As the old American Express tagline suggested, membership has its privileges. For some of the biggest name golfers, it means access to many of the great cathedrals of the game. As the “Great One,” Wayne Gretzky put it, “I don’t mean to sound egotistical but since I’ve retired, I’ve played Augusta, St. Andrews, Prestwick, Pine Valley and the list goes on. I’ve been so lucky in my life.”
So fortunate, in fact, that he struggled to name the best course he’s never played. But some of the other great ones have an itch they’d like to scratch. And who can blame them? So many courses to play, so little time. Here are some of their favorite bucket list courses where these big names are still yearning for a tee time.
Paul Azinger
Ohoopee Match Club in Georgia (Courtesy of Ohoopee Match Club)
Ohoopee Club. I don’t know how you spell it but I hear too many awesome things and it has made me really want to see it.
Brandel Chamblee
Scenic photo of the fifth hole at Royal Melbourne Golf Club for the 2019 Presidents Cup in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. (Photo: Gary Lisbon via PGA Tour)
For the longest time it was North Berwick, but I played it a few years ago and I absolutely loved it. But Royal Melbourne, for sure.
Stewart Cink
Bandon Dunes, the original and eponymous course at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Oregon (Courtesy of Bandon Dunes Golf Resort)
Bandon Dunes. Never been to Bandon. I just love playing a pure style of golf like that where golf is like the only thing on your mind all day, and I’ve watched the USGA championships held there and just think it looks pretty fabulous, and all my friends have gone multiple times, and they all say it’s pretty. They love it.
Brad Faxon
The South Course at Te Arai Links in New Zealand (Courtesy of Te Arai Links/Ricky Robinson Photography)
[Editor’s note: Five years ago his answer to this questions was Royal Dornoch and Sand Hills. “I played Sand Hills two years ago on my 60th birthday and I played Dornoch right after the Ryder Cup in 47 degrees and rain.]
The new sister courses to Tara Iti — Te Arai North and South. Tara Iti was sensational and I heard the new ones are as good. I haven’t played Bandon courses or Nova Scotia. Or Creek Club or Piping Rock.
Lucas Glover
No. 4 of Royal Melbourne’s West Course in Victoria, Australia (Courtesy of Visit Victoria/Gary Lisbon)
Royal Melbourne. I’ve never played any of the Sand Belt courses there in Australia. I had a buddy who was there during the Asian-Pacific Amateur, and he said I’d love it. It looks amazing every time I’ve seen it on TV. I’d like to play that one and some of the other links courses nearby there, for sure.
Max Homa
Pinehurst No. 2 in North Carolina (Courtesy of Pinehurst Resort)
After I played Bandon Dunes three years ago, Pinehurst was my next on my bucket list, the highest one that I’d like to play, so I’m just excited to get to play a golf course [at the U.S. Open in June] I’ve looked at with some admiration, so I think that will be fun.
Don’t know loads about it, but yeah, I know it will kind of fit my eye, how I like golf to look, golf course architecture and whatnot, so that part will be fun.
Billy Horschel
cenic photo of the third hole at Royal Melbourne Golf Club for the 2019 Presidents Cup in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. (Photo by Gary Lisbon via PGA TOUR)
Royal Melbourne. It looks amazing and I love Aussie courses. I’ve only been down there once but I love the style of play you need around there and the imagination involved. It reminds me of links golf.
Kevin Kisner
Ladera Golf Club in Thermal is on a 306-acre piece of land that is still a working lemon farm. (Photo Channing Benjamin/Special to the Desert Sun/USA TODAY Network)
I want to play the new Ladera in Palm Springs (California), the new Gil Hanse course that just opened. I’ve heard it’s unbelievable. Everybody was talking about that at the American Express tournament (in January), how great it was.
Roger Maltbie
Royal Portrush Golf Club before the 2019 Open Championship. (Photo: Thomas J. Russo/USA TODAY Sports)
I’m trying to think, what haven’t I played? I never played Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland. Broadcasted there, never played it. That was good. Really good.
In this country, where would it be? I never played the Valley Club (of Montecito, California). I’d like to do that. I can’t think of too many really. I’ve played a lot of them.
Rory McIlroy
Cypress Point (Photo: Getty Images)
Cypress Point. I’ve had lunch there three times but never played it yet, so definitely there.
Scott Simpson
The 150-yard par-3 17th hole with the 467 yard par 4 18th hole behind on the Sand Hills Golf Club in Mulllen, Nebraska. (Photo: David Cannon/Getty Images)
I think there’s a few. I’ve heard Friar’s Head on (Long Island) is really good. Sand Hills (Nebraska) or something like that. I haven’t played Seminole (in Florida), I guess that would be the top. Every time I called over there, they’d always have some event going on or something so I never got to play it.
Lee Trevino
Pasatiempo Golf Club (Courtesy of Pasatiempo)
Pasatiempo (in Santa Cruz, California). Marion Hollins developed that course (with Dr. Alister MacKenzie). She was a helluva player and died of cancer at 52. I’ve never had a chance to play it but I will someday because I read her book.
