Golf World Top 100

[Lester_Bernham]

Guys
Here is the full Top 100 courses in the British Isles , released today by GOLF WORLD magazine . Total of 86 reviewers from various golfing backgrounds used the following criteria :

Quality of Test and Design    = 40 points
Visual appeal and Enjoyment  = 30 points
Fairness and Presentation     = 20 points
Ambience and History           = 10 points

If you are in the UK , I suggest you pick up a copy of Golf World as the whole Magazine is dedicated to the Top 100 , with a lot of good reading.


The Top 100 courses in the British Isles .

1 Muirfield , 86.33 No move
2 Royal County Down, 86.19 No move
3 Tumberry(Ailsa) , 85.17 UP 1
4 StAndrews(Old) , 84.25 UP 4
5 Royal Birkdale , 83.71 No move
6 Loch Lomond , 83.07 Down 3
7 Portmarnock(Old) , 82.82 No move
8 Royal Portrush (Dunluce),  82.65 Up 2
9 Woodhall Spa (Hotchkin) 82.45 UP 5
10 Ballybunion(Old) , 82.40 Down 4
11 Sunningdale(Old) , 82.35 No move
12 Carnoustie (Links), 81.81 No move
13 Kingsbarns  , 81.06 NEW
14 Ganton , 81.03 UP 4
15 Royal Dornoch , 80.94 Down 6
16 RoyalStGeorges ,80.80 Down 1
17 Gleneagles (Kings) ,80.38 Down 4
18 Walton Heath (Old) ,79.46 Up 1
19 Wentworth(West) , 79.44 Down 3
20 Royal Troon , 79.06 Up 2
21 The European Club ,78.75 Up 7
22 Royal Lytham & StAnnes ,78.74 Down 2
23 Waterville , 78.63 Down 2
24 Royal Liverpool ,78.51 Down 7
25 Notts(Hollinwell) ,78.45 Up 19
26 Swinley Forest , 78.33 Down 2
27 CountyLouth , 78.19 No move
28 Sunningdale(New) ,77.81 Up 22
29 Saunton(East) 77.75 Down 4
30 Lahinch  , 77.68 Up 8
31 WestSussex , 77.48 Up 3
32 Royal Porthcawl ,77.09 Down 2
33 RoyalStDavids ,76.55 Down 4
34 Nairn ,76.36 Down 11
35 Royal West Norfolk ,76.32 Up 28
36 Royal Aberdeen , 76.30 Down10
37 Western Gailes , 76.21 Down 1
38 StAndrews(New) , 76.13 Up 9
39 The Berkshire (Red) ,76.08 Down 7
40 StGeorges Hill ,76.00 Down 3
41 Wentworth (East) ,75.79 Up 7
42 Little Aston ,75.68 Up 10
43 Gleneagles (Queens) ,75.47 Down 2
44 CountySligo ,75.44 Up 1
45 Hurstanton ,75.31 Up 10
46 Prestwick ,75.29 Down 15
47 Royal Cinque Ports ,75.07 Up2
48 The Berkshire(Blue) ,74.97 Down 2
49 Silloth-on-Solway ,74.86 Up 8
50 Rye  ,74.75 Up 27
51 MountJuliet ,74.69 Down 16
52 Blairgowrie(Rosemount) ,74.63 Down 19
53 Royal Worlington ,74.50 Down 14
54 Formby ,74.47 Down 11
55 Alwoodley ,74.45  Down 4
56 Ballyliffin (Glashedy) ,74.40 Up 8
57 Cruden Bay ,74.28 Down 15
58 The Machrie ,74.25 Down 2
59 Woburn (Marquess) ,74.22 NEW
60 Killarney(Killeen) ,74.20 Up 7
61 Hiliside(White) ,74.15 Down 7
62 North Berwick ,74.00 Up 3
63 St Enodoc  ,73.85 Down 4
64 The Wisley  ,73.83 NEW
65 Machrihanish , 73.81 Down 25
66 Donegal ,73.80 NEW
67 Worplesdon ,73.79 Up 8
68 Lindrick  ,73.60 Up 3
69 Saunton(West) ,73.50 Up 14
70 The Island ,73.21 Up4
71 Killarney(Mahoney's) ,72.71 Up 15
72 Burnham & Berrow ,72.62 Down 5
73 Woburn (Duchess) ,72.61 Up 20
74 Aberdovey ,72.35 Down 13
75 Woburn (Dukes) ,72.33 Up 1
76 Tenby  , 72.23 NEW
77 Druids Glen  , 72.15 Up 21
78 Gullane No.1 , 72.10 Down25
79 K Club   , 72.04 Up 10
80 Hankley Common  ,72.00 Down 8
81 Ferndown(Old) ,71.95 Down23
82 Castletown ,71.78 Down 9
83 Nefyn ,71.71 NEW
84 Southerness , 71.64 Down 24
85 Skibo Castle  , 71-59 Down 16
86 Woking ,71.53 Down 5
87 Moortown ,71.52 Down 3
88 Portstewart(Strand) ,71.33 Down 22
89 Luffness ,71.29 NEW
90 Aideburgh ,71.25 Down22
91 Southport & Ainsdale ,71.22 NEW
92 NewZealand ,71.07 Down 22
93 The Roxburghe ,71.00 Up 3
94 Royal Ashdown Forest ,70.94 Down 9
95 West Hill  ,70.81 NEW
96 Tralee ,70.78 NEW
97 Enniscrone  ,  70.70 NEW
98 West Lancs ,70.13 Down 18
99 Old Head of Kinsale , 70.00 NEW
100 Royal North Devon , 69.92 Down 21


TOPTEN LINKS COURSES

1 Muirfield  1st
2 Royal County 2nd
3 Turnberry (Ailsa) 3rd
4 St Andrews (Old) 4th
5 Royal Birkdale 5th
6 Portmarnock(Old) 7th
7 Royal Portrush (Dunluce)8th
8 Ballybunion (Old)10th
9 Carnoustie  12th
10 Kingsbarns 13th

TOPTEN INLAND COURSES

1 Loch Lomond 6th
2 Woodhall Spa (Hotchkin)  9th
3 Sunningdale(Old) 11th
4 Ganton 14th
5 Gleneagles (Kings) 17th
6 Walton Heath (Old) 18th
7 Wentworth (West) 19th
8 Notts(Hollinwell) 25th
9 Swinley Forest 26th
10 Sunningdale (East) 28th

HIGHEST CLIMBERS

1 Royal West Norfolk
2 Rye
3 Sunningdale(New)
4 Druids Glen
5 Woburn (Duchess)
6 Notts(Hollinwell)
7 Killarney(Mahoneys)
8 Saunton(West)
9 Hunstanton, KClub  & LittleAston

BIGGEST FALLERS

1 Gullane No1 & Macrahanish
3 Southerness
4 Ferndown (old)
5 Aldeburgh,New Zealand ,Portstewart (Strand)
8 Royal North Devon
9 Blairgowrie (Rosemount)
10 West Lancs

[Mike_Sweeney]

I have not played enough of them, but I can't see how Carne did not make the list. Is it still too remote to get enough raters there to qualify ?

[Andy Levett (Guest)]

Mike
Part of the problem is that a Top 100 for the whole of GB&I really isn't enough. There are literally dozens of great old courses designed by the likes of Colt and Mackenzie that don't make it. Peter Alliss writes a piece in the magazine bemoaning the absence of courses like Seaton Carew and Broadstone. I've not played enough of the top 100 to say whether the following should be in the list to the exclusion of those on it but certainly anyone who went to absentees like Seaton Carew, Brora, Brancepeth Castle, Pleasington, Shipley or Montrose wouldn't regret it.
Having said that, your point about remoteness is valid. I do wonder if courses in 'hotspots' like Surrey and around the Open venues are at an advantage. The panellists are the 'great and the good' of the game but many of them even may not have made it up to, say, Dornoch, which is rated lower than Carnoustie
Cheers
Andy

[THuckaby2]

As a man of Irish descent I am trying very hard to ignore the fact they include Irish courses in this list... British Isles my arse!

That being said, my main question is does Loch Lomond deserve that high of a placement?  I've never played there, just seen on TV... any thoughts from people who have seen it?

TH

[Scott_Burroughs]

Andy,

You say that a Top 100 isn't enough for the British Isles. How do you think we feel about Top 100 lists for the U.S., considering there are about 18,000 courses here?  Your complaints about certain courses left off the list are exactly what happens in the U.S. all the time because 100 courses is only 0.55% of all courses here, and many don't deserve to be there.  Everyone has they're own opinion as to which ones do and don't deserve it.


As to the top 100 B.I. list, at least The Belfry isn't on it.  I'm also curious as to if Loch Lomond is as good as it's ranking.  It's not a links course and it's not a heathland course, but more a parkland course.

I'd also be curious to see Old Head's ranking broken down into categories to see where "Visual Appeal and Enjoyment" differs from the other categories.

[Paul Turner]

Westward Ho! at 100, I can hear the howls from North Carolina!

Interesting to see my old local club Woburn getting 3 courses listed, is this a first for any national ranking?  With the Dukes at the bottom of the 3.  I quite like the new Marquess course but still prefer the Dukes and Duchess (sorry RT).

[Andy Levett (Guest)]

Scott
I thought you had more lists over there (top 100 classic, top 100 modern, top 100 in state etc) So doesn't the process of arriving at those lists help when it comes to THE Top 100? As far as I know the top 100 in Golf World UK and another list by the rival Golf Monthly are all we have so if you don't make one of those lists you're nowhere (which is probably fine by the members of many clubs).

[Scott_Burroughs]

Golfweek has Top 100 Classic and Modern.  Golf Mag and Golf Digest have Top 100 in U.S.  Golf Mag also has Top 100 in World (obviously fewer U.S. courses here) and Top 100 You Can Play (publicly accessible) in U.S.  GD has top courses for each state, but varies from 5 in a state to 30 in a state.

No magazine has any straight list of top courses in any category of more than 100.  Part of the problem is that since the first Top 100 list (GD in late 60's, though it was Top 100 Toughest courses then), the number of courses in the country has more than doubled, yet it still is just Top 100 in any category.

[Brian_Ewen]

I must admit , I am having a chuckle at this list , as it doesnt include any of the Ryder Cup venues , Belfry, Celtic Manor, Gleneagles PGA Centenary (K-Club only makes No.79 ) .The thing is I am sure out of all the reviewers here , some must have been on the Ryder Cup Commitee as well , so why they bother with all those visits to courses etc , when it is obviously all about the size of the cheque.

Mike
Having never played Carne , how many points do you give it , using the above criteria ?

Tom
In a way I agree with you , but it just seems the norm nowadays that Ireland is included in the British Isles , Geographically wise anyway .  i.e. The British Lions Rugby team includes several (non complaining )Irish Rugby players.

[THuckaby2]

Brian - fair enough - this certainly is a better list with the Irish courses included!  I can just imagine Irish nationals chafing at reading this... but hell, sport can and should transcend politics, so this is for the best.

Complete aside here - I am a rugby fan, as much as I can be here in America, but I am not that familiar with the rules for making up international sides... but given Ireland sure does have its own national side, how can some Irish nationals compete for the Lions?  They must be dual citizens, right?

Maybe we can get some of them to play for the US Eagles...  

TH

[paul kelly]

The name of the Lions is the "British and Irish Lions" and not the British Lions. Brithish people call it that, but it's not the name and is an insult to the Irish players who play.

There is no dual nationality involved. It is just a touring team.

People in Ireland don't use the term Brithish Isles. Some encyclopedias say we are and others say we are not. I think it should be up to us what we be called.

This is in no way meant to be disrespectful to our good neighbours in the UK.

[Tim Weiman]

I'm curious what people think of Turnberry's ranking. While I enjoyed playing the course, I'm not sure that there is enough there architecturally to deserve such a lofty rating.

Anyone agree or disagree?

[THuckaby2]

Paul:  when the Rugby World Cup is held, I had thought they called the team representing England the "Lions."  Please remember my American ignorance on this subject... but that's what I thought Brian was referring to - the national side for England.  If that side contained Irish nationals, then that was my question re dual citizenship.  My apologies for the ignorance.

In the case of the separate touring side called the British and Irish Lions, then I can see the insult if the words "and Irish" are left out most definitely!

Given the history here, you'd think people would be more careful with these terms.  Or maybe not.

I certainly don't want to start any international incidents here and I too mean no disrespect, as I say sport can and should transcend these things.  But I for one sure do notice the references... I can only imagine how Irish nationals living at home feel...

In any case, people over here sure do lump Ireland in with the "British Isles" as a normal reference.  It just has always seemed strange to me, that's all.

TH

[Jeff_Lewis]

As the author of the My Home Course piece on Loch Lomond, I am obviously biased, but...I think it gets a bit of extra credit over there for its exclusivity, which gives it a little more aura, and for its general level of maintenance. Still, I think a ranking in the 8-12 vicinity makes sense.

[paul kelly]

PS, just to continue off the architecture topic for another moment - Rugby is predomenently a Protestant game in Northern Ireland, so the vast rugby playing population of the North would consider themselves British. Catholics tend to play hurling or Gaelic football in the North.  Needless to say, there is a large rugby playing populatoin in the South.

However, Ireland is a 36 county team when it comes to Rugby and the IRFU is responisble for the whole of the island.

Anyway, onto Carne. I have not played all the courses on the list, but IMO, Carne is better than the likes of Donegal, The Island... and many more. I love these courses too.

I might rate things differently, but Carne would score

Quality of test/Design - 34
Visual                        - 27
Fairness/Presentation - 13 (condition not exceptional)
Ambience/History       - 4  (only around since '95 - good ambience)

That would make 78, hmm.

[Paul Kelly]

Tom

My apologies if it sounded like I was having a go at you. It's just that commentators spray the term "British Lions" around like we didn't exist, so those listening would naturally think...

I does irritate me that BBC commentators who know the situation use such terms.

England play as a team in the world cup.

I am going way off the "terms of reference" for this site, so I will stop.

[Paul Turner]

I'm surprised Golf World used "British Isles" you don't see it used very often now.  Perhaps it was Lester's choice?

Wasn't the Lion's rugby name changed from "British" to "British and Irish"?

Anyway back to the rankings:

Only going by photos, but Alliss appears to be right about Broadstone.  It looks to be easily as good as Ferndown.

Isn't picking Loch Lomond as #1 inland above courses like Swinley and Walton Heath, a bit like the US rankings placing Muirfield Village above Pine Valley?

[THuckaby2]

Paul - I too no offense whatsoever - I appreciate the education most definitely - thank you!

This all makes great sense and I feel kinda foolish for the questions.  Of course the Catholic sports are Gaelic football & hurling, Protestant sports are rugby and football (soccer), and the makeup of national sides follows this.  I knew that, just spaced out.  Thanks again for the enlightenment... I am very slow some times!

So ok, my apologies for the departure, back to the question of the courses on this list.  

Jeff Lewis - thanks for the thoughts re Loch Lomond.  I wasn't questioning its placement really, just wanted more info from those who've played there.  That is exalted company it keeps on the list and it sounds like it is indeed justified.  Cheers!

TH

[Paul Kelly]

Tom

Actually, south of the border, the rugby playing population is mainly nationalist, as almost everyone is nationalist south of the border. Rugby is very big here. Soccer is also huge in the Republic. In fact, we are very good at it.

I think golf is the fastest growing sport here. They are building courses absolutely everywhere. Rathfarnham Golf Club, the Castle GC, Grange GC, Stackstown GC, and Edmonstown GC are all within 2/3 miles of each other, and I live in the middle. Some of these are rated very highly in Ireland anyway, especially Castle and Grange, and they're all pretty old.

[Brian_Ewen]

Paul
Sorry If I caused offense , I didnt mean to . I know nothing about Rugby or British/Irish sporting politics . Thank you for making me aware of this.

Best Regards
Brian

[THuckaby2]

Paul - I didn't mean to oversimplify things... I know full well how formidable Ireland is in soccer and rugby... that warms my heart, except when you drub the USA in either!

Pretty fine showing by our American side in the last soccer world cup, eh?  Maybe the millions of kids who play the game here is finally translating into international success... hope springs eternal in any case.

Now re golf courses... that is also great to hear.  I've been over there a few times and haven't been to many outside the well-known ones... some day.... You are indeed lucky to live where you do!

TH

[Jeff_Lewis]

Paul Turner,

Loch Lomond is probably about as good as a pure parkland course can be. But I, like you perhaps, have a general preference for heathland or links courses. So, a good heathland course like Walton Heath or Swinley has more appeal for me, but I am not sure that means they should end up higher on some list. I think LL is getting huge credit here also because 30% of the criteria is visual appeal and enjoyment. LL is probably top 10-15 in the world, regardless of course type or location, in this category.

[Jeff Fortson]

Tom Huckaby,

Are you a supporter of Sinn Fein? =)

I am torn because I am 1/4 Irish, 1/4 Scot, 1/4 Welsh, and 1/4 English.  I am a British Isles mutt but predominantly Celtic in blood with 3/4 of my ancestry being Celtic.  


To the forum,

Cruden Bay 57th?

HAHAHA!  I guess those who hate lists were right.  I think I may hate them now too.  Turnberry over St. Andrews?  Oh my God!  I have seen it all.  I love the scoring system.  History is the least of the criteria considered.  What's funny is that St. Andrews has enough history to outscore all the other courses even with it counting so little overall.  What a joke this list is!

Jeff F.

[THuckaby2]

Jeff - I'm almost as much of a "mutt" as you are... my Dad's side has the entire UK and Ireland covered, like you... my mom's side is German and Czech.  So maybe I ought to just call myself a "Euro".     My affinity with the Irish is more by choice than by blood.   Hmmm.. that ought to offend someone... please take this in the humor I mean it!

TH

[THuckaby2]

Ha!  I was waiting for your comment on that, Dave.  Oh well, you can take heart in its rise in the rankings, although I can only imagine the issues you have with some ranked above it...  

TH