Golf World Resort Ratings....

[Kalen Braley]

The Readers Choice awards came out for 2009 and Pebble doesn't make the top 25.

As they say, let the fur fly.

http://www.golfdigest.com/golfworld/2008/10/gw20081017rctopresort

Top 10:

1. Kiawah Island Golf Resort, Kiawah Island, S.C.
                       
2. Turning Stone Resort, Verona, N.Y.
 
3. Sea Island GC, St. Simons Island, Ga.
 
4. Reynolds Plantation, Greensboro, Ga.

5. Pinehurst Resort, Pinehurst, N.C.
 
6. Kapalua Resort, Kapalua, Hawaii
   
7. Coeur d'Alene Resort, Coeur D'Alene, Idaho

8. Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, Bandon, Ore.
 
9. The Greenbrier, White Sulphur Springs, W.Va.
 
10. Kingsmill Resort & Spa, Williamsburg, Va.

[Jonathan Cummings]

Another example of how a category-based top-X list results in a dubious list.  JC

[John Kavanaugh]

Another example of how a category-based top-X list results in a dubious list.  JC

Jonathan,

Golfweek should have all their subscribers rank courses...Oops, I guess all 400 of you already do.

[Matt_Ward]

Kalen:

I mentioned how PB is not a 10 for me on a different thread but it's outright funny that PB is not among the top ten with the listing you provided.

Frankly, Turning Stone and Reynolds Plantation are nicely done in so many ways but there must be other criteria involved because if the golf side is the dominant issue neither of them should be at that high a placement, in my mind.

Candidly, I have to wonder where the American Club is with all the layouts and amenities they offer.

[Kalen Braley]

Jonathon,

If you dig into the numbers, perhaps people were making the correct assessments after all.

Their rating came at the expense of 3 lowly rated categories, 2 of which were "value" and "pace of play".  If we complain again and again about over-crowded courses that cost too much, then it seems these guys got it and whacked PB accordingly.  Every other category had solid to great numbers.

* The other low category was practice faciities which is at least golf related.

[Kalen Braley]

Matt,

Understood its not all about the golf but also the extras.

I mostly posted this to point out that PB got whacked on 3 items that were all golf operations related.  Not sure if the resort cares about this publication or not, but at least it was a message sent about thier pricing structure and pace of play.

P.S. Also of note Bandon got the best marks for quality of course(s) and very high marks in Service and Prestige.  I'm sure Mr. Keiser would be very pleased to know that.  Additionally I just noticed they were 2nd only to World Woods in the Value category.... interesting.

[Carl Nichols]

Is this the same survey that ranks two RTJ Trail courses as the #1 and #2 public courses in the country?  And Hidden Creek and Firestone the #3 and #4 private courses? 

http://www.golfdigest.com/golfworld/2008/10/gw20081017rctoppublic

[Tim Leahy]

Haven't seen any adds for Pebble Beach resort in Golf World lately? Hmmm..

[Brad Klein]

Kavanaugh, get your facts right: 485.

As usual, you underestimate us.

[Jonathan Cummings]

If you are in the course ranking business than rank the courses.  Don't inject unecessary steps.  I still think the best system is not employed by any publications I know of.  Ask all your raters (magazine or public) to write down in descending order the courses they have played - best to worst.  If I had those individual ranked lists from Brad's 485 raters, I would simple average those lists laterally.  Argue the validity of rankings all you wish but if you want to play the rating game using a method with the least rating steps will get you the most ranking fidelity.  JC

[Tom_Doak]

Jonathan:

If anybody ranked 485 courses for me in precise order, I would tear the list to pieces right in front of them just to make my point.

[Steve_ Shaffer]

Since when is World Woods classified as a resort? Where is the on site hotel-underground?

[Sam Maryland]

if you want to hold a 20 person outing at Pebble TOMORROW they can accommodate you with consecutive tee-times of...

...10.10am, 10.20am, 10.30am, 10.40am and 10.50am.

unreal.

SM

"we never 'cut deals' at Pebble Beach..."

                        --PB Operator--

[Anthony Gray]

  If someone offered you a free trip to the resort of your choice how many of these top ten would you pick before Pebble Beach?

[Carl Nichols]

  If someone offered you a free trip to the resort of your choice how many of these top ten would you pick before Pebble Beach?

Zero, since I'd take the free trip to Pebble, pay to go to Bandon, and save a lot of money over the opposite approach.  But putting aside that issue, Bandon is the only resort I'd consider going to over Pebble.

[Chris Avore]

I saw that list and it's just ridiculous.  It counts Whistling Straits and Blackwolf Run as two separate resorts, when NEITHER is a resort. 

[PCCraig]

I would agree with Kiawah. If you have access and include the Kiawah Cassique and River courses, heck yes that is a great place to visit.

[Andy Scanlon]

The Disney World Courses at 13?  Farcical.  They are a nice diversion if you are tired of the various parks and don;t want to venture off of the disney property, but come on....

[Jonathan Cummings]

Jonathan:

If anybody ranked 485 courses for me in precise order, I would tear the list to pieces right in front of them just to make my point.

Tom - it's 485 raters not 485 courses