World 100 Additions

[Steve_Roths]

Given the massive amount of good courses that have opened this year which ones do you think will find themselves ranked in the World 100?

Bayonne
Liberty National
Sebonack
Ballyneal
Stone Eagle
Colorado Golf Club
Dismal River
Pronghorn Fazio
Erin Hills

[Steve_Roths]

To answer my own question I think two will slide in:

Sebonack (top 75)
Ballyneal (top 50)

The other one I would guess might be Colorado Golf Club.

[Wayne Freeman]

I would agree with the above post based on what I've read and from some conversations with some of my buddies who have visited some of the courses. I have only played Stone Eagle to this point on the list, and although good, has no chance.

[Patrick Schultheis]

When's the cutoff date for opening?  For example, the second nine at Tumble Creek opened quite late in 2005.  It's not world top 100, but it's very good.

[Tom_Doak]

If you are talking about the GOLF Magazine list, it won't be done again until the fall of 2007, and I doubt that many of the courses on the above list will have been played by enough panelists by that time to be ranked.

Sebonack does have a distinct advantage in exposure to most of the others, thanks to the general East Coast bias.

[Patrick_Mucci]

Tom Doak,

I've heard, from reliable Easterners, that Ballyneal is even better than Sebonack.

That's high praise and indicative that the Eastern bias can still recognize quality golf courses beyond our region.

[Tom_Doak]

Patrick:

Were those reliable Easterners +3 handicaps?  Sebonack seems to be rated pretty highly among them, because it was designed for that; Ballyneal was not.  So I expect there will not be a unanimous decision on the merits of the two.

Meanwhile, I got the impression from Mr. Nicklaus' comments yesterday that he might think Dismal River is a better course than Sebonack.  It will certainly be interesting to see how the three play out over time, but I think that the East Coast bias will have its effect.  Which is funny, because two years ago, I'd have told you that being next door to Shinnecock and National would hurt the course's reputation rather than help it.

[cary lichtenstein]

Ballyneal one the new side, Tobacco Road on the "ignored so far" side, Quarry at Giants Ridge on the "out of the way side", Bayonne on the "best pictures side",

[Patrick_Mucci]

Tom Doak,

The individuals who made the remarks aren't within ten strokes of a + 3 handicap.

I've not played Ballyneal, so I can't comment on the relative merits of the two courses.

Hopefully that will have changed by next year.

[Tim Pitner]

To answer my own question I think two will slide in:

Sebonack (top 75)
Ballyneal (top 50)

The other one I would guess might be Colorado Golf Club.

I'd be surprised if Colorado Golf Club were rated so highly--not because it might not deserve it--but because, from what I've seen, it's high on subtlety.  It's on some beautifully rolling land with stands of pine trees, but doesn't have many "knock your sock's off" kind of holes.  Very different from Ballyneal, for example.  Perhaps I'm underestimating raters' ability to appreciate minimalism, but I'd bet I'm not.  

[ForkaB]

Since this is a "World" 100, any candidates outside of the US of A?  I can't think of any, but I am travel-challenged these days......

[Adam Clayman]

Meanwhile, I got the impression from Mr. Nicklaus' comments yesterday that he might think Dismal River is a better course than Sebonack.  

This is interesting. I heard after the opening round at DR, Jack walked off saying how some aspects didn't work. It must be the 13th hole from Matt's review, but it still is a bit confusing that Jack would give that impression.

Rihc, The world will have to wait for Cabot Links to open.