his past 36 rounds.
McNealy is also having a solid season. He’s finished T6 at the Waste Management Phoenix Open and T9 at the PLAYERS Championship. He recently started working with world renowned swing coach, Butch Harmon, and its seemingly paid dividends in 2024.
Keith Mitchell/Joel Dahmen +4000 (DraftKings)
Keith Mitchell is having a fantastic season, finishing in the top-20 of five of his past seven starts on Tour. Most recently, Mitchell finished T14 at the Valero Texas Open and gained a whopping 6.0 strokes off the tee. He finished 6th at last year’s Zurich Classic.
Joel Dahmen is having a resurgent year and has been dialed in with his irons. He also has a T11 finish at the PLAYERS Championship at TPC Sawgrass which is another Pete Dye track. With Mitchell’s length and Dahmen’s ability to put it close with his short irons, the Mitchell/Dahmen combination will be dangerous this week.
Taylor Moore/Matt NeSmith +6500 (DraftKings)
Taylor Moore has quickly developed into one of the more consistent players on Tour. He’s finished in the top-20 in three of his past four starts, including a very impressive showing at The Masters, finishing T20. He’s also finished T4 at this event in consecutive seasons alongside Matt NeSmith.
NeSmith isn’t having a great 2024, but has seemed to elevate his game in this format. He finished T26 at Pete Dye’s TPC Sawgrass, which gives the 30-year-old something to build off of. NeSmith is also a great putter on Bermudagrass, which could help elevate Moore’s ball striking prowess.
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Matt
Dec 24, 2014 at 9:45 am
Not sure if it’s still open, but a cheap course that was fun to play in Hot Springs, AR. Belvedere Country Club, although it was the most lax, laid back un-snooty country club I’ve ever played.
Jeff
Dec 23, 2014 at 5:26 pm
Beacon Rock golf course in the Columbia gorge, WA side. 9 hole course. 10 bucks for 9 holes. Amazing views, property against a wildlife preserve, the greens roll way too good and true for a 10 dollar fee. Lots of tough shots, lots of easy ones, just a great little golf course.
A real hidden gem. From Portland Oregon take i5 north, WA st hwy 14 east to beacon rock st park. Located in the town of North Bonneville. Can’t miss it.
Jeff B
Dec 23, 2014 at 4:53 pm
I like pico rivera golf course. par 3 course that really isn’t anything special but has good undulations for the small area it’s squeezed into. Have played and will continue to play it for years to come. Anyone in the southern california area should take a look at it.
jim
Dec 23, 2014 at 12:10 pm
Try Triggs Memorial in Providence, RI. Right in the middle of the city, but once you’re on the course you feel transported back to earlier in the century with old growth trees lining a Donald Ross course. A real hidden gem.
Matt
Dec 23, 2014 at 11:38 am
That is a great article – hope to try this out one day on my next visit there. Thanks
Michael
Jun 30, 2014 at 7:43 am
There is a nice course in Augusta, Maine called Western View Golf Club. They were established in 1932 and up until last year they had no website or any sort o advertisement. It is a short 9-holer, but the views of the Western Maine mountains and the mountains of New Hampshire are spectacular. They do a special on Monday called Monday Madness and green fee’s for 9 is only $6! They also have $2 draft beers in the clubhouse too! If you are on vacation in Maine and you are looking for a good value I would strongly recommend checking it out.
http://westernviewgolf.com
Chris Martin
Jun 23, 2014 at 1:33 pm
A couple great deals in northern Alabama: Lake Guntersville State Park Eagle’s Nest course, $30 green fees including cart. Becky Pierce Municipal in Huntsville, $35 green fees including cart.
Euan Hardman
May 24, 2014 at 2:16 pm
Cullen Golf Club, Moray, Scotland.
http://www.cullengolfclub.co.uk/
Only 4600 yards par 63, but a beautiful golf course behind the beach on the edge of the Moray Firth. Check out the website, it’s the most fun you’ll ever have. There isn’t an easy birdie anywhere.
RG
May 31, 2014 at 1:33 am
When you have a 10,000 sq.ft. clubhouse, a club championship and a bar , YOUR NOT HIDDEN!!
Scott Stables
Jun 30, 2014 at 5:22 am
It possibly has the quirkiest par 3 holes I have ever played. Great fun.
RAT
May 19, 2014 at 5:46 pm
Why not try each state for courses that are from 25 to 30 bucks not the out of site prices people see in the mags. Fox Chase is a nice 9 hole course in counce Tennessee that falls in this range and the greens are great.Pickwick landing also is great counce Tennessee.
Jafar
May 15, 2014 at 10:00 am
Cato Park in Charleston, WV is $6.
Mostly Par 3’s but still a good place to practice scoring. I practice my drives at the range.
Sully
May 14, 2014 at 10:57 pm
Here is a true hidden gem. This is actually George Thomas (yes Bel Air CC and Riveria architect) first course ever in the US. There are still old stone walls in front of greens on this course that has peakaboo views of Sippican Harbor. This course is also on the same road as Kittansett CC which is still ranked in the Top 100 courses in the US. Check out some pics and as they say on the website no tee time required!
http://www.mariongolfclub.com/PHOTOS.html
RG
May 31, 2014 at 1:36 am
Hello!! If you have a website YOUR NOT HIDDEN!!! YOUR JUST A GOLF CLUB!!!
Robert
May 14, 2014 at 2:22 pm
My choices are if you can get to the UK Play Camberley heath in Surrey Knole Park in Kent both Fantastic courses(loads more tho) In Scotland there are Hundreds of brilliant courses spend your two week vacation in Scotland start in Ayrshire and play and stay your way across To Fife and finish in St Andrews green fees start from £20 up to £150 per round
And remember say BACK and HIT when playing badly !!!!!!!!!
ben
May 14, 2014 at 12:16 am
Texarkana Golf Ranch. It’s Hank Haney’s golf club. Fantastic course. Quite difficult but fair. At one point I believe it was rated most difficult course in Texas. All day golf pass was for like 30 or 40 bucks. Check it out
Jeff Irwin
May 13, 2014 at 10:06 am
dosriosgolf.net – $40 with cart after 1:00. Great little course with awesome scenery in Gunnison, CO
Kirasdad
May 13, 2014 at 2:19 am
Love this article (and the many terrific responses).
Here’s one with the best name there is for a hidden gem. Weed GC in Weed, CA. Nine holer is the shadow of Mt. Shasta. Not long but an interesting layout and fun. I played it on a weekday on a trip from LA to Olympia WA to drop my stepson off for his first year of college. My wife, of all people looked up from her AAA guide book and said, “pull over in Weed, you’ve got to play golf here”. No clubs so the small mom and pop golf shop lent me a set made up of lost and found clubs, charged me nothing. The green fee was 9 or 10 bucks. There was virtually no one on the course when I played it. My wife, daughter, and stepson all walked the course with me. Hit my seven club lost and found set beautifully, of course (it’s all about expectations, folks). If you three jack a green all you have to do is look up at Mt. Shasta and that takes care of that.
Whole thing took an hour fifteen and we were back on the road again. When I turned my clubs back in I happened to comment on how well I had hit the driver, an old Mizuno metal with a steel shaft and the lady said, “keep it, it’s been laying around here for years”.
The whole thing was so simple, but I’ll never forget it.
Sizzle
May 12, 2014 at 7:03 pm
Frankfort golf club in Frankfort, michigan ….fantastic, fun 9-holer a mile south of Crystal Downs. Oh, yeah, it got sold, bulldozed, and turned into a couple dozen shirty houses…..
Jim
May 12, 2014 at 6:24 pm
There’s a 9 holler with two sets of tees to make it 18 in southwest montana called the anaconda country club. It’s not a country club at all. A hundred years or so it was, but now it’s famous for being literally in the shadow of Nicklaus’ Old Works. It is a hoot for 35 bucks any time
Andrew
May 12, 2014 at 4:19 pm
http://www.traighgolf.co.uk/index.html
Arisaig is one of the world’s most beautiful places without golf – but it has a lovely wee nine holer for 20 quid a day or 65 for the week. You have to play it after dinner in June – pure heaven.
Actually – play it before breakfast, morning, after lunch, before supper AND after dinner (It becomes dinner after dinner and a couple of drams 🙂 )
Ruben
May 12, 2014 at 3:57 pm
Oldest golf course in Arizona was 9 holes for many years. The backside was open in 1999 and has a 747 yard Par 6. This course is approximately 2 hours south of Tucson, Arizona in Naco Arizona. Usually have Tuesday/Thursday specials in the summer for $25 after 11am. Regular fees are $50 with cart. Always in great shape.
Website: http://www.turquoisevalley.com
Bruce Gervais
May 12, 2014 at 3:06 pm
Spring Valley Golf Course Livermore Iowa 10 Miles north of Algona Iowa.
Northern Iowa on the Minnesota boarder.
Dues $550.00 for single green fees $28.00 A really nice well kept golf course in perfect shape all the time.
Come out of the city and enjoy A great value.
Bill Brasky
Dec 24, 2014 at 12:25 am
Amazing track and great memories for me. I won a conference championship there as a Junior in hs!
LeTronold
May 12, 2014 at 1:28 pm
My favorite muni and hidden gem in Nevada is Ruby View in Elko. It’s by far the best muni you’ll find in the state and the greens are phenomenal in the summer, especially July and August. It’s in the middle of nowhere, but it’s good.
JOEL GOODMAN
May 12, 2014 at 1:46 pm
come to south florida in summer. All the $100+ course are available through september at half or less. Check GOLF NOW or similar sites
phil
May 12, 2014 at 12:52 pm
Canada is a really big place, in fact, it’s the second largest country in the world, after Russia. And we rarely invade anyone, so a much nicer place to play golf.
Our tiniest province is PEI, or Prince Edward Island. PEI is on the Atlantic coast, a four hour drive from the Maine border. It would be the 49th largest state, right between Delaware and Rhode Island.
PEI is a wonderful place to play golf, frequently included among the world’s great destination golf regions. And relative to American destination regions, even bargains like the Alabama Trail, golf is very affordable.
My favourite ‘hidden gem’ on PEI is way out on the east end of the island; a little nine hole tracks called Rollo Bay Greens. For $15 (weekdays) you can just forget about life for a while. A be back to the cottage before the wife and kids wake up.
steve kemlo
May 12, 2014 at 11:31 am
Dunfanaghy in Donegal Ireland , is a fantastic wee links course in the middle of no place and great value at 25 euro a round
John
May 12, 2014 at 10:52 am
I grew up playing a scruffy 9 holer called Cazenovia Park in South Buffalo (NY). It cost a $1 for a junior to play all summer. We played 18-27 all day long. This article proves to me what we need to grow the game are cheap 9 hole golf courses for people to play (especially juniors)to get them hooked. Not 15 inch holes!
ChrisG
May 12, 2014 at 10:23 am
I play a bunch of courses in NE Ohio that are all under $30 for 18 w/cart. I won’t pay much more than that for golf actually. For courses that are more expensive, look at their specials. One of the local courses that is normally $55 for 18/cart is $25 on Monday’s before 2 PM. Many other courses offer specials like that too. Also, try websites like Groupon. There are always ways to golf cheap, you just have to look around.
Mark
May 12, 2014 at 10:48 am
I too am from the N.E. Ohio area and there are always deals. People just need to plan out their golf times. If you go on groupgolfer.com, get apps such as tee times or golfnow you can find some pretty great deals
ChrisG
May 12, 2014 at 1:36 pm
Yeah, and some of the NE OH courses are cheap all the time. Cherry Ridge, Spring Valley, Grey Hawk, Big Met, Little Met, Bob O Link, Sweetbriar, and Brentwood. Playing at any or all of those will keep the NEOH golfer busy all summer, and won’t break the bank.
j
May 12, 2014 at 9:05 am
I recently moved to Rochester, NY and play Durand-Eastman Golf Club. It is located next to Lake Ontario and boasts a Robert Trent Jones design. Cost per round? 16$ Or – you can simply choose to buy a seasons pass for 350$ (the pass includes access to two additional local courses as well)
Bob
May 13, 2014 at 11:32 am
You should check out Sodus Bay. Might be a bit more than $16, but well worth it.
Wonderful views of Sodus Bay and Lake Ontario, plenty of length (I think a tad over 6600 from the tips), big rolling greens – really just a great, fun track.
j
May 13, 2014 at 5:24 pm
Thanks Bob I definitely will.
Sam
May 15, 2014 at 11:41 am
Also check out Victor Hills, just outside Victor, NY three full courses (North, South, East) and one 9-hole exec. course.
For $26 dollars walking ($11 for the exec.) it’s a great complex that let you play a variety of courses.
The nice thing I found is that the East Course I can get around as a single in under three hours, making a evening round possible without fighting daylight.
I’ve played Durand and liked it, but the extra $10 is definitely reflected on VH’s courses.
timbleking
May 12, 2014 at 3:24 am
I have an hidden gem not far from home. It’s a precious course that a lot of golfers don’t like because it’s short and strange at some points, but it’s really gorgeous. And as it is in Switzerland, you see things that cannot be elsewhere, such as a fridge in nature with drinks inside that you can pick and pay, letting the coins in the fridge itself. Self-service, no security of any kind. And you can be sure that no one is going to steal neither drinks nor money. Can you beat that?
David
May 11, 2014 at 7:47 am
Many great courses in and around NYC. Mohansic in Westchester, Montauk, really so many great public courses…Black!
Rob Munro
May 10, 2014 at 11:42 pm
I have two gems nearby. One called Birregurra a nine hole two tiered course in a sleepy little hamlet 20 minutes away, you can play all day for $10 and 5 minutes further on is Colac GC which is based on the Royal Melbourne layout and can be played for $30 Monday to Friday. I play on Fridays when I can and its usually just me and the green keepers out there.
Clint Borgas
May 10, 2014 at 8:38 pm
Binnigup golf course, a 9 hole links course 90 mins south of Perth in Western Australia
Uses the honesty box system and is one of the more punishing 9 holes you will play. A stiff wind from the south west makes every shot just that little bit trickier
simon
May 10, 2014 at 7:22 pm
no hidden gem just courses that charge too much and are filled with idiots who dont know how to conduct themselves.
so i go to the local football pitch early morning and hit wedges to one of the goal posts.
i get peace,improve my game and get exercise.
TheLegend
May 10, 2014 at 4:37 pm
North Califorina. Apple mountain. 35 bucks on week days. You cant find a better looking course. With great everything its hard to beat. No one is there on week days. Flooded on weekends but ghost town Mon- thur. I play the course in 3hrs On weekdays. So I play twice most of the time!
Double Mocha Man
May 10, 2014 at 3:40 pm
I once played a sand greens course in Camdenton, Missouri. Its fairways doubled as landing strips for the small airport there. You’d have to scamper off the fairway if a plane was landing or taking off. The windsock in the center of the course was a bonus for judging the wind.
J.Blais
May 10, 2014 at 3:20 pm
9 hole course I grew up playing in Sharon PA Buhl Farm or DumDum as it has been affectionately coined. It’s free, yes free, all the time. play from sun up to sun down if you want. It’s actually in pretty good shape too. no spectacular holes but its a fun little track. Can’t beat free.
Dane
May 10, 2014 at 9:59 am
Sunset Golf Course Coos Bay, OR (30 minutes north of Bandon Dunes)
Dixie Red Hills St. George, UT by far the best golf per $.
hdymnstr
May 10, 2014 at 9:10 am
Tumwater valley gc outside Olympia WA. $10 all off season for 18. Tremendous greens year round.
James
May 10, 2014 at 2:31 pm
Love playing Tumwater Valley. Good to see this course getting some love!
Todd
May 10, 2014 at 9:07 am
Utah has a bunch of hidden gems. My favorite is a little track in Nephi, Canyon Hills. Little pro shop, 9 holes, $18 with a cart and $12 to walk. Still to this day, best greens I’ve ever played on! And I just got back from Wolf Creek. I play there at least 20 times a year just because I love it so much.
JDB
May 10, 2014 at 8:44 am
My hidden gem is Emanon Golf Club in northeast PA. It’s a semi-private course that doesn’t even take tee times but the members are great. You just need to wait sometimes for members to tee off if you go early but after 11 a.m. it’s always clear to play. 22 bucks on Tuesdays is when I play and it’s a great price for greens and cart. It has beautiful views and well maintained. The name Emanon was given because when the course first opened the owners didn’t know what to call it so they just took “no name” and spelled it backwards. A must play for golfers visiting the northeast PA area.
Joe
May 10, 2014 at 7:07 am
Spnish Point Golf club in County Clare on the Southwest Coast is a hidden gem for sure!
Andrew
May 12, 2014 at 4:21 pm
Oh yes – Spanish Point is heavenly. played there a couple of times/
Craig Loftus
May 10, 2014 at 4:01 am
Askernish GC South Uist The Outer Hebrides Scotland
Isle of Seil GC Argyll Scotland
Machrie Golf Club Isle of Islay Scotland
St Medans Dumfries and Galloway Scotland
All have websites……….and really fun to play…….. no 100 acre practice ground, no expensive prop shops just pitch up and play
Iain
May 10, 2014 at 11:14 pm
Braid Hills, Edinbourgh
Windy Hills, Glasgow
Braid Hills is similar to this place, not frills just pay and play, small putting green and a net to hit into to warm up. Great veiws of the city from many spots on the course. Both great tracks think I paid pound at each place.
Vince
May 10, 2014 at 12:49 am
In my area there are tons of very nice munis that can be played for a junior price of $15. Some of the holes are great and views are spectacular.
matt
May 9, 2014 at 11:55 pm
My grandparents live in a small farming town in Eastern Washington. I learned to play at the 9 hole course there when I was 7 so it will always be special. For $15, you can play as many holes as you want. Payment is on the honor system. You write your name on a sheet and place your money in the box and off you go. When I was young I’d play 36 or 45 a day. It’s still hard now with the wind and small fast greens as it’s defense. It’s never busy so you can play at your own pace. For me, I enjoy it in the summer when the farmers are harvesting their crops around the course. Great place!!
Bryan
May 12, 2014 at 4:14 pm
Might you be referencing Tekoa?
RG
May 9, 2014 at 10:37 pm
I have the winner!!! It is hands down Swiss Fairways in Clermont, FL. The best set of par 3’s in central FL and you can get $12 tee times. This course is absolutely unbelievable. It is in area of many upscale courses ( Orange County National, Bella Colina, Disney) and the layout and shot value is better. It has a trailer for a clubhouse, that carries domestic canned beer in its cooler and microwave sandwiches, but the carts and cartpaths are new and the course is unbelievable in layout and hole to hole progression.
#2 signature hole 191 par 3. all water carry to a green that is nestled back into a hill with deep grass (yes grass) bunkers surrounding. the water in front is a practice track where world class water skiers make runs on a slalom course. From the tee you have to wait on them to finish their run before you hit. Above the sky is filled with hang gliders and ultalites they fly from a nearby landing strip. No houses, nature abounds, most dramatic bunkering and shot value and only the locals know. It is the KING of hidden gems.
Justin
May 9, 2014 at 9:49 pm
Here in Erie, PA there is a course that used to be fully operational. Now Penn State’s Erie satellite campus maintains the grounds and has kept the front 9 open. The best part is that it is absolutely free. Not the most well kept obviously, but you cant beat 9 holes of absolutely free golf.
John
May 9, 2014 at 7:20 pm
Love Kahuku and the chickens. On Oahu, try the Navy course at Barbers Point for easy access or the Marine Course at Kaneohe for the ocean scenery. Both accept non military golfers and prices are reasonable.
Bryan
May 9, 2014 at 5:04 pm
I Like articles like these!
How bout Hot Springs, SD. It used to be a 9 hole course then they ruined it by making it a 18 hole course. The front 9 is a beautiful layout in the black hills of SD
Brett
May 9, 2014 at 4:51 pm
Grew up playing at Kahuku, if you show up after 2PM, there is often no one there and the green fees are free
AK
May 9, 2014 at 4:29 pm
Not really a “secret”, but Coronado Muni in San Diego is certainly a gem, and only $40 to walk on the weekends
GMR
May 9, 2014 at 6:02 pm
Had the worst round of my life at Coronado. Tried to tee off in the early afternoon. Got TWELVE HOLES in in FIVE AND A HALF HOURS, before it got too dark to see. That and everyone within earshot was drunk…
Patrick
May 9, 2014 at 7:13 pm
OMG at several courses in my area $40 is highway robbery!
Duncan Castles
May 9, 2014 at 4:14 pm
Iona. Read Andrew Greig’s ‘Preferred Lies’ for a description that cannot be surpassed.
Marc Duncan
May 9, 2014 at 4:11 pm
I used to surf a great spot off the 7th hole there at Kahuku back in ’79-’82.
Course used to be in better shape. Beautiful location. Good to know it’s still around.
bradford
May 9, 2014 at 4:07 pm
Southeastern PA, Twin Ponds Golf Club. Not the lengthiest course, but greens are small, quick, and in perfect shape all the time. Beyond that it’s great, family owned and run business that only charges 33 to walk on Saturday morning.
Nearby, Hickory Valley Golf Club (my home course) for one of the toughest back nines I know about.
truth
May 10, 2014 at 3:37 pm
love me some twin ponds short course but not short on some difficult holes… and i work at hickory valley small world sometimes
bradford
May 12, 2014 at 11:19 am
What’s your first name truth, or tell me your role there and I’ll find ya someday
Andy
May 9, 2014 at 3:20 pm
Creekside Plantation. 9 hole course just south of Knoxville, in Seymour. $10 to walk 9 holes and the greens are top 10 (maybe top 5) in east Tennessee or Knoxville area. Solid courset that is easy to walk and have a great time at when your short on time.
Tyler
May 9, 2014 at 3:16 pm
Utah has some fantastic courses that are laid-back in nature and very affordable. I think that’s our reward for enduring sometimes 6 months of snow and no golf in the winter time:) A gem in Utah that most people visiting might be able to play is Soldier Hollow in Midway/Heber. It’s just down the road from Park City. They held the Pub Links championship there a few years back. It’s much more affordable ($33 for 18) than the Park City Courses and absolutely beautiful.
markb
May 10, 2014 at 2:56 am
Soldier Hollow is owned by the state and along with Wasatch Mtn., Palisades and Green River you have 6 inexpensive gems.
Chrs
May 9, 2014 at 3:15 pm
Living in Los Angeles golf is very expensive, includes a 60+ min drive or a 6 hr round. There are some short courses around town but most have mats, tiny greens and no views. Terrenea is a 9 hole course, all par-3 with views better than Trump, 90 POP, fast and smooth greens and lots of elevation changes. Usually you can find a deal for under $40
LeTronold
May 12, 2014 at 1:27 pm
I love Westchester. I have to be the only human that once played a 3-day stretch of Riv, LACC and….Westchester. That was back when Westchester only had 15 holes.
West
May 9, 2014 at 2:49 pm
Sorry, can’t tell you. I’m keeping my “hidden gem” all to myself!!!! Hahahaha!!! >:-)
Greg
May 9, 2014 at 2:46 pm
It doesn’t have to be expensive, as your story points out with this gem you found. It’s the “golf snobs” who look down their noses at courses like this one and at players who have a set of mismatched clubs that are old and maybe purchased at a garage sale
The Media and equipment companies don’t help by bombarding the public about the need for the latest and great equipment which will make the average golfer “play like a tour pro”.
Spend some time on the range practicing when you can and play when and where you can, at a reasonable price and just enjoy the time spent outdoors
You’ll learn to slow down from the hectic, day to day rat race pace and just enjoy the game. Forget the score cuz the game is much more than what you shot!
Dave Bergeron
May 9, 2014 at 2:44 pm
Quarry Hills in Graham, NC. Great laoyout on the Haw River. Occoneechee in Hillsborough,NC has an old style layout and nice greens. Costs 26 to walk on the weekends.
jgraham
May 12, 2014 at 10:47 am
Playing Quarry Hills tomorrow, 5/13
andy
May 9, 2014 at 2:38 pm
I play a course in south jersey here. 9 hole course 10$ after 5:30pm cant beat the price and the place is always in good shape. greens are alittle slow but i’ll take it for 10$. if your in the area check it out Latona country club.