I Played My First Top 100 Golf Course—I Get It Now

I've always understood the appeal of playing a top-100 golf course. They've earned that ranking for a reason. But the opportunity had never presented itself—until Tuesday morning.

The United States Golf Association hosted us to showcase changes coming to its GHIN app, and for the venue, chose Winged Foot in Mamaroneck, New York.

Established in 1923, Winged Foot West is Golf Digest's 13th-best course in the United States and fourth-best in the state—and it only took a few holes to understand why.

Gil Hanse did an unbelievable job restoring A.W. Tillinghast's design, an effort that included returning the putting surfaces to their original parameters. Their unique shaping—squared edges that sloped back toward the center—and seamless run-up areas that put muni greens to shame were incredible to see in person. In many cases, the greens reminded me more of a skatepark than a golf course. And even though it's early in the season for us in the Northeast, the fairways were in perfect shape. (We got a little lucky, as the rough was recently cut down.)

But my favorite part of Hanse's work was the tree removal. Standing in almost any fairway, it felt like you could see the entire property. Gone were the old bowling alley, tree-lined landing strips. Left in their place were endless vistas that made the course feel open and digestible.

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The clubhouse matched the course step for step. The men's locker room spans two floors and features comfortable areas to decompress before or after your round—couches, TVs, the kind of unhurried atmosphere that makes you want to linger. It feels like nothing has been touched in its 100-plus years of existence.

Everything down to the shoehorns was all class.

Out in the hallways, the history is inescapable. From Bobby Jones to Bryson DeChambeau, every past champion at Winged Foot has their own shrine. Like the locker room, the restaurant, bars, and common areas feel pulled straight from the early 1900s. It's the kind of place that shifts your expectations before you even put a tee in the ground—and maybe that's why I played so well.

I got the inevitable double-bogey out of the way early—box checked on the very first hole—and lost another shot on No. 2 to head to the third tee at 3 over. I’m used to having a scorecard in my back pocket, but I had my phone back there instead for easy access to the GHIN app. Normally there is a no-phone policy at Winged Foot, but made an exception for the day so the USGA could walk us through the app upgrades coming later this year.

I was keeping my score right in the app, and let me tell you, when you’re over par early and those numbers are being collected one tap away from your handicap, the pressure is on to lock in—spoiler alert: I did.

After a massive up-and-down on three from a greenside bunker, the momentum switched. By the time I walked off nine green, I was 1 over for the day.

We were lucky enough to have caddies—shout out to my looper, Mike—but it was also nice to have a GPS right in the app, as well as green reading heat maps that made it a lot easier to process what I was seeing with putter in my hand. I had a lot of info to lean on, and that helped to get the game clicking.

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After a par at 10, I got stuck in a greenside bunker on 11 and made triple. Deep down, I knew I was flying too close to the sun. From there, the back nine was a steady stream of soft bogeys, and I finished with an 81. As a 4.6 handicap, I walked off with a smile. Hell, it could have been a 120 and I would've done the same.

The course was full of highlights—there isn't a bad hole on property—but for whatever reason, the 10th sticks out in my mind.

I've always loved a par 3 to start the back, and the one waiting for us after a short stop for a beverage and snack was just so good. The bunkering, the green complex, the early sign of color mixed in with the tree line. It was the perfect way to get the second half of our stroll started—also doesn't hurt that I flagged it.

Will my Saturday morning money game at my home club feel a little flat after this? Probably. But at least I'll be able to logo farm a little bit—the pro shop was too good to ignore.

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