As I drove to work the other day, I was thinking about the Buick Invitational that was held last week at Torrey Pines. I couldn’t help thinking how much fun it would be to play there. One thing led to another and before I knew it, I had spent the rest of my drive pondering the top five courses in the world that I’d like to play.

Now, this isn’t a list of the top five courses in the world. Just the ones at the top of my wish list.

Starting with number five:

Bandon Dunes - Bandon, Oregon

I have a soft spot in my heart for courses with the old seaside links feel. Wind swept, sandy, natural vegetation, few trees, ocean views. Every time I see Bandon Dunes in a photograph, it screams at me to come and play. One major plus: no golf carts.

Pine Valley Golf Club - Clementon, New Jersey

Pine Valley has been ranked as the top course in the world many times. When it’s not number one, it’s not far off.

It was designed by George Arthur Crump, who created a layout fairly spread out, with most of the holes being fairly secluded from each other. Aside from the spectacular course condition, this club’s exclusivity makes the desire even stronger. It’s not a course that’s easy to get on. I live about half an hour away, so maybe there’s hope of running into the right person yet.

TPC Scottsdale Stadium Course - Scottsdale, Arizona

To me, there’s something simply breathtaking about a desert course. The contrast of arid desert and lush greenery make desert courses truly beautiful. TPC Scottsdale is the host of the PGA Tour’s FBR Open (this week, coincidentally). Each year, I tune in to the telecast and love the character of the course.

Maybe that has a little to do with the traditional mayhem ever-present on the 16th hole. If I manage to get out there, I won’t have to worry about rowdy fans, but I’m sure it would be a thrill to walk in the foot steps of PGA Tour players, surrounded by the Sonoran desert.

Augusta National Golf Club - Augusta Georgia

I’m not kidding when I say that each year, the Masters tournament is like a holiday for me. It comes on the tail end of winter, when spring is just starting to unfold. That’s when I’m ready to get golfing again after a long stretch of sporadic play.

The course, designed by Alister MacKenzie and founded by Clifford Roberts and Bobby Jones was built in 1933. Its future was uncertain in the early years, as there was a struggle to keep it going amid low interest during the heart of the Great Depression. The club survived and has become one of the greatest courses in the world.

When the tournament is broadcast, it’s easy to get swept up in the beauty of the course. This is probably the one in my top five that I have the smallest chance of ever playing. It’s got an ultra-exclusive membership roster (said to be about 300).

And finally…

The Old Course - St. Andrews, Scotland

What can I say? To me, The Old Course is hallowed ground. That’s where golf was born.

The course is reflective of the natural terrain: wind-swept and generally flat. I love that the weather can go from sunny and beautiful to windy and rainy from one day to the next.

I like the fact that the course is very tactical in nature. A player has to manage the course well to have a chance to do well. They say that a first time player probably won’t enjoy the course as much because it can be difficult to know the way around. I don’t care. I’ll take extra balls.

The course itself presents never-ending challenges because of the variables involved. The greens are large and can accommodate many different pin placements. The large fairways can be forgiving but the nasty bunkers can be very punitive. The holes offer varying strategies. On top of it all, the wind and weather magnifies the challenge.

Without a doubt, The Old Course is at the top of my list.

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So that’s my top five places that I want to play. Which courses are on your own list?

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