Thanksgiving. It’s the Cypress Point of holidays. Nothing compares. It’s certainly my favorite. Like Cypress Point, Thanksgiving starts out with a handshake or a hug, some playable holes, feels like the gathering of family, and then builds to the presentation of the Big Bird, or the 16th tee. By the 18th green, you want to unbutton your pants, find a spot on the sofa, and drift into tryptophanic dreams of John Madden awarding you a turducken drumstick for being the game’s MVP.
So, what am I thankful for?
No. 4--Grand Traverse Resort in Traverse City, MI. Ranked No. 48 on Golf Digest’s list of the Top 75 Golf Resorts in North America, Grand Traverse Resort (pictured above) features three courses, one by Jack Nicklaus and one by Gary Player, and a Jim McLean Golf School. If I had to pick one course, the Nicklaus is my favorite. Best Deal (based on double occupancy): From April 16--June 3 they offer the “Championship Golf Package-Weekend,” which is two nights, two rounds of golf, two breakfasts, range balls and a replay rate of $35. 
No. 1--Renaissance Ross Bridge Golf Resort & Spa in Birmingham, AL. It’s arguably the best resort (pictured above) and the best course on the Robert Trent Jones Trail, which is saying a lot. Ross Bridge hosts a PGA Champions Tour event in May. Just down the street you have two and a half courses at Oxmoor Valley. Best deal (based on double occupancy): Through May 10, get three nights of lodging, two rounds at Ross Bridge and two rounds at Oxmoor Valley for $672 per person, price includes carts, range balls and sales tax. 
No. 4--Sanctuary at the Kiawah Island Golf Resort. It’s a castle-like structure (pictured above) right on the water, with Shakespearian balconies, a courtyard, rocking chairs on the back porch and six-star service, second only to the service at the Lodge at Sea Island. Best deal, (based on double occupancy): Through March 31, get a room and a round of golf at the Ocean Course for $280 per person.
No. 1--Lodge at Sea Island. The storied resort (pictured above) is in the news a lot for all of the wrong real estate reasons. But it will host a Fall Series event on the PGA Tour Oct. 7-10. I have never read a bad review of a weekend at the Lodge, the service is what every great hotel strives to achieve. Play golf at Seaside, then get a steak and martini at Colt & Alison. Best deal (based on double occupancy): Through the end of June, the “Premium Package” gets you a night at the Lodge, lunch and unlimited golf at the Seaside or Plantation courses for $465 per person per night.
No. 5--The Quarry and The Legend at Giants Ridge in Biwabik, Minn. ($89). I’m grouping them together because if you were willing to get to Biwabik, which is practically in Canada, you’d never play just one. I prefer The Legend (opened in 1997, ranked No. 72 on our list of America’s 100 Greatest Public), over The Quarry (opened in 2003, ranked No. 20), but it's splitting rocks because they’re both good and they’re both a bargain. Two different looks, The Legend (pictured above) runs along a river and a lake and sits at the base of what functions as a ski resort most of the year. When it opened, my colleague, Ron Whitten, wrote a review of the Quarry: “Hands down, the finest course in Minnesota. It’s a combination of Pebble Beach, Pine Valley, Merion and Tobacco Road, with a bit of architectural Tabasco sauce sprinkled in for the occasional jolt.” That might be a bit of literary hot sauce, but you get the idea. (Twilight, $60, start time varies. Replay rate is $58.)
So there you have it, my list of top 25 public courses, and a list of top 10 based on value. Any other lists you're looking for? I'm taking requests.
I'll post my top 5 on Friday . . .
