North-West England course rankings just out.

[Duncan Cheslett]

The excellent "Top 100 Courses" website has just published its rankings for the North-West of England and its constituent counties, Cheshire, Lancashire, and Cumbria.


http://www.top100golfcourses.com/news-item/north-west-england-top-20-golf-courses-2017


It reinforces what a great region for golf the North-West is, and how lucky I am to live here. It's not just about the famous links either; we have many excellent parkland gems and even one or two heathlands.


I can't really argue much with the NW rankings, or the top 4 or 5 in Cheshire. I'm delighted that Reddish Vale is on the march - up 4 places this year on top of the 3 place rise last year in the Cheshire list. Top 10 next year! 

[Mark_Rowlinson]

Interesting to read, Duncan, and a well thought out list. You can always quibble the odd one, but it's good to see Reddish Vale high up there, not far behind Delamere. I was pleased when we brought Ran to see it and he purred.

[Duncan Cheslett]

Interesting to read, Duncan, and a well thought out list. You can always quibble the odd one, but it's good to see Reddish Vale high up there, not far behind Delamere. I was pleased when we brought Ran to see it and he purred.

Since Ran came and he published his write-up on here Reddish Vale has shot up the rankings locally and is being spoken of in glowing terms across the region.


A coincidence?


A lot of it has to do with our greenkeeper - a genius on a tiny budget. Credit must also be given to the publicity generated by yourself and other friends of RV.


Raters now come to play the course; something that seldom happened in the past.

[Ryan Coles]

Which sort of sums up that movement in ratings is largely dependent on PR or lack of.

[Duncan Cheslett]

Which sort of sums up that movement in ratings is largely dependent on PR or lack of.

Movement in rankings certainly suggests that something has changed. This is unlikely to be exclusively to do with the course.


As a club becomes better and more widely known it will attract more attention - from raters as much as from anyone else. Naturally, the quality has to be there, and improvements constantly made, but if you slip too far under the radar no-one will talk about you.


So yes, movement in ratings probably is largely dependent on PR or lack of.

[Derek Holland]

Going to be in this area in November and going to try and get some Winter golf in. Planning on hitting, Birkdale, Lytham & St. Annes, Liverpool, Formby, Wallasey and North Wales. Maybe I need to try and find a way to get Silloth in! Really looking forward to some great NW English golf!

[Sean_A]

Which sort of sums up that movement in ratings is largely dependent on PR or lack of.

Movement in rankings certainly suggests that something has changed. This is unlikely to be exclusively to do with the course.


As a club becomes better and more widely known it will attract more attention - from raters as much as from anyone else. Naturally, the quality has to be there, and improvements constantly made, but if you slip too far under the radar no-one will talk about you.


So yes, movement in ratings probably is largely dependent on PR or lack of.

The firstest with the mostest is usually tough to beat.  In other words, reputation built on years of PR is an effective weapon and sometimes that weapon spans back to the archie! Trying to oust saced cows can take years.  Just remember that courses like Nefyn were once top 100 GB&I.  So many courses from the classic day never got a look in because of one bias or another.  That is the one positive thing about rankings of all sorts.  Many people realize that a top 100 is really a top 250 which can highlight 100 different courses on any given week. Where I think Top100 goes too far is in county rankings.  The site essentially loses some credibility because a decent percentage of the ranked courses in this section aren't worth the time of day.  I think they are better off using candidates from a master list of potential top 250 courses.  For courses not on that master list they could use the old system of Gems.  The site is becoming more about making money (and why not?) and offering exposure is a great way to make money. Bottom line, take the county rankings with a large pinch of salt.


Ciao

[Duncan Cheslett]

Sean,


I'm sure you're right. The top 5 in Cheshire are pretty cast iron and unlikely to be budged by anyone. The next 5 however, contains courses which would not find great favour on here. Perfectly good suburban parkland tracks inhabited by wealthy local clubs with prestige and the kind of budget to ensure immaculate presentation and manicuring.


There seems however, to be a move towards recognition of more interesting, quirky, and architecturally significant courses on such lists rather than merely rubber stamping each year the positions of the "neat and tidy" brigade.


I live in hope...

[Duncan Cheslett]

Going to be in this area in November and going to try and get some Winter golf in. Planning on hitting, Birkdale, Lytham & St. Annes, Liverpool, Formby, Wallasey and North Wales. Maybe I need to try and find a way to get Silloth in! Really looking forward to some great NW English golf!

In November you are unquestionably better off sticking to the coast. I would take the trip to Silloth over the one to North Wales - it is only an hour and a half from Lytham and should not be missed. North Wales is well over an hour from Wallasey/Hoylake so not much difference.


Bear in mind that at that time of year days are short and two courses in a day gets awkward. Early morning tee times at premier courses will be reserved for members.


An inland course that is magnificent in the winter is Delamere Forest.


I'd be happy to join you at Hoylake if your visit coincides with a County Card day! ( Mon or Fri)

[Niall C]

Sean

I think I agree with you but also sites like this and opinions like Tom D's make a big difference. Until recent years NB provided some really good holiday golf, now it's a connoisseurs choice and therefore in everyone's top 5. Future years may see it plummet back down the rankings but that won't stop it being what it is.

Niall