Shuttle Meadow Country Club

The proliferation of top-100 lists over the years has created something of an unfair two-class system of golf courses. A course is either magazine-famous, or it isn't. The courses this disfavors most are ones like Shuttle Meadow: solid and often classic courses any golfer would love to play any day, but don't quite have the prestige or pedigree of the more written-about golf courses.

Willie Park, Jr.'s Shuttle Meadow is not long, but it will test all facets of your golf game, especially your mental fortitude. Bold, fast greens can put you on the defensive if you miss on the wrong side, and though the par fours are mostly fairly short, some play uphill and confront you with semi-blind shots, such that you're often less than 100% committed to a shot. You can make birdies here, especially on the par fives, but you will shake your head at some of the bogeys you make, too. It's one of those courses where as soon as you hole out on 18, you're itching to get back out and give it another shot.