Oceans and Rankings (OK, I spoiled it already)

[Paul Jones]

How high would Pebble Beach be ranked if you change the water that surrounds it with grass/sand/anything else....

One of my first thoughts of Streamsong was almost as good as Bandon, but missing the ocean views.

[Steve Lang]

  You know, in Michigan, you're never more than 5 miles away from a water body...

[Chris Johnston]

Tom, does it count if there is an ocean underneath?

[Brett_Morrissy]

RMGC clubhouse is just under a mile from the water

[Ally Mcintosh]

Many of our top links courses are by the sea but don't really rely on it (other than for topo and soil as previously stated)... Especially The Open rota courses with the exception of Turnberry....

The sea air certainly adds a dimension but I'd like to think that is small...

But probably Tom's initial premise is still correct - we do underestimate the ocean's effect on the combined conscience of golf course rating panels...

[David_Elvins]

Inland courses from the GOLF Magazine top 100 list:  
Pine Valley, Augusta, Oakmont, Merion, Sand Hills, Royal Melbourne (close to 3 miles), Pinehurst, Winged Foot West, Chicago Golf, Prairie Dunes, SFGC (also close), Kingston Heath, Oakland Hills
Royal Adelaide or Valderrama

Tom,

Other than the flaws in your argument relating to climate and geology that are already acknowledged,  the other possible big flaw is that most of the top 100 inland courses you list are probably horrendously over-rated, not under-rated.  IMO Kingston Heath should not be one of the world's top 30 courses, Oakmont and Merion should not be entrenched in the top 10, and Royal Adelaide and Valderama have no place near the world's top 100 at present time.  Others might throw Oakland Hills, Pinehurst and Winged Foot in to the over-rated category as well.  

[Jim_Coleman]

    If you remove China and Russia, I'll bet the percentage of people living near the ocean is comparable to your golf course stat.  It's where the money is.

[Joe Bausch]

So, without looking ... what % of the top 50 courses in the world are within three miles of the ocean or another huge body of water?

I will provide the obvious (and perhaps already suggested) reply of 3.14159265359% ...

6.02 x 10exp231 %

[Jud_T]

Inland courses from the GOLF Magazine top 100 list:  
Pine Valley, Augusta, Oakmont, Merion, Sand Hills, Royal Melbourne (close to 3 miles), Pinehurst, Winged Foot West, Chicago Golf, Prairie Dunes, SFGC (also close), Kingston Heath, Oakland Hills
Royal Adelaide or Valderrama

Tom,

Other than the flaws in your argument relating to climate and geology that are already acknowledged,  the other possible big flaw is that most of the top 100 inland courses you list are probably horrendously over-rated, not under-rated.  IMO Kingston Heath should not be one of the world's top 30 courses, Oakmont and Merion should not be entrenched in the top 10, and Royal Adelaide and Valderama have no place near the world's top 100 at present time.  Others might throw Oakland Hills, Pinehurst and Winged Foot in to the over-rated category as well.  

David,

This is back-assward logic.  Arguably Pebble, Turnberry, Fishers, Whistling Straights, Kingsbarns, Diamante, Bandon Dunes, Harbor Town, Kauri Cliffs, Nanea, Waterville, The European Club and Cabo del Sol amongst others wouldn't be quite so highly prized without their proximity to the water.  And only a pedant would sincerely claim Pinehurst #2 is overrated at #15...