What does “world class” mean?

[Tommy Williamsen]

I’ve used it. Probably many of you have used the expression. Some are easy. Winged Foot, Baltusrol, and Oakland Hills have both world class golf and facilities. Pinehurst has world class facilities but the golf rests on #2. Very few would designate the other 7 courses world class. I love Dormie. The new facilities are world class and the course is wonderful. I never tire of playing it, but I wouldn’t give the course that appellation. I think Ballyhack is world class golf. I’m not sure how many would agree with that.
I am skiing in Colorado for five weeks. Today I skied a world class hill, ABasin. It sure does not have, however, world class facilities, although it is perfect for me. Yesterday I skied Keystone. I don’t think any of it is world class. When my daughter comes, she wants to ski Beaver Creek. It sure has world class facilities, but except for Birds of Prey, the rest of the mountain is boring.
So how do you decide courses or clubs (or ski hills for that matter) to be world class?

[mike_malone]

I love Deal but Royal St.George’s is world class by COMPARISON. For me I know world class by comparing to some other experience.
  I love the 76ers basketball but by comparison the Philadelphia Orchestra is at another level. I say it’s like a playoff game.

[Tom_Doak]

I actually suggested “world class” to Perry Dye to describe a course back when I worked for him.    It was just a way to say something was being done to high standards without making any promises of where it might be ranked. 


In other words, it’s meaningless self-praise which almost anyone can adopt, as long as they can keep a straight face 

[SL_Solow]

A new use for the "straight face" test.  In the law, it has been used for years by some to decide whether to make an argument.  In both contexts, some are better able to maintain a straight face than others

[John Emerson]

When it comes to golf, to me, it is the attention details which separates a course from the competition with the world class designation.  It also depends on what exactly were are talking about.  I’ve seen many courses that have world class turf conditions, but the architecture is bad.  I’ve seen the reverse of that many times too. Maybe it’s a combination of both?

[Ally Mcintosh]

It’s almost as meaningless as “all-world” when used to describe a golf hole…. as if any of us have walked round the few hundred thousand holes the world has to offer, to check we’re telling the truth.


I’ve used both.

[jeffwarne]

I actually suggested “world class” to Perry Dye to describe a course back when I worked for him.    It was just a way to say something was being done to high standards without making any promises of where it might be ranked. 


In other words, it’s meaningless self-praise which almost anyone can adopt, as long as they can keep a straight face 

    I've pretty much learned to avoid anything described as "world class"(or for that matter "classy") or "state of the art"

[Kalen Braley]

In practical terms I've always thought, if I was compiling a list of the top 100 best par 3s, 4s, or par 5s in the world...would this one be a viable candidate?  Is it unique, compelling, epic, or interesting enough otherwise?

Or it could even apply to a stretch of holes, like 4-10 at Pebble I would call "World Class"...

[Thomas Dai]

A term way, way overused by talking head sports commentators.
Atb

[Tommy Williamsen]

I find that I use world class less frequently because the list of what is world class is extremely small.

[Mike_Young]

It means you got into the Miss Universe pageant.  I doesn't necessarily mean you are even one of the best looking women in the town where it is held. 

[Alan FitzGerald CGCS MG]

I don't have a proper definition but I do know you know what it is once you've experienced it....

[Jeff Schley]

I don't have a proper definition but I do know you know what it is once you've experienced it....

Like the analogy Alan. I would add, provided one has seen enough great architecture themselves to decipher "world-class", which who is even to say what is "enough" in the first place. I recall hearing that a local brute of a course called "Big Run" in Lockport, Ill. had "world-class" par 5's growing up by several as it was a marketing line apparently. They had 2 par 5's that were 600 yards which was huge back then.  Hole 9 is a great par 5 although trees make your options limited.

[Alan FitzGerald CGCS MG]

Like the analogy Alan. I would add, provided one has seen enough great architecture themselves to decipher "world-class", which who is even to say what is "enough" in the first place. I recall hearing that a local brute of a course called "Big Run" in Lockport, Ill. had "world-class" par 5's growing up by several as it was a marketing line apparently. They had 2 par 5's that were 600 yards which was huge back then.  Hole 9 is a great par 5 although trees make your options limited.

Jeff, thats a great point!


You certainly need a reference point to start with. Say you never set foot on a golf course before, the first country club you go might seem world class......


Marketing on the other hand destroys the definition - then again, just like world famous, world class doesn't have to mean it's good;)