Golf Digest State rankings out

[Daryl David]

The state list seems to have been updated.  It looks like newer courses that are not considered for top 100 status are ranked in the state lists. For instance Ballyneal as 9th in Colorado, Stone Eagle 21st in California, Erin Hills and Tumblecreek not rated.

[John Kavanaugh]

Just yesterday I was golfing in Missiouri and a guy playing with me asked if I had played Dalhousie G.C., Cape Girardeau because he had heard such great things.  Once again I dropped the ball when I told him that it held no status when compared to the great St. Louis courses and had not met its lofty expectations.  Wrongo again partner...It is the number one ranked course in the state.

[Sean Leary]

Some of these are very interesting:

Yale #6 in CT
Ballyneal #9 in CO as Daryl noted
Rolling Green #18 in Pennsy
Minikahda and White Bear Yacht #15 and 8 respectively in MN
Bel Air #20 in CA
Eastward Ho #15 in MA, and Winchester CC didn't make the top 20

[Steve_ Shaffer]

Erin Hills will never be rated/ranked in GD until such time as Ron Whitten is no longer employed there.

[Dan_Callahan]

There's no way the people voting in these rankings have actually played these courses. At least, that's the only possible explanation for ranking Great River above Yale.

In the Mass ranking, I would personally have Red Tail (which isn't on the list) above the Ranch, and I might have Longmeadow above the Orchards, but I could see how someone might feel otherwise.

How Great River consistently ranks well on these lists is beyond me. At least Gillette Ridge didn't show up (but Fox Hopyard tied with Wintonbury? . . . Yikes).

[Patrick Schultheis]

Interesting re Washington --- the Prospector Course at Suncadia ranked #10 but Tumble Creek not ranked at all.  TC was open all of 2006, but it must be too new to have been played by the rankers.  Prospector is a fun resort course, but let's get serious here...

[Bob_Huntley]

Bel Air the 20th best in California?  Tough to believe.

[corey miller]

#11 in New York-Hudson National

ahead of Piping Rock, friar's head, creek, fenway. it doesn't get better than that.  

[John Kavanaugh]

Erin Hills will never be rated/ranked in GD until such time as Ron Whitten is no longer employed there.

I think it is safe to say the same of Golfweek.

[John Shimp]

The state of NC is an interesting view into how GD sees the world.  Of the 25 golf courses 10 are new Tom Fazio designs (counting Pinehurst No. 4) and 11 if his redo of Quail Hollow were to be counted which is a stretch.  

Only 4 Ross works are on the list in a state that has 40 or so of his designs; #2 is ranked first, Pine Needles is ranked 8th, MidPines 23rd, and Charlotte CC 24th.  

Charlotte has always been a top 5 or 6 course on this and nearly all rankings.  We'll see how it ranks after Ron Prichard's work is done.  

Happy to see Grandfather at #3 and Old Town at #7 -- well deserved for those 2.

[JESII]

What's the story with Erin Hills? I am ill-informed...

[Mike_Cirba]

Would it be unseemly to suggest that a rather large percentage of the GD raters don't seem to know their arses from 18 holes in the ground?  

[Tom Huckaby]

Would it be unseemly to suggest that a rather large percentage of the GD raters don't seem to know their arses from 18 holes in the ground?  

Damn right that's unseemly.  And don't make me start firing at the GW list.  I've received a LOT of info off-line...

Nothing like a good threat to get the waters boiling.  

[John Kavanaugh]

Would it be unseemly to suggest that a rather large percentage of the GD raters don't seem to know their arses from 18 holes in the ground?  

Mike,

I don't see how that adds to the conversation.  I can assure you that for every mind boggling rating you can name from Digest I can name an equally boggeler from GWeek.

[Mike_Cirba]

Huck/John,

It's more like watching an accident take place.   Commenting adds nothing, true, but it's damn hard to just silently watch it happen.  

Hey, you're right...any list where The Ridge At Back Brook is the 6th best course in NJ and where Huntsville is the 4th best course in PA and where Olde Stonewall in PA trounces Stonewall, Philly CC, Lancaster & Rolling Green is assuredly a list that should just speak for itself.

[Mike Nuzzo]

Not to disparage the rankings, but to illustrate what musters...
Service and maint are very important to the overall experience.

Texas Tech - near the bottom of the Texas list.
Las Campanas - top of new mexico

I disagree with both.

Cheers

[Tom Huckaby]

Mike:
I suppose it is Digest's turn on the hot seat - so enjoy.

Just do understand we do have ammo, and are watching.  So be careful.....

 

[Mike_Cirba]

Mike:
I suppose it is Digest's turn on the hot seat - so enjoy.

Just do understand we do have ammo, and are watching.  So be careful.....

 

Tom,

I knew you were lurking!  

I also knew I could draw you out!!  

[A.G._Crockett]

The state of NC is an interesting view into how GD sees the world.  Of the 25 golf courses 10 are new Tom Fazio designs (counting Pinehurst No. 4) and 11 if his redo of Quail Hollow were to be counted which is a stretch.  

Only 4 Ross works are on the list in a state that has 40 or so of his designs; #2 is ranked first, Pine Needles is ranked 8th, MidPines 23rd, and Charlotte CC 24th.  

Charlotte has always been a top 5 or 6 course on this and nearly all rankings.  We'll see how it ranks after Ron Prichard's work is done.  

Happy to see Grandfather at #3 and Old Town at #7 -- well deserved for those 2.

For instance, for Treyburn to be ranked and Hope Valley not?  I would venture to say that not one Durham area golfer in 100 that has played both would prefer Treyburn.

Incomprehensible...

(And I won't even get into the concept that there are at least 25 courses in NC better than the Road!

[John Kavanaugh]

Mike and Tom,

I really wish we could stop the quibbling between competing raters.  It is really not fair to compare the lists until some of the finer clubs in the country also decide to let the Golfweek guys come out.

[Mike_Cirba]

Mike and Tom,

I really wish we could stop the quibbling between competing raters.  It is really not fair to compare the lists until some of the finer clubs in the country decide to let the Golfweek guys come out.

John,

You're too funny.  

No more quibbling from me, though.   I'm sure Huck has good and proper rationale to explain these seeming state rating mysteries.  

[Doug Ralston]

Lookie there;

Iron Mountain, MI has a course in Top 25, but not Marquette. Yet each time I ask about Michigan publics here, Timberstone is left out. Well; maybe GD knows nothing ...... or maybe, just maybe, an 'in favor' course resents a bit of competition from an unworthy 'mountain, lake, and forest' type?

Sorry, do not mean to imply Greywalls is not great. I must play both and compare when I get there!

Doug

[Phil McDade]

What's the story with Erin Hills? I am ill-informed...

Ill-informed about....what?

The course? Whitten's role? Its ranking or lack thereof?

[Alex_Wyatt]

I am pretty sure this has been said before on this site, but...

I believe that Digest won't rank a course higher in its state than those in the top 100 if it didn't get enough raters to visit to qualify for top 100. So even if Friars Head's scores were better than many of the courses in NY ranked in the top 100, the magazine won't rank it higher in the state rankings than the ones that did get enough visitors.

[rjsimper]

http://tinyurl.com/gwzkv

Here's the link for those who prefer the lazy route