Thank goodness we have Brad K offering up his ranking of DRR. Thank goodness we have ratings to measure our opinions and values and a measuring stick to evaluate our intrepid golf pursuits as validation that we are the ones who truly have the acumen to opine on the distinctions of which is #1 and which is number 2, or 3,4,5.... We all know how many angels can dance on the head of a pin.
But, I suppose I'm no different. I've been lucky enough to have played each of the Sand Hill/Chop Hill suspects at least twice and one 6X. Catch me on any given day, and my eval of which 'I like best' (not rank per se) will vary.
I also like to compare or consider the back story on each project, and the on-going struggles to maintain and present a world class golf experience and part of the equation of which I like best. Even at that, my personal favorite can slide with the years as they pass, and go up and down by the current state of the operational aspects of the facilities. But, who can visit each of the big four and minor players each year or season?
Sand Hills Golf Club will always be "The First". It is the standard by all the ones that followed. Not even once in this discussion (unless I messed it in passing) was The Prairie Club two courses mentioned. Perhaps because we are ranking and it never was in the top tier of national or global "best modern". Well hell, who has seen them all to be able to say definitively?
What I saw this year was Sand Hills GC from the Superintendent's perspective (Kyle Hegland) and a detailed demonstration of some of the new things that are being fine tuned and remodeled/restored on the course, along with observing the turf conditions were the best I ever saw there since my first look in 1996! The tune-up is being done with advise and consent and some detailed deliberation of Mr. Youngscapp, C&C, and Kyle. I dn't know if or what may be going on there in the guest facilities, but know the standard set by Mr. Youngscapp and GM Clint, is a high bar.
Yet, while I didn't have a discussion with Mr. Jagger Mandrell, Super of DR red and white, I did get some perspective from Chris along with my personal observations. Just on logistics alone, I'd have to say that the job done by the DR team to make this a debatable discussion of ranking 1 or 2 or where ever these golf courses fall in ranking of Mr. Klein or the magazine, or you personally, is second to none. Looking at the massive land parcel, the half hour drive to move equipment in and out, the quality of the guest cabins, the staff to prepare and serve the grub and libations and the effort to make you feel a special guest, is monumental. Between DR and SHGC, there is no daylight IMHO. They are both world class #1s.
BallyNeal, and Prairie Club have similar challenges, obviously. I think they have to look to DR and SHGC for inspiration.
But we are talking architecture/golf course design and in futility presenting our case for which number to assign which course. I say, don't listen to Brad Klein, or anyone else including me, with the exception of to take my word for it to try to play'em all if you have the means and time, and then come back and enjoy and join the debate of how many angels can dance on the head of a pin.