Augusta National and the Top 10 Courses Ahead on the 2011 PGA Tour

Although one great American golf course has already been played on the PGA Tour—Pebble Beach—most of the best stops still remain for the 2011 season, which for a lot of us golf fans doesn't really start until that first week of April in Georgia.

Here are what I consider to be the 10 best golf courses that will be hosting tournaments for the rest of the 2011 season.

All four 2011 Major stops made the list, meaning one non-U.S. course will be on the list: Royal St. George's, the site of this July's British Open.

10. Firestone Country Club, Akron, Ohio

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AKRON, OH - AUGUST 07: Matt Kuchar hits his tee shot on the second hole during the third round of the World Golf Championships - Bridgestone Invitational on the South Course at Firestone Country Club on August 7, 2010 in Akron, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyon

Tournament: The Bridgestone Invitational, August 3-7.

Firestone has hosted PGA events for over five decades now, and with good reason. It is simply a great golf course.

Originally designed by Bert Way in 1929, Robert Trent Jones did a redesign on the South course in 1960.

The par-70 measures over 7,400 yards.

9. East Lake Golf Club, Atlanta, GA

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ATLANTA - SEPTEMBER 26: Jim Furyk hits his tee shot on the 18th hole during the final round of THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola at East Lake Golf Club on September 26, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Tournament: The Tour Championship, September 22-25.

Any golf course that can hold up to today's pros and is only a shade over 7,100 yards has got to be a good test of golf.

The home course of Bobby Jones, East Lake hosted the 1963 Ryder Cup and is now the permanent home of the FedEx Cup finale.

8. Cog Hill, Lemont, IL

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LEMONT, IL - SEPTEMBER 12: Dustin Johnson reacts after making a putt with caddie Bobby Brown on the 18th green to win the BMW Championship at Cog Hill Golf & Country Club on September 12, 2010 in Lemont, Illinois. (Photo by Maxx Wolfson/Getty Images)

Tournament: BMW Championship, September 15-18.

Cog Hill is part of the FedEx Cup playoff series and is simply a great course.

It has been a tour stop since 1991 and is a favorite course among the players. The tournament is played on the No. 4 course, which is named Dubsdread.

The 18th at Dubsdread is one of the great finishing holes in golf—a difficult 480-yard par-four.

Rees Jones renovated the course three years ago, and the result has been applauded by all.

7. Atlanta Athletic Club, Johns Creek, GA

David Cannon/Getty Images

19 Aug 2001: A general view shows the crowds around the green during the PGA Championships at the Atlanta Athletic Club in Duluth, Georgia.Mandatory Credit: David Cannon /Allsport

Tournament: PGA Championship, August 11-14.

This course has a rich history of hosting championship events, including the 1976 U.S. Open, and the 1981 and 2001 PGA Championships.

Martin Kaymer is the defending PGA Champion, although Tiger Woods won the title when the tournament was last played on this course 10 years ago.

6. Harbour Town Golf Links, Hilton Head, SC

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HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SC - APRIL 17: A general view of the ninth green at the Harbour Town Golf Links prior to the start of third round of the Verizon Heritage on April 17, 2010 in Hilton Head lsland, South Carolina. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)

Tournament: The Heritage, April 21-24.

Harbour Town always comes in high on the list of the players' favorites. The Pete Dye design (with help form Jack Nicklaus) opened in 1967.

It is one of the few remaining courses on the regular tour that still checks in under 7,000 yards, at 6,973 officially.

5. Congressional Country Club, Bethesda, Maryland

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BETHESDA, MD - JULY 5 : Tiger Woods hits his tee shot on the 10th hole during the final round of the AT&T National hosted by Tiger Woods at Congressional Country Club on July 5, 2009 in Bethesda, Maryland. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images)

Tournament: The United States Open, June 16-19.

Two previous U.S. Opens have been held at Congressional (in 1964 and 1997).  Many of the players are familiar with the course from the recent AT&T National tournaments.

In 1989, Rees Jones did a redesign of the original 1924 Devereut Emmet design.

The par-70 is a shade under 7,300 yards.

4. Bay Hill Club and Lodge, Orlando, FL

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ORLANDO, FL - MARCH 29: Tiger Woods hits his tee shot on the 11th hole during the final round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by Mastercard at the Bay Hill Club and Lodge on March 29, 2009 in Orlando, Florida (Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Image

Tournament: Arnold Palmer Invitational, March 24-27.

This is Palmer's pride and joy, and one of the great early tests of the golf season. The field is always loaded as the top players tune up for the Masters two weeks later.

The finishing three holes are ranked right up there with the best three finishers in the world.

The par-72 plays just a shade under 7,400 yards.

Ernie Els won last year; Tiger Woods the two previous years.

3. Muirfield Village Golf Club, Dublin, OH

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DUBLIN, OH - JUNE 06: Fans watch the play at the 18th hole during the final round of the Memorial Tournament presented by Morgan Stanley at Muirfield Village Golf Club on June 6, 2010 in Dublin, Ohio. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)

Tournament: The Memorial, June 2-5.

Jack Nicklaus' tournament is a favorite among the players, and for one basic reason: the golf course.

A beautiful, well-kept course year in and year out, Nicklaus built it for championship golf, and it is seldom less than great theater.

2. Royal St. George's, Sandwich, Kent, England

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SANDWICH, KENT - AUGUST 24: The par 4, 10th hole at Royal St Georges Golf Club venue for the 2011 Open Championship on August 24, 2010 in Sandwich, Kent, England. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images)

Tournament: The British Open, July 14-17.

Aye, a fine golf course. The old English course has hosted 14 Open Championships in its rich history. Here, you'll find just over 7,200 of some of the finest yards the sport has to offer.

There are only two par-fives on the layout, and many of the 12 par-fours will be challenged. This is a fun course upon which to watch a championship unfold.

Ben Curtis won his title here in 2003, the last time Royal St. George's hosted the Open.

1. Augusta National, Augusta, Georgia

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AUGUSTA, GA - APRIL 11: Anthony Kim watches his tee shot on the 12th hole during the final round of the 2010 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 11, 2010 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Tournament: The Masters, April 7-10.

What can you say about Augusta?

It is the perfect golf course. Outside of Scotland, there is not a golf course comparable to it.

Many factors contribute to why this is so, not the least of which are the resources this club has to make everything absolutely perfect.  Augusta has always been on the cutting edge of turfgrass management practices, and it continues to be so.

Combine that with a great championship layout and unequaled beauty, and you have the makings of one of the best golf courses in the world.