Best resources to start a conversation about GCA

[Ben Malach]

I have my favorites but I wanted to open this question to the board.


What are your favorite resources to get people interested or thinking about golf course architecture?


What are the current gaps in this space and how can we fill them.




I have some thoughts but I wanted to ask the board.

[Jim Sherma]

There has been a significant increase in GCA interest and knowledge over the past handful of years amongst the people that I interact with. Mostly it seems like the Fried Egg and other podcast/youtube content is where they are expanding their knowledge mostly. I don't watch a lot of televised golf week to week but there does seem to be more discussion about architecture on the telecasts.

[Michael Moore]

On the course, when you are standing next to someone and there is a break in the action and you are both looking at something of interest. This does not mean on every tee box!

[Jeff Schley]

For many regular golfers, they don't even know much about rankings, let alone architects.  I was once there as well, ignorance and probably no interest either.


Bringing up rankings, then lends itself to why is this course considered a top 100 or whatever.  Then how is that judged, although subjective, the criteria is mostly architecture based. 


I also really love the GD videos on every hole at   xyz.  Those are very well done and gives a visual of top courses which keeps people's attention.

[Chris Hughes]

Other than generating advertising revenue -- what purpose do "the rankings" serve?


I love great wine but only trust reviews done by raters who are part of a subscription-model operation, no ad dollars allowed.  (and even then conflict risk/s may be present)


That said, was looking at the Golf Magazine & Golf Digest ratings to see where both stood, and where they materially diverge.


When comparing the top-10 of each, four (4) courses stood out in terms of diverging by 4 spots of more:


Augusta National -- #2 GD vs. #6 GM.  (4 spots)
Pebble Beach -- #13 GD vs. #9 GM.  (4 spots)
Seminole GC -- #10 GD vs. #17 GM.  (7 spots)
LACC (N) -- #16 GD vs. #10 GM.  (6 spots)


Of note, Augusta National was actually up 1-spot in the Golf Magazine rankings yr/yr.


Put more simply, Golf Digest likes Augusta & Seminole a lot better, Golf Magazine values Pebble & LACC much more.


Not sure what to make of it but is there some sort of underlying theme apparent to those in the know?