Augusta Replaces Pine Valley Atop Golf Digest Top 100
Just a few quick reactions to the latest Golf Digest America’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses.
The list and accompanying package of images, sidesbars, etc...appears in the February, 2015 Golf Digest.
- Augusta National switches spots (again) with Pine Valley, though the plunge to second probably won’t be alarming enough for Pine Valley to initiate some much needed restoration work. Nor does a move to No. 1 do anything to inspire much needed restoration work at Augusta National. First world sigh.
- National Golf Links finally lands in the top 10 at No. 8, no doubt helped by hosting the Walker Cup and the magnificence of the design. Top 2 with a restored Pine Valley is where it should ultimately land, in an ideal world.
- Oak Hill actually moved up from 17th to 16th. Is it even the 16th best design in the state of New York? Great club, but architecturally it has no business anywhere near the top 75.
- The Country Club moves from 24th to 19th, a nice nod to the club restoring features under Gil Hanse’s supervision and hosting the U.S. Amateur.
- Friar’s Head moves to 23rd from 28th while Sand Hills drops out of the top 10. With the continued effort to improve Friar’s Head by overseer Ken Bakst, this may ultimately turn out to be Coore and Crenshaw’s most complete design.
- Los Angeles Country Club moves to 26th from 41st, the biggest jump by a classic course that I could detect.
- The Alotian Club begins the descent from the ridiculous 15th to a still-inflated 27th. 
- Pinehurst No. 2 vaults to 28th from 40th. Better, but still should never even be mentioned in the same breath as a place like The Alotian Club, much less sitting behind it on a list. That's like putting Caddyshack behind The Greatest Game Ever Played.
- Erin Hills debuts at No. 42. The course had been ineligible for consideration until 2013 due to Architecture Editor Ron Whitten’s involvement. The course hosts the 2017 U.S. Open.
- Seth Raynor and Charles Banks’ Camargo Club joins the list at No. 52, fueled by a Tom Doak restoration.
- Somerset Hills, my favorite A.W. Tillinghast design by about ten lengths, moves from 95th to 73rd. Still not good enough, but I’m sure the late, great Frank Hannigan would be concerned to see the Golf Digest panel gradually coming to its senses.
- The Valley Club of Montecito is back! 112th to 83rd. I’m not sure what happened but one of the most enjoyable courses on the planet should have a spot on such a list, right?
- Streamsong’s Red course cracks the list, as does Shoreacres in the final two spots. The omission of Shoreacres was always on the list of reasons to not take the ranking seriously!
Overall there appears to be a little more recognition of fun and whimsical design, and even more acknowledgement of restored features. There appear to be still too many courses recognized because they are difficult or provide a lavish experience. That said, I see mostly huge positives thanks to the upward trajectory of long overlooked courses and those with genuine architectural interest.
Tuesday, January 6, 2015 at 07:36 AM
Reader Comments (53)
How Shoreacres is behind a few of the uninspiring courses on the list is a mystery to me.
Who could visit and not fall in love?
IMHO - Doak's best restoration to date.
Winged Foot East(WFE) getting a big boost as well.
To me - WFE has a lot of fans, but that vote with Seminole, WFW and Baltusrol show the East coast skew on the Digest voting panel.
The exclusions are always interesting.
Cal club to me in the best among the San Francisco trio but not on the Digest list.
Kingsley Club is another MIA that is curious
What restoration work is needed at Pine Valley?
No Yale? Really?
Victoria National ahead of Yeaman's Hall, Somerset Hills and Kittansett. Wow.
Golf Week - with its traditional and modern lists may be the best of the bunch.
Love your thoughts on the list. Would Philly cricket's restored Wissahickon course crack your own top 100?
More curious how they justify including a Whitten co-design now?? Thought the ban permanent as long as Whitten on masthead
Augusta needs to undo its tree planting barrage and get the width back.
Pine Valley would be further strengthened by a massive tree removal program. If done correctly, the course would be #1 every year and it wouldn't be a contest.
Agree on Yale - it is amazing since its renovation. Short, but everything you could want in a classic shot value course.
Nice. It's actually like putting Caddyshack behind anything (except Godfather I & II and GoodFellas).
" Id rather see a list of the best halfway house hotdogs or sandwiches"
I haven't been there in a long time but the hot dogs at Sleepy Hollow, back in the day, were incredible. The lady at the halfway house would grill the buns perfectly. We used to play in a junior golf league and played against SH and our team always looked so forward to those hot dogs.
"The only thing more surprising than the fact they make these lists, is that people actually pay attention to them."
Relax PA, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Some of the greatest courses I've played are not on this list because they could care less about the list. I know guys who get paid pretty good money to get their clients on these lists. By the way, I like seeing the top 10, but after that, maybe just list them as the rest of the top 100. Can you really differentiate between the 56th and 86th (just an example-I don't know which courses occupy those spots)?
once before now. My question is: What constitutes a good/great course?
I've been playing since the 70's, mostly in Florida, never at any of the storied courses
referenced in comments. I know what I like; conditioning, visuals and a lack
of mean spirited trickery. Harv, Chico, Carl, Abu, et al, you seem knowledgeable. I'd
I would really enjoy reading your thoughts. Geoff too, if so inclined.
And Castle Pines at #40? I'd put it in at #240....maybe.
Plainfield and SHCC at #72 and #73? Jeez.
If GD raters are anything like the guys I play golf with then they like eye candy, goofy Jim Engh fake framing mounds, waterfalls, and access....and are absolutely clueless.
+1 Rob on the Muirfield Village at 14 Are you kidding me? Muirfield Village is not the 2nd best course in Columbus!
+1 No Yale?! Again, Muirfield Village and no Yale? GMAB
@ Don +1 me too!
These lists are subjective and raters wanting to be PC.....I would like the architects top 100 list better. Can't vote for your own, or anyone that worked with / for you. And you can't vote for a course if you have not played it.
+1 Rob on the Muirfield Village at 14 Are you kidding me? Muirfield Village is not the 2nd best course in Columbus!
+1 No Yale?! Again, Muirfield Village and no Yale? GMAB
@ Don +1 me too!
These lists are subjective and raters wanting to be PC.....I would like the architects top 100 list better. Can't vote for your own, or anyone that worked with / for you. And you can't vote for a course if you have not played it.
Wayne Stiles? Who is he? Maybe the best golf course designer of which no one has ever heard.
OK, I'm biased, but fun is fun.
And while we're at it, the Old Course rules!
Monroe Golf Club is the best course in Rochester, for my money.
Re: MVGC: I covered a half-dozen Memorials back in the 80's as well as the '87 Ryder Cup - to me it is is a cut above a typical tour course, but probably not top 20 in country. as other posters have mentioned it may well not even be one of the best 2 courses in the Columbus area. but surely Jack's name and design business clout exert some influence - overt or covert.