Golfweek: 2011 list of best new courses in U.S.

[Howard Riefs]

Golfweek just released its 2011 list of best new courses, which is defined as those courses that opened the last two years.  

http://www.golfweek.com/news/2011/oct/27/golfweeks-best-2011-new-courses/

Congrats to Tom, Jim, Jeff and others with courses on the list.
 
Are there any misses, surprises, omissions?  Case in point: Chicago Highlands up at #5?


1. Old Macdonald
Bandon, Ore.
2010 , Tom Doak, Jim Urbina
8.76

2. Patriot GC
Owasso, Okla.
2010, Robert Trent Jones Jr.
7.33

3. Dormie Club
Pinehurst, N.C.
2010, Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw
7.13

4. The Prairie Club (Dunes)
Valentine, Neb.
2010, Tom Lehman
6.83

5. Chicago Highlands
Westchester, Ill.
2010, Arthur Hills
6.63

6. Lodestone
McHenry, Md.
2010, Hale Irwin
6.45

7. TPC San Antonio (AT&T Oaks)
San Antonio
2010, Greg Norman
6.39

8. Salish Cliffs
Shelton, Wash.
2011, Gene Bates
6.11

9. Firekeeper
Mayetta, Kan.
2011, Jeff Brauer, Notah Begay III
6.00

10. Carmel CC (South)*
Charlotte, N.C.
2011, Ellis Maples, Rees Jones
5.97

11. The Prairie Club (Pines)
Valentine, Neb.
2010, Graham Marsh
5.92

12. Highlands of Elgin
Elgin, Ill.
2010 , Keith Foster, Art Schaupeter
5.83

13. Dallas CC*
Highland Park, Texas
2011, Tom Bendelow, John Fought, Jay Morrish, Ralph Plummer
5.80

14. Conestoga
Mesquite, Nev.
2010, Gary Panks
5.70

15. TPC San Antonio (AT&T Canyons)
San Antonio
2010, Pete Dye
5.65

16. Timber Banks
Baldwinsville, N.Y.
2010, Jack Nicklaus II
5.65

17. Meadow Brook
Richmond, R.I.
2010, Roger Rulewich
5.40

18. Applecross
East Brandywine, Pa.
2011, Michael Nicklaus
5.27

19. Vaaler Creek
Blanco, Texas
2010, Michael Lowry
5.25

20. Awarii Dunes
Axtell, Neb.
2011, Jim Engh
5.08

21. National GC of Louisiana
Westlake, La.
2010, Dave Bennett
5.00

22. Manitou Passage
Cedar, Mich.
2010, Arnold Palmer
4.98

23. Sequoyah National
Whittier, N.C.
2010, Robert Trent Jones Jr.
4.95

24. 1757 Golf Club
Dulles, Va. 2010
Dave Heatwole
4.10

25. Shining Rock
Northbridge, Mass.
2010, Patrick Sullivan
4.09

[Garland Bayley]

Congrats to Jay for #2

[PCCraig]

It's nice that Highlands of Elgin is getting some recognition, esp. with the Pines Course at the Prairie Club barely besting it for #11.

[Tom_Doak]

That's going to be a lonely list for 2011-12.

[Mike Viscusi]

Does anyone have a rough idea how many US courses opened in the last two years?

[John_Conley]

Mike, 25.

[Michael Goldstein]

wow

[David Harshbarger]

To paraphrase another thread...

Good news for "that guy", Every new course of 2011 you play will be a Top 25 course of 2011.

[Mike Viscusi]

It's interesting to see just how dramatic the decline in new course construction (both in #'s and quality) is when you compare this year's list to 2009:

• 2009 featured 20 courses with a 6.0 rating or higher.  2011 has just 9.
  
  2009's 25th ranked course had a 5.83 rating.  2011's 25th ranked course has a 4.09 rating.
  
  2009's list went 40 deep.  2011 has just 25.
  
  2009's 40th ranked course (Black Bull GC @ 5.13) would have ranked 20th in 2011.

I'd be curious to know the # of new courses from '08 and '09 vs. '10 and '11.  Maybe the perceived reduction in quality is actually in proportion given the reduction in overall new courses.

[David Harshbarger]

It's interesting to see just how dramatic the decline in new course construction (both in #'s and quality) is when you compare this year's list to 2009:

• 2009 featured 20 courses with a 6.0 rating or higher.  2011 has just 9.
  
  2009's 25th ranked course had a 5.83 rating.  2011's 25th ranked course has a 4.09 rating.
  
  2009's list went 40 deep.  2011 has just 25.
  
  2009's 40th ranked course (Black Bull GC @ 5.13) would have ranked 20th in 2011.

I'd be curious to know the # of new courses from '08 and '09 vs. '10 and '11.  Maybe the perceived reduction in quality is actually in proportion given the reduction in overall new courses.

Mike, is the 2009 list a combined '08-'09 list?

[Peter Pallotta]

I don't know anything about rankings and don't know anything about any of the courses. (Why are you posting then, Peter? Good question. I'm not sure. Does "I like typing" seem a legitimate reason?)  But it's interesting that 80-90 years ago, everyone 'in the know' seemed to know long before a course opened that it was going to be good/great/the best.  And that was before internets and blogs and discussion boards and the proliferation of magazines and lists. Now, 80-90 years later, those 'in the know' still seem to know what's courses will be good/great/the best even before the courses open.  The only difference seems to be that 9 decades ago, those in the know numbered perhaps in the dozens while today that seems to have jumped up to the hundreds, maybe even thousands.  (What's your point? I don't know - I just like typing).

Peter

[Jim Franklin]

That's going to be a lonely list for 2011-12.

1. Streamsong Red
2. Streamsong Blue
3. ?

[Mike Viscusi]

Mike, is the 2009 list a combined '08-'09 list?

Yes: http://www.golfweek.com/news/2009/oct/17/2009-golfweeks-best-new-courses/

[Andy Troeger]

I played The Patriot a couple weeks ago and had intended on posting something eventually. Its really quite good--the land is not at all what you'd expect from Oklahoma with some pretty big canyons and elevation changes. The split fairway holes on the front nine are diverse and interesting and the course moves around different parts of the property in an interesting fashion. There are a couple photo threads from the construction of the course in the archives showing most/all of the holes. Their mission is also worthwhile. There's not a significant difference in quality between it and the more established courses in Oklahoma (Southern Hills, Karsten, and Oak Tree) that make some of the national lists.

The one negative is walkability. The vast majority of the course is walkable--the course uses some of the same types of green to tee transitions as Chambers Bay. However, getting in and out of the canyons is troublesome and the walk from the bottom at #16 green to get back to the top for #17 tee would be a backbreaker for some at that time in the round. The area around #13 green/14 tee is challenging too.

[Tom_Doak]

That's going to be a lonely list for 2011-12.

1. Streamsong Red
2. Streamsong Blue
3. ?

Jim:

If all goes well, the two courses at Streamsong will open right about one year from today.  I doubt that would give enough time for the courses to be rated #1 and #2, since the list is published two months before the end of the year.  And we'll have to see whether the Red or the Blue course rates higher with the voters 

[Mike Nuzzo]

What does a 5 mean?
A Doak 5 = well above average, play if nearby, but don't extend your trip.
Based on this list it is a course I would never care to play - I'd rather go to the dentist*.

This is an interesting list of architects** to have put out a 5:
Pete Dye, Roger Rulewich & Michael Lowry

*I don't have any cavities, it is only for a cleaning, and I go about every 5 years, so going to an appointment has value.
** The 3rd guy isn't an architect

[Howard Riefs]

That's going to be a lonely list for 2011-12.

1. Streamsong Red
2. Streamsong Blue
3. ?

Too bad the U.S. can't annex Nova Scotia. Cabot Links would be a sure contender.

[Cliff Hamm]

Rhode Island is not a hot bed of public golf.  Meadow Brook did not improve this.  It is architecturally not a strong course.

[Jud_T]

for reference here's the 2007 list.  2011 looks real thin in comparison....

http://www.golfweek.com/news/2007/jul/07/2007-golfweeks-best-new-courses/

[Michael George]

Jud:

Great information.  That was a great 2 year period.  Besides that course Bandon Trails, which we all agree needs to be bulldozed  , that is one impressive list.  Possibly 10 courses that would appear in my top 100 US courses. 

Having never played it, I don't have any personal opinion, but Canyata must be the most polarizing golf course in America.  Top 50 at times by Golf Digest.  Not even in the top 25 new courses by Golfweek.

[Joel_Stewart]

Mike, 25.

So you're saying all 25 that were built in the last 2 years are listed?

[Dan Byrnes]

Any one play Timber Banks?.  Will have to check it out next time I am in town, next year likely.

Dan

[Michael George]

Joel:

Was referring to the list that Jud attached.  Canyata was something like 36th best new course in that 2 year period.  However, Golf Digest has ranked it very highly in its best courses in US list. 

I understand personal opinions and preferences, but you usually don't see that big of a disparity.

[Tom_Doak]

for reference here's the 2007 list.  2011 looks real thin in comparison....

http://www.golfweek.com/news/2007/jul/07/2007-golfweeks-best-new-courses/

Tumble Creek was 31st!  I thought that was bad, but Dismal River was 42nd!

[Jason Walker]

Cliff-
perhaps there was consideration given for what was there before?   

I haven't played the new iteration, but I remember from 15 years ago that what was there was not much more than a cow pasture with some holes cut in the ground.

gotta say--sure looks nice from Rt 138, even if the bunkers are a dead giveaway for the architect.