Golf Digest unveiled its new "America's 100 Greatest Public Courses" list in its June, 2019 magazine. The list shows major changes although Pebble Beach Golf Links remains number one as it has since this Public Course list was first published in 2003. All in all, thirteen courses were replaced, a rather large number. Seven of these courses opened between 2016 and 2018.
The list summarizes the opinions of nearly 70,000 ballots completed by over 1,700 low-handicap male and female golfers who provide their opinions based on seven criteria including Shot Value, Design Variety, Resistance to Scoring, Memorability, Aesthetics, Conditioning, and Ambience.
On my own list of courses played, my number remains at 90 as I've already played 12 of the newcomers. Here are the new courses:
18. SAND VALLEY - Nekoosa, Wis. / Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw (2017)
27. MAMMOTH DUNES - Nekoosa, Wis. / David McLay Kidd (2018)
32. STREAMSONG (BLACK) - Streamsong, Fla. / Gil Hanse (2017)
42. WILDERNESS CLUB - Eureka, Mont. / Nick Faldo & Brian Curley (2009)
45. THE LOOP (BLACK) - Roscommon, Mich. / Tom Doak (2016)
47. THE LOOP (RED) - Roscommon, Mich. / Tom Doak (2016)
54. MARQUETTE G.C. (GREYWALLS) - Marquette, Mich. / Mike DeVries (2005)
63. MOSSY OAK G.C. - West Point, Miss. / Gil Hanse (2016)
89. BELVEDERE G.C. - Charlevoix, Mich. / William Watson (1925)
92. BOYNE HIGHLANDS RESORT (HEATHER) - Harbor Springs, Mich. / Robert Trent Jones, Sr. (1970)
93. TORREY PINES G.C. (NORTH) - La Jolla, Calif. / William F. Bell (1957) & Tom Weiskopf (2017)
97. POIPU BAY G.C. - Koloa, Kauai, Hawaii / Robert Trent Jones, Jr., Donald Knott & Gary Linn (1991)
100. INNISBROOK RESORT (COPPERHEAD) - Palm Harbor, Fla. / Lawrence & Roger Packard (1972)
I am thrilled to see The Heather Course at Boyne Highlands on the list. Of the nearly 1100 golf courses I've played, if I had to make a choice of only one to play for the rest of my life, The Heather would be the one I'd choose. It has a decent amount of elevation change, a reasonable amount of water, forces shots that must move left and right, has a good variety of par three holes, and positively befuddling greens.
Of the newcomers, only Poipu Bay remains for me to play.
Here are the courses that fell off the list:
20. THE PRINCE COURSE - Princeville, Kauai, Hawaii / Robert Trent Jones Jr. (1962)
40. THE HARVESTER G.C. - Rhodes, Iowa / Keith Foster (2000)
49. DORMIE CLUB - West End, N.C. / Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw (2010)
66. SPRING CREEK G.C. - Gordonsville, Va. / Ed Carton (2006)
78. BARTON CREEK RESORT & SPA (FAZIO CANYONS) - Austin, Tex. / Tom Fazio (1986)
85. THE BULL AT PINEHURST FARMS - Sheboygan Falls, Wis. / Jack Nicklaus (2003)
92. LINVILLE G.C. - Linville, N.C. / Donald Ross (1924)
93. EDGEWOOD TAHOE G.C. - Lake Tahoe, Nev. / George Fazio (1968)
95. BELGRADE LAKES G.C. - Belgrade Lakes, Maine / Clive Clark (1998)
96. TRUMP GOLF LINKS AT FERRY POINT - Bronx, NY / Jack Nicklaus & John Sanford (2015)
97. THE COEUR D’ALENE RESORT GOLF COURSE - Coeur d’Alene, Idaho / Scott Miller (1991)
99. WE-KO-PA G.C. (SAGUARO) - Scottsdale, Ariz. / Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw (2006)
100. DANCING RABBIT G.C. (AZALEAS) - Choctaw, Miss. / Tom Fazio & Jerry Pate (1997)
I have yet to play The Prince Course.
Now I am waiting for Golf Magazine to publish its new list. We last saw an update to their "Places You Can Play" list in 2016.
Here's a link to the two lists: http://logoballtraveler.com/top-100-lists.html
The list summarizes the opinions of nearly 70,000 ballots completed by over 1,700 low-handicap male and female golfers who provide their opinions based on seven criteria including Shot Value, Design Variety, Resistance to Scoring, Memorability, Aesthetics, Conditioning, and Ambience.
On my own list of courses played, my number remains at 90 as I've already played 12 of the newcomers. Here are the new courses:
18. SAND VALLEY - Nekoosa, Wis. / Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw (2017)
27. MAMMOTH DUNES - Nekoosa, Wis. / David McLay Kidd (2018)
32. STREAMSONG (BLACK) - Streamsong, Fla. / Gil Hanse (2017)
42. WILDERNESS CLUB - Eureka, Mont. / Nick Faldo & Brian Curley (2009)
45. THE LOOP (BLACK) - Roscommon, Mich. / Tom Doak (2016)
47. THE LOOP (RED) - Roscommon, Mich. / Tom Doak (2016)
54. MARQUETTE G.C. (GREYWALLS) - Marquette, Mich. / Mike DeVries (2005)
63. MOSSY OAK G.C. - West Point, Miss. / Gil Hanse (2016)
89. BELVEDERE G.C. - Charlevoix, Mich. / William Watson (1925)
92. BOYNE HIGHLANDS RESORT (HEATHER) - Harbor Springs, Mich. / Robert Trent Jones, Sr. (1970)
93. TORREY PINES G.C. (NORTH) - La Jolla, Calif. / William F. Bell (1957) & Tom Weiskopf (2017)
97. POIPU BAY G.C. - Koloa, Kauai, Hawaii / Robert Trent Jones, Jr., Donald Knott & Gary Linn (1991)
100. INNISBROOK RESORT (COPPERHEAD) - Palm Harbor, Fla. / Lawrence & Roger Packard (1972)
I am thrilled to see The Heather Course at Boyne Highlands on the list. Of the nearly 1100 golf courses I've played, if I had to make a choice of only one to play for the rest of my life, The Heather would be the one I'd choose. It has a decent amount of elevation change, a reasonable amount of water, forces shots that must move left and right, has a good variety of par three holes, and positively befuddling greens.
Of the newcomers, only Poipu Bay remains for me to play.
Here are the courses that fell off the list:
20. THE PRINCE COURSE - Princeville, Kauai, Hawaii / Robert Trent Jones Jr. (1962)
40. THE HARVESTER G.C. - Rhodes, Iowa / Keith Foster (2000)
49. DORMIE CLUB - West End, N.C. / Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw (2010)
66. SPRING CREEK G.C. - Gordonsville, Va. / Ed Carton (2006)
78. BARTON CREEK RESORT & SPA (FAZIO CANYONS) - Austin, Tex. / Tom Fazio (1986)
85. THE BULL AT PINEHURST FARMS - Sheboygan Falls, Wis. / Jack Nicklaus (2003)
92. LINVILLE G.C. - Linville, N.C. / Donald Ross (1924)
93. EDGEWOOD TAHOE G.C. - Lake Tahoe, Nev. / George Fazio (1968)
95. BELGRADE LAKES G.C. - Belgrade Lakes, Maine / Clive Clark (1998)
96. TRUMP GOLF LINKS AT FERRY POINT - Bronx, NY / Jack Nicklaus & John Sanford (2015)
97. THE COEUR D’ALENE RESORT GOLF COURSE - Coeur d’Alene, Idaho / Scott Miller (1991)
99. WE-KO-PA G.C. (SAGUARO) - Scottsdale, Ariz. / Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw (2006)
100. DANCING RABBIT G.C. (AZALEAS) - Choctaw, Miss. / Tom Fazio & Jerry Pate (1997)
I have yet to play The Prince Course.
Now I am waiting for Golf Magazine to publish its new list. We last saw an update to their "Places You Can Play" list in 2016.
Here's a link to the two lists: http://logoballtraveler.com/top-100-lists.html
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