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Doug Ralston

Golf Digest: Places to Play
« on: July 11, 2008, 07:14:01 PM »
Apparently GD has not yet [are they going to?] put out the book, as in the past. But it is available on the website. I found lots to love/hate about their rankings ..... and further evidence [to my mind] that they do not always send people. Some of the head-scratchers are to the point of absurdity.

You will love Michigan. 5* includes only Arcadia, Tullymore, and Timberstone. Angel's Crossing got a nice 4.5*, as did Black Lake, Eagle Eye, Red Hawk, and others you hate or love. Doak gets two 4*, Hight Pointe and Black Forest. Greywalls was also 4*. Any head-scratchers for you? Look at my beloved Kentucky and imagine how I feel  ;). Ranking courses is a weird job, I have to think.

http://www.golfdigest.com/courses/places?page=2&sort=&sortDirection=1&query=&limit=&country=USA&region=MI&nearestCity=&cost=&starRating=4&designer=

Doug


Chip Gaskins

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Golf Digest: Places to Play
« Reply #1 on: July 11, 2008, 07:38:18 PM »
how is Wild Horse not even ranked in their top 100?

another interesting observation...10 courses are from the myrtle beach region...hmmmm, interesting, interesting

Steve_ Shaffer

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Re: Golf Digest: Places to Play
« Reply #2 on: July 11, 2008, 08:17:40 PM »
Nothing more than a popularity contest with ballot stuffing available for owners.

"Some of us worship in churches, some in synagogues, some on golf courses ... "  Adlai Stevenson
Hyman Roth to Michael Corleone: "We're bigger than US Steel."
Ben Hogan “The most important shot in golf is the next one”

Cliff Hamm

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Re: Golf Digest: Places to Play
« Reply #3 on: July 11, 2008, 08:17:52 PM »
Quick comment....many, many courses now ranked 4.5 stars that are clearly not close to 4 stars..

Richard Hetzel

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Re: Golf Digest: Places to Play
« Reply #4 on: July 11, 2008, 08:23:09 PM »
To be honest High Pointe is somewhat overrated at 4 *. I played there 2 years ago one day after playing The Bear (which was waaaay overrated, but I digress). Highpointe is a pretty nice course at a great price, but is probably most well known for being Tom's first work of art, rather than one of his better works of art. GD rankings are quite subjective. On the flip side, how in the h*** did MB get 10 courses on there?

Highpointe, June 2006




« Last Edit: July 11, 2008, 08:58:35 PM by Rich Hetzel »
Best Played So Far This Season:
Crystal Downs CC (MI), The Bridge (NY), Canterbury GC (OH), Lakota Links (CO), Montauk Downs (NY), Sedge Valley (WI)

Tommy Williamsen

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Golf Digest: Places to Play
« Reply #5 on: July 11, 2008, 08:25:10 PM »
These are not rankings by GD panelists.  They are observations by any who log on to their site and fill out a questionarre.  It does not pretend to be anything other than a record of how well people like the course, pace of play, etc.
Where there is no love, put love; there you will find love.
St. John of the Cross

"Deep within your soul-space is a magnificent cathedral where you are sweet beyond telling." Rumi

Carl Nichols

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Golf Digest: Places to Play
« Reply #6 on: July 11, 2008, 09:13:57 PM »
These are not rankings by GD panelists.  They are observations by any who log on to their site and fill out a questionarre.  It does not pretend to be anything other than a record of how well people like the course, pace of play, etc.

That's exactly right.  As questionnaires go, I find the Zagat course rankings much more useful for the courses in their list (which is a much smaller group than the GD one). 

John_Conley

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Golf Digest: Places to Play
« Reply #7 on: July 11, 2008, 10:49:31 PM »
These are not rankings by GD panelists.  They are observations by any who log on to their site and fill out a questionarre.  It does not pretend to be anything other than a record of how well people like the course, pace of play, etc.

Yes Tommy, and it was just a week ago those deriding the GOLFWEEK Municipal list said it would be better to give everyone a voice and pretty much let the process run unchecked.

The GD Places to Play is decent, but not perfect.  That other list I posted two days ago is in another category.

Andy Troeger

Re: Golf Digest: Places to Play
« Reply #8 on: July 12, 2008, 10:00:57 AM »
Apparently GD has not yet [are they going to?] put out the book, as in the past. But it is available on the website. I found lots to love/hate about their rankings ..... and further evidence [to my mind] that they do not always send people. Some of the head-scratchers are to the point of absurdity.

You will love Michigan. 5* includes only Arcadia, Tullymore, and Timberstone. Angel's Crossing got a nice 4.5*, as did Black Lake, Eagle Eye, Red Hawk, and others you hate or love. Doak gets two 4*, Hight Pointe and Black Forest. Greywalls was also 4*. Any head-scratchers for you? Look at my beloved Kentucky and imagine how I feel  ;). Ranking courses is a weird job, I have to think.

http://www.golfdigest.com/courses/places?page=2&sort=&sortDirection=1&query=&limit=&country=USA&region=MI&nearestCity=&cost=&starRating=4&designer=

Doug



Doug,
As Tommy and others just mentioned, all Golf Digest does for this book is compile the thoughts of thousands of readers like you. Go to the website and submit your ratings, I used to do that occasionally, one of my comments actually made the book, although it wasn't very flattering for the course mentioned.

Unfortunately as time has gone on there's been pretty significant "star" inflation. The great courses might still get a 5, but very mediocre ones get a 4. If truly average facilities got a 3 then it would be a better resource, but that's hard to control when most folks probably rate their home courses and want them to get good scores.

Greg Chambers

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Golf Digest: Places to Play
« Reply #9 on: July 12, 2008, 11:48:13 AM »
These rankings never fail to show how stupid the majority of golfers really are.
"It's good sportsmanship to not pick up lost golf balls while they are still rolling.”

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