I did a list a few years back and at the time thought it would probably take about 4 lists over at least 6 years to get it right...assuming I continued to play courses on roughly the same pace as I have.
The dotted line represents the groupings. I don't have much problem at all where the courses in each group finish as they are more or less of the same quality.
Up, down etc indicates a comparison to the previous list.
The stars etc are my recommendations.
3* Don't miss for any reason
2* Plan a significant trip around this course
1* Worth an overnight detour
R Worth A Significant Day Trip (no more driving than it takes to play and have drinks)
1 Sandwich Up 8 2*
2 Sunny Old Up 4 2*
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3 Castle Stuart New 1*
4 North Berwick D 3 2*
5 Lahinch D 2 1*
6 TOC D 2 3*
7 Prestwick D2 2*
8 Rye Up 2 1*
9 Gleneagles Kings New 1*
10 Kingsbarns New 1*
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11 Ballybunion D 4 1*
12 St Enodoc D 4 2*
13 Royal Dornoch Up 7 1*
14 The Island Up 2 1*
15 St Georges Hill Same 1*
16 Co Down D 4 1*
17 Deal D 15 2*
18 Elie New 1*
19 Cruden Bay D 1 1*
20 Royal Aberdeen D 1 1*
21 Renaissance D 8 1*
22 Walton Heath Old D 8 2*
23 Trump Aberdeen Up 11 1*
24 Woking Up 6 1*
25 Formby D 8 1*
26 Portrush D 4 2*
27 Swinley Forest D 4 1*
28 Sunny New Same 1*
29 Muirfield D 4 2*
30 Hoylake Up 3 2*
31 Birkdale D 5 2*
32 Co Sligo D 3 1*
33 Worplesdon Up 7 1*
34 Portmarnock D 7 1*
35 Ganton D 4 2*
36 Royal Worlington D 4 1*
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37 Pennard D 1 1*
38 Enniscrone Same R
39 Hunstanton Up 3 1*
40 Brancaster Same 1*
41 Porthcawl Same R
42 Carnoustie Up 2 2*
43 Saunton East D 6 1*
44 Turnberry Up 1 2*
45 Castle Course Up 2 R
46 Co Louth New R
47 Alwoodley D 36 1*
48 Burnham & Berrow D 9 R
49 Notts Same R
50 Goswick New 1*
Dropped from previous list: Troon, Princes, Walton Heath New, Little Aston, Portstewart & Beau Desert.
The cut off at 50 meant the following courses didn't make the list, but I think they are more or less in the same class as the last group if perhaps slightly less so: Carnegie, Littlestone, Troon, Lytham, Dunbar, Princes, Carne, Woodhall Spa, Moortown, Walton Heath New, Little Aston & West Hill.
Observations:
1. Alwoodley...I got it well wrong last time out. Alwoodley is a fine course and extremely consistent, but it lacks All-England holes. I can only point to the 8th as one such hole.
2. While I dislike the approaching theory for Castle Course and Trump Aberdeen, I think they are very good courses.
3. I am a big fan of "the English inland course". I included 11 such examples and one from Scotland.
4. I haven't seen the new Turnberry, but from pix it looks to be much improved. I would expect to see it rise in my rankings.
5. I haven't seen the Berkshires or Pulborough in many years so they were not included.
6. Many of the courses are not ones I would choose as high priority for a return visit.
7. Is Royal Aberdeen the least heralded great GB&I course? It seems to run quietly under the radar.
8. Two newish links made the top 10. I am hugely impressed by mix of playability and challenge Kingsbarns and Castle Stuart pull off.
9. I played Sunny Old this summer...it is a much better course than course folks give it credit. Most like it because of its beauty and the club...the quality of the design is a match for both.
10. I used the think Woking was a pleasant course with exceptional greens. That was a mistake...Woking is top notch.
11. Awful rough is a real issue holding back many great courses from what they should be.
12. Loads of new courses made the top 100.
Ciao