Golf Digest: 2013 Best New Courses, Architect of the Year

[Howard Riefs]

Ron Whitten's list of the best new courses of 2013 includes a mix of new design, restoration and renovations.  

In sum: "It wasn't a boom, but it wasn't a bust either. The year in golf design started with a Streamsong splash and finishes with a Trump two-step. Along the way, several courses with, shall we say, long gestation periods finally opened for play. Quantity is still down, but quality has never been better."
 
New Courses
http://www.golfdigest.com/golf-courses/2013-12/best-new-courses-photos#slide=1  (Doesn't specify the order)

   STREAMSONG RESORT (RED COURSE), STREAMSONG, FLA.
   STREAMSONG RESORT (BLUE COURSE), STREAMSONG, FLA.
   DISMAL RIVER CLUB (RED COURSE), MULLEN, NEBRASKA
   MAX A. MANDEL MUNICIPAL GOLF COURSE, LAREDO, TEXAS
   SEWAILO GOLF CLUB. TUCSON, ARIZ.

   THE CLIFFS AT MOUNTAIN PARK, TRAVELERS REST, S.C.
   ROCK CREEK GOLF CLUB, COEUR D'ALENE, IDA.
   THE GROVE, COLLEGE GROVE, TENN.
   SUMMIT ROCK GOLF CLUB, HORSESHOE BAY, TEXAS
   FYRE LAKE GOLF CLUB, SHERRARD, ILL.

   BARTON HILLS COUNTRY CLUB, ANN ARBOR, MICH.
   COUNTRY CLUB OF BUFFALO, WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y.
   ORCHARD LAKE COUNTRY CLUB, ORCHARD LAKE, MICH.
   OLD TOWN CLUB, WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.
   CAMELBACK GOLF CLUB (AMBIENTE COURSE), SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ.

   SUTTON BAY CLUB, AGAR, SOUTH DAKOTA
   THE RESURRECTION COURSE AT MYSTIC CREEK, EL DORADO, ARK.
   KOHANAIKI GOLF & OCEAN CLUB, KAILUA-KONA, HAWAII
   HORSESHOE BEND COUNTRY CLUB, ROSWELL, GA. (REDESIGN)
   BOILING SPRINGS GOLF CLUB, WOODWARD, OKLA.

   MISTWOOD GOLF CLUB, ROMEOVILLE, ILL.
   THE COURSES AT WATTERS CREEK (TRADITIONS COURSE), PLANO, TEXAS
   MEDINAH COUNTRY CLUB (COURSE NO. 1), MEDINAH, ILL.
   POTOMAC SHORES GOLF CLUB, DUMFRIES, VA.
   TRUMP NATIONAL GOLF CLUB DORAL (BLUE MONSTER COURSE), DORAL, FLA.

   TRUMP GOLF LINKS AT FERRY POINT, BRONX, N.Y.


Architect of the Year
Whitten also names Tom Doak as the Architect of the Year "based upon the astonishing variety of three new courses he introduced in 2013: the Blue Course at Florida's Streamsong Resort (the must-play destination of the year), the Red Course at Dismal River in Nebraska (vastly different from the club's older Nicklaus-designed White Course) and the totally rebuilt No. 1 Course at Medinah Country Club near Chicago.”

http://www.golfdigest.com/golf-courses/2013-12/best-new-courses


Congrats, Tom.

[Craig Van Egmond]

Almost half of the 'New' courses are 'redesigned'.   

How about an award for the Redesigner of the year.

[Marc Huther]

Congrats Tom!

[Carl Nichols]

I guess there's some ambiguity about what it takes for a course to be "open for play," but Potomac Shores is a public course that I don't think the public could play in 2013.  

[Jim Franklin]

How good is Medinah #1?

[Steve Kline]

While he is probably right that new courses are trying to embrace F&F, I don't see that happening at established clubs I have been playing at.

[JR Potts]

How good is Medinah #1?

It looks great...but nobody has hit a shot on it yet.  So, who knows!

[Chris DeToro]

So when's opening day at Medinah #1?

[JR Potts]

A lot depends on the spring, but I anticipate it opening just after Memorial Day.