Bandon Dunes’ Old Macdonald Leads Latest List of Best “New” Courses

Because of limited new-construction activity, Golfweek’s list for 2011 actually covers courses that have opened, or been fully renovated, during the past two calendar years.

 The Old Macdonald course at the Bandon Dunes resort in Bandon, Ore., which debuted in 2010 as the acclaimed property’s fourth course, earned the top ranking in Golfweek’s list of “Best New Courses” for 2011, which was released at the end of October. Because of limited new-course building activity, the annual list actually included courses that have opened during the past two calendar years, as well as established courses (Carmel CC at #10, and Dallas CC at #13) that were fully renovated during that period.

These were the top 25 courses to make the list (year opened/reopened and course designers shown in parentheses):

 1. Old Macdonald, Bandon, Ore. (2010; Tom Doak, Jim Urbina)

2. Patriot GC, Owasso, Okla. (2010; Robert Trent Jones Jr.)

3. Dormie Club, Pinehurst, N.C. (2010; Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw)

4. The Prairie Club (Dunes), Valentine, Neb. (2010; Tom Lehman)

5. Chicago Highlands, Westchester, Ill. (2010; Arthur Hills)

6. Lodestone, McHenry, Md. (2010; Hale Irwin)

7. TPC San Antonio (AT&T Oaks), San Antonio, Texas (2010; Greg Norman)

8. Salish Cliffs, Shelton, Wash. (2011; Gene Bates)

9. Firekeeper, Mayetta, Kan. (2011; Jeff Brauer, Notah Begay III)

10. Carmel CC (South), Charlotte, N.C. (2011; Ellis Maples, Rees Jones)

11. The Prairie Club (Pines), Valentine, Neb. (2010; Graham Marsh)

12. Highlands of Elgin, Elgin, Ill. (2010; Keith Foster, Art Schaupeter)

13. Dallas CC, Highland Park, Texas (2011; Tom Bendelow, John Fought, Jay Morrish, Ralph Plummer)

14. Conestoga, Mesquite, Nev. (2010; Gary Panks)

15. TPC San Antonio (AT&T Canyons), San Antonio, Texas

(2010; Pete Dye)

16. Timber Banks, Baldwinsville, N.Y. (2010; Jack Nicklaus II)

17. Meadow Brook, Richmond, R.I. (2010; Roger Rulewich)

18. Applecross, East Brandywine, Pa. (2011; Michael Nicklaus)

19. Vaaler Creek, Blanco, Texas (2010; Michael Lowry)

20. Awarii Dunes, Axtell, Neb. (2011; Jim Engh)

21. National GC of Louisiana, Westlake, La. (2010; Dave Bennett)

22. Manitou Passage, Cedar, Mich. (2010; Arnold Palmer)

23. Sequoyah National, Whittier, N.C. (2010; Robert Trent Jones Jr.)

24. 1757 Golf Club, Dulles, Va. (2010; Dave Heatwole)

25. Shining Rock, Northbridge, Mass. (2010; Patrick Sullivan)