LINKS 100

[Tom Dunne]

Sean, just wanted to say that what you're doing here is really the best way to use the LINKS100. It's what I personally enjoy about it the most, at least. Over time our tastes and preferences change--and courses change, too, of course--and one's LINKS100 ballot is a great way to reflect on/keep track of all of that. Whether or not the whole process is pointless can be debated ad nauseam, but that's another thread. For what it's worth, I appreciate seeing someone simply use the thing in a way that takes advantage of one of its better design features. So...thanks!

[Sean_A]

9th ten - all minor changes

81 Sherwood Forest
 
82 Prestbury
 
83 Nairn
 
84 Dunbar
 
85 Stoneham
 
86 Knole Park GC
 
87 Bearwood Lakes
 
88 County Louth
 
89 European Club
 
90 Royal St. David's

10th ten - all minor chnages except for the entry of Blackwell - despite its consistent dreadful maintenance regime, the bones of something quite special are clearly evident

91 West Lancashire
 
92 Mid Pines Club
 
93 Tralee
 
94 Blackwell
 
95 LuLu Country Club
 
96 Hillside
 
97 Royal North Devon
 
98 Trevose (Championship)
 
99 Southport & Ainsdale
 
100 Turnberry (Kintyre)

Ciao

[Jud_T]

Uof M dropped nearly 30 spots based on my last play.  The mowing lines were shocking and any course Dr Mac was involved with relies heavily on these sorts of details to pull the design together; no great shakeups after this.

I believe work starts at the end of this season to begin implementing the Master Plan.  Nowhere to go but up!  Kind of surprised to see Westward Ho! so low...

[Sean_A]

Uof M dropped nearly 30 spots based on my last play.  The mowing lines were shocking and any course Dr Mac was involved with relies heavily on these sorts of details to pull the design together; no great shakeups after this.

I believe work starts at the end of this season to begin implementing the Master Plan.  Nowhere to go but up!  Kind of surprised to see Westward Ho! so low...

Jud

I am excited about the UofM project.  Its terrible to have such a classy course with its details stripped.  Indeed, I feel much the same about Blackwell.

I always say the rushes either make or break RND for the golfer; unfortunately, I really dislike these holes and think they are bad design for windy site - plus they are wet.  There isn't enough other good stuff to make up for the rushes, but for all that RND is a god course.  

The final courses; none of these really do much for me, but LINKS listed them so I included them on my list.  I have played other courses not listed I think are better, but shouldn't really be on a top list so take these with a pinch of salt.  In other words, LINKS shouldn't list these courses for the rankings!

101 Crail (Balcomie)
 
102 PGA Catalunya
 
103 Ballybunion (Cashen)
 
104 Merion (West)
 
105 Forest of Arden
 
106 The Belfry (Brabazon)
 
107 Grand Traverse (The Bear)
 
108 Nefyn & District

Ciao

[Tommy Williamsen]

Sean, I assume you are talking about Bulls Bay in Wales and not in Charleston.  I can't think of many who would have included it.  I think it is one of the reasons I put Fowler at the top of my best architect list.  He could take a site like Bulls Bay and fashion a course with a minimum of earth moved.  There are some holes there that are unlike holes anywhere else on the planet.

[Duncan Cheslett]

Sean, I assume you are talking about Bulls Bay in Wales and not in Charleston.  I can't think of many who would have included it.  I think it is one of the reasons I put Fowler at the top of my best architect list.  He could take a site like Bulls Bay and fashion a course with a minimum of earth moved.  There are some holes there that are unlike holes anywhere else on the planet.

I assumed Sean was referring to a course in America.  The one on Anglesey is called Bull Bay.

I'm looking forward to seeing Reddish Vale crash the list after Sean gets to play it again next week... 

[Cory Lewis]

Sean, just wanted to say that what you're doing here is really the best way to use the LINKS100. It's what I personally enjoy about it the most, at least. Over time our tastes and preferences change--and courses change, too, of course--and one's LINKS100 ballot is a great way to reflect on/keep track of all of that.

This is what I love about the Links100 list.  I went through my list recently and besides getting to 300 courses, I found myself changing a few rankings based on recent experiences.  Wel done Tom.