Three answers, all from a recent and remarkable trip, jump to mind: 1. The 9th tee at Cruden Bay. How you all talk about Elie is how I feel about Cruden Bay. It's the best walk I've ever experienced and a personal favorite. The quirk is off the charts. The view from the top of the dune where the 9th tee sits over the front 9, Slains Castle, the beach and sea, and the hidden linksland you are about to play into beyond is magical. 2. The 3rd tee and 7th tee at Dornoch, where you can see across the linksland. Dornoch has been living rent-free in my head ever since I saw it. I don't think I've ever been so taken by a place. 14 may be my favorite hole I've ever played, and it is probably my favorite course I've seen. I'm itching to get back. 3. When I got to the very far end of Brora, the 9th hole and 10th tee, which feel like they are right up against the sea at the end of the earth. We played 1-7 in a downpour/gale, and as we played the 8th, it broke, and the whole sky lit up as we got to this remote edge of the property. The 9th plays down to the beach, and as we got there, all seemed well in the world. I realize you all are going to these courses next fall. I'm excited to hear some deep dive podcasts on them and pictures of them (take my money for some metal prints now!).

Everytime I get to the 9th tee box of Bandon Trails, I take a long pause and soak in the pure joy knowing I'm about to play my favorite stretch in golf (9-13). Whether raining or in the late afternoon light, it always brings me immense happiness and gratitude. Any life stresses fade away during that next hour+. I also recall playing the Pines course at the Prairie Club. I was the only one out there and I remember being so overjoyed with the weather, the setting, life, etc that I laid down on the 14th tee box and closed my eyes as the prairie wind whipped past. A hard to describe moment but an unforgettable one for me.

Last year, the owner of my home club notified members that he would be selling the course to a real estate development company. The announcement was made mid-to-late August, so the course was just starting to round into shape for the best time of year to play golf in the northeast. Shortly after the announcement, my regular group was waiting on a tee box when we all found each other looking back down the previous hole, our faces somber. We all seemed to realize all at the same time that this was likely the best the course would ever look, and it was the last time it would do so. Fast forward a year, and the town killed the real estate deal, so the course is staying open. I always take a moment to stop on the 16th tee, look back down the 15th, and think about how fortunate it is that the course is situated on wetlands.

I think I shared this once before, but the moment that comes to mind was when I played Pacific Dunes. It was the last round of our Bandon trip and we had a wait on the 13th tee. I sat down on the teebox and just admired the dune framing the right side of that hole, the ocean, and the impending sunset. Took a quiet moment to reflect on everything that led to that moment from the planning, to flying across the country, driving 4 hours from PDX, and there I was with just 6 holes left before it was all done. Excluding the laughs I had with my comrades, it's the moment from that trip I think about the most and am glad I got that chance to appreciate where I was and how amazing of an experience that was.

I've got too many answers. --17 tee at Cypress. --All of TOC. --10-14 at Elie (dump my ashes there). --4-11 on Gullane 2. Felt like you were on top of the world with North Berwick and Edinburgh in view and distant views up/down the coast. A storm was rolling in and the hill split it around us leaving a sun ray/hazy view at times. --Sunset at Sweetens sitting on the heckle deck. --Foggy morning on the battlefield at Wawashakmo in Michigan after walking past the cemetery. --Most of Bandon. --Hell even a small town Iowa 9er in the fall evening with corn rustling around you. So many answers.

When you walk from the 5th green to the 6th tee at my home course north of NYC, you emerge onto a tee that feels like you're at the top of a mountain - indeed, it's the top of a former ski slope! You look out over miles of a long valley, tee off into the expanse, then hike down to see where your ball ended up. Like Sand Hills was for Nathan, its a spot that reminds you that you are a tiny spec. And how cool it can be to play a game over amazing natural terrain like that.

Hi, You have a link to the "wrong" Sommerset on this page. -- Nick

An endless expanse of land can really give you a sense of place. Standing on the back of the second green at Sand Hills made me feel small, I was a tiny spec in a sea of rolling hills. After tapping in for double I walked the edge of the world. The sting of the squares on my scorecard quickly dissipated. I was in the center of the maze. We stood there in appreciation of the moment, the place, and each other. It wasn’t a “Mission Accomplished” moment as much as it was a recognition of joy. [insert I Forgot That This Is What Its All About meme]

Late to it, but I'm really intrigued about the concept at Hermann Park. It was probably our most-played course as my wife and I were picking up the game 5ish years ago, and I think that this vision could make it even better for that segment of folks picking up the game (which makes up a decent amount of Hermann Park's existing rounds). I like the idea of progressing as a golfer from practice area to par 3 to "full" golf all at the same facility. Next up would be to touch up Sharpstown (not too much – love those $20 walking rounds) and Houston's rota of munis would be pretty stellar.

I'll be interested to see what the club concludes in its book analyzing that very issue. Garrett mentioned the Maiden green in the video; I wonder if Raynor had gotten that far (although if it was just stick drawings perhaps not?) -- or perhaps it was an homage to him? Will be interesting to see if light gets shed on that.