Golf World Top 100 Worldwide Public Access List

[Andrew Harvie]

New list published today from Golf World on the Top 100 Public Access Golf Courses in the World. Only 12 panelists, so a pretty small circle.




1. Royal County Down
2. The Old Course
3. Royal Melbourne (West)
4. Turnberry (Alisa)
5. Muirfield
6. Pebble Beach
7. Royal Portrush (Dunluce)
8. Pinehurst (No. 2)
9. Royal Dornoch (Championship)
10. Cape Wickham


11. Pacific Dunes
12. Royal St. George’s
13. Sunningdale (Old)
14. Kingston Heath
15. Tari Iti
16. Royal Birkdale
17. North Berwick
18. Carnoustie (Championship)
19. Barnbougle (Dunes)
20. Portmarnock


21. Kingsbarn
22. Cabot Cliffs
23. Woodhall Spa (Hotchkin)
24. Sunningdale (New)
25. Cruden Bay
26. New South Wales
27. Ballybunion (Old)
28. Barnbougle (Lost Farm)
29. Swinley Forest
30. Kawana (Fiji)


31. Royal Lytham & St. Anne’s
32. Bandon Dunes
33. Trump Aberdeen
34. Royal Troon (Championship)
35. Walton Heath (Old)
36. Ardfin
37. Skibo Castle
38. Waterville
39. Sheep Ranch
40. Teeth of the Dog


41. Royal Liverpool
42. Alwoodley
43. Cape Kidnappers
44. Whistling Straits (Straits)
45. Cabot Links
46. Ganton
47. Bethpage (Black)
48. St. George’s Hill
49. Gleneagles (Kings)
50. Kiawah Island (Ocean)


51. St. Enodoc (Church)
52. Lahich (Old)
53. De Pan
54. Prestwick
55. Royal Cinque Ports (Deal)
56. Castle Stuart
57. Pasatiempo
58. Rye
59. Machrihanish
60. Streamsong (Red)


61. Royal West Norfolk
62. Bandon Trails
63. Woking
64. Diamanté (Dunes)
65. Royal Melbourne (East)
66. Paraparaumu Beach
67. Royal Aberdeen
68. TPC Sawgrass (Stadium)
69. Royal Adelaide
70. Streamsong (Black)


71. Jasper Park Lodge
72. Victoria
73. Mammoth Dunes
74. Royal Hague
75. West Sussex
76. Sand Valley
77. Gamble Sands
78. Banff Springs
79. Erin Hills
80. Formby


81. South Cape Owners Club
82. Streamsong (Blue)
83. Cape Breton Highlands Links
84. Royal Porthcawl
85. Lawsonia (Links)
86. Yas Links
87. Spyglass Hill
88. Forest Dunes (The Loop)
89. Silloth On Solway
90. Fancort (Links)


91. Fontainebleau
92. Chambers Bay
93. The Machrie
94. Hoiana Shores
95. Tobacco Road
96. Lofoten Links
97. Peninsula Kingswood (North)
98. Humewood
99. Western Gailes
100. Yangtze Dunes

[Jeff Schley]

If they are saying Tara Iti is possible, then what about Ballyneal and Sand Hills? All three require some sort of letter/communication for a one time play.

[Niall C]

Surely to compile this list you would simply start by taking the top 100 list and weed out the ones that don't offer public access, and then go with the next 100. Does this list do that ?


Niall

[David Davis]

The most interesting part of this is that I received this by pdf today and on that list


#33 is Arabella
#34 is Budersand


Drew did you fill in your own pics in these places? 

[Andrew Harvie]

The most interesting part of this is that I received this by pdf today and on that list


#33 is Arabella
#34 is Budersand


Drew did you fill in your own pics in these places? 

Interesting, we must have a different list!

[Brad Tufts]

The only one that stood out to me, and I have not played it so maybe I'm wrong for questioning, was Skibo Castle.


That's the highest I've ever seen that one...

[Adam Lawrence]

I think this is a very silly list. Basically it's all courses in the world except US-style privates. There are a ton of private clubs on here, they are just UK-style ones that accept visitors. Sunningdale and Bandon don't really have anything in common.

[Buck Wolter]

Hard to believe Yangtze Dunes would be on an accessible list -- unless things have changed dramatically since my visit.

[Niall C]

Adam

The one that stuck out for me, more than Skibo, was Ardfin. Yes it'sd pay and play but very much a well healed pay and play.

Niall

[Tom_Doak]

I think this is a very silly list. Basically it's all courses in the world except US-style privates. There are a ton of private clubs on here, they are just UK-style ones that accept visitors. Sunningdale and Bandon don't really have anything in common.

On top of that, who are these twelve people and why should we care about their opinion?  And with only twelve of them, how many people had to play Yangtze Dunes or The Loop to qualify them?


It seems like it bends over backwards to include lots of new courses, and the placement of a couple of them looks kinda suspicious.

[Mark Chaplin]

Tom 5 of the 12 are golf course architects including David McLay-Kidd, Gareth Williams and Darius Oliver

[Andrew Harvie]

I think this is a very silly list. Basically it's all courses in the world except US-style privates. There are a ton of private clubs on here, they are just UK-style ones that accept visitors. Sunningdale and Bandon don't really have anything in common.

On top of that, who are these twelve people and why should we care about their opinion?  And with only twelve of them, how many people had to play Yangtze Dunes or The Loop to qualify them?


It seems like it bends over backwards to include lots of new courses, and the placement of a couple of them looks kinda suspicious.

I should've put the panelists in the OP. Here's the 12 gentlemen who contributed:


-Christ Bertram (Top 100 Courses Editor) based in Scotland
-Darius Oliver based in Australia
-David McLay Kidd based in Scotland it says, but now resides in the US
-Jimmie James (I think Jimmie is the guy who played all of the USA's top 100 in a single year), USA
-David Jones (blogger)
-Malcolm Baker ("has completed a previous "world list" and played an amazing 89 on this one") based in England
-Tony Dear (writer) says England but Tony is based in Seattle now
-Scott Champion
-Oliver Tubb (LOBB + Partners associate). Says Scotland but he's resided in Vancouver, BC for a few years now
-Kirk Baert (Canada)
-Craig Haldane (Gleneagles Greenskeeper) apparently based in South Africa but Gleneagles is in Scotland
-Gareth Williams (Faldo Design)

[Tom_Doak]

I should've put the panelists in the OP. Here's the 12 gentlemen who contributed:


-Christ Bertram (Top 100 Courses Editor) based in Scotland
-Darius Oliver based in Australia
-David McLay Kidd based in Scotland it says, but now resides in the US
-Jimmie James (I think Jimmie is the guy who played all of the USA's top 100 in a single year), USA
-David Jones (blogger)
-Malcolm Baker ("has completed a previous "world list" and played an amazing 89 on this one") based in England
-Tony Dear (writer) says England but Tony is based in Seattle now
-Scott Champion
-Oliver Tubb (LOBB + Partners associate). Says Scotland but he's resided in Vancouver, BC for a few years now
-Kirk Baert (Canada)
-Craig Haldane (Gleneagles Greenskeeper) apparently based in South Africa but Gleneagles is in Scotland
-Gareth Williams (Faldo Design)

Hmmm . . . pretty sure only one of those guys [David Kidd] has seen The Loop, and I don't know if he actually played it.  So that's your sample size.


Also explains Cape Wickham going into the top ten . . . Darius' vote must have been worth a lot   

[Ira Fishman]

I think this is a very silly list. Basically it's all courses in the world except US-style privates. There are a ton of private clubs on here, they are just UK-style ones that accept visitors. Sunningdale and Bandon don't really have anything in common.

I am not going to wade into the merits of the list itself, but in terms of the definition of public access to the golf course, Bandon and Sunningdale really are pretty much the same. You make a reservation and give them your credit card. And you get to play. I wish the elite private courses in US followed the UK model, but that will not happen in my lifetime.


Ira

[Daryl David]

I should've put the panelists in the OP. Here's the 12 gentlemen who contributed:


-Christ Bertram (Top 100 Courses Editor) based in Scotland
-Darius Oliver based in Australia
-David McLay Kidd based in Scotland it says, but now resides in the US
-Jimmie James (I think Jimmie is the guy who played all of the USA's top 100 in a single year), USA
-David Jones (blogger)
-Malcolm Baker ("has completed a previous "world list" and played an amazing 89 on this one") based in England
-Tony Dear (writer) says England but Tony is based in Seattle now
-Scott Champion
-Oliver Tubb (LOBB + Partners associate). Says Scotland but he's resided in Vancouver, BC for a few years now
-Kirk Baert (Canada)
-Craig Haldane (Gleneagles Greenskeeper) apparently based in South Africa but Gleneagles is in Scotland
-Gareth Williams (Faldo Design)

Also explains Cape Wickham going into the top ten . . . Darius' vote must have been worth a lot   

Makes sense now. I was scratching my head over CW being above Pac Dunes. 

[Tom_Doak]

Makes sense now. I was scratching my head over CW being above Pac Dunes. 

I really don't care if Pacific Dunes is 10th or 11th.  Voters might call it one way or the other.  But when the only voter from Australia is the designer of the one course, which way is it gonna fall?


And on top of that, which of Cape Wickham, Bandon Dunes, Royal St. George's, or Sunningdale is most likely to value a top ten ranking on this poll?  I wouldn't have even bothered to mention it if we were talking about 11th place, just like I always look to see what's #100 as part of the sniff test.  [I called out Brad Klein on that one, once.]


This list is not much different from me averaging the four votes from The Confidential Guide and calling it a "ranking".  Which I would not do.  For one thing, I'd have to make an editorial decision whether Ran's lone vote of 9 for Ardfin puts it in the top five, or how far down it should be knocked for having one vote.  Much more transparent to let that one vote stand on its own merits.

[Paul Rudovsky]

Tom--  Sort of "the law of small numbers"...


Really strange thing is David Davis having a list with different courses in places 33 and 34.  If that is the case this list needs to be flushed someplace.  David...can you post an image from your list?


Back 54 weeks ago I had played every one of the still existing courses that had ever been on a USA Top 100 (371 different courses) or a World Top 100 (344 different courses...obviously about 150 of which were in the USA 371) as per any reasonable publication.  Since then, the following have been added to one or more world lists (with Sheep Ranch also being on Planet Golf's USA 100 list)...and the total still existing courses on the USA Top 100 EVER list is now 380 and it is 383 for the World Top 100 EVER :


Yangtze Dunes (China)
Woodlands (AU)
Santapazienza (Brazil)
Sheep Ranch


On this "public accessible" list I have played 95, missing Sheep Ranch (39) and Yangtze Dunes (100) from above, plus:


Hoiana Shores (Vietnam) (94)
Lofoten Links (Norway) (96)
Peninsula Kingswood-North (AU) (97)



The treadmill never stops churning...

[Tim Martin]

Interesting to see the angst created by yet another list. I am not familiar with all the panelists but it seems most have the requisite credentials to weigh in. Some of the nefarious accusations are comical.

[Tom_Doak]

Since then, the following have been added to one or more world lists (with Sheep Ranch also being on Planet Golf's USA 100 list)...

Paul:


Darius' list is his own and I believe he hasn't even seen some of the courses on it . . . that makes it an odd one to use as a basis for your world travels.  If you're gonna go that route, I will make up my own world top 100 and send you to Nepal and Sri Lanka.

[Paul Rudovsky]

Darius' list is his own and I believe he hasn't even seen some of the courses on it . . . that makes it an odd one to use as a basis for your world travels.  If you're gonna go that route, I will make up my own world top 100 and send you to Nepal and Sri Lanka.



Tom--  yes I am well aware of the pitfall's in Darius' list...but regarding your "threat" above, since I have the MacWood "Spoof" list (or I guess the MacWood/Morrissett "Spoof" list) included in my World EVER (as well as the Top 100 from Morrissett's 147 Custodians), I have already been to Sri Lanka (so named since Ceylon NLE's).  Yes I played all of the MacWood/Morrissett Spoof (excluding the 5 NLE's on it) including Nuwara Eliya in the Highlands of Sri Lanka which was #81 (just ahead of Ballybunion and Porthcawl and 7 spots ahead of Kingston Heath)!  Semi-hair-raising stop over between Vietnam and Dubai in January 2016.       But did get some interesting stories from it.


But you are right, Nepal would do it to me.   

[David_Elvins]

Sunningdale and Bandon don't really have anything in common.

Adam,


I would disagree with that. One thing they have in common is that they are both great golf courses that I have played.


This is the most relevant list i have seen for people looking to play a variety of great golf courses.

[Mike_Clayton]

Makes sense now. I was scratching my head over CW being above Pac Dunes. 

I really don't care if Pacific Dunes is 10th or 11th.  Voters might call it one way or the other.  But when the only voter from Australia is the designer of the one course, which way is it gonna fall?

If it's the same Scott Champion I know, he'd make it two Australians on the panel. He's a partner of Bob Harrison (Ardfin)  down here.

[Paul Rudovsky]

The most interesting part of this is that I received this by pdf today and on that list


#33 is Arabella
#34 is Budersand


Drew did you fill in your own pics in these places? 

Interesting, we must have a different list!

David Davis emailed me a pdf from Golf Monthly's agent or agency with the list he has...and no question that it has Arabella and Budersand in slots 33 and 34 while Drew's list has Trump Aberdeen and Royal Troon.  This is probably the worst typo in a Top 100 list since Golf Mag had Royal Durban instead of Durban CC in its first two World lists in 1979 and 1981 (the architects noted and yardages proved this was a mistake those two years). 


I emailed someone at the agency and asked which version of the list is correct (I am rooting hard for Drew's as I have not played Arabella or Budersand).  Will post what I hear back.

[Peter Pallotta]

Paul R -
It just dawned on me (duh!) what you mean by World Top 100 Ever. What a neat accomplishment! So a question (with apologies for the thread jack):

What would you say is the most common characteristic of those courses that once featured in the Top 100 list but no longer make it?

[Scott Champion]

Makes sense now. I was scratching my head over CW being above Pac Dunes. 

I really don't care if Pacific Dunes is 10th or 11th.  Voters might call it one way or the other.  But when the only voter from Australia is the designer of the one course, which way is it gonna fall?

If it's the same Scott Champion I know, he'd make it two Australians on the panel. He's a partner of Bob Harrison (Ardfin)  down here.

Correct Mike. Chris Bertram asked if I would contribute in a small way and I happily obliged. Though it's worth noting (and mentioned in his article) that architects weren't able to comment on courses they were involved with (e.g. Ardfin). I'm guessing the same would apply to Tom's suggestion that Cape Wickham's ranking was courtesy of Darius. Do I agree with all of the list - of course not. But I guess that's the beauty (and downfall) of ranking lists...hasn't been one I've agreed with yet.