Top 100 Golf Courses

[heronsghyll]

Do people agree with the Top 100 courses as listed in the December edition? I would not rate Muirfield as the no1, I have no doubt it would be in the Top 5 - but not number 1.

And St Andrews Old at number 3? If this course did not have the name, it would not be in the Top 50. As a course it is special, because of the place and the history - but not as a course.

Carnoustie, Kingsbarns and Old Head are far superior courses, for me Birkdale would be number 1.

Any comments?

 

[Parmo]

Yes, I agree with GM because they are mostly correct and have played all the courses.

Also St. Andrews is our Mecca (and not the Bingo type).

I would like to see a top 50 Municipal courses, you know for the credit crunch and the likes, would be very interesting.

 

[Atticus_Finch]

Yes, I agree with GM because they are mostly correct and have played all the courses.

Also St. Andrews is our Mecca (and not the Bingo type).

I would like to see a top 50 Municipal courses, you know for the credit crunch and the likes, would be very interesting.

Good idea Parmo. Something like a top 50 with green fees less than £40.

 

[heronsghyll]

Dear Chubb,

FYI, I have played 14 of the Top 15 courses listed. I therefore believe I have the right to an opinion. Just because GM say it is so, does not necessarily make it right.

I stand by my comments, St Andrews is our Mecca as a place with an amazing history, but not for the course. The course is average.

 

[vig]

I couldn't argue for or against as I haven't played them.

Perhaps I should start a personal crusade to play them all and then i'll let you know.
Keep logging in, i'll update you in 2014.

I would also like to see top 50 under £50... More chance of playing ALL of them

 

[Parmo]

Dear Chubb,

FYI, I have played 14 of the Top 15 courses listed. I therefore believe I have the right to an opinion. Just because GM say it is so, does not necessarily make it right.

I stand by my comments, St Andrews is our Mecca as a place with an amazing history, but not for the course. The course is average.

Sorry heronsghyll, I didnt mean to offend.

 

[Parmo]

Maybe people could nominate courses and the best nominations and reviews get put forward for the best courses say under £15 then £20 and so on. The scoring would have to be value, course and facilities with accessibility maybe, the top courses go into the main comp and the lower ones can go into value comp, bit like the top 100 but on a smaller scale.

 

[vig]

But to rate you would need to play

 

[TonyN]

I didnt see any offence in your first post chubb

Can't comment though really because aint played them.

But what I will say though (loosly again aint played it) is that, Is birkdale really a contender for number 1??? Doesn't look all that much to me, but I supose it depends on how they are judged.

I must get round to finishing of the mag.

 

[viscount17]

Chubb, what did you mean by accessibility? Does it cover clubs that 'accept' 2-4-1 vouchers but only on a wet Thursday or after dark at weekends?

Good thread in the offing I think.

apologies, to return to the thread - I haven't played them so can't comment - I'm more familiar with the other end!

 

[heronsghyll]

Chubb,

Thanks for your note, no issues. It is interesting though that most of the forum responders have not played these courses. It makes you wonder if articles like that have any value to the average reader. Maybe GM should do a review of the Top 100 courses most people ACTUALLY play? This would be to include municipals, other "pay and play" clubs as well as member clubs.

I am lucky to have played a large proportion of the listed 100 courses (over 50% in fact) but that does not seem to be the norm.

 

[OldWindy]

I haven't played most of the courses listed but do respect the decision of the panel simply as they have better knowledge. Perhaps the different panels creating the lists could meet one day and end all the argument?

As far as Aberdovey is concerned, my wife saw Neil Tappin in the pro shop when he arrived last year (may have sold him the green fee!) and TBH I don't think he would recognise the course now it's being looked after again. It's done now; will have to wait another two years for the next verdict.

 

[OldWindy]

Maybe GM should do a review of the Top 100 courses most people ACTUALLY play? This would be to include municipals, other "pay and play" clubs as well as member clubs.

Aren't there nigh on 3000+ courses in the British Isles?

 

[TonyN]

I like the idea of the top 50,100 cheaper courses.

At the end of the day, the top course are only the opinion of 1(or many) men(or women) so not everyone will agree.

I think maybe GM could do a poll and ask readers to send in a Vote for the best course we have played under £30????

That way the majority of the country will have influenced the answer and maybe we would agree alot more, as a group. Only problem is though I think the majority would probably just vote there own local faves.

SO.......why dont GM fund a 2 week break for me to go and play the countries best courses under £30 and I will rate them all!

 

[MikeH]

hi all

it's really good to hear some opinions on the top 100.

Lists on the 'top courses' always generate a lot of debate as the great thing about them is that they are to a great extent subjective not definitive.

As I wrote in the Top 100 issue eds letter everyone has their favourites and we should celebrate that.

To give an example I really felt that Huddersfield was worthy of inclusion but wanted a second opinion so sent a couple of staff who have played a lot of top 100 contenders plus one of our senior pannelists and they all felt it wasn't quite good enough so I was out voted 3 to 1 and it missed out!

heronsgyhll, it was interesting to read your thoughts (and as someone who has played 14 of the top 15 you're certainly very well qualified to comment!) on the Old Course.

Our list is not purely about the course but takes into account the whole 'experience' and I'm sure anyone who has played the Old Course would agree the experience is a memorable one

I think that factor helps keep the Old Course as high as it is because hole for hole I'd agree that there are number of stronger courses not ranked as highly.

Regarding price while the very top tracks are undoubtedly expensive (probably a once a year or even lifetime treat) there is some great value to be found further down the list especially if you're prepared to tee it up in winter months

 

[Imurg]

They should also only include courses that you can actually play. I know Loch Lomond is a good course coz I'vs seen it on the telly but I can't go and play it so it sort of becomes irrelevent. Same with any other course that takes members only - it doesn't matter how good they are if you can't play them.

Only played 2 of the top 100 (shame on me!) so I can't really say much about the top 10 except that I'd like to play them!!

 

[vig]

hi all

it's really good to hear some opinions on the top 100.

Lists on the 'top courses' always generate a lot of debate as the great thing about them is that they are to a great extent subjective not definitive.

As I wrote in the Top 100 issue eds letter everyone has their favourites and we should celebrate that.

To give an example I really felt that Huddersfield was worthy of inclusion but wanted a second opinion so sent a couple of staff who have played a lot of top 100 contenders plus one of our senior pannelists and they all felt it wasn't quite good enough so I was out voted 3 to 1 and it missed out!

heronsgyhll, it was interesting to read your thoughts (and as someone who has played 14 of the top 15 you're certainly very well qualified to comment!) on the Old Course.

Our list is not purely about the course but takes into account the whole 'experience' and I'm sure anyone who has played the Old Course would agree the experience is a memorable one

I think that factor helps keep the Old Course as high as it is because hole for hole I'd agree that there are number of stronger courses not ranked as highly.

Regarding price while the very top tracks are undoubtedly expensive (probably a once a year or even lifetime treat) there is some great value to be found further down the list especially if you're prepared to tee it up in winter months

I have to say that irrspective of whether St Andrews is a great "course" or not. I would like to play it, just once.

Huddersfield is close to where I work so maybe I/we (forumers) could give it a go and see for ourselves.

Courses that are inaccessible, such as Loch Lomond should not be included IMO as the general public won't be able to play it.

Incidently, how many courses were considered before the final draft was decided?

 

[SammmeBee]

I have played a similar number of top 100 courses to our new forummer Herons (welcome BTW!!)....and I actually would say I disagree with the OP - Old Head is a fanastic place, in the apart from Augusta, the most fantastic golfing place I have been too but the golf course is average, most of the holes are drive and very short iron and it changes due to the extreme weather conditions - it's current ranking has risen over the last few years and it's about right now. St Andrews is like marmite as we all know - in my eyes it should be no 1!!

Kingsbarns - no comment.

The top 100 should be the top 100 'golf courses' not clubs or layouts or green or based on whether you can get on or how much it is - all courses have different business models and charge different prices based on demand and whether they actually want/need visitors.....

Lists are great after all maybe that should be a new feature for 2009 in GM - reader's top 25 courses with a 10 word piece why on each course based on whatever they want...

 

[Herbie]

I can think of a few good ones under 30 quid.
In fact I think I could come up with 50 courses under £30, though some you wouldnt want to play more than once lol.

 

[Dodger]

Mike H......has anyone ever had a look at my club,do the GM team know it exists??

Surely worthy of a look and as a player of many of the top 100 courses I do feel that it is worth an inclusion ahead of some or along side some like Ladybank,Seaton Carew,Royal North Devon,Gleneagles Queens,Panmure and Alwoodley which are all nice courses but not ones I would put too far ahead of Goswick if at all.

The rating of these things always confuses me,an example being Bamburgh inclusion in a Mag (possibly G Worlds) saying that it had just missed out in being in the top 100..........yes it has lovely views over toward Holy Island,Bamburgh Castle and the North Sea but is nothing more than a goat track as far as the actual golf part of the experience goes!!

I do realise though that it is all down to individual tastes but some of the ones listed are not to mine.Just my opinion on the subject fellas.