Golf Club Atlas

GolfClubAtlas.com => Golf Course Architecture Discussion Group => Topic started by: Wyatt Halliday on February 01, 2012, 11:05:04 PM

Title: Fire Away - Links Magazine Top 100
Post by: Wyatt Halliday on February 01, 2012, 11:05:04 PM
http://www.linksmagazine.com/links100
Title: Re: Fire Away
Post by: Sean Leary on February 01, 2012, 11:28:55 PM
Kingsley made it so what is everyone going to complain about.... ;)

Title: Re: Fire Away
Post by: Mark Saltzman on February 01, 2012, 11:29:30 PM
Amazing to see Prairie Club (Dunes) crack a top-100.  I am sure it will be the first of many..
Title: Re: Fire Away
Post by: Wyatt Halliday on February 01, 2012, 11:32:10 PM
30-50 is probably the most interesting stretch of the list.
Title: Re: Fire Away
Post by: Mike Nuzzo on February 01, 2012, 11:38:26 PM
Mark
Why do you say amazing about Prairie Club Dunes?
Wasn't it too new for the other lists?
4.8 doesn't seem like a score that will propel it to new heights.
Cheers

I don't know the difference between any of them anymore.
Didn't another major publication recently come out with one?
What would happen if someone took the top 10 lists and compiled an ordinal result - like the PGA tour driving category or statistical leader?
With that data you could list the lists too....

Title: Re: Fire Away
Post by: Mac Plumart on February 01, 2012, 11:39:25 PM
Amazing to see Prairie Club (Dunes) crack a top-100.  I am sure it will be the first of many..

I saw that and thought of you right away!!

Nice call!!
Title: Re: Fire Away
Post by: Sam Morrow on February 01, 2012, 11:40:02 PM
Interesting list, Aronimink at 95?
Title: Re: Fire Away
Post by: Ben Sims on February 01, 2012, 11:48:07 PM
Miss you brother Wyatt.  Here's to hoping that nat'l signing day was good for you and Mr. Bernhardt.

I see Olympic a bit high, Plainfield a bit low.  It actually looks like a well orchestrated composite list of what the magazines (GW, GD, Golf) are getting right.

However, the older I get, the less I care about what people think on golf courses in regards to ranking them.  I know what I like.  I don't mind telling people.
Title: Re: Fire Away
Post by: Mark Saltzman on February 01, 2012, 11:57:16 PM
Mark
Why do you say amazing about Prairie Club Dunes?
Wasn't it too new for the other lists?
4.8 doesn't seem like a score that will propel it to new heights.
Cheers


Mike,

It was eligible for GW's modern list, but failed to make the top-100 (I think it was 116).

I don't know what the numbers mean, perhaps someone could explain.  Whatever the number means, though, it beat out about 17000 courses to land in the 100 spot.

I should add that I think it is phenomenal.  Having played 8 of the top 10 modern, I am comfortable saying it belongs in the top 10.  Time will tell if the masses (well, I guess I mean raters) agree with me.
Title: Re: Fire Away
Post by: Mike Nuzzo on February 02, 2012, 12:03:07 AM
You are correct - beating out 17,000 is a big deal
Glad you enjoyed it as much as you did
Cheers
Title: Re: Fire Away
Post by: Wyatt Halliday on February 02, 2012, 12:06:34 AM
Right back at you you Captain.

Congrats on the incoming class. We missed out on the top 4 in our state but hey, Mo Claiborne is going Top 10 in the draft and he was no more than a 3star. As was Blue, Cutrera, Riley, Shepard and Hester.

As for not jacking my own thread, I'm surprised W-Straits is a common thread on most lists. I wonder what Tim Bert thinks  ;)
Title: Re: Fire Away - Links Magazine Top 100
Post by: Kevin Pallier on February 02, 2012, 02:47:57 AM
Pebble Beach not in the Top10 in the US or World lists - how sacrilegious !! 

Maybe my votes helped  :P
Title: Re: Fire Away - Links Magazine Top 100
Post by: Mark_F on February 02, 2012, 03:33:35 AM
Pebble Beach not in the Top10 in the US or World lists - how sacrilegious !! 

Maybe my votes helped  :P


Kevin,

Your effort to get Kingston Heath up to 21 is much more impressive.  ;D
Title: Re: Fire Away
Post by: Scott Macpherson on February 02, 2012, 04:28:02 AM

I don't know the difference between any of them anymore.
Didn't another major publication recently come out with one?
What would happen if someone took the top 10 lists and compiled an ordinal result - like the PGA tour driving category or statistical leader?
With that data you could list the lists too....



Mike, I think there is a website that does that. I think it is this site;

www.top100golfcourses.co.uk

regards,

Scott
Title: Re: Fire Away
Post by: Mike Sweeney on February 02, 2012, 06:53:43 AM
Amazing to see Prairie Club (Dunes) crack a top-100.  I am sure it will be the first of many..

I think this is due to Tom Dunne (GCA poster)  in a very positive way. When I got the email from Tom inviting me to cast my vote, I told him I was probably too East Coast biased as I don't travel as much as many others here who probably are Platinum flyers at American Airlines.

He assured me that he wanted my opinion as I seek out some quirky courses that many do not. See Rutland CC (VT). Now is Rutland "better" than Eastward Ho! or The Creek near the bottom of the list? No. Is Rutland better or more fun to play that Aronimink?  Is Yale better or more fun to play that Winged Foot West ?  No and yes, and this is why the list is interesting.

Hopefully it will not go "mainstream" on the next version as the views are now seen by each voter. Before this, it was literally a blank sheet of paper.
Title: Re: Fire Away
Post by: Tim Bert on February 02, 2012, 08:12:16 AM

As for not jacking my own thread, I'm surprised W-Straits is a common thread on most lists. I wonder what Tim Bert thinks  ;)

I think the Straits is a wee tad too high! 
Title: Re: Fire Away - Links Magazine Top 100
Post by: Jud_T on February 02, 2012, 08:38:34 AM
Actually a pretty decent list.  They seem to have their priorities in the right place IMO;  for reference:

                                   Links                      GD                         GM
Whistling Straights            32                        17                         26
Bandon Dunes                  39                        28                         32
Medinah                          89                        23                          37
Arcadia                            NA                       49                          NA
Butler                              NA                       54                          NA
Rich Harvest                     NA                       58                          NA
Bandon Trails                   36                         63                         54
Old Mac                          26                         NA                         43
Shoreacres                      30                         92                         36                                 
Title: Re: Fire Away
Post by: Tom Dunne on February 02, 2012, 08:41:49 AM
Amazing to see Prairie Club (Dunes) crack a top-100.  I am sure it will be the first of many..

Hopefully it will not go "mainstream" on the next version as the views are now seen by each voter. Before this, it was literally a blank sheet of paper.

Ah, but there's the catch--the "next version" will be arriving in a matter of weeks, not year(s). The medium-term goal here is for this stuff to be updating in as close to real time as possible.

This is a good time to encourage everyone to create lists of their own. These results were produced by a panel of 105, but we're looking to add to that number going forward. I'm excited by how this turned out but have no doubt it can and will improve.
Title: Re: Fire Away - Links Magazine Top 100
Post by: Jim Colton on February 02, 2012, 08:46:02 AM
Jud,

You forgot: Kingsley 64 NA NA!

It's a strong list. I'm going to do some comparisons between this and the other pubs' top 50. Should answer Nuzzo's question on how they differ.

It looks like there's a social network aspect to it once you sign up. I'm jcolton31 if anyone wants to befriend me.

Title: Re: Fire Away - Links Magazine Top 100
Post by: Lou Cutolo on February 02, 2012, 09:44:30 AM
Friar's Head at number 19. Do you think with time it will move higher on the list and if so how high will it go?
Title: Re: Fire Away - Links Magazine Top 100
Post by: Sean Leary on February 02, 2012, 09:45:54 AM
Was there a minimum number of votes needed for a course to make it?
Title: Re: Fire Away - Links Magazine Top 100
Post by: Jim Franklin on February 02, 2012, 09:49:57 AM
Rock Creek not high enough. Glad to see Baltimore CC make the list though.
Title: Re: Fire Away - Links Magazine Top 100
Post by: Joel_Stewart on February 02, 2012, 09:59:59 AM
Is it just me but I can't find who the panelists are or what the criteria is?
Title: Re: Fire Away - Links Magazine Top 100
Post by: John Shimp on February 02, 2012, 10:15:31 AM
I agree its a good list.  Suprised at how many new courses crack the top 50.  Trails at 36, Dunes at 39, Boston Golf at 42.  List falls apart a little for me after 85.  Some great oldies and a somewhat random list of newer courses.
Title: Re: Fire Away - Links Magazine Top 100
Post by: Sean Leary on February 02, 2012, 10:18:26 AM
52 USA courses in the world list. Wonder how that compares with the other lists...

A bit surprised Huntsman and Colorado GC made the US lists..Trying to think of surprising omissions and aren't seeing anything off the top of my head...
Title: Re: Fire Away - Links Magazine Top 100
Post by: Jim Colton on February 02, 2012, 10:22:46 AM
52 USA courses in the world list. Wonder how that compares with the other lists...

Sean, I think there are exactly 50 in the Golf Mag list. (EDIT: Confirm Valley Club is #50 US)

That top 100 composite site has 47 US in the World 100 (Camargo is last one)
Title: Re: Fire Away - Links Magazine Top 100
Post by: Michael Wharton-Palmer on February 02, 2012, 10:38:47 AM
Waht I like about the list is that it is not motivated at all by commercial interests..panelists have no commercial advantage to any selections, as such I think you see some surprising highs and lows of venues versus other polls.
I think this poll is very "true" in terms of guys who play golf and know what they like, rather than voting the way they are supposed to, on the basis of reputation.
Title: Re: Fire Away - Links Magazine Top 100
Post by: jeffwarne on February 02, 2012, 10:40:01 AM
52 USA courses in the world list. Wonder how that compares with the other lists...

A bit surprised Huntsman and Colorado GC made the US lists..Trying to think of surprising omissions and aren't seeing anything off the top of my head...

7 out of the top 10 courses in the world from the US, and only 2 actual links courses.
from a magazine called "Links" ;) ;D :o ::)

edit:I like the list and notice a definite break from the status quo
Title: Re: Fire Away - Links Magazine Top 100
Post by: Jim Colton on February 02, 2012, 10:46:49 AM
Here you go...comparison to Top 50 of Golf Mag and Golf Digest.

SWAP OUT = In Mag x Top 50, not in Links Top 50
SWAP IN = In Links Top 50, not in Mag x Top 50

GOLF MAG WORLD
   TOP 50 SWAP OUT
43   Olympic Club (Lake) (76)
44   Whistling Straits (64)
45   Kiawah Island (Ocean Course) (58)
46   Portmarnock (Old) (59)
48   Royal Troon (66)
49   Nine Bridges (NR)
50   Garden City GC (51)

   TOP 50 SWAP IN
25   Morfontaine (55)
38   Ballyneal (79)
41   Woodhall Spa (Hotchkin) (59)
45   North Berwick (West) (89)
47   Royal Lytham & St. Annes (57)
49   Old Macdonald (74)
50   Ganton (66)

GOLF MAG US
   TOP 50 SWAP OUT
37   Medinah (89)
40   Quaker Ridge (53)
41   Inverness (56)
44   Winged Foot East (62)
45   Harbour Town (71)
48   Nanea (78)
49   Chambers Bay (55)

   TOP 50 SWAP IN
33   The Course at Yale (71)
36   Bandon Trails (54)
38   Pasatiempo (66)
41   Myopia Hunt (83)
42   Boston GC (78)
46   Shadow Creek (60)
48   Kittansett (59)

GOLF DIGEST US (Wow!)
   TOP 50 SWAP OUT
14   Alotian Club (84)
20   Wade Hampton (60)
23   Medinah (89)
29   Castle Pines (NR)
29   The Honors Course (67)
35   Victoria National (NR)
39   Canyata (NR)
42   GC at Black Rock (NR)
43   Peachtree (52)
44   Sebonack (57)
45   Pete Dye GC (58)
46   Kinloch (68)
48   Eagle Point (NR)
49   Arcadia Bluffs (NR)
50   Sahalee (NR)

   TOP 50 SWAP IN
20   Ballyneal (95)
26   Old Macdonald (NR)
27   Garden City (53)
30   Shoreacres (92)
31   Camargo (NR)
33   The Course at Yale (NR)
34   Valley Club of Montecito (NR)
36   Bandon Trails (63)
37   Maidstone (93)
38   Pasatiempo (NR)
41   Myopia Hunt
42   Boston GC (89)
43   Somerset Hills (93)
47   Old Sandwich (89)
48   Kittansett (64)

It'll take more time to compare to GW, as I'd have to split between classic and modern.
Title: Re: Fire Away - Links Magazine Top 100
Post by: Jim Nugent on February 02, 2012, 11:05:14 AM
Can anyone explain what the scores mean (i.e. how they get them) and who the raters are? 
Title: Re: Fire Away - Links Magazine Top 100
Post by: Adam Clayman on February 02, 2012, 11:29:51 AM
It would also be interesting to see how this list diverges from Daniel Wexler's guide. I don't own the book, but I do see one glaring difference.

Well done Tom!
Title: Re: Fire Away - Links Magazine Top 100
Post by: Matt Bosela on February 02, 2012, 11:35:09 AM
Well done to Tom and his panel of raters.  This list is easily the best I've seen in recent times and rankings generally seem to be in line with the sensibilities of our group here at GCA.  Nice to see courses like Ballyneal, Yale and even Highlands Links in their rightful place.

I would guess a good percentage of the 105 raters are members here at this site.
Title: Re: Fire Away - Links Magazine Top 100
Post by: Tom_Doak on February 02, 2012, 11:38:33 AM
Just curious as to how this compares to the "unofficial GCA ratings" that one of our young posters sorted out a year ago.  It looks like it has a lot of similarities.
Title: Re: Fire Away - Links Magazine Top 100
Post by: Bill_McBride on February 02, 2012, 11:55:49 AM
Like this best of any list I've seen, happy I've played 26 of each list - although Cal Club was 20 years ago.

Where is Capilano?    Where is Royal Cinque Ports?   Those to me are notable exceptions.

Glad to see the Bandon courses all highly rated.

Very glad to see both Kingsley and Ballyneal highly placed.
Title: Re: Fire Away - Links Magazine Top 100
Post by: Sean Leary on February 02, 2012, 12:05:19 PM
Just curious as to how this compares to the "unofficial GCA ratings" that one of our young posters sorted out a year ago.  It looks like it has a lot of similarities.

See Matt's post above yours...
Title: Re: Fire Away - Links Magazine Top 100
Post by: Jim Colton on February 02, 2012, 12:21:52 PM
Just curious as to how this compares to the "unofficial GCA ratings" that one of our young posters sorted out a year ago.  It looks like it has a lot of similarities.

Tom, there are some similarities, but it doesn't look like you're faring quite as well in Links100 list. Cape Kidnappers was the only one I saw that was higher on Links100 than the unofficial GCA.

Man, my work productivity is taking a hit today.

   TOP 50 SWAP OUT
28   Highlands Links (57)
39   St. George's Hill (Red & Blue) (69)
41   The Course at Yale (70)
42   Sebonack (NR)
43   Rock Creek Cattle Company (NR)
44   Rye (Old) (55)
45   St. Enodoc (NR)
46   Swinley Forest (65)
49   Pasatiempo (80)

   TOP 50 SWAP IN
25   Morfontaine
35   Hirono
39   Los Angeles (North) (54)
42   Royal Birkdale (51)
43   Casa de Campo (Teeth of the Dog) (59)
46   Oakland Hills (South) (87)
47   Royal Lytham & St. Annes (85)
49   Old Macdonald
50   Ganton (71)

Note: Morf & Hirono didn't meet Ian's 10-vote cut-off, and Old Mac wasn't on the ballot.

Overall, there seems to be a GCA tilt to the Links list relative to Golf Magazine and especially Golf Digest, but that seems appropriate given their target readership. But looking at the two lists here, it seems more conventional than just the GCA conventional wisdom.
Title: Re: Fire Away - Links Magazine Top 100
Post by: Tim Bert on February 02, 2012, 12:25:08 PM
Deleted. Pretty sure I misinterpreted Bill's question.
Title: Re: Fire Away - Links Magazine Top 100
Post by: Tom Dunne on February 02, 2012, 01:38:26 PM
This might help answer some of the questions being asked:

http://www.linksmagazine.com/best_of_golf/welcome-to-the-links100

Joel Stewart,

There is no set criteria for voting. Panelists are anonymous by default--some will definitely keep it that way, while others will be coming forward on the microsite to talk about how they created their ballots.

Jim Nugent,

The numbers are just output from the statistical model meant to show how far apart one course is from another. The 10 point scale was more or less an arbitrary selection.


Title: Re: Fire Away - Links Magazine Top 100
Post by: Sven Nilsen on February 02, 2012, 02:15:42 PM
Here's a breakdown of the modern courses with architects.  I count 8 for Dye, 6 for C&C, 5 for Doak, 5 for Fazio, 3 for Kidd and 3 for Nicklaus.  If anyone can find the Post-1995 list that was compiled a while back, it would make for an interesting comparison.

1.  Sand Hills (1)             C&C
2.  Pacific Dunes (2)          Doak
3.  Friar's Head (5)             C&C
4.  Ballyneal (6)             Doak
5.  Old MacDonald (3)     Doak, Urbina, et al.
6.  The Golf Club (9)             Dye
7.  Kiawah Ocean   (20)          Dye
8.  Whistling Straits (4)     Dye
9.  Bandon Trails (29)             C&C
10. Bandon Dunes (7)     Kidd
11. Muirfiled Village (12)     Nicklaus
12. Boston GC (21)             Hanse
13. Sawgrass (18)             Dye
14. Shadow Creek (11)     Fazio
15. Old Sandwich (13)     C&C
16. Gozzer Ranch (22)             Fazio
17. Chambers Bay (25)     RTJ Jr.
18. Sebonack (8)             Doak/Nicklaus
19. Pete Dye GC (10)             Dye
20. Monterrey Shores (41)      Strantz
21.  Wade Hampton (19)     Fazio
22. Kingsley (26)             DeVries
23. Rock Creek (15)             Doak
24. The Honors Course (17)     Dye
25. Kinloch (14)                     George
26. Calusa Pines (31)             Hurdzan & Fry
27. Spyglass Hill (16)             RTJ Sr.
28. Harbour Town (42)     Dye
29. Forest Highlands (54)     Morrish & Weiskopf
30. Kapalua Plantation (77)     C&C
31. Nanea (NR)                     Kidd
32. The Alotian (NR)             Fazio
33. Huntsman Springs (30)     Kidd
34. Colorado (37)             C&C
35. Blackwolf Run (46)     Dye
36. Whispering Pines (32)     Nicklaus?/Williams
37. Shooting Star (24)     Fazio
38. Sutton Bay (56)             Marsh
39. Prairie Club (NR)             Lehman

Courses in the GW Top 50 Modern but not in the Links Top 100 - Mountaintop, Galloway National, Arcadia Bluffs, Double Eagle, Dallas National, Dunes Club, Bayonne, Castle Pines, Desert Forest, Mayacama, World Woods (Pine Barrens), Diamond Creek, Fallen Oak, Oak Tree, Patriot, Club at Cuscowilla, Martis Camp

Edited to note the GW Modern ranking for each in parens.  
Title: Re: Fire Away - Links Magazine Top 100
Post by: Howard Riefs on February 02, 2012, 02:37:19 PM
If anyone can find the Post-1995 list that was compiled a while back, it would make for an interesting comparison.



Here's the site's Post-Modern ranking from last summer.


REVISED TOP 25
1. Sand Hills (62)
2. Pacific Dunes (106)
3. Barnbougle Dunes (23)
4. Ballyneal (70)
5. Friars Head (52)
6. Wolf Point (7)
7. Ellerston (3)
8. Cape Kidnappers (13)
9. Rock Creek (28)
10. Old Macdonald (62)
11. Lost Farm (17)
12. Castle Stuart (11)
13. Kingsley Club (50)
14. Old Sandwich (19)
15. Bandon Trails (93)
16. Kingsbarns (41)
17. Sebonack (41)
18. Diamante (8)
19. Cal Club (27)
20. Bandon Dunes (98)
21. Gozzer Ranch (9)
22. Whistling Straits (Straits) (53)
23. Boston Golf Club (16)
24. Alotian Club (9)
25. Chambers Bay (44)


http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,48963.275.html (http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,48963.275.html)
Title: Re: Fire Away - Links Magazine Top 100
Post by: Michael Wharton-Palmer on February 02, 2012, 03:29:47 PM
Jim,
The GCA Tilt that you refer to , is the same thing I belive...for once this is a poll conducted by individuals who love good golf courses without any axes to grind and voting purely on what they like...uninhibited by any restraints...that is why there is so little disagreement coming from this thread.
When was the last time a top of anything was published on this site and created such a love fest ;D
Title: Re: Fire Away - Links Magazine Top 100
Post by: mike_malone on February 02, 2012, 03:48:33 PM
 I was surprised by two things as a Philly guy. One, more than 2 needed from Philly and two, I played 19 on the world list but only 11 on the US list. Overall I liked it.
Title: Re: Fire Away - Links Magazine Top 100
Post by: Tom Dunne on February 02, 2012, 03:59:27 PM
My cursory scan of the panel has GCA participants in the 15-20 range. Some of that number includes architects/industry types who would've been invited anyway, and there are a handful of others who are irregular posters at best. There's no question GCA influenced LINKS' original list, but some 75-80% of the panel have no direct connection to the site.
Title: Re: Fire Away - Links Magazine Top 100
Post by: Brad Tufts on February 02, 2012, 04:30:23 PM
Looks like the "candidate" list needs a bit of editing....I'm counting 10-15 courses listed twice...like "Boston GC" and "Boston Golf Club".

And a country entitled "VA" including Ansley GC in Georgia...
Title: Re: Fire Away - Links Magazine Top 100
Post by: Simon Holt on February 02, 2012, 04:34:47 PM
Cool list Tom.  Refreshing if nothing else.
Title: Re: Fire Away - Links Magazine Top 100
Post by: David Cronheim on February 02, 2012, 04:49:20 PM
I guess I'm not too excited that TPC Sawgrass cracked the top 50. I played it last November and think it's incredibly overrated. #17 is #17, but beyond that I don't think it's anything to write home about.
Title: Re: Fire Away - Links Magazine Top 100
Post by: Michael George on February 02, 2012, 04:57:33 PM
Tom - great job on the list.  Very well done.  I am most intrigued by the "hottest and 'coldest" courses factor.  Will be interesting to see how quickly a new course can jump up the list and how volatile it will be once it is. For instance, where Cabot Links originally ranks versus settles.  

IMHO, the only course that I think does not belong in this ranking is The Homestead (Cascades) - love the design, but maintenance and other changes should cause it to fall out of top 100.  Has potential to be top 50 if a significant restoration was done.

In place of The Homestead, I would insert Victoria National.

Other Courses that were omitted that based on my experience or people I trust, I would have liked to see were (but don't know who I would bump) - Dismal River (to prove I am not a Nicklaus hater ;)), Ballyhack (based on reports from Dixie Cup - even in horrendous conditions), Brookside (once you play it, it will never leave your top 100 - Jonathan Becker and I need more of you to see it - maybe I should put together a gca outing) and Lancaster (really looking forward to seeing restoration).

Title: Re: Fire Away - Links Magazine Top 100
Post by: Mark Saltzman on February 02, 2012, 05:48:18 PM

Brookside (once you play it, it will never leave your top 100 - Jonathan Becker and I need more of you to see it - maybe I should put together a gca outing) and Lancaster (really looking forward to seeing restoration).


IN!

And I agree about Victoria National -- a surprising omission.
Title: Re: Fire Away - Links Magazine Top 100
Post by: Chris Johnston on February 02, 2012, 06:13:34 PM


Other Courses that were omitted that based on my experience or people I trust, I would have liked to see were (but don't know who I would bump) - Dismal River (to prove I am not a Nicklaus hater ;)), Ballyhack (based on reports from Dixie Cup - even in horrendous conditions), Brookside (once you play it, it will never leave your top 100 - Jonathan Becker and I need more of you to see it - maybe I should put together a gca outing) and Lancaster (really looking forward to seeing restoration).


Michael -

Dismal is a "you love it more the more you play it" kind of course.  Similar, to me, a bit like Cruden Bay.  One or two rounds don't tell her story.  I've found a lot of great ones are like that.

Thanks for believing we belong among the ranked.  I happen to believe our course is spectacular and unique - it's certainly one if the best I have played.  If we were ranked, I'm afraid we'd have to change out the 201 yardage markers! 

I agree with you on Brookside, 100%.  Haven't played Lancaster but hope to someday.
Title: Re: Fire Away - Links Magazine Top 100
Post by: Joel_Stewart on February 02, 2012, 07:12:41 PM

GOLF MAG WORLD
   TOP 50 SWAP OUT
43   Olympic Club (Lake) (76)

37   Medinah (89)

33   The Course at Yale (71)

14   Alotian Club (84)

20   Ballyneal (95)


These are the 5 with the biggest differences.  These are pretty large differences. 

I haven't played Ballyneal but I like the list, Olympic's recent work is horrible and they deserve to be knocked down.  Medinah is just amazing they make any list?  Yale is coming along, still has some more work to go.  Alotian looks hard, plays easy and over time will fall once the hype wears out.
Title: Re: Fire Away - Links Magazine Top 100
Post by: John Shimp on February 02, 2012, 07:59:55 PM
Looks hard plays easy.  The faz
Title: Re: Fire Away - Links Magazine Top 100
Post by: Jackson C on February 02, 2012, 08:08:12 PM

GOLF MAG WORLD
   TOP 50 SWAP OUT
43   Olympic Club (Lake) (76)

37   Medinah (89)

33   The Course at Yale (71)

14   Alotian Club (84)

20   Ballyneal (95)


These are the 5 with the biggest differences.  These are pretty large differences. 

I haven't played Ballyneal but I like the list, Olympic's recent work is horrible and they deserve to be knocked down.  Medinah is just amazing they make any list?  Yale is coming along, still has some more work to go.  Alotian looks hard, plays easy and over time will fall once the hype wears out.
[/quote

Looks to me like Jim has some of the numbers in the wrong column.
Ballyneal is rated 20 in Links
Alotian is not rated 14 in Links - it is rated 84 in Links
Title: Re: Fire Away - Links Magazine Top 100
Post by: Jim Colton on February 02, 2012, 08:28:29 PM

GOLF MAG WORLD
   TOP 50 SWAP OUT
43   Olympic Club (Lake) (76)

37   Medinah (89)

33   The Course at Yale (71)

14   Alotian Club (84)

20   Ballyneal (95)


These are the 5 with the biggest differences.  These are pretty large differences. 

I haven't played Ballyneal but I like the list, Olympic's recent work is horrible and they deserve to be knocked down.  Medinah is just amazing they make any list?  Yale is coming along, still has some more work to go.  Alotian looks hard, plays easy and over time will fall once the hype wears out.
[/quote

Looks to me like Jim has some of the numbers in the wrong column.
Ballyneal is rated 20 in Links
Alotian is not rated 14 in Links - it is rated 84 in Links

No, Joel just took bits and pieces from the two different tables, one having Links on the left (Swap in) and one having GD on the left (swap out).
Title: Re: Fire Away - Links Magazine Top 100
Post by: Jackson C on February 02, 2012, 09:04:28 PM

GOLF MAG WORLD
   TOP 50 SWAP OUT
43   Olympic Club (Lake) (76)

37   Medinah (89)

33   The Course at Yale (71)

14   Alotian Club (84)

20   Ballyneal (95)


These are the 5 with the biggest differences.  These are pretty large differences. 

I haven't played Ballyneal but I like the list, Olympic's recent work is horrible and they deserve to be knocked down.  Medinah is just amazing they make any list?  Yale is coming along, still has some more work to go.  Alotian looks hard, plays easy and over time will fall once the hype wears out.
[/quote

Looks to me like Jim has some of the numbers in the wrong column.
Ballyneal is rated 20 in Links
Alotian is not rated 14 in Links - it is rated 84 in Links

No, Joel just took bits and pieces from the two different tables, one having Links on the left (Swap in) and one having GD on the left (swap out).

OK, thanks, numbers were a bit confusing in combination with Joel's commentary.
Seems that Links' list most closely conforms to gca board opinions.
Title: Re: Fire Away - Links Magazine Top 100
Post by: Anthony Gray on February 02, 2012, 09:44:11 PM
North Berwick, Cruden Bay, Diamanté and Castle Stuart on the list makes this list the one I value the most. Pebble may be a little low.

  Anthony
Title: Re: Fire Away - Links Magazine Top 100
Post by: Kevin Pallier on February 02, 2012, 10:50:21 PM
Kevin, did you try and talk to the guys at Links when you saw SFGC at inside 30 and Cal club not breaking top 100 in the world??

Brian - maybe not enough people have been fortunate to see the Cal. Club ? For mine - it's better than SFGC

Mark F - re: Kingston Heath - maybe its finally getting some of the recognition it deserves  ;)
Title: Re: Fire Away - Links Magazine Top 100
Post by: Jim Colton on February 03, 2012, 11:13:05 PM
.
Title: Re: Fire Away - Links Magazine Top 100
Post by: Sean_A on February 04, 2012, 09:27:38 AM
I spent time today trying to do the impossible with ranking the courses I have played recently enough to remember them fairly well.  I found the task very hard! 

I was very surprised I needed to add Little Aston to the list.  

Tom - for the sake of consistency, Castletown Golf Links should be Isle of Man.  I added it to England because I didn't have a better choice.  But then, I don't know if the courses I add to the data base can be seen by everybody.  Do you know if they can?

Ciao  
Title: Re: Fire Away - Links Magazine Top 100
Post by: Tom Dunne on February 04, 2012, 11:20:18 AM
Sean,

No, they can't. The mind reels at the potential for mischief if that were the case. You can add Castletown or any course to your ballot, but the system won't score that addition until it's entered into the database. The database saves manual additions in all caps, though, so we can easily scan and see what's new. We're planning on bringing in well over 100 courses in the next week or two--there'll be a list of names on the site. There are some really prominent Continentals that weren't on the original ballot.

It really is a difficult process, trying to make fine distinctions between excellent and closely matched courses, but it's that very difficulty that gives us confidence we're gathering useful info. On your end, of course, if you wake up one morning and decide to flip flop on RCD and Portrush, you CAN do that. Votes aren't set in stone--they are meant to evolve along with you as a golfer and course analyst.
Title: Re: Fire Away - Links Magazine Top 100
Post by: Garland Bayley on February 06, 2012, 12:19:57 AM
.

Well said!

..
Title: Re: Fire Away - Links Magazine Top 100
Post by: paul cowley on February 06, 2012, 10:15:56 PM
Thanks Bill.
Title: Re: Fire Away - Links Magazine Top 100
Post by: Kalen Braley on February 07, 2012, 03:18:21 PM
So a buddy of mine put together this really cool ranking/list that looks to be a pretty damn good one to me.  Here's how he did it:

This is a composite list from the Digest, GolfWeek, GOLF, and Links lists where points are awarded as follows:
100 points for #1,
99 points for #2
On down to.....1 point for #100.
7 point bonus for each time a course appears on a list to benefit courses that appear at the bottom of multiple lists as compared to courses that only appear on one list in a somewhat higher spot.



Combined Magazine Top 100    
1    Pine Valley GC (Pine Valley, NJ)    426
2    Cypress Point Club (Pebble Beach, CA)    422
3    Shinnecock Hills GC (Southampton, NY)    417
4    Augusta National GC (Augusta, GA)    411
5    Oakmont CC (Oakmont, PA)    407
6    Sand Hills GC (Mullen, NE)    406
7    Merion GC--East (Ardmore, PA)    403
8    National GL America (Southampton, NY)    402
9    Pebble Beach Golf Links (Pebble Beach, CA)    398
10    Pacific Dunes GC (Bandon, OR)    392
11    Crystal Downs CC (Frankfort, MI)    384
12    Fishers Island Club (Fishers Island, NY)    384
13    Winged Foot GC--West (Mamaroneck, NY)    376
14    Chicago GC (Wheaton, IL)    367
15    Seminole GC (Juno Beach, FL)    365
16    Prairie Dunes GC (Hutchinson, KS)    363
17    San Francisco GC (San Francisco, CA)    350
18    Pinehurst Resort & CC #2 (Pinehurst, NC)    349
19    Whistling Straits GC--Straits (Sheboygan, WI)    344
20    The Riviera CC (Pacific Palisades, CA)    342
21    Oakland Hills CC--South (Bloomfield Hills, MI)    336
22    The Country Club--Clyde/Squirrel (Brookline, MA)    336
23    Friar's Head GC (Baiting Hollow, NY)    335
24    Los Angeles CC--North (Los Angeles, CA)    321
25    Bethpage State Park GC--Black (Farmingdale, NY)    318
26    Muirfield Village GC (Dublin, OH)    310
27    Bandon Dunes GC (Bandon, OR)    309
28    The Olympic Club--Lake (San Francisco, CA)    309
29    The Golf Club (New Albany, OH)    304
30    The Ocean Course (Kiawah Island, SC)    303
31    Garden City GC (Garden City, NY)    296
32    TPC at Sawgrass--Stadium (Ponte Vedra Beach, FL)    273
33    Southern Hills CC (Tulsa, OK)    269
34    Oak Hill CC--East (Rochester, NY)    266
35    Shadow Creek GC (Las Vegas, NV)    264
36    Baltusrol GC--Lower (Springfield, NJ)    260
37    Wade Hampton GC (Cashiers, NC)    249
38    Ballyneal GC (Holyoke, CO)    248
39    Old MacDonald (Bandon, OR)    245
40    Sebonack GC (Southampton, NY)    243
41    The Honors Cse (Ooltewah, TN)    236
42    Shoreacres GC (Lake Bluff, IL)    233
43    Old Sandwich GC (Plymouth, MA)    224
44    Bandon Trails (Bandon, OR)    217
45    Spyglass Hill GC (Pebble Beach, CA)    216
46    Camargo Club (Indian Hill, OH)    216
47    Pete Dye GC (Bridgeport, WV)    209
48    Peachtree GC (Atlanta, GA)    205
49    Inverness Club (Toledo, OH)    195
50    Somerset Hills CC (Bernardsville, NJ)    194
51    Plainfield GC (Plainfield, NJ)    193
52    Kinloch GC (Manakin-Sabot, VA)    190
53    Maidstone Club (East Hampton, NY)    188
54    Winged Foot GC--East (Mamaroneck, NY)    179
55    Medinah CC #3 (Medinah, IL)    175
56    Valley Club of Montecito (Santa Barbara, CA)    174
57    Boston GC (Hingham, MA)    172
58    Pasatiempo GC (Santa Cruz, CA)    171
59    Chambers Bay GC (University Place, WA)    164
60    Calusa Pines GC (Naples, FL)    153
61    Gozzer Ranch GC (Harrison, ID)    151
62    The Alotian Club (Roland, AR)    150
63    Quaker Ridge GC (Scarsdale, NY)    150
64    Cse @ Yale (New Haven, CT)    145
65    Myopia Hunt Club (Hamilton, MA)    142
66    Interlachen CC (Edina, MN)    134
67    Monterey Peninsula CC--Shore (Pebble Bch, CA)    134
68    Scioto CC (Columbus, OH)    133
69    Newport CC (Newport, RI)    128
70    Harbour Town GL (Hilton Head Island, SC)    127
71    Yeaman's Hall Club (Hanahan, SC)    123
72    East Lake GC (Atlanta, GA)    120
73    Milwaukee CC (River Hills, WI)    115
74    Rock Creek Cattle Co. (Deer Lodge, MT)    111
75    Castle Pines GC (Castle Rock, CO)    107
76    Arcadia Bluffs GC (Arcadia, MI)    106
77    Cherry Hills CC (Englewood, CO)    105
78    California Golf Club (So. San Franciso, CA)    97
79    Wannamoisett CC (Rumford, RI)    95
80    The Kingsley Club (Kingsley, MI)    95
81    Olympia Fields CC--North (Olympia Fields, IL)    93
82    Kittansett Club (Marion, MA)    93
83    Nanea GC (Kailua-Kona, HI)    90
84    Mountaintop GC (Cashiers, NC)    89
85    Double Eagle Club (Galena, OH)    88
86    Congressional CC--Blue (Bethesda, MD)    88
87    Dallas National GC (Dallas, TX)    83
88    Piping Rock (Locust Valley, NY)    82
89    Whispering Pines (Trinity, TX)    79
90    Baltusrol GC--Upper (Springfield, NJ)    74
91    Baltimore CC--East (Timonium, MD)    73
92    Victoria National GC (Newburgh, IN)    73
93    Forest Highlands GC--Canyon (Flagstaff, AZ)    72
94    Canyata GC (Marshall, IL)    69
95    Huntsman Springs GC (Driggs, ID)    68
96    Galloway National GC (Galloway, NJ)    66
97    Club at Black Rock (Coeur d'Alene, ID)    66
98    Shooting Star GC (Teton Village, WY)    64
99    Blackwolf Run GC--River (Kohler, WI)    60
100    Eagle Point GC (Wilmington, NC)    60
Title: Re: Fire Away - Links Magazine Top 100
Post by: Jim Franklin on February 08, 2012, 11:46:31 AM
Rock Creek still too far down. I am glad Sahalee didn't crack the top 100.
Title: Re: Fire Away - Links Magazine Top 100
Post by: Sven Nilsen on February 08, 2012, 12:05:16 PM
Kalen,

Would love to see that list if GD were taken out of the equation.  They seem to mess everything up.

Sven
Title: Re: Fire Away - Links Magazine Top 100
Post by: Michael George on February 08, 2012, 12:42:55 PM
Rock Creek still too far down. I am glad Sahalee didn't crack the top 100.

Jim - You like any list that has Baltimore CC in the top 100 ;)  Although in all honesty, I don't know anyone that has played it that does not include it in their top 100.

Is Canyata the most polarizing golf course in the US?  GD has it very high and others don't think it is top 250.  What are people's thoughts on Canyata? 

Also is there anyone here that has played Double Eagle that thinks it is top 100.  Very private, well maintained but the course is not top 200 IMHO.
Title: Re: Fire Away - Links Magazine Top 100
Post by: Kalen Braley on February 08, 2012, 12:51:38 PM
Kalen,

Would love to see that list if GD were taken out of the equation.  They seem to mess everything up.

Sven

Sven,

By assigning those extra "bonus" points...it actually had the effect of removing more GD courses from the final list than any other magazines list. 

I think GD has a pretty solid top 50, its the bottom 51 to 100 where things get a little skewampus.  I suspect GD also has the biggest pool of raters over any other list, so with more people you get more variabilty, hence the varied results.
Title: Re: Fire Away - Links Magazine Top 100
Post by: Jud_T on February 08, 2012, 01:12:10 PM

  I suspect GD also has the biggest pool of raters over any other list, so with more people you get more variabilty, hence the varied results.



I don't recall this concept from my Stats classes...
Title: Re: Fire Away - Links Magazine Top 100
Post by: Kalen Braley on February 08, 2012, 01:44:24 PM

  I suspect GD also has the biggest pool of raters over any other list, so with more people you get more variabilty, hence the varied results.



I don't recall this concept from my Stats classes...

Jud,

Please elaborate.  Are you saying 30 raters will produce the same result as 800 raters?
Title: Re: Fire Away - Links Magazine Top 100
Post by: Jud_T on February 08, 2012, 01:50:40 PM
I'm saying more raters produces more homogenized results, not less, therefore it's Digest's criteria that's the real issue.
Title: Re: Fire Away - Links Magazine Top 100
Post by: Terry Lavin on February 08, 2012, 01:59:02 PM
I know that it is fashionable in this here neighborhood to bang on Golf Digest's method of rating golf courses.  And I recognize that its list does have some outliers that I just cannot fathom, like the manifestly unworthy Rich Harvest here in greater Chicagoland, but I think there's nothing wrong with including resistance to par/difficulty in a rating for a Top 100 golf course.  Maybe that's heresy, but it seems to have as much validity as the prized-in-gca-land "walk in the park" factor of Golfweek.  If you want to talk about homogeneity of results, there's plenty of evidence of that in GW's list, too.
Title: Re: Fire Away - Links Magazine Top 100
Post by: Kalen Braley on February 08, 2012, 02:07:21 PM
Jud,

I still think there are other things at play here that can explain this.

If the majority of golfers on Golf Digest are "regional raters"...meaning they don't travel more than a few hundred miles from home to play the vast majority of thier golf...then couldn't we see bias in the numbers where they rate the best courses they've seen fairly high.

As compared to say a smaller group of 30 raters...who travel much more extensively and have seen a lot more courses, hence more data points to rely on that just mostly regional courses.

Its just a hypothesis, nut would be interesting to see how "mobile/well traveled" each set of raters are for thier respective magazines.
Title: Re: Fire Away - Links Magazine Top 100
Post by: Kalen Braley on February 08, 2012, 02:13:22 PM
P.S.  Jud,  I'm not so sure I agree with your premise about more=homogenous.

For example,

If we polled everyone in the U.S. as to what thier religion is...I'm guessing we would have a fairly homogenous result that was mostly Christianity.

But if we polled everyone in the world, which is a much bigger sample size, the result would become far more heterogeneos in that now there would be Christianity, Judeaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, etc, etc.
Title: Re: Fire Away - Links Magazine Top 100
Post by: Michael George on February 08, 2012, 02:18:29 PM
I know that it is fashionable in this here neighborhood to bang on Golf Digest's method of rating golf courses.  And I recognize that its list does have some outliers that I just cannot fathom, like the manifestly unworthy Rich Harvest here in greater Chicagoland, but I think there's nothing wrong with including resistance to par/difficulty in a rating for a Top 100 golf course.  Maybe that's heresy, but it seems to have as much validity as the prized-in-gca-land "walk in the park" factor of Golfweek.  If you want to talk about homogeneity of results, there's plenty of evidence of that in GW's list, too.

I agree with your post.  One question - does Golf Digest also have a category for playability.  If they are going to penalize a course for being not hard enough, they should also penalize the courses for being too hard and thus not playable for the average golfer.  IF they do, it is entirely fair.
Title: Re: Fire Away - Links Magazine Top 100
Post by: Jim Colton on February 08, 2012, 02:20:58 PM
I know that it is fashionable in this here neighborhood to bang on Golf Digest's method of rating golf courses.  And I recognize that its list does have some outliers that I just cannot fathom, like the manifestly unworthy Rich Harvest here in greater Chicagoland, but I think there's nothing wrong with including resistance to par/difficulty in a rating for a Top 100 golf course.  Maybe that's heresy, but it seems to have as much validity as the prized-in-gca-land "walk in the park" factor of Golfweek.  If you want to talk about homogeneity of results, there's plenty of evidence of that in GW's list, too.

Terry,

I think the difference is Golf Digest rigidly decides that Resistance to Scoring is 1/8th of what makes a golf course great. Golfweek has its Walk in the Park as a category, but unless I'm mistaken, the amount that that particular category makes up a Given rater's final score isn't fixed -- it might be everything to one panelist and completely irrelevant to another. The publications other than GD let their panelists decide what's important to them. Golf Digest trusts their panelists enough to quantify things like Shot Values and Ambience but not enough to decide which categories are important to them.
Title: Re: Fire Away - Links Magazine Top 100
Post by: Jud_T on February 08, 2012, 02:21:02 PM
Michael,

http://www.golfdigest.com/golf-courses/2011-05/100-greatest-golf-courses-methodology

Title: Re: Fire Away - Links Magazine Top 100
Post by: Sean_A on February 08, 2012, 02:23:32 PM
I know that it is fashionable in this here neighborhood to bang on Golf Digest's method of rating golf courses.  And I recognize that its list does have some outliers that I just cannot fathom, like the manifestly unworthy Rich Harvest here in greater Chicagoland, but I think there's nothing wrong with including resistance to par/difficulty in a rating for a Top 100 golf course.  Maybe that's heresy, but it seems to have as much validity as the prized-in-gca-land "walk in the park" factor of Golfweek.  If you want to talk about homogeneity of results, there's plenty of evidence of that in GW's list, too.

I agree with your post.  One question - does Golf Digest also have a category for playability.  If they are going to penalize a course for being not hard enough, they should also penalize the courses for being too hard and thus not playable for the average golfer.  IF they do, it is entirely fair.

The problem with this logic is determining what is too easy or hard and for whom.  It probably makes more sense to downgrade a course that doesn't have reasonable length variation or even better, reasonable variation in how long the holes play.  

Ciao
Title: Re: Fire Away - Links Magazine Top 100
Post by: Richard Choi on February 08, 2012, 02:25:32 PM
P.S.  Jud,  I'm not so sure I agree with your premise about more=homogenous.

For example,

If we polled everyone in the U.S. as to what thier religion is...I'm guessing we would have a fairly homogenous result that was mostly Christianity.

But if we polled everyone in the world, which is a much bigger sample size, the result would become far more heterogeneos in that now there would be Christianity, Judeaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, etc, etc.

Kalen, Jud is correct. It is pretty basic statistics. More samples you have, more homogenous the result is.

You are using the example in the wrong way. If you polled 10 people in US, there is a chance that all 10 people say they are Wiccans - which would not be very representative of the overall population. More you sample, more reflective of the true representation the result will be.

In your example, polling just US for the world-wide spread of religion would result in a skewed result - because your sample was too isolated. Once you opened up the sample size to the rest of the world, more representative result was found.
Title: Re: Fire Away - Links Magazine Top 100
Post by: Jud_T on February 08, 2012, 02:31:28 PM
Apparently a $208,000 U of M degree is still worth something besides the paper it's printed on... ;)