[Jud_T]

Kudos to Golf Digest for doing Top 50 Most Fun Golf Course Public and Private lists (and a top 20 GB&I).  Are they finally getting the message?  The criterea: 1.  Length does not equal fun. 2.  Hard is overrated (when you look up the pot calling the kettle black in the dictionary!) 3.  Walking is more fun than riding. 4.  A welcoming attitude beats a snooty vibe.   All points most here would heartily agree upon.  All 5 Bandon courses easily make the list on the public side, as well they should. (Preserve is #3!).  Not sure how Kingsley gets left off a list like this, possibly on the walking is more fun than riding criteria (Is Crystal Downs an easier walk?) Don't know if it's kosher to publish the whole list as it's not on their website yet.  Other highlights and lowlights:

-Pebble #1 on the Public list (?), Old Mac #2!!
-lots of short courses and par 3 courses included
-Dunes Club at #6 on the Private side!
-St. Andrews Old at #1 on the GB&I list (not sure how 5 hour rounds factor into the calculations)
-Askernish at #8, Royal Worlington at #9 on the GB&I list.
-Augusta Par 3 beats Augusta National by 4 spots!
-University of Michigan #38 with a bullet on the Public list (is it truly Public?)
-Arcadia Bluffs over Bandon Trails?
-Leatherstocking, Palmetto, Old Elm and Lawsonia get their due

[Ronald Montesano]

just one stocking...

[Jim Colton]

See, I knew Sand Hills was "not as good" as Ballyneal

[Mark Bourgeois]

Actually, I don't see how GD deserves credit for anything other than coming up with another way to sell magazines.

Now, kudos would be in order if they had decided that greatness = fun and changed their 100 greatest accordingly, in a reversal from when they made the hardest the greatest. Instead I see pandering and worse still in a patronizing way.

[Jonathan Mallard]

Actually, I don't see how GD deserves credit for anything other than coming up with another way to sell magazines.

Now, kudos would be in order if they had decided that greatness = fun and changed their 100 greatest accordingly, in a reversal from when they made the hardest the greatest. Instead I see pandering and worse still in a patronizing way.

Mark,

I'm going to go one further here, and wonder aloud how much longer GD and similar magazines will continue as going concerns as monthly print operations. They have got to be feeling the squeeze of the internet, which would help explain the new topic.

[Garland Bayley]

I wish they would just stop taking over my connection with those pop up videos. Anyone know how to shut that down in Firefox?

[Matthew Runde]

Garland, try Adblock Plus.  It has greatly improved my browsing experience.

[Adam Clayman]

Can't these guys fish in a different pond for story ideas?

[Garland Bayley]

Thanks Matthew

We'll see how it goes with Adblock plus.

[Jim Colton]

Kudos to Golf Digest for doing Top 50 Most Fun Golf Course Public and Private lists (and a top 20 GB&I).  Are they finally getting the message?  The criterea: 1.  Length does not equal fun. 2.  Hard is overrated (when you look up the pot calling the kettle black in the dictionary!) 3.  Walking is more fun than riding. 4.  A welcoming attitude beats a snooty vibe.   All points most here would heartily agree upon.  All 5 Bandon courses easily make the list on the public side, as well they should. (Preserve is #3!).  Not sure how Kingsley gets left off a list like this, possibly on the walking is more fun than riding criteria (Is Crystal Downs an easier walk?) Don't know if it's kosher to publish the whole list as it's not on their website yet.  Other highlights and lowlights:

-Pebble #1 on the Public list (?), Old Mac #2!!
-lots of short courses and par 3 courses included
-Dunes Club at #6 on the Private side!
-St. Andrews Old at #1 on the GB&I list (not sure how 5 hour rounds factor into the calculations)
-Askernish at #8, Royal Worlington at #9 on the GB&I list.
-Augusta Par 3 beats Augusta National by 4 spots!
-University of Michigan #38 with a bullet on the Public list (is it truly Public?)
-Arcadia Bluffs over Bandon Trails?
-Leatherstocking, Palmetto, Old Elm and Lawsonia get their due

Jud,

 You do raise an interesting point about Golf Digest. Considering walkability and playability are scored by their panelists but not included in the magic formula, and resistance to scoring is 1/8th of what makes a golf course great, not only are they saying fun isn't part of the equation, they are essentially rewarding the opposite. If hard is truly overrated, then take it out or reduce its impact on their America's 100 Greatest gold standard.

  Back when they published the category scores early last year, I broke down which of the Top 100 courses had the most and least amount of their overall scores tied to the Resistance to Scoring category. It is nice to see many of the courses on the Lower 10 find their way on this Most Fun list. If it managed to filter its way into the Top 100 list, I'd classify that as an improvement.

2. RESISTANCE TO SCORING
Highest        
1   Bethpage Black (36)   13.44%
2   Hazeltine National (91)   13.38%
3   Butler National (54)   13.17%
4   Spyglass Hill (52)   13.14%   
5   Ocean Forest (100)   13.13%
6   The Ocean Course (26)   13.13%
7   Winged Food (West) (   13.08%
8   TPC Sawgrass (Players)   (41) 13.04%
9   Oakland Hills (South) (24)   12.99%
10   Victoria National (35)   12.94%

   Lowest   
1   Cypress Point (5)    11.13%
2   Shoreacres (92)   11.35%
3   Maidstone Club (93)   11.45%
4   Fishers Island (11)   11.50%
5      National Golf Links of America (10)   11.57%
6    Somerset Hills (93)   11.68%
7    Shadow Creek (41)   11.69%
8    Monterey Peninsula (Shore) (79)   11.73%
9   Sage Valley   (81) 11.73%
10    San Francisco (33)   11.75%

[Tim Leahy]

How about a link to the list or can someone post the list?

[GBoring]

GD Most Fun TOP 50 Private

1. Cypress Point
2. Fishers Island
3. NGLA
4. Sand Hills
5. Augusta National Par 3
6. The Dunes Club
7. San Francisco Golf CLub
8. Mountain Lake
9. Augusta National Golf Club
10. Shoreacres
11. Yeamans Hall
12. Sankaty Head
13. Essex County CC  (Mass)
14. Garden City GC
15. Valley Club of Motecito
16. Eastward Ho!
17. Palmetto GC
18. Prairie Dunes
19. Myopia Hunt Club
20. Somerset Hills CC
21. The Olympic Club Cliffs
22. Kittansett Club
23. Indian Creek CC
24. Monroe GC
25. Maidstone Club
26. Merion West
27. Monterey Peninsula CC
28. CC of Fairfield
29. Pine Valley (Short)
30. Ekwanok CC
31. St. Louis CC
32. Newport CC
33. Crystal Downs CC
34. Hollywood GC
35. Friar's Head GC
36. Riviera CC
37. Ballyneal GC
38. White Bear Yacht Club
39. Old Elm Club
40. Piping Rock
41. Blue Mound G & CC
42. The Everglades Club
43. Bel-Air CC
44. CC of Scranton
45. Whitinsville GC
46. The Creek
47. Omaha CC
48. Sakonnet GC
49. Whisperig Pines GC
50. Hyannisport Club

[Mark Bourgeois]

The soft-bigotry of fun expectations.

[jeffwarne]

GD Most Fun TOP 50 Private

1. Cypress Point
2. Fishers Island
3. NGLA
4. Sand Hills
5. Augusta National Par 3
6. The Dunes Club
7. San Francisco Golf CLub
8. Mountain Lake
9. Augusta National Golf Club
10. Shoreacres
11. Yeamans Hall
12. Sankaty Head
13. Essex County CC  (Mass)
14. Garden City GC
15. Valley Club of Motecito
16. Eastward Ho!
17. Palmetto GC
18. Prairie Dunes
19. Myopia Hunt Club
20. Somerset Hills CC
21. The Olympic Club Cliffs
22. Kittansett Club
23. Indian Creek CC
24. Monroe GC
25. Maidstone Club
26. Merion West
27. Monterey Peninsula CC
28. CC of Fairfield
29. Pine Valley (Short)
30. Ekwanok CC
31. St. Louis CC
32. Newport CC
33. Crystal Downs CC
34. Hollywood GC
35. Friar's Head GC
36. Riviera CC
37. Ballyneal GC
38. White Bear Yacht Club
39. Old Elm Club
40. Piping Rock
41. Blue Mound G & CC
42. The Everglades Club
43. Bel-Air CC
44. CC of Scranton
45. Whitinsville GC
46. The Creek
47. Omaha CC
48. Sakonnet GC
49. Whisperig Pines GC
50. Hyannisport Club

If you buy into that list, then it doesn't say a lot about modern architecture.....

ANGC par 3 is more fun than playing ANGC? seriously?

[Mac Plumart]

No Kingsley really surprises me.

[Ben Sims]

The only issue I have with the list is ANGC Par 3 course being in the top 5.  Exclusive?  Yes.  Fun to watch the pros with their little kiddos in white jumpsuits? Yes.  Beautiful with all the flowers and water on the hillside?  Yes.  Fun?  Very small greens, a lot of forced carries over water, maybe not.

[Pete Lavallee]

Because it is the home of the backed up hole in one; what could be more fun?

[Sean Leary]

Ben,

Please tell me you are speaking tongue in cheek about small greens and forced carries.

[Michael George]

Was the panel for these rankings limited to residents of New England?  Seems awfully geographically limited.  Also, I really don't know there criteria for "fun".  

With all of its bank shots, Dismal River is certainly a very fun place to play (once you have been around it once or twice).  

In terms of Ohio, it is not even close - Brookside is the most fun round of golf in the state ... due to its greens.  It probably is not the best in the state (reserved for The Golf Club), but those greens are really fun.
 
On the public side, it would be interesting to see where Wolf Creek is.  I would not rank it in my "best" golf courses (not even close actually), but it was certainly one of the most fun rounds that I have ever had - at least some of the holes.  You don't have many tee shots as fun as #2 and #12. 

[Jordan Wall]

Props to GD for putting out a good list and shame on those who have something negative to say about anything and everything GD simply because of the name.  This was a great list, criteria, and article.

[Peter Pallotta]

The soft-bigotry of fun expectations.

Mr. and Mrs. Bourgeois can be proud of a very clever son. 

(If "Mark Bourgeois" is actually your real name; I sometimes think it's a cover for your special-covert-ops missions.)

[Mark McKeever]

I like seeing Eastward Ho! high on this list!    
 
Mark

[Jim Colton]

Props to GD for putting out a good list and shame on those who have something negative to say about anything and everything GD simply because of the name.  This was a great list, criteria, and article.

Jordan,

  It is a good list. I just wish it'd somehow make its way into the rankings that matter.

[Michael George]

Jordan:

I have no problem with Golf Digest.  There should be different criteria for ranking golf courses.

My problem with the list is that I am not sure most of their raters ever left New England. 

Hard to believe that golf rich states like Ohio are without 1 course (no Brookside, Golf Club or Camargo).  Not one course in the Rocky Mountains (no Rock Creek, no Gozzer Ranch, no Castle Pines, no Colorado GC, etc...).  Not one course in the North Carolina or Virginian mountains (no Olde Farm, no Diamond Creek, no Wade Hampton, no Honors, etc...).   

That is simply impossible if this was done properly.

[Matthew Petersen]

Jordan:

I have no problem with Golf Digest.  There should be different criteria for ranking golf courses.

My problem with the list is that I am not sure most of their raters ever left New England. 

Hard to believe that golf rich states like Ohio are without 1 course (no Brookside, Golf Club or Camargo).  Not one course in the Rocky Mountains (no Rock Creek, no Gozzer Ranch, no Castle Pines, no Colorado GC, etc...).  Not one course in the North Carolina or Virginian mountains (no Olde Farm, no Diamond Creek, no Wade Hampton, no Honors, etc...).   

That is simply impossible if this was done properly.

Just pulling this out as an example as it's a course I'm relatively familiar with, but based on the criteria for "fun" Castle Pines doesn't belong anywhere near this list. It's very long, it's a difficult walk, it's hard even from forward tees, and it's very exclusive (i have no idea if the vibe is welcoming once you get an invite, however).

I'm nit picking, obviously, as I do agree with your larger point.

[Tags:]

Tags:

[Tags:]

Tags:

Call to undefined function theme_linktree()