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- TWU by Jeff Rehmar | February 27, 2025
TWU by Jeff Rehmar | February 27, 2025
The Price of Playing Great Golf
Jeff Rehmar
February 27, 2025
TWU by Jeff Rehmar | February 27, 2025
The Price of Playing Great Golf
Every golfer reaches a moment when expectations shift. One day, you’re thrilled just to be on the course. The next, you realize that overwatered layouts and forced carries aren’t worth your time. Playing 20% of the world’s top 200 courses changed the way I see the game—for better and worse.
Golf isn’t about prestige or perfect conditions. The best courses make you think. They blend into the land, challenge you to use angles, and reward creativity. Once you experience that, it’s hard to go back.
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The Moment You Know You’ve Been Spoiled
Maybe it happens the first time you play Pasatiempo, where every shot is a puzzle. Or cresting the hill on the 9th at Royal County Down, watching the Mountains of Mourne unfold. Or maybe it sneaks up on you—like when you check tee times and realize $100 for a forgettable course just isn’t worth it anymore.
I’ve been there. Playing great courses forces you to rethink what makes golf special. It’s not conditioning. It’s not prestige. It’s architecture—the way a course makes you think.
Once you’ve had that, there’s no going back.
The Best Golf for the Money
I’ve lived in three states, each offering a different slice of public golf.
Cleveland, OH – The Midwest Value King
The Quarry (Canton, OH) – $70 for rugged, fun terrain.
Brookside (Donald Ross design) – Some of the best greens in the Midwest.
Phoenix/Scottsdale, AZ – The Desert Thinker’s Game
We-Ko-Pa Saguaro, Troon North, Ak-Chin Southern Dunes, Papago – Strategy matters, and the ball runs forever.
Orange County, CA – Overpriced, but There Are Gems
Arroyo Trabuco – Solid layout, but expensive.
Costa Mesa CC (Mesa Linda & Los Lagos) – Muni golf done right.
Oso Creek – Short but fun.
Rustic Canyon (90-minute drive, worth it) – The best golf course built in California in 90+ years. I’ve never paid more then $80.
What Makes a Course Worth Playing?
You don’t have to pay $500 to play somewhere great—if you know where to look.
St. Andrews Beach (Australia): $100 AUD (~$60 USD) for elite links golf.
Bandon Dunes (Oregon): $120 for the first round, $60 for the second in November.
Pacific Grove (California): $35-$85. You realy just need to play the back 9 along the water.
The best courses share a few key traits:
✔️ Routing that flows with the land
✔️ Strategy that forces decisions
✔️ Walkability that enhances the experience
✔️ Greens that reward creativity
If a course gets these things right, it’s worth playing.
The Truth About Playing Great Golf
I’ve been lucky enough to play some of the best courses in the world—Pebble Beach, Royal County Down, Kingston Heath, Royal Portrush, and Pacific Dunes. Each one changed how I see the game.
Once you’ve played courses like these, it’s tough to go back to something average.
I don’t want to pay $100 for a course that lacks strategy, overuses water, or forces me into a cart. I’d rather play something that makes me think—where angles matter, the ground game is in play, and walking is part of the experience.
✔️ Great golf doesn’t have to be expensive. It just has to be thoughtful.
More to Explore
How Pacific Grove Became the Best Golf Value in California – A deep dive into why this muni, right next to Pebble Beach, offers one of the best public golf experiences for the price.
The Art of Routing a Great Golf Course – A look at how designers shape courses to make them walkable, strategic, and endlessly replayable.
What Makes Rustic Canyon One of America’s Best Budget Courses – A tour of why Rustic Canyon is a masterclass in affordability meeting architecture.
Why Walking Golf is the Best Way to Play – The Walking Golfer breaks down how walking improves strategy, rhythm, and appreciation of course design.
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This Week’s Picks
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