Getting on: Here's how to play some of the best courses

Golf Digest, May, 2001 by Lisa Furlong

We can't help you collect a complete set, but we know of two ways to add more than a third of America's 100 Greatest Golf Courses to your list of playing achievements. The easy way is to simply pay the green fee at any or all of the 18 of America's 100 Greatest that are open to the public. On those, the only restrictions are availability of tee times and your maximum limit for a green fee. Bethpage Black runs $39. Shadow Creek will cost you $500, plus a hotel room.

But there's also a way to play many of the private courses in the Top 100. We know of nearly two dozen private courses that will conduct charitable events this year. In truth, there are more that do so, but some private clubs don't want outings publicized. Others allow members to have guests who pay for the privilege with a charitable donation, but seek no publicity. But others forbid members from offering even single rounds to benefit auctions or charities. So we've only listed those clubs willing to be listed.

Public courses

First are the 18 public courses on America's 100 Greatest, with rankings in parentheses:

Bandon Dunes, Bandon, Ore. (ranked 41st). $150.
541-347-4380. 888-345-6008. www.bandondunesgolf.com.

Bethpage State Park G. Cse. (Black), Farmingdale, N.Y.
(46th). $39. 516-249-0700. www.nysparks.state.ny.us.

Blackwolf Run G.C. (River), Kohler, Wis. (70th). $158.
920-457-4446. 800-618-5535. www.blackwolfrun.com.

Cascades G. Cse., The Homestead
Resort, Hot Springs, Va. (48th). $165 (must stay at resort to play).
800-838-1766. www.thehomestead.com.

Cog Hill G. & C.C. (No. 4), Lemont, Ill. (64th). $120. 630-257-5872.
www.coghillgolf.com.

Crosswater, Sunriver Resort, Ore. (96th). $135 (must
be a resort guest to play).
541-593-6196. 800-547-3922.
www.sunriver_resort.com.

Harbour Town G. Links, Hilton Head
Island, S.C. (66th). $240. 843-363-4485.
800-955-8337. www.seapines.com.

Mauna Kea G. Cse., Kohala Coast, Hawaii
(76th). $195. 808-882-5400.
www.maunakeabeachhotel.com.

The Ocean Course, Kiawah Island Resort, S.C. (67th). $245. 888-854-2924.
www.kiawahgolf.com.

Pasatiempo G.C., Santa Cruz, Calif. (77th). $125.
831-459-9155. www.pasatiempo.com.

Pebble Beach (Calif.) G. Links (1st). $350. 831-624-3811; 800-654-9300.
www.pebblebeach.com.

Pinehurst Resort & C.C. (No. 2), Pinehurst, N.C.
(9th). $325. 910-295-8141. 800-795-4653. www.pinehurst.com.

Prince Course, Princeville Resort, Kauai, Hawaii
(51st). $175. 808-826-5070; 800-826-1105.

Shadow Creek, North Las Vegas, Nev. (31st). $500
(must stay at an MGM Mirage hotel). 866-260-0072.

Spyglass Hill G. Cse., Pebble Beach, Calif. (34th).
$250. 831-625-8563. 800-654-9300.

TPC at Sawgrass (Stadium), Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.
(63rd). $255. 904-273-3235. www.playatpc.com.

Whistling Straits G.C. (Straits), Haven, Wis.
(62nd). $195. 920-457-5653.

World Woods G.C. (Pine Barrens), Brooksville, Fla. (97th). $50.
352-796-5500. www.worldwoods.com.

Private clubs

Now to the 21 private courses that will host charity events in 2001, also listed alphabetically, with 100 Greatest rankings in parentheses, with the name of the charity benefited, a contact name at that charitable organization and a phone number to call for such details as event dates, available openings and entry fees. Organizers say they'll welcome calls from all interested golfers. If space isn't available this year, they'll start a list for their 2002 events.

The champion of charitable events is Sanctuary Golf Club in Sedalia, Colo., which will conduct 21 functions this year. It was created primarily to support a variety of local charities, and the club has no members, so most rounds there are during charity outings.

If playing one of these courses has been your dream, then get your entry fee in early. The entry fee might be tax deductible in whole or part. But rely on your tax advisor, not us.

Aronimink G.C., Newtown Square, Pa. (98th).

Prostate Cancer Research (The Jay Sigel Invitational).
Contact: Mary Ann Saleski. 610-239-2716.

Black Diamond Ranch G. & C.C. (Quarry), Lecanto, Fla. (83rd).

United Way of Citrus County (Celebrity Tournament
Pro-Am). Dawn Arline. 352-795-8844.

Canterbury G.C., Beechwood, Ohio (56th).

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cleveland (Arby's
Charity Tour Cleveland). Geoff Duncan. 404-256-7142.

Boys Hope Girls Hope. Jil Renee Ison. 216-696-2927.

Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (Northern Ohio Leukemia
Open). Diane Dalton. 800-589-5721.

Our Lady of the Wayside. Mary Jean
DiMarino. 440-934-6054.

Castle Pines G.C., Castle Rock, Colo. (74th).

Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver. Debbie
Hoellen. 303-892-9200, ext. 109.

Colonial C.C., Fort Worth (40th).

Cook Children's Medical Center (MasterCard Colonial
Charity Classic). Dennis Roberson. 817-927-4277.

Eugene C.C., Eugene, Ore. (88th).

Boy Scouts of America. Aaron Escobar. 541-485-4433.

Easter Seals Oregon. Jane Welch-Sprague. 541-344-2247.

Lane Community College Foundation.
Joe Farmer. 541-726-2226.

Kittansett C., Marion, Mass. (49th).

New Bedford YMCA (alternates annually with Wannamoisett
C.C. in Rhode Island). Robin Babington. 508-997-0734,
ext. 15.

Tobey Hospital. Nancy Edwards.
800-925-9450.

Maidstone C., East Hampton, N.Y. (42nd).

Boys & Girls Harbor. Winnie Hatch.
212-535-0773; 631-537-3874.

Kiwanis Club. Rudy DeSanti.
631-324-0465.

Neighborhood House Association. Richard Herrlin. 631-324-0142.
Medinah (Ill.) No. 3 (14th).

Make-A-Wish Foundation of Northern Illinois.
Karyn Ullman. 312-943-8956, ext. 24.

Muirfield Village G.C., Dublin, Ohio (17th).

Recreation Unlimited. Kathleen Grayson. 614-481-8060.
Or Carla Hill. 740-548-7006.

NCR C.C. (South), Kettering, Ohio (85th).

Adventures In Movement (Nancy Lopez/AIM Tournament). Dr. Jo Geiger.
800-332-8210.

Hipple Cancer Research Center. Jean Shamis. 937-293-8508, ext. 3013.

Miami Valley Hospital Foundation (The Valley Classic).
Jeanne Eickman. 937-208-2700. Oakmont (Pa.) C.C. (5th).

Plum Borough Non-Profit Organizations. Eleanor Broome. 724-327-5266.

Presbyterian SeniorCare. Roberta Moore. 412-826-6084.

St. Anthony School Programs. Margaret Schumacher. 412-882-1333.

Oakland Hills C.C. (South), Bloomfield Hills, Mich. (10th).

Children's Hospital of Michigan (Georgie Ginopolis
Golf Classic). John Ginopolis. 248-851-0071.

Special Olympics of Oakland County.
Laurie Schutt. 248-647-4924.

YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit.
Patti Swanson. 313-267-5300, ext. 357.
Olympia Fields (Ill.) C.C. (North), (30th).

American Heart Association. Linda
Dailey. 630-789-9222.

National Kidney Foundation of Illinois
(Audi Quattro Cup). Willa Lang. 312-663-3103.

Plainfield (N.J.) C.C. (47th).

Bonnie Brae Programs for Troubled Boys.
Nancy Larson. 908-647-4700.

Diocese of Methuchen. Father John
Giordano. 908-754-8811.

Hemophilia Association of New Jersey.
Mary Lou Billings. 732-238-5250.

Joe Ron Memorial. Maureen MacLachlan. 973-635-0303.
Midland School. Barbara Hase.
908-722-0366.

Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center
Foundation. Patty McGeehan. 908-668-2025.

Teddy Bear Foundation. Vanessa Loeffler. 908-889-7666.

Sanctuary G.C., Sedalia, Colo. (89th).

Alzheimer's Association, Rocky Mountain Chapter.
Leslie Klane. 303-813-1669.

American Diabetes Association. Patti O'Neal.
720-855-1102, ext. 7023.

American Heart Association.
Pat Kemman. 303-369-5433, ext. 423.

American Red Cross, Mile High Chapter. Marie Belew-Wheatley.
303-722-7474.

Anchor Center for Blind Children.
Alice Applebaum or Patti Krattenmaker.
303-377-9732.

Children's Hospital Foundation.
Radhika Hess. 720-917-1700, ext. 1714.

Colorado State Patrol Benevolent
Foundation for Children of Fallen Troopers
(The Colonel's Challenge). Bear Kay.
303-239-4532.

Craig Hospital. Dennis O'Malley.
303-789-8800.

Douglas County Educational Foundation. Gary Murphy. 303-814-5220.

Douglas County Sheriff's Office Youth & Community Services
(The Shootout at Sanctuary). Sgt. Tim Moore. 303-660-7586.

Flight for Life-St. Anthony Health
Foundation. Paul Brewster. 303-629-4446.

Food Bank of the Rockies (Joe Sakic Celebrity
Classic). Kim Ruotsala. 303-371-9250, ext. 219.

Junior Achievement (American Century Golf Classic).
Dave Alleman. 303-628-7369.

Latin American Educational Foundation. Larry Romero. 303-446-0541.

National Sports Center for the Disabled. Helen Sedlar. 970-726-1543.

Nine Health Fair In the Classroom. Anne Cosby or Diane
Pape. 303-698-4455.

Outreach United Resource Center.
Gregg Lee. 303-684-6900.

Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation (The Drive for
the Cure). Laura Sigoloff. 303-744-2088, ext. 20.

U.S. Association of Blind Athletes.
Charlie Huebner. 719-630-0422, ext. 11.

Wildlife Experience (Wildlife Cup). Mike Reagan. 303-796-3559.

Young Americans Education Foundation (Festivi-Tees
Golf Tournament). Betsy

Widner. 303-321-2954.

Shoal Creek, Ala. (68th).

Alabama Heart Institute. Karon Self. 205-599-3804.
Or Paul Lawson. 205-715-5340.

Inroads Golf Tournament. Sandra Anderson-Williams.
615-255-7397, ext. 230.

Glenwood Programs for Emotionally
Disturbed Children and Young Adults (Katharine R.
Ireland Memorial Golf Tournament). Peggy Bailey. 205-969-2880.

Somerset Hills C.C., Bernardsville, N.J. (45th).

American Red Cross, Westfield/Mountainside Chapter.
Leigh Schmalz. 973-379-3239.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Newark (Pro-Am). Paul Sylvester. 973-639-1400.

Matheny School and Hospital. Fay Mackey. 908-234-0011, ext. 214.

Southern Hills C.C., Tulsa, Okla. (15th).

First Tee of Tulsa. Nick Sidorakis. 918-492-3351.

Victoria National G.C., Newburgh, Ind. (52nd).

Various local charities (Victoria National Memorial
Endowment Tournament). Tom Rose. 812-858-8230.

Wannamoisett C.C., Rumford, R.I. (35th).

Laidlaw Children's Miracle Network. Jim Flahive. 413-567-9377.

New Bedford YMCA (event alternates
annually with Kittansett Club in Marion, Mass.).
Robin Babington. 508-997-0734, ext. 15.

Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (Nortek CF Classic). Brendan VanDeventer.
401-272-3020. Or Stephen Higginbotham. 401-456-7429.

St. Joseph Health Services of Rhode
Island. Paula Iacono. 401-456-3073.

Tomorrow Fund of Rhode Island. Barbara Ducharme. 401-444-8811.

Volunteers in Providence Schools. Nancy St. Germain.
401-274-3240. Or John Corbishley. 401-490-7676.