The Golf Digest Top 100 List is now posted

« **on:** March 28, 2007, 10:32:12 AM »

Geoff Shackelford has posted the list on his website. Here's the link in case anyone missed it. Some real head scratchers on there guys.

http://www.golfdigest.com/pdf/gd200705100greatest.pdf

« **Reply #1 on:** March 28, 2007, 10:39:18 AM »

David - thanks for posting.

So what are the head-scratchers? Of course the list will get roasted and toasted in this forum, a bastion of GolfWeek love and Golf Digest derision... But as I look at it, I don't see anything all that controversial.

And neither does Geoff S. As he says:

The news appears to be that for a change, there isn't much news. Four courses join the list (MPCC Shore, Tullymore, Kiawah-Cassique and Sycamore Hills). Augusta, National Golf Links and Oakland Hills dropped a bit, Riviera and Valley Club dropped a lot.

I guess it's odd that Riviera and Valley Club dropped, but hell they're each still in there, each still pretty strong... That to me would seem to be the only real news.

But I am pleased the list made George Pazin's day as Oakmont is a place above Pebble Beach.

« **Reply #2 on:** March 28, 2007, 10:46:02 AM »

Golfweek Medinah Ranking - #64
Golf Digest Medinah Ranking - #11

I can't help but wonder if MY hosting of two Golf Digest raters had an impact? I will take it as a personal compliment.

« **Reply #3 on:** March 28, 2007, 10:46:29 AM »

Well, to just name two Hucks, and mind you, I haven't played hardly any of these, Riviera 61? Is Victoria National (no disrespect JK) 40 spots better than Riviera? Muirfield Village at 18? Is that 20 spots better than SFGC? I'm not sure.

« **Reply #4 on:** March 28, 2007, 10:47:13 AM »

Let the fun begin...

« **Reply #5 on:** March 28, 2007, 10:52:04 AM »

Quote from: David Stamm on March 28, 2007, 10:46:29 AM

Well, to just name two Hucks, and mind you, I haven't played hardly any of these, Riviera 61? Is Victoria National (no disrespect JK) 40 spots better than Riviera? Muirfield Village at 18? Is that 20 spots better than SFGC? I'm not sure.

Riviera's placement is odd, granted.

SFGC, not so sure. I haven't seen it post-Doakification. Prior to that, I wouldn't argue with those who don't rate it all that highly - it's not everyone's cup of tea.

And James, we'll see how long I last. As one of the few and the proud Golf Digest panelists participating here, I usually defend our list for an hour or two before I get beaten down. I may not even try that hard this time... it's rather counterproductive - like being a Christian missionary in Baghdad. But we'll see.....

« **Reply #6 on:** March 28, 2007, 10:59:20 AM »

Wait, let me make a sandwich and get a glass of iced tea first...

« **Reply #7 on:** March 28, 2007, 11:00:32 AM »

Huck-

Any list of this magnitude that doesnt have the Kingsley Club on it, I'm sorry it is vastly wanting. How a modern day Crystal Downs does not make it on this list especially when it contains some of the finest playing conditions thanks to Dan Lucas this side of NGLA, stumps me...

Can you get some of your compatriots to get to Traverse City? Hell I can get Jim Reilly up from Costa Rica quicker than raters from GD get out to the Cherry Capital of the world.

« **Reply #8 on:** March 28, 2007, 11:00:38 AM »

A quick glance and I see the Prince Course in Hawaii but not the Plantation Course at Kapalua in the Top 100 and then the Prince Course at #9 public and Kapalua at #33 - I have yet to meet anyone who feels that the Prince is better than the Plantation.

Wasn't Trump Bedminster on the list last year - why did it drop off?

« **Reply #9 on:** March 28, 2007, 11:00:54 AM »

Tom,

As I am still a newbie to the board, would it be possible to summarize the differences between the panels?

Thanks, Jeff

« **Reply #10 on:** March 28, 2007, 11:04:08 AM »

I totally agree about THe Kingsley Club.

No Friars Head?

Plainfield still near the bottom of the list?

You guys got some explaining to do

« **Reply #11 on:** March 28, 2007, 11:09:22 AM »

Why did I get an email from Ben Hopman (GD) announcing this list? Did others get a similar email?

JC

« **Reply #12 on:** March 28, 2007, 11:10:22 AM »

Nothing I say is going to change the minds of those pre-disposed to dislike Golf Digest and anything it does - never has before, certainly won't now.

So that's it, I'm out.

I think I lasted an hour - that's pretty good.

TH

ps - to Jeff Doerr - the main difference between the two lists is that GD does not make two separate lists based on the arbitrary date of 1960, whereas GolfWeek has two separate lists, those created before that date and those created after. The rest is too subjective to even attempt to address.

« **Reply #13 on:** March 28, 2007, 11:20:02 AM »

On which hole at NGLA were 3,000 trees removed?

« **Reply #14 on:** March 28, 2007, 11:23:32 AM »

Tom,

I'm disappointed you're dropping out after an hour.

I would think you would be championing the newest listing and casting out all infidels and non-believers who do not see the wisdom within.

Will ye nay tarry longer, lad?

« **Reply #15 on:** March 28, 2007, 11:25:33 AM »

C'mon Huck. We need you for our bi-annual yucks.

MEDINAH # 11

Ryan Potts, I suspect you don't even believe that.

« **Reply #16 on:** March 28, 2007, 11:27:38 AM »

Seems to me the panelists show a real lack of imagination and appreciation for fun by not including a single Strantz course on this list (with the exception of MPCC, which has a more traditional appearance). I know his style is polarizing, but Tobacco Road is very, very good. Many of the courses on the top 100 list are interchangeable—nothing on there is comparable to TR.

It is also hard to believe that Yale isn't a top 100 course. Again, an incredibly unique design.

« **Reply #17 on:** March 28, 2007, 11:28:38 AM »

The only problem with Top 100 lists is that they only allow 100 entries. The only problem with comparing the subjective ramblings of a disparate crew of raters (regardless of the "objective criteria" that they use) is that you're dealing with subjective ramblings.

The disparity of the Medinah ranking and the ridiculous slam of Riviera pretty much says it all: these lists are fun to ponder, fun to argue about, and fun to use to "keep score", but you will always wind up with some pretty wacky results like the ones alluded to up above.

In terms of the merits of the Classic and Modern approach that Golfweek uses versus the combined approach of Golf Digest, the Golfweek one is more fun to me because it's a Top 100 list with 200 entries. The more the merrier.

« **Reply #18 on:** March 28, 2007, 11:29:14 AM »

Please explain to me not only the omission of Baltimore Country Club Five Farms (East) but also the fact that 15+ courses that were rated around or below BCC by GW are on the GD list....Congressional at 74th on GW and 86th on GD with no BCC!!! For crying out loud, BCC is 31st on GW.

I don't get it and it furthers my resolve to never buy that magazine again.

« **Reply #19 on:** March 28, 2007, 11:30:25 AM »

I agree with you on Yale, Dan. Engineer's would be another example after the restoration.

« **Reply #20 on:** March 28, 2007, 11:32:01 AM »

Mike/Adam:

I'm just a bit humorless today. Perhaps tomorrow I will take this in a yukking spirit. It's also rather wearying to take on the world by one's self... refer back to my missionary in Baghad line.

So have at it, rip away, forget completely how close the numbers are, how little difference there really is between #35 and #85, get all indignant like David Caroll just did.

Just like Dick Nixon, you're just not gonna have Tom Huckaby to kick around any more.

That line improved my humor.

« **Reply #21 on:** March 28, 2007, 11:32:37 AM »

Quote from: david h. carroll on March 28, 2007, 11:29:14 AM

Please explain to me not only the omission of Baltimore Country Club Five Farms (East) but also the fact that 15+ courses that were rated around or below BCC by GW are on the GD list....Congressional at 74th on GW and 86th on GD with no BCC!!! For crying out loud, BCC is 31st on GW. I don't get it and it furthers my resolve to never buy that magazine again.

David:

If you never bought the magazine again, you'd never have the benefit of all of those nutty lessons with ten pages of golfers using kitchen gadgets to aid their golf swing. Oh, the humanity!

« **Reply #22 on:** March 28, 2007, 11:33:20 AM »

Quote from: Adam Clayman on March 28, 2007, 11:25:33 AM

C'mon Huck. We need you for our bi-annual yucks.

MEDINAH # 11

Ryan Potts, I suspect you don't even believe that.

Some would agree with your suspicion.

Others would never admit to such.

« **Reply #23 on:** March 28, 2007, 11:33:37 AM »

Quote from: david h. carroll on March 28, 2007, 11:29:14 AM

Please explain to me not only the omission of Baltimore Country Club Five Farms (East) but also the fact that 15+ courses that were rated around or below BCC by GW are on the GD list....Congressional at 74th on GW and 86th on GD with no BCC!!! For crying out loud, BCC is 31st on GW. I don't get it and it furthers my resolve to never buy that magazine again.

David, that was another course I had to check again to make sure I wasn't missing something. There are some that say that BCC is arguably Tillie's best.

« **Reply #24 on:** March 28, 2007, 11:35:19 AM »

Has anyone else noticed the ARCHITECTS are getting no love on the public side? I guess who designs the course is of no importance to these guys.

Oakmont - 5

Riviera - 61

Get the hell out of here. This is a sad, sad list.

News:

David Stamm

Tom Huckaby

JR Potts

David Stamm

JMorgan

Tom Huckaby

JMorgan

Noel Freeman

Jerry Kluger

Jeff Doerr

Geoffrey Childs

Jonathan Cummings

Tom Huckaby

Matt_Cohn

Mike_Cirba

Adam Clayman

Dan_Callahan

tlavin

david h. carroll

David Stamm

Tom Huckaby

tlavin

JR Potts

David Stamm

Ryan Farrow