Dunhill Links Equivalent?

The European Tour had a hell of an event this week at the Dunhill Links Championship. Nevermind that the field was deep and included Open Champion Padraig Harrington. Nick Dougherty picked up a keynote victory for his career. Impressive rookie Rory McIlroy finished in third. Harrington and Ernie Els had top ten finishes.

Consider the courses played in the rotation for the event and you'll know what makes the tournament great. In four rounds, the players that make the cut play St Andrew's twice, Carnoustie, and the underrated Kingsbarns. That's pretty amazing to have three rounds at major championship venues in four days.

I was trying to think about the design of an American equivalent. The best I could do is to come up with the PGA Tour's AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am and Clambake and Other Activities for High Rollers. That tournament plays Pebble Beach, Spyglass Hill, and Poppy Hills. One great (but a little overrated) course, a very good one, and an underrated one. It falls well short of the quality of the Dunhill Links. Don't ever talk to me about the Hope, whose course rotation is in pitiful disarray. Other events that play multiple courses don't even come close.

So, let's design a real equivalent. The United States has much too much mass in order to have three courses scattered across much more than two states. Really, we're probably talking about one. NY could make the case for Shinnecock, Bethpage Black, and Winged Foot. I want to hear yours, though. Leave a comment and give me your perfect one or two state (the states have to be touching each other) three course rotation.