In early 2019 I was lucky enough to take a trip to Australia to play the phenomenal courses of the Sandbelt and Tasmania. Every course was memorable. However there was one that stood out above all the others for me - Cape Wickham, where Mike DeVries and Darius Oliver have created something really special.
Mike is an incredibly talented architect and I am delighted that he has shared his 10 favourite courses with me. Mike was an apprentice with Tom Doak and has worked with Tom Fazio. He has gone on to design and create six courses as well as consulting on many renovations.
I love Mike’s philosophy which revolves around creating courses ‘based on the classic design principles of the great courses and which promote playability, subtle golf features, and exciting golf for all levels of players.’
There is an excellent Feed the Ball interview with Mike here which I would thoroughly recommend to learn more about Mike’s outlook and approach to his work.
Mike has recently joined up with Frank Pont and Mike Clayton to form Clayton, DeVries, Pont. It’s fair to say that has caused a good deal of excitement and anticipation. I can’t wait to see what these talented architects come up with in the years ahead.
I’ve been lucky enough to have played six of Mike’s favourites so have linked to my reviews for those as well as to other articles which may be of interest.
CRYSTAL DOWNS
Well, I grew up working here and playing the course with my grandparents, who taught me the game. It is one of the greatest courses in the world and every time I am on the property, I learn something new about golf course architecture – that is how good it is.
Top100golfcourses, Crystal Downs website, The Alister Mackenzie Society
CAPE WICKHAM
Another personal bias, since it is one of my designs. The adventure that was building the course, bringing my family over to King Island for 6 months of the project, and the result is something I cannot get back to often enough. Gorgeous, fun, and not as far away as you think – only a 40 minute flight from Melbourne. It is highly variable, depending on your skill level and the weather but always playable and with lots of options.
UK Golf Guy Review, Golf Australia
LAWSONIA - LINKS
Quite possibly one of the most exhilarating rounds you can ever have. The first time I was there, I had to step away from my approach shot on the third hole because my heart felt like it was going to jump out of my chest! Then, it happened again on the fourth tee! Oh, and a little “cut putt stymie” around my good friend’s ball on the ninth green… Memories that will never die.
top100golfcourses.com, Lawsonia Website
BELVEDERE
This old William Watson design in northern Michigan is an amazing course, with the right atmosphere, and beautiful greens. I have only played it with my hickories and with other hickory enthusiasts – a treat every time.
Belvedere Website, Golf Club Atlas Thread
ROYAL DORNOCH
A Mecca of golf. I felt like I was going to the end of the earth to get there and experience it, but it really isn’t that far. A stellar course and place that is hard to beat.
UK Golf Guy Review, top100golfcourses.com, telegraph.co.uk, Graylyn Loomis,
NORTH BERWICK
Such a classic course, with great holes, and unique features and names. Also gets bonus points as the first course where I broke 80, but lost two pints to my mate I was playing against!
UK Golf Guy review, Scottish Golf History, Planet Golf
ST ANDREWS - THE OLD COURSE
What else can you say? It is where it all started and much has come from there, via Old Tom and all the champions through the years. Endlessly fascinating – being on the course on a Sunday, when there is no golf but people are walking their dogs and enjoying the land, is a great time to study the course’s features.
UK Golf Guy Review
NATIONAL GOLF LINKS OF AMERICA
Killer setting, iconic holes, and always good companionship when I have been fortunate to play there. It is a course that seems to change the way golfers think about golf course architecture – always fascinating to hear their stories about their experience.
UK Golf Guy Review, NGLA website, 1968 Sports Illustrated Article
DE PAN
This quaint course in the Netherlands is a gem. Beautiful setting, small clubhouse, great holes, excellent turf and heather abounds, it is a special treat to tread those fairways.
UK Golf Guy Review
CYPRESS POINT
Exquisite in all aspects.
Graylyn Loomis, Golf Digest, Playing the Top 100
Bonus Course – like Spinal Tap, I sometimes feel the need to “go to eleven”
KINGSLEY
So hard not to include my first real solo design, because it is probably the most fun I can have playing the game. The turf is always firm and fast (Dan Lucas built the course with me and is the best turf guy I have ever seen) and the shot options and fun playing partners are abundant. It doesn’t hurt that it is only 20-25 minutes from my house, so I get to play it often.
Golf Club Atlas
You can see others in the ‘Favourite Courses’ series here.
A big thanks to Mike for taking the time to do this, some fantastic choices here. Next up is former top amateur player and now doyen of Scottish golf journalism, John Huggan.