GD's Public Courses 64-Course Bracket--Matches 17 & 18 underway!!

[Ronald Montesano]

http://www.golfdigest.com/golf-courses/100-greatest-golf-courses/fans_choices

Thoughts?

[Joe Bausch]

I've always liked those 2 vs 15 match-ups in the NCAA.  How 'bout that Shadow Creek against Bulle Rock blood bath in the first round?!

 

[Andy Troeger]

I think its a fun idea, especially the "Match Play" bit. Hopefully it will get people to think about golf courses a bit.

[Matt_Ward]

Ron:

The selection cmte must have amnesia -- I don't see Black Mesa listed !

[Jeff_Brauer]

Looks like fun.  Hate it that the Quarry goes up against Pine Needles right away.  Hate to see either lose, but I may try to have a heavy write in vote!

[Alex Miller]

Seems like someone at GD is lurking GCA 

[Jeff_Brauer]

Alex,

I don't know about this quarterfinals, but Ron Whitten did a "match play" between Ocean Forest and Harbor Town to break their tie for 99th on the Top 100 list, which seems to be clearly a lift, clean and place in GD from this site.  AT least, I had never seen it done before here.

[Adam Clayman]

This is cool.

Seems like there should be a tad bit more specifics on how and who can vote.

Is it proper that a person that hasn't played both courses, pick a winner in any match?

[Ronald Montesano]

Look at some of the comments on the votes...they will be along the lines of "OMG!! Grazing Pig has THEEEE cutest assistant pros...they bye me dranks all day LOOOOONG at the cabana...I'm totes voting for that golf coarse totes totes totes!!!!"

I caution you against thinking that this bracket will be decided on architectural merit.

[Adam Clayman]

After seeing their 100 greatest list, why would anyone assume architectural merit is a factor.

[Steve Lapper]

With no mention of Old MacDonald, 90+% of this is a farce. Too bad, but then again, it is GD!

[Bill Brightly]

Hmm, I wonder if all the GCA members really voted if we could pull off an upset like Pasatiempo knocking off the #1 seed Whistling Straits?  That would shake up GD!

[Mark Saltzman]

I'm interested to see the results of Cascades vs. Fallen Oak, and Pasatiempo vs. Irish at WS.

Great classic vs. modern battles with very different golf courses.  

[Ronald Montesano]

Steve,

Are you saying that the omission of one course makes 90% of the bracket a farce? That's what I'm reading.

[Patrick Hodgdon]

Hmm, I wonder if all the GCA members really voted if we could pull off an upset like Pasatiempo knocking off the #1 seed Whistling Straits?  That would shake up GD!

That was the first thing that jumped out at me upset wise too. C'mon GCA let's get it done!

[Anthony Butler]

Since Shadow Creek is ranked above Pinehurst #2 it's safe to assume that the brackets were created by a couple of bookies in Vegas.

[Steve Lapper]

Steve,

Are you saying that the omission of one course makes 90% of the bracket a farce? That's what I'm reading.

Yes, the omission of an easily arguable top 5 course, and one that might well topple any one of those ahead of it and certainly all behind it does (by statistical logic and definition) render the majority of the balance a farce (WebsterS: "ludicrously improbable situation").

I'll go one more controversial step further and wager that a very large part of this contest will be determined by the following factors:

1) The relative attractiveness of the course's cart girls.

2) The proximity and frequency of alcoholic beverages available.

3) The net win/loss on-course gambling ratio for participating, non-GCA voters.

4) Social networking skill of each venue's Marketing Director's team

5) Relative GD specific ad spending budget of many of the named venues.

Any takers???

All of the above sound like solid reasons to further promote the contest as a constructive valuation for public access golf, eh?

[Bill Brightly]

Has anyone actually voted yet? I tried but I don't think voting is available yet. As a non-facebook user, there is a good chance I am missing something...

[Mark Saltzman]

Has anyone actually voted yet? I tried but I don't think voting is available yet. As a non-facebook user, there is a good chance I am missing something...

Bill,

I voted yesterday.  I think it will be fun.

Mark

[George Pazin]

To make this really work, you'd need:

- GC spend weeks having their experts predict the seedings

- a big kickoff show

- a couple days of people complaining about why their course got left out

- and, of course, JC Jones explain to us why all the Big Ten courses will dominate...only to lose earlier than expected.

 

I expect Big East Bethpage Black to fare well, but a Pac 10er will end up winning.

[Bill Brightly]

To make this really work, you'd need:

- GC spend weeks having their experts predict the seedings

- a big kickoff show

- a couple days of people complaining about why their course got left out

- and, of course, JC Jones explain to us why all the Big Ten courses will dominate...only to lose earlier than expected.

 

I expect Big East Bethpage Black to fare well, but a Pac 10er will end up winning.

No bracketing is complete without complaints from those left off. I scanned it quickly nd found these three that should be on:

Caledonia
Erin Hills
Atlantic City

[Howard Riefs]

Matty G said that Old Mac, because of it only opened last year, isn't eligible for GD's Top 100 list until 2013 -- hence the reason it was left off the bracket

http://twitter.com/#!/Matt_Ginella/status/55676005179867138

[Tim Leahy]

My final would be Pebble Beach vs. Spyglass Hill. If I had to pick two public courses for my final rounds it would be those two.

[Steve Lapper]

Matty G said that Old Mac, because of it only opened last year, isn't eligible for GD's Top 100 list until 2013 -- hence the reason it was left off the bracket

http://twitter.com/#!/Matt_Ginella/status/55676005179867138

Oh Yeah...that makes perfect sense.

and some trust these yo-yo's to define anything???

[Scott Szabo]

To make this really work, you'd need:

- GC spend weeks having their experts predict the seedings

- a big kickoff show

- a couple days of people complaining about why their course got left out

- and, of course, JC Jones explain to us why all the Big Ten courses will dominate...only to lose earlier than expected.

 

I expect Big East Bethpage Black to fare well, but a Pac 10er will end up winning.

No bracketing is complete without complaints from those left off. I scanned it quickly nd found these three that should be on:

Caledonia
Erin Hills
Atlantic City

Or Wild Horse?