Architecture Summit Celebrates Sand Hills & Restorations

Bradley Klein reports on Golfweek's 2018 gathering of panelists and while no comparison to those kidnapping video webcasts fed over the Conde Nast servers, the gathering drew Tom Doak, Gil Hanse, Kyle Phillips, David McLay Kidd and others to talk design, restoration and other topics for the assembled voters.

Klein says the goal was "to assess an entire era, one characterized by a return to classic-era, ground-game basics."

At an opening session, architects Tom Doak, Gil Hanse, David McLay Kidd and Kyle Phillips drew inspiration from the landmark, low-impact, naturalized design of Sand Hills in Mullen, Neb., the 1995 design by Coore and Crenshaw that all but launched the back-to-basics design movement.

There was also this on the restoration side, making me even more eager to see Inverness again:

Designer Andrew Green talked about a very different restoration path taken at Inverness Club in Toledo, Ohio. Donald Ross’ 1919 design was highly studied after holding U.S. Opens in 1920 and 1931 – during which time its holes were extremely well documented and photographed. Green was brought in to fix some bunkers, but the project grew in scope thanks to the availability of adjoining land on which to build some retro-holes.

“For a club of that age to have extra property is unheard of,” Green said. The result, undertaken in 2017 without ever closing the existing 18-hole course, was to undo four ill-fitting modernist holes and eliminate them while restoring some of the old features and allowing the terrain to come through again. Green called it “what Mother Nature created and Donald Ross revealed.”

UK Golf Guy On Golf Digest's Latest World Ranking: "The methodology for selecting the list is fairly awful."

UK Golf Guy maintains a compilation hybrid list of the world's best courses based on various lists, but he's decided to no longer include Golf Digest's stab at an international list due to a long list of problems.

He details them in this post and while his concerns are not shocking given the awfulness of their last attempt in January 2016, the latest effort seems even more peculiar.

He writes:

Well, the 2018 edition is out and despite the title 'World's 100 Greatest Golf Courses' they have stopped bothering to rank golf courses from all over the world. Instead they have made this a list of their top 100 golf courses outside of the USA. And thoroughly disingenuously, they have shown the previous positions of the golf courses in the rankings - despite the comparator including courses from the USA.

This allows many courses to claim they have moved up places in the world rankings. The tweet below from Bluffs Ho Tram in Vietnam is a prime example.

The methodology for selecting the list is fairly awful. The Golf Digest team ask 'international panelists organized by our affiliate magazines around the world'. Oh dear, that would be the affiliate magazines who rely on the course's advertising to pay their bills, the associate magazines whose staff get wined and dined by the latest new courses wanting to make a splash.

A December Tradition Too Much Like Every Other Year: The Top 50 OWGR Game

There are many clubs in golf worth fighting to join, but none as lucrative as Official World Golf Ranking End Of Season Top 50 National CC.

If it were a piece of architecture I'm fairly certainly it'd be a Tom Fazio course heralded as Golf Digest's Best New Private and, six years later, Golf Digest's Best New Remodel.

Here we are again watching players and their agents crunching the OWGR numbers to determine if  how they get finish in the world top 50 and its $350k or so of guaranteed money and opportunities for easy ranking points. Oh, and there's a Masters berth on the line, too.

What people will do to join this elite club!

We had that sensitive flower Brandt Snedeker trekking to Indonesia last week, only to have his top 50 bid succumb to heat exhaustion during second round play.

This week world No. 51 Kiradech Aphibarnrat withdrew from the event I know you have all had circled on your calendar, the Boonchu Ruangkit Championship, where his lower back sent signals to Kiradech's brain suggesting he'd be better off not playing.

Golfweek's Kevin Casey takes it from there:

Aphibarnrat is currently No. 51 in the Official World Golf Ranking and would finish No. 49 by year’s end by not playing in anymore 2017 events – with the top 50 in the world at the end of 2017 earning Masters invites for the following April.

What would happen, though, if Aphibarnrat did play this week, in the final tournament offering OWGR points in 2017?

Well, he would need a top-12 finish … or else he would fall out of the top 50 and lose his guaranteed Masters spot!

This annual manipulation of the algorithms could easily come to an end if the golf world stopped exempting the world top 50 at season's end. Such a move, however, makes way too much sense.

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.

The (2015) Rankings Are Out! The (2015) Rankings Are Out!

So much to line your birdcage with all at once! What to do? Save the ink cartridges.

You longtime readers know how I feel about the course rankings that are too high on experiential factors and depressingly low on timeless design appreciation. But to recap: Golf Digest's still doesn't carry the weight it should because the list includes Resistance to Scoring as a category, which might as well be called resistance to fun, resistance to character and resistance to soul.

Imagine a ranking of great films rewarding only those that run over three hours, or saying great restaurants get points for difficulty of making a reservation.

The big news this year: Augusta National overtook Pine Valley for the top spot this year. Neither reflects the brilliant vision of their founders who are held up as saints at both clubs. Yet neither is worthy of being known as the best course in America after letting Tom Fazio inject his special brand of mediocrity and his shameful lack of understanding of the foundation and soul of Bobby Jones and George Crump's creations. Architecturally, The National Golf Links of America is on another level right now. And it won't surprise you to learn they have not had a Fazio on the property to do any damage.

Then there is Golf Magazine, which debuted its World Top 100 a day after Digest this year and, while generally more in line with my architectural tastes, adds two courses that no one but royal family members can or would be ignorant enough to access. These are (literally) private courses that almost no one will ever see. One in particular is an embarrassment to the idea of semi-refined golf architecture, with a ranking inclusion so clearly out of place (attested privately by horrified Golf Magazine panelists) that it devalues the entire exercise by its very inclusion.

I won't bore you with the ongoing and pathetic Golf Magazine love affair with Nine Bridges, but instead, let you revel in the joy that is new World No. 76, Ayodhya Links...

When Did World No. 1 Become So Meaningful?

To everyone! Players, fans, media and non-fans.

An algorithm told us last weekend what we've known since the Masters: Jordan Spieth is the best player in the world. Rory McIlroy is not less of a golfer or person because he "lost" the ranking, is he?

Spieth took a miniscule lead over McIlroy, one that could be lost easily. An algorithmic back-and-forth could take place over the next few weeks and I fear we'll be dragged into it, hearing the ranking scenarios alongside the FedExCup scenarios. Neither of which is even slighly compelling compared to what we just witnessed in the four majors this year.

Yet this attaining algorithmic confirmation was treated as a crowning achievement last Sunday, even at the expense of talking about Jason Day's record win. While I can see pride for the player and maybe some large bonuses kicking in to sweeten the moment, why does this matter so much?

Wouldn't Spieth rather have won the PGA Sunday than climb to No. 1? He even he hinted on Sunday the best player in the world right now is Day.

JORDAN SPIETH: Yeah, it's been a very, very good year. There's nothing -- obviously this is as easy a loss as I've ever had because I felt that I not only couldn't do much about it, as the round went on, I also accomplished one of my life-long goals and in the sport of golf. That will never be taken away from me now. I'll always be a No. 1 player in the world. That's what, when I look back on this year, the consistency that we have had this year and especially being able to step it up in the biggest stages, that's a huge confidence builder and that's what's allowed us as a team to become the best, the No. 1 ranked, I should say, and I believe right now the best in the world. Second best behind Jason Day, of course, given this week.

And Spieth was sincere in how monumental this was on his career goal list.

Check out his Sportscenter appearance by phone where he acknowledged knowing the various scenarios by which he might overtake the top spot last week at Whistling Straits.

So I ask, what is the cause of this fascination with the No. 1 spot when it's just a mysterious algorithm belatedly telling us what we already knew?

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.

OWGR Files: Scott Moving To No. 1 This Week By Not Playing

Adam Scott was grilled about scoreboard watching last week at The Players...to see if he would get that elusive T16 or better that would vault him to No. 1 in the world. Kind of funny when you think about it.

He really didn't care, and not because he wouldn't be honored. I'm guessing it's just hard to get excited about algorithms when you have a life like Scott's.

Doug Ferguson says the algorithms will vault Scott to No. 1 in the Official World Golf Ranking this week while Scott is not playing, and it's certainly not the first time this has happened. The fifth, to be exact.

Scott had four mathematical chances over the last two months to replace Tiger Woods at No. 1 in the world. His best chance was to win at Bay Hill, only he couldn’t hold a seven-shot lead on the weekend. His most recent opportunity was The Players Championship, where he would have needed a 68 on Sunday. He closed with a 73.

And now that he has a week off, Scott will go to No. 1.

It won’t be official until next week, but here’s what we know. Woods keeps losing points without being able to replace them because he is recovering from back surgery and has not played a tournament in more than two months. Scott will move past Woods this week, and the field at the Byron Nelson Championship is not strong enough that Matt Kuchar could surpass them even if he were to win.

Is it awkward? Sure.

Unprecedented? Not even close.

Ferguson goes on to dig up the past No. 1 ascensions and they're pretty strange.

Re-Thinking The Year-End World Top 50 Masters Invite

It seems like inside-the-Beltway stuff but the Masters exempting the Official World Golf Ranking's top 50 has many ramifications, most of them negative.

Doug Ferguson makes a case for the Masters taking the top 50 closer to the tournament.

The top 50 at the end of the preceding year received invitations, along with the top 50 a month before the Masters. Starting in 2003, the final cutoff was moved to one week before the Masters.

The club has never said why it takes the top 50 at the end of a calendar year. Perhaps it's so players can make travel arrangements, or perhaps it was to give an advantage to overseas players, who compete deep into the year. PGA Tour members have more avenues to qualify throughout the season.

But imagine what would happen if there was only one cutoff for the top 50 in the world, and it followed the Florida swing.

Matteo Manassero (51), Branden Grace (57), David Lynn (65) and Peter Hanson (70) all were in the top 50 in December. They would have spent the Florida swing trying to stay in the top 50 or move back in. That change might be something for Augusta National to consider if it feels the field is getting too close to 100 players.

Let The Bickering Begin: Digest's World 100 Now Posted

The full list is up at GolfDigest.com. I was pleased to see LACC North and Pinehurst #2 move up after getting mistreated by the panel in last year's American list.

Quibbles? I had few despite reading some outrage over the list. I can't speak for the selections in China, South Africa and South Korea, but it was a pleasant surprise to see the panel reward a surprisingly high number of shorter, funkier classics (Swinley Forest, Victoria, Cruden Bay, North Berwick) that are generally penalized by the Resistance to Scoring mentality (and criteria).

Golf Digest Unveils First-Ever World 100 Greatest

Longtime readers know I have little regard for the Golf Digest panel's sensitivity to timeless design over short term hystrionics. The panel is often caught up in experiential fun over design, much in the way a theater critic might be too enamored with seats, sound, lighting and cocktail options instead of the actual play they've been assigned to analyze.

So it was refreshing to see the panel's first ever world ranking avoiding any cringeworthy selections based on everything but golf architecture (we call this The Alotian Club syndrome). Granted, Turnberry is about 20th on the list of links worth paying to play, not a world top 20, but at least it features several incredible holes, a beautiful setting and loads of history.

While I'm pretty sure Pine Valley is still the No. 1 golf experience, I'm not sure it's the No. 1 design after studying the historic photos featured in the club's amazing new book where George Crump's vision shines through. And Merion at No. 4 is a typical panelist over-hype based on a recent U.S. Open hosting, though it's certainly worthy of tops in the world status. *Seems it was No. 14, not No. 4, which sounds about right. But you can still pretty much guarantee Pinehurst No. 2 will be a top 20 selection the next time the Digest panel votes on their world favorites.

Most heartening was the inclusion of both Barnbougle Dunes courses, where the magnificent Tom Doak-Mike Clayton first course landed at No. 11 on the list.

Here's a slideshow of the top 20.

2013 Golf Magazine World Top 100

Of all the rankings Golf's panel seems to select the fewest courses that make you pause and say, "Really?" Yes it's very America-centric and Trump International Scotland landing in the top 50 when it's probably not in the top 50 Scottish links you'd enjoy playing, helps distract from the strange infatuation the list has with South Korea's Seven Bridges.

Nonetheless, Golf presents a timeless architecture-focused list presented with images in gallery form, starting with the world 1-25.

And 26-50.

And 51-75.

And 76-100.

They've also posted the top 25 U.S. courses.