Unfortuantely I have really only played nice courses in Ohio and Florida - so my reach is not nearly as far as others on here. So I would like to know what you all have experienced.

Mine are in no particular order

In Columbus Ohio (Private)
* Muirfield Village and The CC at Muirfield Village. Obviously MV hosts Jacks Tourney and has hosted many other PGA/LPGA and International events. The CC course is not nearly the course as its big brother - but from the tips it is awesome.
* Columbus CC - great old style course. Hosted the PGA BITD
* Sciota CC - One of the best tracks around. Has hosted many PGA/LPGA and International events.
* THE GOLF Club - If you don't know about it, you should. Don't tell rich members that if they don't like the Clubs rules go build your own course - because if you do you might end up competing against one of the best golf courses in America.
(Public) - so many nice options it is hard to whittle it down.

In Orlando Area - my experiences are limited - and all Public. I played more golf in Ohio in the summer before I moved than I have in the 14 years I have lived here. That said...

* Celebration Golf Club - We live here and I play free some of the times but the course is set up so it can be an enjoyable round of golf or from the back tees it is very challenging.
* Disney Palm and Magnolia are fine. People love them and they are nice tracks. But for the money there are many better options in the area.
* Grand Cypress - all options are a must play.
* Bella Collina - a Nick Price course. Built in the more hilly parts of the area. A great test of approach shots.

I really need to get out more down here.

Caves Valley- a private course in Maryland. I was fortunate enough to have a close friend growing up who was a member and it was by far the most perfect course I've played. I've played a few courses that PGA events are played on (Harbour Town, TPC Sawgrass, Innisbrook), but none even come close to Caves. Perfectly kept, beautiful scenery (you're basically in your own corner of the world, surrounded by trees), the greens are like putting on kitchen tile.

hard to say..

i've played alot of elite private courses in canada... i will actually say that i don't find that experience that much greater than alot of good municipal courses. alot of the difference is in conditioning (and i'd think the country club experience, but of course i was a guest).

a course that gets very little kudos i liked alot was lost canyons (not sure which of the 18's) north of LA. freddie couple design. either pared back to 18 or even zero holes....

soft spot for half moon bay ocean course south of SF

devils pulpit north of toronto

bandon dunes NOT that amazing an experience although it's obviously a good course.

my dad and i absolutely love a course about a 3rd of the way between vancouver, bc and whistler bc. it's called furry creek and most people hate it. very scenic and spectacular (probably top 10 in world) but short and very tight.

My top 3 I have played all time..

1) Cypress Point Club California - truly epic lay out ultra private had reception after with Clint Eastwood hosting was a great day!
2) Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club - Vancouver - Just a great old course...tough!
3) Cascata in Nevada - amazing conditions and just a beauty also was a comped round through Harrahs so even better

Private:

Pete Dye Golf Club - Just an incredible layout. The thing that gets me about it is that it manages to give a very expansive sense of size while still rewarding placement. It seemed to me to not be petty about being challenging, if that makes sense. It was an attempt at creating a national golf club rather than local, but it eventually had to allow more and more local members to stay viable.



Public:

Twisted Gun. It's the most surreal experience I've had. It is a mountaintop removal reclamation (really a coal industry potemkin village) project in the deep W.Va. coalfields. Which means the trip there is bonkers. A several hour drive on a twisting mountain road through crushing poverty and more cinder-block churches than is reasonable. Just about the time you are sure you've been duped into a Deliverance-style experience, you get there and you are on a beautiful links-style course resting on the flattened top of a mountain overlooking the surrounding area.

yes, if you're going to play a $500 round in Vegas, it MUST be Cascata.

it's carved into the mountains and you actually have to factor in the elevation change more than the break of the green. there are downhill putts that you have to smash and uphill putts that you have to tap. it's a pretty cool optical illusion actually.

Private:
-Hawk's Nest in Vero Beach
-Lake Nona

Public:
-Arcadia Bluffs
-Sawgrass Stadium Course (yes, I birdied 17 of course)
-Bay Hill

I've also done Palm and Magnolia, and Grand Cypress in Orlando. Very good but not world class or anything.