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Top 100, Best New Courses and Similar Nonsense! |
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Get ready! It's that time of year. When every golf publication has painstakingly evaluated all the golf courses in the U.S. Or maybe just all the new golf courses in the U.S... or all the resort golf courses in the U.S..... or all the affordable (soon to be up-scale after the magazine article hits the stands) golf courses in the U.S. Or the..... well, you get the idea.
Anyone can make a list of the "Greatest" whatever and sometimes after reading the selections it appears that's what happened! I've played golf on a few of the "Best New Courses" and wondered if the person writing the story ever even visited the course, let alone played it. On the counter in the pro shop, proudly displayed, is a copy of the feature story (which by the way was purchased from the publisher) announcing that it was selected by the magazine as one of the top whatever. A note adjacent to the display is another that states "Effective Immediately" cart and greens fees are now $200.00.
By now you have probably noted a touch of sarcasm in my tone. I just find it extremely ridiculous that anyone would put any stock in such lists knowing that advertisement revenues are generated from the courses that are being so "honored". What strikes me most about such list is that they almost invariably lead to higher green and cart fees at the "selected" courses. So how are these courses chosen? Well, we asked one of the top golf course architects that question and we were not really that surprised by the answer. " If you want to be one of the Best New Courses, then be prepared to spend lots of money", he said. "Promotion dollars". |
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Most of the well known golf course architects are asked to submit a course that they want considered as one of the best new courses. Hmmmm..doesn't take a genius to figure this one out. A golf course architect is hired to build a golf course that is in line with the owner's budget. That budget could be 2,000,000 dollars or it may be 30,000,000 dollars. If you spent 2,000,000 of one clients money and 30,000,000 of another's. Who would you nominate? Forget about which course is better. It's a no brainer!
I'm not talking about the "Top 100" courses. Most of those courses you'll probably never have the opportunity to play. And they probably haven't either. So their pretty much a safe bet. Although, I have had the opportunity to play a few (Pine Valley, Marion, Pebble Beach) and believe me they are great golf courses. But, I have also played many public courses that are great tracts, meticulously maintained, reasonable green and carts fees, and a staff that appreciates your business.
Granted there are many new courses worthy of praise. In fact most are.Yet be aware that when you buy into this "Top" whatever nonsense your're actually contributing to higher green fees and supporting a notion that someone has actually played ALL the courses and their judgment is better then yours. If you want insight into choosing a golf course then rely on the USGA's Slope and Rating system. All the courses have been personally visited by trained personnel and strict guidelines are followed.
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