Best 19th Holes
An amalgamation of various golf mag's best 19th holes lists, and a few of my own nominations thrown in below.
Pebble Beach Resort's legendary Tap Room
Travelin' Joe's Best 19th Holes
By Joe Passov, Senior Editor (Courses/Rankings), Golf Magazine
The Tap Room at the Lodge at Pebble Beach wins by a nose in a crowded field. Drenched in ambiance and lore from past U.S. Opens and Bing Crosby Pro-Ams, this legendary 19th hole is a monument to the good life and a day well spent. The limited seating at the small bar, dark wood paneling and zero view of the Pacific would be drawbacks anywhere else. For some reason, they work perfectly here.
Spanish Bay, Pebble Beach, Calif.
A gorgeous fireplace, ocean panoramas, great Scotch selection and a bagpiper at dusk make this a worthy sister act to Pebble Beach.
The Resort at Pelican Hill, Newport Coast, Calif.
If it's possible to feel underdressed at a 19th hole, it's here at this new, oh-so-posh resort near Newport Beach in southern California, where a bevy of attractive locals flock here at happy hour to gaze at the ocean and at each other.
Phil's Grill at Grayhawk Golf Club, Scottsdale, Ariz.
Mickelson memorabilia, goldfish bowl-size margaritas, a sofa in front of the flatscreen and an eye-catching ironwood bar are the highlights at this Scottsdale hotspot that has the feel of a men's grill at a private club.
Ocean Course Clubhouse at Kiawah Island Golf Resort, Kiawah Island, S.C.
Overlooking the battlefield for the "War by the Shore," (the Atlantic Ocean and 18th green of 1991 Ryder Cup fame), this three-year-old stunner concocts the best mojito in the business.
Fallen Oak Golf Club, Saucier, Miss.
Exclusive to guests of the Beau Rivage Resort & Casino on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, the Fallen Oak experience is a low-key treat. A sunken bar that peers out at the 18th hole, a lake and the signature tree serves up beers from the state's only microbrewery.
Dunvegan Hotel Lounge Bar, St. Andrews, Scotland
Not technically affiliated with the Old Course — but only 112 yards from the 18th green, this charmer offers just the post-round vibe you crave after dueling with the ancient links.
Half Moon Bay Golf Links, Half Moon Bay, Calif.
Whether you play the Ocean or the Old, you must cap your experience next door at the Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay, a clifftop retreat 25 miles south of San Francisco. Cocktails around the firepit as the sun sets over the Pacific will cure whatever's ailing you.
Whistling Straits, Kohler, Wisc.
Set in an Irish-style farmhouse, the upstairs bar is the perfect place to lift the spirits after the ego-battering walk around the Straits. A tankard or two of locally brewed Spotted Cow beer will enhance the day, no matter how you fared on the 18th.
Pinehurst Resort, Pinehurst, N.C.
Ryder Cup Lounge — Located right off the lobby of the resort's Carolina Hotel, this cozy nook is bedecked with momentos — plus a porch with rocking chairs right outside.
A Second Opinion: My Favorite 19th Holes
By Eamon Lynch, Executive Editor, Golf Magazine
1. Clubhouse Bar, Ballybunion Golf Club, Co. Kerry, Ireland
Sitting on the terrace looking out across the course to the Atlantic Ocean, it's a great spot to raise a glass to birdies on three of the last four holes, or to drown sorrows about the double-bogey that interrupted that streak (I'm over it, though). When the sun is setting, there is no better place in golf.
2. The Road Hole Bar, Old Course Hotel, St. Andrews, Scotland
The ambiance is a little more casual downstairs at the Jigger Inn, but the Road Hole bar has a great view of the seminal holes at the Old Course and the R&A Clubhouse. There's a new little outdoor terrace perched precariously close to the 17th tee. Nursing your drink while dodging errant tee shots ought to be part of any trip to Scotland.
3. McKee's Pub, Bandon Dunes Resort, Bandon, Oregon
The food is solid and the drinks keep coming, making McKee's a perfect location to relive the magic of the 36 holes you played today. But don't expect to be partying into the wee hours: By 10pm McKee's is like a morgue. Everyone is in bed, dreaming of another 36 tomorrow.
4. Ocean Course Clubhouse, Kiawah Island, S.C.
It's about as close as one can legally get to a ringside seat at a cockfight. Watching golfers stagger beaten and bloodied up the 18th fairway is the most secretly sadistic pleasures in the game, if only because those of us watching have already survived Pete Dye's wringer.
5. Ballyneal, Holyoke, Colorado
Ballyneal has no tee markers—choose your distance on each hole and play away—but it does have a great low-key bar that feels like a pioneer's cabin, with none of the tedious Wall Streeters-gone-west vibe that infects the bar at Sand Hills.
My Favorite 19th Holes
By Damon Hack, Senior Writer, Sports Illustrated, 5/11
Moray Golf Club
Lossiemouth, Scotland
The clubhouse is tiny, but that is why it is special. It feels like a family the minute you walk through the front door. At cramped tables, the golfers relive their stories, and the stories get louder as the night gets longer. We enjoyed the scene and the pints so much that we asked the bartender, who doubled as the club's GM, if we could join as overseas members. He grabbed his hand-held credit-card machine from the bar, swiped our cards, and we were in just like that. He gave us a quick tour of the locker room — it, too, was small, with old cubicles filled with weather-beaten clothes — and handed us dark blue ties with the club crest and motto: "Far and Sure." It was after 10 p.m. and the sun was setting, but not quickly. We grabbed our sticks and decided to play a quick loop of 1, 2, 17 and 18. As we walked up the darkened 18th fairway, a local was walking his boxer along the left. I love dogs and made it known, dropping my clubs and crouching like Johnny Bench. The boxer raced toward me, knocked me down and started licking my face. I had a new club, a new friend and a par at the last.
Cruden Bay Golf Club
Aberdeenshire, Scotland
The view from the clubhouse picture windows, high above this gorgeous links, is nearly as good as the golf. I played Cruden Bay with some scribes in the summer of 2007 on the Sunday before the Open at Carnoustie. The final round of the Scottish Open was concluding at Loch Lomond the same day. Phil Mickelson was in contention. When we retired to the clubhouse after our round, we asked some locals who were seated on a couch if Mickelson had held on for the win. "He lost in a playoff — hit a poor drive," said one of the men, shaking his head. I immediately thought of Winged Foot, which had taken place the summer before. "Did he hit it left?" I asked. The group answered in unison this time. "Aye."
Bethpage State Park
Farmingdale, New York
Part of the allure of this 19th hole is that you have to work so hard to get there. In the most docile of conditions, Bethpage Black is a beast. Throw in some wind and rain and it might be the most difficult course in the states, or maybe anywhere. When you finally ascend the hill of the 18th hole, your legs will be weary and your feet will ache. (No carts allowed on the Black). Think of the 19th hole as your reward after a tough day. It has terrific bar food (burgers, sandwiches and the like) and an ample selection of beer on tap. The televisions are all tuned to the day's sporting events (Yankees, Mets, Giants, Jets — you get the picture). Better yet, the bar itself is made of a thick, dark wood, allowing you to slam your beer mug in disgust about that triple you took on 12.
Montauk Downs State Park
Montauk, New York
It's the outdoor patio that seals the deal for this 19th hole. I adore the course, for starters. Then, when you are finished with your round, order some food in the clubhouse, take a seat on the outdoor patio and watch the tee shots on No. 1 in the distance, the approach shots into No. 3 at your right, and the last strokes on No. 18 to your left. I feel about Montauk the way I feel about Bethpage. It is a municipal course that belongs to the people. You see all kinds of golfers here, scratch and 30-handicaps, kids and grandparents. Tommy Gainey would love it. If you're in Montauk to begin with, there is no need to be in a rush. After your round, relax on the patio with a drink and enjoy the sea air. Oh, and bring a sweater.
Sandpiper Golf Club
Santa Barbara, California
The best 19th hole cheeseburger I've ever eaten was after a round here. It was gigantic, it was delicious, and it took willpower not to order a second burger and a third. I stopped after one, but I made every bite count. As a California native, I've played Sandpiper several times, including with some graduate school pals who are similarly inspired by its challenging holes, views of the Pacific and lingering sunsets. I got married around the corner from Sandpiper. This stretch of California coastline moves me like few other places on the planet. If you are in the Santa Barbara area, Sandpiper is not to be missed. This 19th hole, with its unforgettable burgers, has its windows wisely facing west.
Golf Digest's 2008 Best 19th Holes
Selected by the editors of Golf Digest
[Fat Guy Note: Their list is awfully heavy on private clubs and hoighty-toighty grill rooms for my tastes, but I guess it's worth a read.]
by Ron Kaspriske
March 2008
Maybe it's the way a cold beer soothes your throat after 36 holes, or how a room of tartan and wood somehow eases the pain of your 102. Maybe it's the bartender who knows your drink, or it's the one place you can discuss your round without the person next to you glazing over ... probably.
Whatever the reason, when the last putt drops, golfers never seem to ask, "What do we do now?" The 19th hole is as much a part of golf as the previous 18. It's the place where you settle up the nassau. Or order the 25-year-old Speyside whiskey because that lucky so-and-so aced the fifth hole, and he's buying.
With that in mind, our "experts" canvassed the country looking for the best 19th holes. What they found is that what makes a golf bar great could be anything from spike marks still on the floor to views of the Pacific, or that Demaret used to drink there, sans clothes. But one thing they all have in common is that golfers often would rather spend time there than in their own home.
* OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
ADIOS G.C.
COCONUT CREEK, FLA.
The cast here is "New York South," and the gang smokes cigars, talks loud and makes big bets and biting jokes at the expense of other members; the bar is "first-rate," with flat-screen TVs and "classy stools."
AILSA PUB*
MYRTLE BEACH
Part of the Legends Resort; it's "the epi-center" of the Myrtle Beach golf experience; roomy but usually jammed with "fat guys from Delaware on a golf getaway"; it's a "scene," with golfers of all shapes and sizes "who don't have a curfew"; tons of beer and good burgers.
ARCADIA BLUFFS G.C.*
ARCADIA, MICH.
At the Sunset Grill, perched above the 18th, it appears you can see "all the way across Lake Michigan to Whistling Straits."
ATLANTIC CITY C.C.*
NORTHFIELD, N.J.
Built in the early 1900s and affiliated with Harrah's, it still has original tongue-and-groove flooring, complete with spike marks; "great bay views."
BEL-AIR C.C.
LOS ANGELES
"It's Hollywood without the ego"; bar overlooks the city and the course's famous Swinging Bridge; on any given day, sidle up next to Hollywood personalities such as Craig T. Nelson and Luke Wilson, or sit at the Smart Table, so named by former CBS golf producer Frank Chirkinian because "everybody who sits there thinks they have the answer to everything."
BURNING TREE C.
BETHESDA, MD.
Classic dark-wood bar with brass foot-rail; cartoons of Washington elite are stationed on the only wall without windows -- "like Sardi's, only better caricatures."
CARNEGIE ABBEY C.
PORTSMOUTH, R.I.
Wraparound bar is perfect for "mocking the foursome your group just beat"; bartender Steve Healy is "right out of central casting"; unreal scotch collection; ask for a shot of "swing juice," Healy's vodka concoction for bad rounds.
CASTLE PINES G.C.
CASTLE ROCK, COLO.
Tom Horal, the locker-room guy, will remember your name and your drink after one meeting; the chairs are "nap city," especially beside the fireplace; the milkshakes are "sinful" and the view of Pikes Peak spectacular.
CHAMPIONS G.C.
HOUSTON
Sit back and listen to Jackie Burke tell stories, especially the one about Jimmy Demaret at the bar in his birthday suit; the bar inside the locker room is three-sided to allow for "cross-counter shouting matches"; wood paneling is a "throwback to the country-club days of the 1960s."
CHICAGO G.C.
WHEATON, ILL.
Locker-room bar with "really old" furniture and "enough wood to start the next Great Chicago Fire"; sit at the "big table" in the middle; staff wears semi-formal attire, "classy"; "feels like an old rec-room where you can hide from a nagging spouse."
COG HILL G. & C.C.*
Lemont, Ill.
Dub's Pub, downstairs in the clubhouse, is "cleaner and brighter" after a recent face-lift but still has a history as an old hangout for tour pros playing the Western Open, Chicago mobsters and even Evel Knievel; rectangular bar with granite counter; room decorated with photos of past tournament champs.
THE COUNTRY CLUB
BROOKLINE, MASS.
Locker-room bar "looks like a law-firm library"; "history on the walls mirrors the history of golf in the U.S."; order Fernando's rum punch.
EDGEWOOD TAHOE G. CSE.*
STATELINE, NEV.
"Brooks" bar and deck provides postcard views of the course, Lake Tahoe and snow-capped Sierras; room is airy, with high ceiling, big windows and plenty of TVs.
FALLEN OAK*
SAUCIER, MISS.
Mansion has an Old South feel; the service is "Southern hospitality at its best"; the course has an affiliation with the Beau Rivage casino; overlooks the closing hole; booze/wine selections are "impressive."
FLINT HILLS NATL. G.C.
ANDOVER, KAN.
The smell of freshly popped corn is constant; two antique M&M dispensers (plain and peanut) are popular with members; "great service"; stocked cigar humidor.
GARDEN CITY G.C.
GARDEN CITY, N.Y.
Jackets are required here (though one member once stepped out of the shower and put only his jacket on before grabbing a drink); lively members; classic, country-club look with great memorabilia; "it's like a fraternity house"; traditional bar with brass foot-rails; "there's a great feel to the whole place."
GRANITE LINKS G.C.*
QUINCY, MASS.
Picture the hit TV show "Cheers" (only Cliff and Norm play golf); "devoted Boston sports fans" drink next to local sports legends Bill Russell, Luis Tiant and Ray Bourque; impressive view of the city; be prepared to defend any statement you make about golf, sports or life in general to a complete stranger.
GRAYHAWK G.C.*
SCOTTSDALE
"Phil's Grill" is half sports bar, half shrine to Mickelson; known throughout the area as "a place to go for a good poker game"; hardwood bar surrounded by TVs; comfy leather couches.
ISLEWORTH C.C.
WINDERMERE, FLA.
"This is what a 15-year-old boy would design if he had $20 million"; there's a basketball court and an arcade next to the bar, and "often more TVs than patrons"; rub elbows with Tiger Woods and friends.
LA JOLLA (CALIF.) C.C.
"If there's a better view anywhere, show it to me"; the Traditions Room overlooks the town, the Pacific Ocean and the nearby cliffs at Torrey Pines; a classic dark-wood bar with tartan carpet and memorabilia, mostly dedicated to U.S. Open/U.S. Amateur winner Gene Littler, a former member.
LAKESIDE G.C.
BURBANK, CALIF.
The 19th hole for John Wayne, Dean Martin and Ronald Reagan now serves Joe Pesci, Jack Nicholson and Sylvester Stallone; says member/comedian Tom Dreesen: "The best way to decide if you want to join a club is, after the round are you excited about going inside? Lakeside is a good club to go inside."
LATROBE (PA.) C.C.
Only here can you get the full Arnold Palmer experience. Feels like walking downstairs in a split-level house to a sunken living room; "like Arnie's basement"; Palmer memorabilia everywhere; with luck, you might even sip an "Arnold Palmer" next to the King himself.
THE LINKS CLUB
NEW YORK CITY
"Unique"; a golf club in Midtown Manhattan founded by C.B. Macdonald and friends; the long, narrow, oak-paneled bar is known as Moore's Bowling Alley, after the brothers who paid for it; more than 100 liquor lockers are secreted in the walls from its Prohibition past; boxing prints, a backgammon board and the smell of old scotch.
MAYACAMA G.C.
SANTA ROSA, CALIF.
You have to visit the "wine grotto," which connects with a patio overlooking the 18th green; has temperature-controlled storage lockers for members; "name a bottle of wine, and chances are someone has it there."
MEDALIST G.C.
HOBE SOUND, FLA.
Nearly the entire clubhouse is the bar, and founder Greg Norman "pops in every now and then"; mounted in the room is a 1,083-pound shark Norman caught.
MERION G.C.
ARDMORE, PA.
Drink at the patio bar, "but it's so close to the first tee, don't hiccup" after a sip from one of the chilled ceramic mugs; the liter-size mugs are kept at 32 degrees until your favorite beer is poured.
MILWAUKEE C.C.
RIVER HILLS, WIS.
"What a 19th hole is supposed to look like"; high ceiling, great wooden tables, leather chairs, fireplace; "you're in Milwaukee -- you'd better have a beer after the round."
THE MIRABEL C.
SCOTTSDALE
Soak away your rough round in one of the enormous bathtubs, where you can sip a martini while watching golf on a big screen; "you literally can take a bubble bath"; indoor tubs have a collection of soaps and sponges on a polished rack, with full bar service.
THE G.C. AT NEWCASTLE*
NEWCASTLE, WASH.
A "real surprise -- not sure which is better, the actual bar or the incredible view of downtown Seattle"; "classic" three-sided bar; wood floor, fireplace; feels like a private club.
NEWPORT (R.I.) C.C.
The new rectangular bar is "outstanding"; the room has leather sofas, chairs and a fireplace; Adirondack chairs on the porch with "a stunning view of the course and a bit of the Atlantic" complete "the perfect lounge area"; only question is, "Where's the Great Gatsby?"
OAKMONT (PA.) C.C.
Frosted mugs of beer and baskets of popcorn on the patio are "the order of the day"; inside is a genuine Brunswick oakwood bar, rescued from a Pittsburgh landmark called Froggy's when that lounge closed; "try the transfusion" (vodka, grape juice and ginger ale); "too much history to detail -- I could spend all day just looking at the walls."
OLD MEMORIAL G.C.
TAMPA
Locker-room bar is "so comfy I could live here"; service is "impeccable"; as you might expect, excellent steaks (Outback Steakhouse co-founder Chris Sullivan founded the club); cigar room is a nice touch because it keeps smoke away from the bar.
PASATIEMPO G.C.*
SANTA CRUZ, CALIF.
The Tap Room in the historic Hollins House (built in 1929 by championship golfer Marion Hollins) was frequented by Clark Gable, Bobby Jones and Bing Crosby; sit at the oak bar or near a bay window with a view of Monterey Bay.
PATTY JEWETT G. CSE.*
COLORADO SPRINGS
Calls itself the third-oldest public course west of the Mississippi; has an "understated" full-service bar, with "great drink prices" and a "spectacular view of Pikes Peak"; the porch is the best spot.
PEBBLE BEACH G. LINKS
PEBBLE BEACH*
The Tap Room might be the "most famous 19th hole in golf"; exhibits memorabilia from numerous U.S. Opens, Bing Crosby National Pro-Ams and other professional tournaments; wood-paneled room has a fantastic scotch and wine collection, and the menu is "way better than bar food"; order the whole-roasted garlic.
PINE CREST INN*
PINEHURST, N.C.
Mr. B's Lounge is "the watering hole for about 43 courses in the area"; decorated with photos and paintings of former owner Donald Ross; fireplace has a wooden slab with a bull's-eye hole: "Chip balls through the hole; loser buys the drinks."
PINEHURST (N.C.) RESORT*
The Ryder Cup Lounge, named after the 1951 matches there, is just off the lobby of the resort's Carolina hotel; intimate bar and "great rocking chairs" on the attached veranda; "I'm waiting for Walter Hagen to wander in and order a drink."
PINE VALLEY (N.J.) G.C.
"Nothing fancy, but if these walls could talk ... "; stand-up bar is in a large room with two tables and "enough memorabilia to strain your eyes"; bartender Sly knows everybody's name; a lump of soft cheese and crackers in the corner would be unappetizing anywhere else.
PRINCEVILLE RESORT*
KAUAI, HAWAII
Look out the windows of this bar/restaurant and you see the 18th hole, the Pacific Ocean and the cliffs of Bali Hai: "It looks like a painting"; with a view like that, the bar "might as well be made of cardboard," but it's "a really low-key yet classy" spot to grab a drink.
ROSS BRIDGE G. RESORT*
HOOVER, ALA.
After playing the 8,191-yard course (one of the world's longest), the hospitality will bring you back from exhaustion; it's "clean, open and comfy" (fireplace and plasma TVs); "gotta try the shrimp and grits"; overlooks the resort's pool, "so try not to stare."
SAND HILLS G.C.
MULLEN, NEB.
The staff "goes way out of its way" to please you, and members have been kicked out for being excessively rude to them; "great scotch and wine collections"; "simple bar"; the attached porch is great for stargazing because "there's nothing around for miles."
SEA ISLAND*
ST. SIMONS ISLAND, GA.
See dolphins surfacing in the bay outside the windows of the Oak Room bar at the Lodge; the mojito is the drink of choice in this dark-wood, four-sided bar, and be sure to order the black-eyed pea hummus and homemade flatbread; live music always seems to be playing, including "great bagpipes at dusk."
SEMINOLE G.C.
JUNO BEACH, FLA.
Inside the locker room is a small bar, but the room is memorable for its cathedral ceiling (used to make cigars more than appropriate) and classic wood lockers outlining the walls; the boards along the walls display some of golf's most famous names; it's "old-money Palm Beach."
ST. ANDREWS PUB*
NEW YORK CITY
Manhattan golfers returning from Van Cortlandt Park G. Cse. in the Bronx or the driving range at Chelsea Piers love this Midtown pub; "like being in St. Andrews"; phenomenal scotch collection; most of the staff have Scottish accents; golf memorabilia is a nice touch.
THE TRIBUTE*
THE COLONY, TEX.
The Old Tom Morris Pub goes to "great lengths" to re-create a Scottish-pub atmosphere; the actual bar was hand-crafted in the 19th century and was imported from the U.K.; "very cozy."
UPPER MONTCLAIR C.C.
CLIFTON, N.J.
"You half expect to see Tony Soprano at the bar" (the HBO show used to film at the club); members have 24-hour access to the men's grill, which is why some moved into an apartment building across the street; the bar is classic dark wood; Scottish motif.
WEST SEATTLE G. CSE.*
SEATTLE
Have a beer "next to Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels" while you look out on "snow-capped Mount Rainier"; a small but lively room with regulars often spilling out onto the adjacent patio for putting contests; the practice green and first tee are right next to the bar.
WHISPER ROCK G.C.
SCOTTSDALE
Former Castle Pines locker-room attendant Mike Marranzino, now at Whisper Rock, brought the recipe for Castle's famous milkshakes as well as its legendary service; Phil Mickelson is a member; club motto is on a Masters flag on display in the grillroom: "Boys of Whisper Rock, it's all about the hang!"
WINGED FOOT G.C.
MAMARONECK, N.Y.
Knowing Tommy Armour and Claude Harmon used to drink in the men's grill is "a big part of the bar's appeal"; Butch Harmon's take: "There's so much history. The names on the walls, the dark mahogany look -- it's just a great, great bar"; the bartenders "are not stingy with their pours."
WYNN G.C.*
LAS VEGAS
The bar buffers the course from the hotel/casino, so you might hear a guy explaining how he lost $5,000 in craps. It'll make the $10 you lost on the course seem irrelevant. Order the house drink, 'Ol' Blue Eyes'.
TravelGolf.com Senior Writer Brandon Tucker also took exception to GD's Best 19th Holes list, and threw out one of his own in retort:
"Caledonia Golf & Fish Club’s rowdy back patio that overlooks the 18th hole. Grab a beer and heckle (and cheer) players as they try and make it over the long water carry to the green.
Poipu Bay Golf Course over on Kauai has a wonderful bar and restaurant with asian pacific appetizers and idyllic Hawaiian sunsets.
About 45 minutes from me here in Austin, the Horseshoe Bay Resort’s beautiful new stone Cap Rock clubhouse overlooks Lake LBJ and the Ram Rock and Apple Rock courses.
In Cornwall, Royal North Devon’s clubhouse features a seriously good collection of memorabilia, and some of the friendliest membership I’ve come across. They have to be kind souls, because the sheep and horse-filled golf course they play every day is wacky.
Last week, I was at the Old Course Hotel in St. Andrews, and their 4th floor Road Hole Bar has the best views of the Old Course anywhere. They also have whisky from every distillery in Scotland.
The new Finca Cortesin Resort over in Spain features a beautiful clubhouse patio that overlooks the golf course and Mediterranean Sea in the distance.
In Malaysia, Tiara Melaka has an enormous pool and waterslide next to the outdoor (shaded thankfully) terrace. After 18 holes in 90-degree heat and high humidity, it looks mightily inviting.
At Bandon Dunes Resort’s Bunker Bar, grab a stogie and join in on a game of poker.
Of course, sometimes the best 19th hole in mind is simply “the next one". I’m headed to San Antonio on Sunday and looking forward to discovering some brand new 19th holes and jolly blokes to have a beer with.
I’m also curious if any readers out there have any of their own favorite places for a pint…
Having just returned from Scotland, I just posted a feature on East Lothian’s best 19th holes at ScotlandGolf.com."
Fat Guy's Best 19th Holes
I'm not exactly sure how proud I should be when I say that after 20-odd years of (mostly) legal drinking in public establishments and golf travel experience, I'm supremely qualified to rank some of the best 19th holes in the country.
The Course: Troon North Monument, Scottsdale AZ. This is what you think of when you think 'upscale Phoenix desert target golf'.
The Bar: The Dynamite Grill @ Troon North. The perfect match to upscale desert golf overlooks the 18th with boulders dotting the desert landscape, serving great steak and Mexican dishes, and a great outdoor patio (assuming it's not 108 in the shade) with the same tunes pumped into the range. If this room doesn't call for a refreshing Tanqueray No. 10 & tonic, then I don't know what does.
The Course: Atlantic City CC, Atlantic City, NJ. This ancient former Captains-of-industry private club is where the terms "birdie" and "eagle" were coined; the best public-access greens you'll ever play on, A.C. skyline views, a study in strategic bunkering, and 4 windswept bayside closing holes that rival those of Kiawah's Ocean Course.
The Bar: Atlantic City CC Grill Room. Just a great, classy, simple, old school 19th hole. The darkwood and white tablecloths don't detract from the wide-angle window views of the course and the A.C. skyline across the bay. Nods to the ghosts of past members of this former private club are evidenced by the metal-spike-pock-marked floors which have been refinished without removing the telltale divots in the wood. The grill food is outstanding. I loved this room even before it was named to Golf Digest's 2008 Best 19th Holes list. Order the house drink, a killer Bloody Mary made with Old Bay and lemon juice.
The Course: Glen Riddle GC, Man O' War Course, Berlin, MD. Among the truest "American links" courses I've found in the U.S. Random bunker locations, rumpled fairways, bump-&-run approaches, sandy soil, and windy conditions. The 4 closing holes duck back into the woods, but maintain a links flavor.
The Bar: Ruth's Chris Steakhouse bar @ Glen Riddle GC. Housed under the angled roof lines of the original horse barn at this former horse farm famed for training such greats as Seabisquit and Man O' War is a great bar in a great steakhouse, with a couple of the original stall doors still intact as decor. Their solid bartenders each create a seasonal cocktail for the drink menu. Try the Lemon Merengue martini.
The Course: The Pointe GC @ Lookout Mountain, Phoenix. Former host of the PGA Tour Skills Challenge and one of the highest rated courses in the state back in the '90's. Emerald fairways wind through sandy desert scrub hills, with a couple great tee drops and a good collection of par 3's.
The Bar: Pointe In Tyme Grill Room. The antithesis of a Phoenix grill room, this 19th hole, heavy on darkwood and light on windows, hosts a lively crowd. Order the Arizona chili-rubbed flat iron steak and a dirty martini.
The Course: North Fork G&TC, Johnstown PA. OK, this was the course I grew up on and it's a Homer nomination. But it's a great mountainside layout and a great value, even if the conditions aren't great. Stony Creek meanders alongside all 9 holes of the valley floor "Bottom 9", while the "Top 9" is built on the side of a mountain. 300 feet in elevation change from the 1st tee to the 10th.
The Bar: Old Tollgate Inn, Tire Hill, PA. Just a few miles back Route 985 is my hometown hangout, owned by the family of a buddy of mine. They serve Fat Guy's 2nd Best Wings On The Planet Outside Buffalo NY, drafts are under $1.50, and the roughshod horseshoe bar surrounds a single TV which has shown every Steelers, Penguins, and Pirates game ever broadcast. Order a shot and an I.C. Light draft.
The Course: Normally I wouldn't recommend something so hoighty-toighty as the private Trump National Philadelphia (formerly Pine Hill GC, Pine Hill NJ). But I played it back when it was still a great public course, and the grill room was among the nicest I've ever been in. The course was built on a former ski resort, the hilltop vistas provide stunning views of the Philly skyline. However, the main intrigue here is proximity to famed neighbor Pine Valley. While not an ode, the same sandy soil and Tom Fazio's flashed-up waste bunkers draw the inevitable comparisons. Outstanding conditions, posh facilities, and Fazio's genius make Trump National much more than a drive-by peek at it's more famous neighbor. This may be as close to the coveted Pine Valley round as you'll ever come.
The Bar: Trump National Philly's Highlander Bar & Grill. The boomerang-shaped clubhouse with large windows provides expansive views from what they claim to be the highest elevation point in New Jersey at this former ski resort. The bar is a study in flagstone-and-cedar, with several oversized-HD-plasmas, and is the kind of spot where you'll get into some random game on ESPN just as an excuse to kick back at the bar for a few hours. The cart grrl, hostess, and a couple of the waitresses were also serious hotties. Between the highly-visual rustic course, the contemporary masculine clubhouse, and the lookers on staff, this is definitely a guy's playground. You almost start to wonder where to find the private back room where they keep the strippers. Order a Yuengling Lager.
Know of a great 19th hole? Send it to me at the Contact Fat Guy link below, and I'll add it to the list.