Golf Digest World Top 100

[Jason Topp]

I just looked at this list in the print Issue 1 of 2020 Golf Digest ( I can't tell what month it is).  It purports to be a list of the top 100 courses outside of the US.


The list looks whacky - both in the courses it identifies and how much movement there is from a prior list.  Apparently Korea, Vietnam, China and Thailand have some of the best courses in the world.  Doonbeg is a Top 100 course.


Something appears seriously screwed up about the methodology behind this one.   

[Lou_Duran]

I just looked at this list in the print Issue 1 of 2020 Golf Digest ( I can't tell what month it is).  It purports to be a list of the top 100 courses outside of the US.


The list looks whacky - both in the courses it identifies and how much movement there is from a prior list.  Apparently Korea, Vietnam, China and Thailand have some of the best courses in the world.  Doonbeg is a Top 100 course.


Something appears seriously screwed up about the methodology behind this one.   

Oh, et tu Brute.  And a man in the game with Brand X at that!   


But as you know, Barnum is right, content is king, and everything today is opinion anyways.


And why couldn't the countries in question have world-class courses?  Does their money not spend?  Do the best architects refuse their services?  Are there things about their geography and climates which preclude high quality golf? 

[John Kavanaugh]

We can only pray that people who pay $1,000 to play for free have to pay $2,000 to get there.

[Adam Clayman]

And why couldn't the countries in question have world-class courses?  Does their money not spend?  Do the best architects refuse their services?  Are there things about their geography and climates which preclude high quality golf?

Apparently, Nobody builds great golf courses anymore? They are all watered down to appease the bottomline, ensuring future employment of the design team.

[Lou_Duran]

Ha!  That must be it, a worldwide conspiracy with maybe the Deep State and Putin in on a JV.



And talk about being "watered down", what was that this weekend?  Did Bill and Ben get in on the deal? 

[Jason Topp]

I just looked at this list in the print Issue 1 of 2020 Golf Digest ( I can't tell what month it is).  It purports to be a list of the top 100 courses outside of the US.


The list looks whacky - both in the courses it identifies and how much movement there is from a prior list.  Apparently Korea, Vietnam, China and Thailand have some of the best courses in the world.  Doonbeg is a Top 100 course.


Something appears seriously screwed up about the methodology behind this one.   

Oh, et tu Brute.  And a man in the game with Brand X at that!   


But as you know, Barnum is right, content is king, and everything today is opinion anyways.


And why couldn't the countries in question have world-class courses?  Does their money not spend?  Do the best architects refuse their services?  Are there things about their geography and climates which preclude high quality golf?

Nice reference Lou!  And for those wondering, I am a Golf Week rater so I guess I am a man in the game although I am not even sure whether Golf Week has a similar list.  I do know our international coverage is pretty thin.  The comparable I had in mind was Golf Magazine.


Of course it is entirely possible the countries in question have courses that belong in the top 100.  I have not heard of another source that has made such a claim. 

[Tom_Doak]

I just looked at this list in the print Issue 1 of 2020 Golf Digest ( I can't tell what month it is).  It purports to be a list of the top 100 courses outside of the US.


The list looks whacky - both in the courses it identifies and how much movement there is from a prior list.  Apparently Korea, Vietnam, China and Thailand have some of the best courses in the world.  Doonbeg is a Top 100 course.


Something appears seriously screwed up about the methodology behind this one.   

The operative fact is that GOLF DIGEST has affiliate magazines in all of those countries. 
[Actually, maybe not Vietnam, I don't know.]

I have not seen the list but I've heard that the top of it is spot on

[Jim Hoak]

Can someone post the list?

[Tom_Doak]

Can someone post the list?

I just received it in the mail.  I'm not going to type out 100 courses, I will leave that to someone else, but the top ten is certainly enough fodder for discussion:


1.  Royal County Down
2.  Tara Iti
3.  Muirfield
4.  Royal Dornoch
5.  Royal Melbourne (West)
6.  The Old Course
7.  Morfontaine
8.  Royal Portrush (Dunluce)
9.  South Cape, Korea
10.  Turnberry (Ailsa)




Somehow they give me design credit for having worked on 11 of the 100 courses, though only four of them are actually mine.  I thought I would complain about that, but then I saw they gave a credit to Martin Hawtree for The Old Course at St. Andrews.  Ugh.

[Paul Rudovsky]

saw it...here is top 50...do next 50 in 2nd post.  i shall withhold my thoughts on the quality of this list but su=imply comment that it is absurd to call it a world list in their headlines as it excludes USA (as explained in finer print).  It is the same definition as the "overseas" Top 100 lists they have published in '79, '05, '07, '09, '12, and '18 ("overseas" plus Canada and Latin America)

1[/size]Royal County Down[/size]N Ireland

[/size]2[/size]Tara Iti[/size]N Zealand

[/size]3[/size]Muirfield[/size]Scotland

[/size]4[/size]Royal Dornach[/size]Scotland

[/size]5[/size]Royal Melbourne-West[/size]Australia

[/size]6[/size]St. Andrews Links-Old[/size]Scotland

[/size]7[/size]G. de Morfontaine[/size]France

[/size]8[/size]Royal Portrush[/size]N Ireland

[/size]9[/size]South Cape[/size]S Korea

[/size]10[/size]Turnberry-Ailsa[/size]Scotland

[/size]11[/size]Cabot Cliffs[/size]Canada

[/size]12[/size]Kingston Heath[/size]Australia

[/size]13[/size]Hirono[/size]Japan

[/size]14[/size]Shanqin Bay[/size]China

[/size]15[/size]Sunningdale-Old[/size]England

[/size]16[/size]Barnbougle Dunes[/size]Australia

[/size]17[/size]Ballybunion[/size]Ireland

[/size]18[/size]The Club at Nine Bridges[/size]S Korea

[/size]19[/size]Ellerston[/size]Australia

[/size]20[/size]Carnoustie[/size]Scotland

[/size]21[/size]Cape Wickam[/size]Australia

[/size]22[/size]Cape Kidnappers[/size]N Zealand

[/size]23[/size]Royal Melbourne-East[/size]Australia

[/size]23[/size]Royal Birkdale[/size]England

[/size]23[/size]St. George's[/size]Canada

[/size]26[/size]Kawana Hotel-Fuji[/size]Japan

[/size]27[/size]Kingsbarns[/size]Scotland

[/size]28[/size]Royal St. George's[/size]England

[/size]29[/size]Swinley Forest[/size]England

[/size]30[/size]Royal Porthcawl[/size]Wales

[/size]31[/size]Lahinch-Old[/size]Ireland

[/size]32[/size]Casa de Campo-Teeth of the Dog[/size]Domin R

[/size]33[/size]New South Wales[/size]Australia

[/size]34[/size]Diamante[/size]Mexico

[/size]35[/size]Sunningdale-New[/size]England

[/size]35[/size]Cabot Links[/size]Canada

[/size]35[/size]Punta Espada[/size]Domin R

[/size]38[/size]Valderrama[/size]Spain

[/size]39[/size]North Berwick[/size]Scotland

[/size]40[/size]Portmarnock[/size]Ireland

[/size]41[/size]St. George's Hill[/size]England

[/size]42[/size]Trump International Aberdeen[/size]Scotland

[/size]43[/size]Kauri Cliffs[/size]N Zealand

[/size]44[/size]Jack's Point[/size]New Zealand

[/size]45[/size]Rye[/size]England

[/size]46[/size]Machrihanish[/size]Scotland

[/size]47[/size]Barnbougle Lost Farm[/size]Australia

[/size]48[/size]Yas Links[/size]Abu Dhabi

[/size]49[/size]Royal Troon-Old[/size]Scotland

[/size]50[/size]Anyang Benest[/size]S Korea

[Paul Rudovsky]

here are 51-100 (note...I have played 98 of the 100):

51[/size]Loch Lomond[/size]Scotland

[/size]52[/size]National GC of Canada[/size]Canada

[/size]53[/size]Cruden Bay[/size]Scotland

[/size]54[/size]Jack Nicklaus GC[/size]S Korea

[/size]55[/size]Hamilton[/size]Canada

[/size]56[/size]Fancourt-Links[/size]S. Africa

[/size]57[/size]Royal Lytham & St. Annes[/size]England

[/size]58[/size]Jasper Park Lodge[/size]Canada

[/size]59[/size]Sentosa-Serapong[/size]Singapore

[/size]60[/size]Woodhall Spa-Hotchkin[/size]England

[/size]60[/size]Castle Stuart[/size]Scotland

[/size]62[/size]Emirates-Majlis[/size]Dubai

[/size]63[/size]Tokyo[/size]Japan

[/size]64[/size]Royal Aberdeen[/size]Scotland

[/size]65[/size]Paraparaumu[/size]N Zealand

[/size]66[/size]Prestwick[/size]Scotland

[/size]67[/size]Haelsey Nine Bridges[/size]S Korea

[/size]68[/size]Old Head[/size]Ireland

[/size]69[/size]Leopard Creek[/size]S. Africa

[/size]70[/size]Mid Ocean[/size]Bermuda

[/size]71[/size]Naruo[/size]Japan

[/size]72[/size]Walton Heath-Old[/size]England

[/size]73[/size]Victoria[/size]Australia

[/size]74[/size]Capilano[/size]Canada

[/size]75[/size]Waterville[/size]Ireland

[/size]76[/size]Bluff Ho Tram Strip[/size]Vietnam

[/size]76[/size]Highland Links[/size]Canada

[/size]78[/size]Royal Cinque Ports[/size]England

[/size]79[/size]Metropolitan[/size]Australia

[/size]80[/size]Royal Adelaide[/size]Australia

[/size]81[/size]Royal Liverpool[/size]England

[/size]82[/size]Le Golf National-L'Albatros[/size]France

[/size]83[/size]Siam-Old[/size]Thailand

[/size]84[/size]Ganton[/size]England

[/size]85[/size]Sheshan International[/size]China

[/size]86[/size]Spring City-Lake[/size]China

[/size]87[/size]Banff Springs[/size]Canada

[/size]88[/size]Trump Doonbeg[/size]Ireland

[/size]89[/size]Ba Na Hills[/size]Vietnam

[/size]90[/size]Ayodhya Links[/size]Thailand

[/size]91[/size]St Andrews Beach[/size]Australia

[/size]91[/size]Cabo del Sol-Ocean[/size]Mexico

[/size]93[/size]Querencia[/size]Mexico

[/size]94[/size]Kinloch[/size]N Zealand

[/size]95[/size]European Club[/size]Ireland

[/size]96[/size]Portstewart GC[/size]Ireland

[/size]97[/size]The National-Moonah[/size]Australia

[/size]98[/size]Tralee[/size]Ireland

[/size]99[/size]Western Gailes[/size]Scotland

[/size]100[/size]Gleneagles-King's[/size]Scotland

[David_Tepper]

I am pretty sure Darius Oliver/Planet Golf has been the source of the Golf Digest Top 100 Outside the US list in recent years. Does anyone know if he is the source of the 2020 list? 

[Tom_Doak]

I am pretty sure Darius Oliver/Planet Golf has been the source of the Golf Digest Top 100 Outside the US list in recent years. Does anyone know if he is the source of the 2020 list?

You are mistaken.  Both Darius and GOLF DIGEST have used the "Planet Golf" moniker but the two lists are entirely different.

[Paul Rudovsky]

David--


I do not thing that Darius is "the source" although he might help.  His Planet Golf Top 100 is different and is worldwide (incl USA).  I am fairly sure that GD has their local mags list the courses in their regions/countries in order and then they staff in NY sits down and decides how the pieces of the puzzle fit together.  When they published a true world list in "14 and '16 I am almost certain that the USA courses on it were listed in the same order as their then current USA 100 Greatest

[Paul Rudovsky]

I am pretty sure Darius Oliver/Planet Golf has been the source of the Golf Digest Top 100 Outside the US list in recent years. Does anyone know if he is the source of the 2020 list?

You are mistaken.  Both Darius and GOLF DIGEST have used the "Planet Golf" moniker but the two lists are entirely different.

I assume Darius has a trademark on Planet Golf (but certainly have no direct knowledge and have not looked for a TM mark).  If he does, I wonder how GD gets away with calling their article "Planet Golf"

[John Kirk]

St. Andrews Beach makes an appearance at #91.  Is that the first time St. Andrews Beach has been on the World Top 100 of any major publication?

[Tom_Doak]

I assume Darius has a trademark on Planet Golf (but certainly have no direct knowledge and have not looked for a TM mark).  If he does, I wonder how GD gets away with calling their article "Planet Golf"

I believe GOLF DIGEST used that title first, when they listed the "best courses in 182 countries" many years ago.  And anyway, I don't know that you can internationally trademark something generic like that.


Which are the two courses you haven't played?  I've seen about 90 of them.

[Tom_Doak]

St. Andrews Beach makes an appearance at #91.  Is that the first time St. Andrews Beach has been on the World Top 100 of any major publication?

It's the top 100 outside the USA, so more like the World Top 200.  St Andrews Beach was actually slightly higher in the same ranking two years ago.  It is still the screaming bargain of the list.  Can't wait to play it again in February.

[Paul Rudovsky]

Which are the two courses you haven't played?  I've seen about 90 of them.

Not played Siam-OLd (Thailand ) and Ba Na Hills (Vietnam)

[Paul Rudovsky]

St. Andrews Beach makes an appearance at #91.  Is that the first time St. Andrews Beach has been on the World Top 100 of any major publication?

It's the top 100 outside the USA, so more like the World Top 200.  St Andrews Beach was actually slightly higher in the same ranking two years ago.  It is still the screaming bargain of the list.  Can't wait to play it again in February.

Tom actually it was on Ran's "147" at #76 16 months ago...so I would count that as a "World 100" since it placed within the top 100 of the 147

[David_Tepper]

Tom D. and Paul R. -

Thanks for letting me know. Since Golf Digest references "Planet Golf" on their World Top 100 (outside the U.S.) and Darius Oliver shows that list on the Planet Golf website, I assumed there was a meaningful connection.

https://www.planetgolf.com/rankings/worldwide

But you know what they say about making assumptions.

DT

[Anthony Butler]

A number of credible people In the golf industry have ranked Cape Wickham above BD. At this point in time, the GD Top 100 list ranks CW below BD, Tara Iti (and Ellerston!) in terms of recently opened (post-2000) courses in Australia/New Zealand.

Given Darius Oliver’s prominence in this rating discussion (and his connection to CW) you’d have wonder whether the fact it opened in a remote location only 4 years ago is the only reason explaining the current GD rankings.

[Tom_Doak]

A number of credible people In the golf industry

The fact that a few writers say something loudly is not necessarily a reliable indicator of consensus opinion.  Wickham is behind Barnbougle and Tara Iti on the GOLF Magazine ranking, too.

[Paul Rudovsky]

For whatever it is worth, my ranking of these four is TI, CW, BD, Ellerston.  Two major comments...


--I spent three days at CW on one visit to Kings Island (in 2016)...it was windy all 3 days but never unplayable...strongest winds were probably 20-25mph w stronger gusts.  I hit the ball well and in three rounds sensed that the course is more forgiving than it looks...it was amazing how many good bounces I had.  My sense was one round of that is luck...three rounds most likely design.  Can think of very few courses that are more fun


--I played Ellerston in 2016 and thought that with the possible exception of Pine Valley it might be the best collection of 18 holes anyplace. In particular I thought hole #16 (I think...dogleg left with big tree at the corner of dogleg then uphill and then downhill to green) was one of the simplest different and brilliant holes I have played.  But, I was very disappointed with the routing, especially the distances from green to tee.  I sensed that Norman/Harrison/Packer made a conscious choice to pick the 18 best spots for hole design and not worry about routing/flow. And to me a golf course is much more than the sum of 18 holes.


Obviously one person's opinion above.  I have heard from others about 40mph+ winds and totally unplayable conditions.  I can only judge by the time I spent there and figure three days was a pretty good sample

[Jeff Schley]

First today is my birthday, so I can't be wrong today.   

I played CW and BD a year ago with a large group of 16 guys as part of a larger trip to OZ playing the sandbelt etc. I personally had CW as my #1 course on the trip and at the end of the trip with a straw poll and about half the guys had CW as their #1 course on the trip as well pretty much followed by Royal Melbourne composite. One guy had RM 1, BD 2, CW3 as I recall, but again these are small samples but a couple of them had played 99 of the top 100 so that was a pretty strong endorsement.

We perhaps will obsess of which is better or should be this or that, however they all deserve to the be in the Miss Universe pageant.  Regardless of where any of them finish are you really going to be unhappy with any of the contestants?