All the major golf magazines do it. It is done on this site. And most golfers rank the best courses they have played, though likely not in a list as large or complex as one of the magazines. But how do we define how different these courses are? How can you really say that one course is better than another when the numbers from some ultra-complex formula, submitted by numerous people, most of whom have likely not played both courses in question, only separate the courses by a tiny fraction?
Truth is, though the magazines would never admit this, you can not. As an example, in the current Golf Digest list, Los Angeles Country Club (North Course) ranks #47, Eagle Point Golf Club ranks #48; this writer has played the latter and not the former. The ranking score for LACC is 62.85, the score for EPGC is 63.83. Going only by the Digest methodology and not getting deep into personal preferences and such, is there really a difference between those two courses? The best answer is "not really." Of course you can go into the statistical break down of the individual categories and see that LACC is supposedly better in some areas while EPGC is better in others, but that basically only serves the purpose of justifying some bias as to why one SHOULD better than the other (something this writer is guilty of).
The same goes for the ranking seen on this site, either the Top 25 or the overall ranking. What really makes Tobacco Road (#14) better than Ross Bridge (#15)? That is all subjective. And so are the magazine lists. Because regardless of how many criteria they put in place or how many averages, the lists are still nothing more than an average of a given number of objective opinions.
Ross Bridge is an especially good example of potential bias, right here where you are reading. The course just flatly fit this writers eye. It was extremely long while not being boring. It had the best turf conditions seen thus far in Alabama. Even being ultra long, it had good variety. Those are all things that this writer likes to see on courses. And the ranking reflects that. This course fit many of the things that are good in golf courses in the South, where the majority of the courses profiled here are located.
But the bias does not extend to local area courses. How many raters go to Bandon Dunes having never played a links course elsewhere and skew the ranking they give the course, either positively or negatively. Same goes for any number of other courses that are supposedly the best in a given area. How often do people who live in that given area rate said course higher simply because it is the best in the area?
In the end rankings are fun to read and even fun to make on your own. But keep in mind that they are all either a single person's opinion or a compilation of opinions. They are certainly not factual data sets (though it is a fact that Eagle Point ranks #48 in the 2011 Golf Digest ranking), these lists are merely opinions. Take them as such and have fun.
Wednesday
Shell's Wonderful World of Golf at Skibo Castle
This fantastic golf course is ranked the 34th best course in Scotland by top100golfcourses.co.uk; not bad considering the stout competition. Enjoy the trip around Skibo Castle Golf Club.
Monday
Turf Conditions
Let's face it, the majority of golfers want nice, vibrant green grass on the course. That is why golf courses flood the turf with water and fertilizer during the growing season and then overseed with a winter turf where possible. However, most golfers also like to see tee shots roll out an additional 15-20 yards. The problem comes when clubs attempt to mix those two. It is possible to maintain a vibrant green golf course on top of it playing firm and fast. But it takes significant money to do so. This is not ideal for the golfer or the club.
Wanting firm and fast at all times also fails to take into consideration both weather and geographic factors. Courses in the southeastern United States with their bermuda turf and typical afternoon rain storms are simply not going to be firm and fast for much of the year. Just the same with courses in Seattle or other rainy areas. Bermuda turf (not seen in Seattle, obviously) is simply not a firm and fast turf normally. It takes significant work to keep bermuda firm due to thatch build-up and such. It simply will not run as firm as a bent grass or fescue turf. Trying to do so is a fools errand and will cost a great amount.
No the key for all golf courses is to find that balance that maintains the green conditions that golfers want while cutting back on maintenance expense (water use, chemicals, labor). Green conditions are what golfers want, regardless of what pockets of golfers on certain Golf Architecture websites (where I frequent) want to say. The vast majority of golfers simply will not pay money to play a browned out golf course regardless of the quality of design or how much yardage they gain on tee shots.
The crowd that insists on firm and fast under all circumstances fails to understand the nature of the business nationwide and worldwide. Sure, Bandon Dunes could get 15 inches of rain overnight and the fairways still play firm. The sandy soil there runs water through it like a collander. But a great course like Pebble Beach does not have that luxurious soil. If it rains heavily at Pebble Beach, the course will be wet, simple as that. Sure, they could possibly install millions of dollars of subsurface drainage or dig out the fairways and cap them with a foot or two of sand, but who would pay for that? Eventually that cost will be filtered down to the consumer. And in truth, nothing would be gained.
The quest for firm and fast conditions all over, as said before, is simply a fools errand. There is frankly no reason to expect ANY course to maintain firm and fast conditions all the time. Doing so causes nothing more than an arms race of courses trying to keep up with each other and raising the price of golf for the average golfer. Hopefully those that try to preach about firm and fast at all times will wake up and realize the cost of doing so. Firm and fast simply does not work at all times.
Wanting firm and fast at all times also fails to take into consideration both weather and geographic factors. Courses in the southeastern United States with their bermuda turf and typical afternoon rain storms are simply not going to be firm and fast for much of the year. Just the same with courses in Seattle or other rainy areas. Bermuda turf (not seen in Seattle, obviously) is simply not a firm and fast turf normally. It takes significant work to keep bermuda firm due to thatch build-up and such. It simply will not run as firm as a bent grass or fescue turf. Trying to do so is a fools errand and will cost a great amount.
No the key for all golf courses is to find that balance that maintains the green conditions that golfers want while cutting back on maintenance expense (water use, chemicals, labor). Green conditions are what golfers want, regardless of what pockets of golfers on certain Golf Architecture websites (where I frequent) want to say. The vast majority of golfers simply will not pay money to play a browned out golf course regardless of the quality of design or how much yardage they gain on tee shots.
The crowd that insists on firm and fast under all circumstances fails to understand the nature of the business nationwide and worldwide. Sure, Bandon Dunes could get 15 inches of rain overnight and the fairways still play firm. The sandy soil there runs water through it like a collander. But a great course like Pebble Beach does not have that luxurious soil. If it rains heavily at Pebble Beach, the course will be wet, simple as that. Sure, they could possibly install millions of dollars of subsurface drainage or dig out the fairways and cap them with a foot or two of sand, but who would pay for that? Eventually that cost will be filtered down to the consumer. And in truth, nothing would be gained.
The quest for firm and fast conditions all over, as said before, is simply a fools errand. There is frankly no reason to expect ANY course to maintain firm and fast conditions all the time. Doing so causes nothing more than an arms race of courses trying to keep up with each other and raising the price of golf for the average golfer. Hopefully those that try to preach about firm and fast at all times will wake up and realize the cost of doing so. Firm and fast simply does not work at all times.
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