GolfWeek's best municipal courses for 2011

Here is a list of the 50 best municipal courses from around the country for 2011 according to GolfWeek.  I've been lucky enough to play three of them, and I should easily be able to get the fourth played this year.  And, they're all in Utah!  Pretty lucky I am, I would say.  How about you?  How many of these have you played?

Year opened, designer(s), Rater's average

1. Bethpage State Park – Black

Farmingdale, N.Y.

1935, A.W. Tillinghast - 8.10

2. Chambers Bay

University Place, Wash.

2007, Robert Trent Jones Jr., Bruce Charlton - 7.76

3. Butterfield Trail

El Paso, Texas

2007, Tom Fazio - 6.56

4. Piñon Hills

Farmington, N.M.

1990, Ken Dye - 6.24

5. Torrey Pines – South

La Jolla, Calif.

1957, William F. Bell - 6.21

6. TPC Scottsdale – Stadium

Scottsdale, Ariz.

1987, Jay Morrish, Tom Weiskopf - 6.09

7. Arrowhead Pointe*

Elberton, Ga.

2003, Robert Walker - 5.90

8. Indian Wells Golf Resort – Players

Indian Wells, Calif.

2007, John Fought - 5.90

9. Highlands of Elgin*

Elgin, Ill.

2010, Keith Foster, Art Schaupeter - 5.86

10. Memorial Park

Houston

1936, John Bredemus; Baxter Spann (1996) - 5.85

11. Soldier Hollow – Gold

Midway, Utah

2004, Gene Bates - 5.83

12. Olympic Course at Gold Mountain

Bremerton, Wash.

1996, John Harbottle - 5.80

13. Laurel Hill

Lorton, Va.

2005, Bill Love - 5.78

14. Haggin Oaks – MacKenzie

Sacramento, Calif.

1932, Alister MacKenzie - 5.75

15. TPC Harding Park

San Francisco

1925, Willie Watson - 5.74

16. Wintonbury Hills

Bloomfield, Conn.

2003, Pete Dye, Tim Liddy - 5.70

17. Torrey Pines – North

La Jolla, Calif.

1957, William F. Bell -5.69

18. Thunderhawk

Beach Park, Ill.

1999, Robert Trent Jones Jr. - 5.67

19. Sleepy Hollow*

Brecksville, Ohio

1925, Stanley Thompson - 5.67

20. Indian Wells Golf Resort – Celebrity

Indian Wells, Calif.

2006, Clive Clark - 5.63

21. Bethpage State Park – Red

Farmingdale, N.Y.

1935, A.W. Tillinghast - 5.60

22. Crandon Park

Key Biscayne, Fla.

1972, Bruce Devlin, Robert von Hagge - 5.58

23. Sunbrook – Pointe/Woodbridge

St. George, Utah

1991, Ted Robinson - 5.56

24. Hideout

Monticello, Utah

2002, Forrest Richardson - 5.55

25. Desert Willow – Firecliff*

Palm Desert, Calif.

1997, Michael Hurdzan - 5.54

26. Indian Canyon

Spokane, Wash.

1935, H. Chandler Egan - 5.54

27. SilverRock

La Quinta, Calif.

2005, Arnold Palmer - 5.52

28. Bowes Creek*

Elgin, Ill.

2009, Rick Jacobson - 5.51

29. Washington County

Hartford, Wis.

1997, Arthur Hills - 5.50

30. Brackenridge Park

San Antonio

1915, A.W. Tillinghast - 5.50

31. Soule Park

Ojai, Calif.

1962, Robert Baldock, William F. Bell; Gil Hanse (2005) - 5.50

32. Olivas Links

Ventura, Calif.

2007, Forrest Richardson - 5.45

33. Aspen GC

Aspen, Colo.

1970, Frank Hummel - 5.44

34. Montauk Downs

Montauk Point, N.Y.

1968, Rees Jones - 5.43

35. Breckenridge

Breckenridge, Colo.

1987, Jack Nicklaus - 5.42

36. Tierra Verde*

Arlington, Texas

1998, David Graham, Gary Panks - 5.40

37. Shepherd’s Crook

Zion, Ill.

1999, Keith Foster - 5.39

38. North Palm Beach

North Palm Beach, Fla.

1928, Charles Banks, Seth Raynor; Jack Nicklaus (2006) - 5.39

39. Chaska Town Course

Chaska, Minn.

1997, Arthur Hills - 5.38

40. Audobon Park Executive*

New Orleans

2002, Dennis Griffiths - 5.38

41. TPC Scottsdale – Champions

Scottsdale, Ariz.

2007, Randy Heckenkemper - 5.35

42. Boulder Creek

Boulder City, Nev.

2003,Mark Rathert - 5.35

43. Harborside International – Starboard

Chicago

1996, Dick Nugent - 5.32

44. Lassing Pointe

Union, Ky.

1994, Michael Hurdzan - 5.31

45. Wingpoint

Salt Lake City

1991, Arthur Hills - 5.30

46. Sand Creek Station

Newton, Kan.

2006, Jeff Brauer - 5.29

47. Inniscrone*

Avondale, Pa.

1998, Gil Hanse, Bill Kittleman - 5.29

48. Neshanic Valley*

Neshanic Station, N.J.

2004, Michael Hurdzan - 5.29

49. Fossil Trace

Golden, Colo.

2003, Jim Engh - 5.28

50. Cobblestone

Acworth, Ga.

1993, Ken Dye - 5.27

* New to list