Quick Take On Golf Magazine's 2017 U.S. And World Top 100

In just a glance through the biennial U.S. and World lists, it sure looks like the panel is going full anti-Golf Digest and rewarding shorter, cooler, classier golf architecture in similar fashion to the Golfweek's annual list. Pure restorations as opposed to redos defacing the old architecture, also appear to be stylish.

The real standout for me: Prestwick cracking the world Top 100, a fantastic exclamation point to the aforementioned trends.

And nice to see this week's Walker Cup host at its highest ranking ever, arriving at 13th in the U.S. and 22nd in the world, even edging out that South Korean masterwork, Nine Bridges.

Comments

[Roddy]

Geoff
Great site- enjoy reading on a regular basis. Your note on Prestwick caught my eye- having played most of the top courses in Scotland and Ireland to my full enjoyment it was the funky ones that stuck out- Prestwick, North Berwick- you can almost feel them playing in the late 1800's Come play Cabot and Highlands in NS someday- you wont be disappointed

[Sari]

Looking at the list, I've only played 19 of the top 100 in the world. I need to step up my game. (As an aside, Dornoch is too low, definitely is top 10!).

[Abu Dhabi Golfer]

GOLF Magazine isn't really going "anti-Golf Digest"

The two lists are different. GOLF is a "Top 100" focusing more on the course whereas Golf Digest is a "Greatest 100" which tries to capture the total experience.

Golf Digest is also a much more scientific attempt with 10x as many panelists as opposed to a select few who likely are not constantly travelling intensively to review courses (ie Justin Rose, Gary Player, numerous jornos).

If anything, GD appears to include more "pretty" courses, perhaps because if associated categories that are used.

GD's Greatest in the World list is a little more whimsical because of less science used in the process. And with that, you can get much higher rankings for courses like Cabot Cliffs and Cape Wickham compared to where they appeared on the GOLF list.

[Stiggy]

When I found out Trump International wasn't the #1 course in the World I lost interest.

It's the best course in the World.

Everybody says so.

[Bouje]

Am I wrong or did they insert a picture of The Prairie Club mistakenly in Prairie Dunes place?

[Larry Lurker]

No thats 14 at the Dunes. Not the best hole on the course but oh well.

[GinGHIN]

@RSF - These lists also serve two other crucial purposes: (1) increase initiation or greens fees, as the case may be; and (2) give belt notchers another reason to talk about where they've played.

[PG]

https://www.facebook.com/USGA/videos/10155941610104369/

[TLB]

Spent 4 days at Terranea (played the three par links course twice) and checked out Trump National each day with binoculars and never saw signs of any one on the course. Drove by Friday at 1pm and the course and huge practice range were empty. But the car in front of us did pull in, so there might have been some action after all.

[FC]

TLB, your guess about the mysterious Trump wealth is as good as ours. Perhaps Bob Mueller can eventually shed some light on it.

[MatthewM]

Abu Dhabi Golfer,

Let's not kid ourselves.There's no science in any of these. As best, one might consider them quasi-statistically valid amalgams of various opinions.

[ol Harv]

GinGHIN, don't forget about the third thing these lists do: Drive wannabe courses to chase these lists which means more and more expenses and an unsustainable model for many, especially in this day and time. There are also courses that pay marketing professionals good money to get their course on these lists.

[PABoy]

ol Harv - +1

This is what I call the 'Golf Course Renovation Industial Complex', perfection is the enemy of good.

[Tremendous Slouch]

Just a bunch of wheat fields with 18 flagsticks.

[Ian B.]

Played around 40 of the top 100. Some random observations;
#1 Great to see Prestwick, Cruden Bay and North Berwick doing well. Most fun golf courses you could ever play
#2 NSW Golf Club at #44? Maybe not enough people voting have made the trip
#3 Only 31 (?) courses from the UK and Ireland. There's always just that slight bias towards US courses, many of which very few people ever get to play.
#4 Can someone please explain how Camargo keeps making these sorts of lists? I'm a Seth Raynor fan, but there's no way that course would make my top 100. Yale is a much more interesting golf course
#5. Royal Liverpool made the list. That's one course I wouldn't go back to in a hurry. Why not just swap it with Royal Cinque Ports
#6. Cape Wickham at 70+ . Once people get to play the course that'll change real quick . It's in my top 5.

[Easingwold]

@ IanB- agree, I've played 8 Open tracks, I have to say I wouldn't visit it again. Enjoyed those near the estuary and that's about it .

[cmoore]

Anyone know what hole that is pictured with no. 54, Spyglass?

[Tremendous Slouch]

cmoore,

I believe that is the 8th green at Pebble, which, as Jack Nicklaus famously said, is the best par 4 at Spyglass.

[FC]

Lots of wisdom there, Ian B. I caught Hoylake on a windy day and loved it thereafter, but also hold RCP dear. Both have punch bowls.

[Cmoore]

Slouch: Never heard that quote before. TREMENDOUS. wonder if the article editor put that pic there on purpose! Thought my memory was playing tricks on me when I saw PB features in the Spy write-up.

[LA John]

@TLB - there is good public beach access, hiking trail heads, and a public park co-located with the Trump Nat'l property in Palos Verdes, so just because someone turns in the driveway doesn't necessarily mean they are there to tee it up or eat in the clubhouse.