Links: The Best Golf States Ranking

[Stephen Davis]

I just got my Links Magazine issue and they have decided to rank the 50 states on a scale of "golfiness". The top 5 are:

1.Florida
2. Michigan
3. Ohio
4. California
5. South Carolina

Here is the rest of the list.

http://www.linksmagazine.com/best_of_golf/the-best-golf-states

[Ed Brzezowski]

Wisconsin over Pennsylvania?  He must be smokin some cheese.

How does Minnesota beat out New jersey. Odd very odd.

[PCCraig]

How does Minnesota beat out New jersey.

Depth.

[Eric Strulowitz]

Wisconsin over Pennsylvania?  He must be smokin some cheese.

How does Minnesota beat out New jersey. Odd very odd.

I enjoy Links Magazine, especially the pictures and features on the old classic courses,  but this ranking just had me shaking my head.

It seems that every periodical and website has this need to rank something  these days, the best architects, the best courses, the best food, the best instructors , etc,  etc.   It is all really arbitrary and insulting, because it is all subjective and a lot of it is driven by name recognition.

I could not believe that Kansas was 42nd.  And the comment "If not for Prarie Dunes where would it be?  Further down the list"  Having visited Kansas on numerous occasions and believing KC to be a hidden gem of a city,  I really have to disagree.  There is a lot of great golf within the greater KC area, Witchita, and Topeka, and a lot of little gems in between.   How NJ gets above Alabama, what a joke.  Sure, there are some high profile courses across the state, but very little affordable public golf in NJ.  There is great public golf everywhere in Alabama and you can join a private club for a fraction of the cost of NJ and play year round.  What does NJ have that even comes close to the RTJ trail, absolutely nothing!  Hawaii being 16th, that is another joke.  A lot of high priced resort courses, and a few decent public tracks but how is an island ranked above Alabama, Indiana or Tennessee that have tons of affordable and quality golf.

The above are just some examples.   This rankings making no sense and IMHO and reflect  very poorly on what has generally been a publication a step above the rest

[Paul Jones]

If you turn the list upside down... Louisiana is in 2nd Place 

[Peter Pallotta]

Interestingly, if you spell their names backwards (e.g. Adirolf) and list then list/rank the states alphabetically, Florida still comes out on top, followed by California and South Carolina (amongst the top 5).

That seems to me a pretty definitive proof of Florida's superiority in terms of the best golfing states, and of the value of my reverse-alphabetical approach.

And, further down the list, more proof of this rating system's validity: you'll see that (just as Pat suggests), Atosennim ranks much higher than Yesrej Wen, while (as Ed suggests) there is no way Nisnocsiw should/would come out ahead of Ainavlysnnep.

Sure, Nagihcim is hurt a little, but really: how many times can one keep trotting out Kingsley?
 
Peter

[Stephen Davis]

Interestingly, if you spell their names backwards (e.g. Adirolf) and list then list/rank the states alphabetically, Florida still comes out on top, followed by California and South Carolina (amongst the top 5).

That seems to me a pretty definitive proof of Florida's superiority in terms of the best golfing states, and of the value of my reverse-alphabetical approach.

And, further down the list, more proof of this rating system's validity: you'll see that (just as Pat suggests), Atosennim ranks much higher than Wen Yesrej, while (as Ed suggests) there is no way Nisnocsiw should/would come out ahead of Ainavlysnnep.

Sure, Nagihcim is hurt a little, but really: how many times can one keep trotting out Kingsley?
 
Peter

Haha... It is just that simple. Fantastic!

[Keith Phillips]

A hall of fame post, Peter!

[Matt Frey, PGA]

I haven't played at either facility, but I'm fairly confident the picture with Wisconsin is incorrectly labeled as Whistling Straits rather than Erin Hills.

[mark chalfant]

Yes  Matt,

Thats  Erin  Hills,    lots  of Kettle Moraine  terrain  !

[JLahrman]

It seems that every periodical and website has this need to rank something  these days, the best architects, the best courses, the best food, the best instructors , etc,  etc.   It is all really arbitrary and insulting, because it is all subjective and a lot of it is driven by name recognition.

Well the #1 reason appears to drive clicks, given the invariably predictable method of delivering these lists.

The additional question is why does anybody care about these lists, especially posters here?

Is anyone going to be reorganizing their golf plans this year because of this list, or potentially moving to a new state? The "methodology" described in the intro basically told us how random the criteria were.

[Mark Pavy]

I find the chinese to have a far more relevant pronunciation of "Ranking".

[Garland Bayley]

If he mag were true to its name, they would clearly rank Oregon #1.

[Mike_Young]

It looks to me like this list is not based on the best golf states as much as it is based on the states with the most potential to sell advertising as golf destinations....

[John Connolly]

Interestingly, if you spell their names backwards (e.g. Adirolf) and list then list/rank the states alphabetically, Florida still comes out on top, followed by California and South Carolina (amongst the top 5).

That seems to me a pretty definitive proof of Florida's superiority in terms of the best golfing states, and of the value of my reverse-alphabetical approach.

And, further down the list, more proof of this rating system's validity: you'll see that (just as Pat suggests), Atosennim ranks much higher than Yesrej Wen, while (as Ed suggests) there is no way Nisnocsiw should/would come out ahead of Ainavlysnnep.

Sure, Nagihcim is hurt a little, but really: how many times can one keep trotting out Kingsley?


 
Peter

Epic post. Because behind the humor is a good message.

[John Kavanaugh]

When noting the author a perfect place to read this article came to mind.

[Peter Pallotta]

Thanks, gents.

I feel bad that I'm getting increasingly grumpy about this kind of nonsense, but here's an explanation if not an excuse. The other day I picked up Golf Digest or Golf Magazine, I forget which one -- and in the midst of all the ads and all the 200-word-made-for-iphone sidebars and all the take-the-manufacturers'-press-release-and-cut-and-paste-into-a new irons "review" there was an honest to god actual article. I couldn't believe it: here was a mid-length piece on Babe Ruth's love of baseball that was engaging and clearly written and that held my attention -- and while it was nothing special it suddenly felt (in the midst of all the rest of the drivel) like I was reading Faulkner or Hemingway! Oh, what a (minor) breath of fresh air. And then today I see this, and I come crashing back down to earth. Look - I understand: shorter attention spans and changing economics and advertiser driven content, but sorry: magazines and magazine writers can peddle all the puerile bird-cage liners they want, and justify it for all the reasons noted above -- but we can't be expected to say "thank you, sir, can I have some more". I don't like being negative or adding criticism to the world, by geez louise they have simply got to do better than that!  

Peter

[John Cowden]

JK, the Gallery Bar at Bandon at any sunset? 

[John Kavanaugh]

JK, the Gallery Bar at Bandon at any sunset?  

While there is little doubt that I suffer from the conflicts of the love of a drink, if I am ever found under roof at a bar during sunset while at Bandon, to a meeting I will go. They sent out a search party for us during my last visit. I believe we were on the 17th at Trails when the lights came over the hill. While I love the romantic notion of it all I think the hounds were left at bay. We were rounded up and put on carts as we were escorted to said bar under the cover of darkness.

[john_stiles]

New York should be higher than 12.

I guess my ratings as a  Golf State Rater  did not reach the office in time for this edition.

Expect some changes next year.

[Andy Shulman]

Keep it coming, Mr. Pallotta.  While Links usually includes some content that puts it a cut above most other golf mags, the last couple of issues have included a high drivel quotient, including another article in the current issue on why there are only eight players who can win the Masters.

[cary lichtenstein]

Interestingly, if you spell their names backwards (e.g. Adirolf) and list then list/rank the states alphabetically, Florida still comes out on top, followed by California and South Carolina (amongst the top 5).

That seems to me a pretty definitive proof of Florida's superiority in terms of the best golfing states, and of the value of my reverse-alphabetical approach.

And, further down the list, more proof of this rating system's validity: you'll see that (just as Pat suggests), Atosennim ranks much higher than Yesrej Wen, while (as Ed suggests) there is no way Nisnocsiw should/would come out ahead of Ainavlysnnep.

Sure, Nagihcim is hurt a little, but really: how many times can one keep trotting out Kingsley?

 

I love it

[Rich Goodale]

....or as Yhtorod once said to Otot, "W'ere not in Asnak any more......"

[Dan Kelly]

....or as Yhtorod once said to Otot, "W'ere not in Asnak any more......"

I thought Yhtorod said: "We're not in Sasnak anymore." Must be a different Yhtorod I'm thinking of.

And: A loud HEAR HEAR! to this, Mr. Pallotta:

I feel bad that I'm getting increasingly grumpy about this kind of nonsense, but here's an explanation if not an excuse. The other day I picked up Golf Digest or Golf Magazine, I forget which one [it was Golf Magazine; I've sworn off Golf Digest permanently -- but did see and skim the Ruth piece] -- and in the midst of all the ads and all the 200-word-made-for-iphone sidebars and all the take-the-manufacturers'-press-release-and-cut-and-paste-into-a new irons "review" there was an honest to god actual article. I couldn't believe it: here was a mid-length piece on Babe Ruth's love of [golf] that was engaging and clearly written and that held my attention -- and while it was nothing special it suddenly felt (in the midst of all the rest of the drivel) like I was reading Faulkner or Hemingway! Oh, what a (minor) breath of fresh air. And then today I see this, and I come crashing back down to earth. Look - I understand: shorter attention spans and changing economics and advertiser driven content, but sorry: magazines and magazine writers can peddle all the puerile bird-cage liners they want, and justify it for all the reasons noted above -- but we can't be expected to say "thank you, sir, can I have some more". I don't like being negative or adding criticism to the world, [but] geez louise they have simply got to do better than that!

[Ed Brzezowski]

How does Minnesota beat out New jersey.

Depth.

You must mean after Minnesota melts?