While I'm on a roll, I'll share this little punch list I wrote for a client recently:
Analysis of the Top 50 Golf Courses in the World
(GOLF Magazine, 2001)
19 are par-72 courses
15 are par-71
16 are “others,” mostly 70 or 73
23 return to the clubhouse at the ninth hole;
27 do not, including Pine Valley, Cypress Point, Pebble Beach, Pinehurst #2 and St. Andrews.
29 have no cart paths at all (20 of these never allow golf carts);
18 have some cart paths, and
3 have continuous cart paths (Pebble Beach, Muirfield Village, and Riviera)
31 have an adjacent practice facility, but
19 do not, including Pebble Beach, Pine Valley, St. Andrews, Sand Hills and Crystal Downs.
12 of the top 50 are less than 6800 yards from the back tees;
15 are between 6800 yards and 7000 yards;
23 can be stretched to 7000 yards for championship play.
28 of the top 50 are built on sand;
Several more are built on sandy loam;
But several are built on clay, including Augusta National, Oakmont, Olympic, and Riviera.
21 of the top 50 have fescue or bent/fescue fairways (all the UK courses plus Sand Hills, Pacific Dunes, Whistling Straits);
15 of the top 50 have bent grass or bent/poa fairways;
8 of the top 50 have Bermuda fairways (including Augusta, Pinehurst and Royal Melbourne);
4 have ryegrass fairways, 1 zoysia, and 1 kikuyu grass.
48 of the top 50 have bent grass or fescue/bent greens;
Seminole (I think) and Casa de Campo are the only exceptions.