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Not everyone gets the chance to play golf in the USA but with many families that now take a Florida holiday, you may get the opportunity to get a round on one the many wonderful golf courses...
we therefore list a few of the best American golf courses below
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PINE VALLEY, New Jersey
PINE VALLEY is routinely voted the No.1 golf course in the US for a variety of reasons, not least because the layout is very interesting.
Designer George Crump wanted no two holes running parallel, no more than two consecutive holes going in the same direction and, lastly, was adamant you shouldn't be able to see any hole other than the one you are playing. Pine Valley has not hosted any Majors because there is insufficient room for spectators. Recently it topped a poll of Best Golf Courses in the World.
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PEBBLE BEACH, California
ONE of the most beautiful venues in the world, Pebble Beach is probably the most popular of the famous American courses because it is open to the public although green fees cost around £250. The course was designed by Jack Neville and Douglas Grant and hugs the coastline with wide open views of the Pacific Ocean on many holes.
It is regularly used as a PGA Tour venue, including the US Open in 2000 when Tiger Woods won by 15 shots, and will host the Major again in 2010
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SHINNECOCK HILLS, New York
ONE of the toughest and most captivating courses in the world, it really set the tone for the style of the US Open in 2004 when Retief Goosen held off Phil Mickelson in brutal conditions. It's largely a traditional US design with tee boxes set above the fairway giving a better view of what lies ahead.
The greens are notoriously fast, undulating and can be hard to read
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CHICAGO, Illinois
CHICAGO is the oldest course in North America and has an illustrious history as one of the five founding clubs of the US Golf Association.
The club's founder, Charles Blair Macdonald, was an American who went to college in Scotland, returned to America then won the first official US Amateur title. A previous host of a number of US Opens, Chicago is unable to stage Majors these days due to a lack of space - but it did host a successful Walker Cup match in 2005, won narrowly by the USA
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OAKMONT, Pennsylvania
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ONE of the oldest golf clubs in America, Oakmont is famous for rts lack of water hazards and abundance of strangely designed bunkers, including the Church . Pews that come into play on the third
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MERION-EAST, Pennsylvania
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MERION was formed by the members of a cricket club in Ardmore who were keen to build a golf course. Hugh Wilson, a Scottish immigrant, designed the East Course (the most famous of the two layouts) and the rest, as they say, is history. Jack Nicklaus once said Merion "may be the best test of golf in the world" and he is not the only admirer.
It has held more USPGA tournaments than any other venue and was the site of Bobby Jones' first US Amateur win in 1924. It will host the US Open in 2013.
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TPC at SAWGRASS, Florida
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There are two TPC at Sawgrass courses, the Stadium and the Valley, and the former steals the limelight. It hosts the Players Championship, the so-called fifth Major, and is regularly touted as one of the toughest layouts on the PGA Tour. It is perfect for spectators who often sits on huge mounds of grass to watch all the action. The most famous hole is the 132-yard par-three 17th, known as Island Green.
Many of the world's leading players are desperate to avoid embarrassing themselves on this hole by finding the 78-foot long green.
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SAND HILLS, Nebraska
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This not be the most recognised American course this side of the pond but Sand Hills is widely regarded in the US as a highly reputable challenge. Designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw it has many links-like features and some experts suggest it is on a par with the great Open courses in Britain. The one drawback is that it's in the middle of nowhere.
It is extremely private and closes for a big chunk of the year.
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PINEHURST no2 North Carolina VALLEY,
Scottish Donald Ross designed the No.2 course in 1907 and it is by far the best known of the eight layouts on-site. Pinehurst has only hosted a few Majors in its history - the 1936 PGA Championship and the US Opens of 1999 and 2005, won by Payne Stewart and Michael Campbell respectively. It also staged the Ryder Cup back in 1951, which was emphatically won by the US, and is the venue for this year's US Amateur Championship.
There are countless memorable holes on this tract and it is said anyone who drives poorly on Pinehurst will suffer the consequences regardless of their ability to recover well.
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SEMINOLE, Florida
ONE of the great historic courses in the United States, Seminole is considered to be the first world-class venue in Florida. Designed by the great Donald Ross, Seminole is entirely unlike any of its neighbours. Located in Juno Beach it is famed for extremely small greens, tight fairways and its closing few holes that can be extra tough when played into a stiff breeze.
Many believe this course to be the finest work of Ross as it differs so much from all others in Florida.
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WINGED FOOT - West, New York
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This private 36-hole club is a favourite of many top golfers though it might not figure too highly in the mind of Colin Montgomerie. It was at Winged Foot that Monty famously scuppered his best chance of US Open glory in 2006. Geoff Ogilvy profited from costly mistakes by the big Scot and Phil Miekelson to land the title that year. The West Course is the more famous of the duo and has hosted various Majors.
The 640-yard par-five 12th is the longest hole in Major history. Designed by AW Tillinghast, Winged Foot is renowned for its high scoring thanks to brutally tough rough - even round the· greens.
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Southern Dunes, FLORIDA
Southern Dunes Golf and Country Club is a highly rated PGA championship links course. It is ranked within the top 100 course in America and rated as 4.5 stars. The course opened in 1993 and was designed by top course designer Steve Smyers. It is both unique and challenging.
The very attractive club house provides a lounge area, bar and restaurant. The fully stocked pro-shop is well worth a visit even if you do not play golf. By staying in the villa you gain free access to numerous community pools, tennis courts, basket ball courts, gym, fishing facilities and playgrounds.
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