Best New for '05 ?

[Matt_Ward]

Interesting to see the courses that won the "Best New" from Digest this year. To provide a bit of a tease -- the winners were not on either the left or right coasts. That means neither Boston GC nor Old Sandwich, two designed by archies preferred by many here at GCA, were not winners in the Best New Private category. A major surprise indeed !

I had the opportunity to play one of the awardees and although it's quite good in the "affordable" category I can't believe a few others were not chosen ahead of it.

Suffice to say -- the Digest '05 listing will once again cause a bit of confusion for some and outright scratching of the head for others.

P.S. One course selected is a tremendous follow-up to the original 18 in the upscale category.

[Matt_Ward]

C'mon Adam -- I hope you're not busting my chops !!!

Really surprised at how a number of stellar courses were not chosen for their respective top spots.

You can be sure there will be some serious discussion here.

[Matt_Ward]

Adam:

Call it what you will.

The simple fact is that the Digest panel has indeed made a clear statement -- whether it sits well with those on this site will indeed make for an interesting discussion.

[Steve_ Shaffer]

Matt

Were any of the best new Fazio courses?

If so, how about the privatecourse at Whisper Rock? I forget if it's Upper or Lower.

Steve

[Dan Kelly]

Matt --

Why don't you just tell us what you know?

Dan

[Matt_Ward]

Steve:

Nothing in all of AZ.

TF does have a winner though.

[Steve_ Shaffer]

Matt

How about Fazio's second course at Forest Creek in Pinehurst?

Steve

[Matt_Ward]

Keep on trying partner ....

I will say this for TF -- he once again proves he can swing with the 800-pound gorillas !!!

[SPDB]

I hope Adam did, in fact, post here and deleted his messages. Although it would not be surprising for Matt to have a conversation with himself concerning rankings.  

[Matt_Ward]

SPDB:

Great comment -- one of your best.

My wife says the same thing to me on a variety of fronts beyond course ratings!

[John Kavanaugh]

Matt,

Are we entering the age of Lohman..

[Matt_Ward]

John:

Forgive my own ignorance -- the age of Lohman ?

One other note -- I mistated something in the original post -- the architect who won the upscale award did not have this year's winner at the same facility from his previos winner, but it's no more than 25 miles away.

[John Kavanaugh]

Matt,

How did Canyata do...It's only 40 miles away is why I ask..

[Scott_Burroughs]

P.S. One course selected is a tremendous follow-up to the original 18 in the upscale category.

Which seems to mean that neither Bandon Trails nor Wynn Las Vegas (my Faz guess) won Upscale.

Other guesses for somewhere on the lists:

Lakota Canyon
Bully Pulpit
Greywalls
Rochelle Ranch
Rees course(s?) at Foxwoods
Shelter Harbor

[Dan Kelly]

John Kavanaugh --

Since this discussion is going nowhere fast, I wonder why you say: "I'm a better man without ever playing Sand Hills."

[Sean Leary]

Was Sebonack not eligible this year? How about Tumble Creek?

[A.G._Crockett]

Matt,

Are we entering the age of Lohman..

I assume that this refers to Willie Lohman in "Death of a Salesman", but I'm damned if I get the connection...

[Jeff_Brauer]

I presumed that the Chicago based gca Bob Lohmann may have one in the running........

[Tom_Doak]

Sean:

We did not have any courses up for any category this year, so I couldn't care less about the results!

Next year will be interesting though:  Tumble Creek, Stone Eagle, Sebonack and (probably, depending on the cut-off date) Ballyneal will all be entered in the Best New Private category, along with Dismal River if it opens soon enough.  I'm sure other architects will have candidates as well, but it will be a very tough year.

[Dan Kelly]

One other note -- I mistated something in the original post -- the architect who won the upscale award did not have this year's winner at the same facility from his previos winner, but it's no more than 25 miles away.

I think it's more like 30.

[Tim Gavrich]

Was the newer course at Redstone (where the tour has the Shell Houston Open) near the top?  I don't know whether it was ew this year, though.

[cary lichtenstein]

From what I've played, Lakota Canyon, Greywalls and May River were the 3 best new this year for me.

[Sean Leary]

Tom Doak,

Since these courses all in for consideration in the same year, does that pose a problem for any of your clients, or do they not care? In having them all eligible the same year, you are competing with yourself at some level in these rankings, never mind the other architects...Hopefully the Mr. Pascucci's of the world don't care so much, but if I spent that kind of money, I might.

[Jason Blasberg]

I thought the list I saw on GD website naming Sutton Bay was for '04, is the '05 list published yet?

[A_Clay_Man]

Your DERN right I deleted my posts.

If any of you have been asked for information by one Matt Ward, you will know how relentless and rude he is about getting it.

I asked for info and was shut down,

I find Matt's subtext to be similar to  "Na Na Na nanana I know sonmething u dont know."

Here's a big Bronx cheer for Matt and his journalistic integrity.

  Ppppllllllliii