3puttmaster
Medal Winner
I appreciate that the above listings are subjective. After all, we all play certain types of courses we like (links, parkland etc) and swerve those we dislike or don't enjoy. I get that and I also appreciate only too well the different facets of what can possibly make a course good or bad. For example, the welcome on arrival, the overall conditioning, level of challenge etc.
However, what I don't get is the fact that time after time in the various listings, we see the same courses that the vast majority, probably 95% of us golfers will never have a chance of playing. Just look at the Top 10 in the latest Golf World Top 100 Courses in the World; there are 5 courses (Pine Valley, Cypress Point, Augusta National, Shinnecock Hills & Oakmont) that us mere mortals haven't a hope of playing. What is the point of including them when only a select few may just get the chance if their Great Uncle Bob knows mega rich Chuck who just happens to be a member at Pine Valley and can get you a game. I know I'm being sarcastic but you get the point.
For example. In 2015 I was lucky enough to visit California and got to play Pebble Beach. OK, it cost me about $500 but it was a once in a lifetime experience and I was able to play it. But, despite writing in advance to Cypress Point I was not allowed to play unless I could find one of their supposed 200 members to sign me in. This they were very strict on and despite visiting the club whilst there and literally pleading, I wasn't allowed to play. Not that it makes much difference, but I'm no hacker either and play off single figures.
My point is this! I feel strongly that if a club truly wants to be included in these listings then it has to allow visitors, or non members to play. It can set the parameters for allowing this to happen. Let's say, contact in advance, letter of introduction, whatever they may be but to just say you must be introduced by a member is not cutting it in my eyes. I know there'll be those who say "Well they're a private club so they can let in who they want". Well that's fine, but just don't expect to be included in these prestigious rankings if that's how they want to play it.
Sunningdale, Valderrama, Pebble Beach and many other wonderful venues can do it and their courses don't suffer. So, why can't others if they want to be included in the listings and feed off the notoriety it gives them?
However, what I don't get is the fact that time after time in the various listings, we see the same courses that the vast majority, probably 95% of us golfers will never have a chance of playing. Just look at the Top 10 in the latest Golf World Top 100 Courses in the World; there are 5 courses (Pine Valley, Cypress Point, Augusta National, Shinnecock Hills & Oakmont) that us mere mortals haven't a hope of playing. What is the point of including them when only a select few may just get the chance if their Great Uncle Bob knows mega rich Chuck who just happens to be a member at Pine Valley and can get you a game. I know I'm being sarcastic but you get the point.
For example. In 2015 I was lucky enough to visit California and got to play Pebble Beach. OK, it cost me about $500 but it was a once in a lifetime experience and I was able to play it. But, despite writing in advance to Cypress Point I was not allowed to play unless I could find one of their supposed 200 members to sign me in. This they were very strict on and despite visiting the club whilst there and literally pleading, I wasn't allowed to play. Not that it makes much difference, but I'm no hacker either and play off single figures.
My point is this! I feel strongly that if a club truly wants to be included in these listings then it has to allow visitors, or non members to play. It can set the parameters for allowing this to happen. Let's say, contact in advance, letter of introduction, whatever they may be but to just say you must be introduced by a member is not cutting it in my eyes. I know there'll be those who say "Well they're a private club so they can let in who they want". Well that's fine, but just don't expect to be included in these prestigious rankings if that's how they want to play it.
Sunningdale, Valderrama, Pebble Beach and many other wonderful venues can do it and their courses don't suffer. So, why can't others if they want to be included in the listings and feed off the notoriety it gives them?