Golf Digest Raters

[adamjstl]

Is anyone on the forum a course rater with Golf Digest? Or know anyone who is or has been a panelist with them? Please pm with any information- thanks.

[TheDailyDuffer]

I assume this is another thread about you spamming the forum to gain access to top private clubs, just like your "Help me get on Oakmont" and "Tell me how to play top 100 courses" threads. While it commendable that you want to play great courses continually posting here expecting random people on the internet to help you just because you decided that you are on a "top 100 quest" isn't the way to go about it. Id normally hold my tongue, but this is the third post about the same thing, and it just leaves a sour taste in my mouth.

[vallygolf]

I live in Arizona so I dont know any of these individuals. If you want to find them go to New York, or the Midwest or any course that is has no hint of civilization. That is basically the criteria for being ranked in the top 100........ Yes I think it is total BS that there are no golf courses ranked in the top 100 you can play from one of the most public friendly high end golf destinations in the world. Their disdain for desert golf is palpable. #43 on their list wouldnt beat out my top 10 public here in Arizona. So go ahead and seek out these people, just dont expect a conversation based in reality:)

[kg92lefty]

Raters are the worst kind of people.

[adamjstl]

No reason to be hateful, guys. I simply asked a question.

[Townes]

[quote name='kg92lefty' timestamp='1448409349' post='12642620']
Raters are the worst kind of people.
[/quote]

Why?

Honestly interested, don't know any myself.

[kg92lefty]

[quote name='Townes' timestamp='1448421577' post='12643454']
[quote name='kg92lefty' timestamp='1448409349' post='12642620']
Raters are the worst kind of people.
[/quote]

Why?

Honestly interested, don't know any myself.
[/quote]

Give best reviews to courses that kiss their butt the most not the actual best. Plus the ones I've met think they are all that.

[fore_life]

[quote name='vallygolf' timestamp='1448407275' post='12642454']
I live in Arizona so I dont know any of these individuals. If you want to find them go to New York, or the Midwest or any course that is has no hint of civilization. That is basically the criteria for being ranked in the top 100........ Yes I think it is total BS that there are no golf courses ranked in the top 100 you can play from one of the most public friendly high end golf destinations in the world. Their disdain for desert golf is palpable. #43 on their list wouldnt beat out my top 10 public here in Arizona. So go ahead and seek out these people, just dont expect a conversation based in reality:)
[/quote]

I agree with them about desert golf.

[az2au]

[quote name='fore_life' timestamp='1448422360' post='12643520']
[quote name='vallygolf' timestamp='1448407275' post='12642454']
I live in Arizona so I dont know any of these individuals. If you want to find them go to New York, or the Midwest or any course that is has no hint of civilization. That is basically the criteria for being ranked in the top 100........ Yes I think it is total BS that there are no golf courses ranked in the top 100 you can play from one of the most public friendly high end golf destinations in the world. Their disdain for desert golf is palpable. #43 on their list wouldnt beat out my top 10 public here in Arizona. So go ahead and seek out these people, just dont expect a conversation based in reality:)
[/quote]

I agree with them about desert golf.
[/quote]
To balance you out, I couldn't disagree more. The only type of courses I find superior to desert courses are true links courses but even with that I find all to have their merits.

After playing all over the world I think the courses here are absolutely some of the best out there. If anything my love and respect for the courses here has grown as my experience of playing elsewhere has increased.

[Philly Golf Guy]

I have golfed with GD panelists before. There is a short application you fill out and a wait list of at least a few years, and you must be well connected to have any shot at actually getting accepted. Like, you're a lobbyist, golf course designer, etc. If you're a rater, it's not as easy as calling up some of the exclusive clubs and asking for a tee time because you are a rater.

That's about all I know.

If you're interested in playing some of the top private courses out there, I believe the guy who played the top 100 in the world without any private club affiliation is putting out a book on how he got on every course. After reading that he played at Augusta during the Masters practice round with a former champion, I will be getting the book just for the stories!

[Fbgstaff]

[quote name='Philly Golf Guy' timestamp='1449462070' post='12689368']
I have golfed with GD panelists before. There is a short application you fill out and a wait list of at least a few years, and you must be well connected to have any shot at actually getting accepted. Like, you're a lobbyist, golf course designer, etc. If you're a rater, it's not as easy as calling up some of the exclusive clubs and asking for a tee time because you are a rater.

That's about all I know.

If you're interested in playing some of the top private courses out there, I believe the guy who played the top 100 in the world without any private club affiliation is putting out a book on how he got on every course. After reading that he played at Augusta during the Masters practice round with a former champion, I will be getting the book just for the stories!
[/quote]
Sounds like something I would like to read. Do you know name of author or name of book?

[DoubleorQuits]

John Sabino

[Fbgstaff]

Thanks have it saved now?

[lov2golf4]

[quote name='Fbgstaff' timestamp='1449529790' post='12692276']
Thanks have it saved now?
[/quote]

Looks like we will have to wait a while for it. Here's what I looked up on the internet, http://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0LEVi0m7GZWTB8AlisnnIlQ;_ylu=X3oDMTByNXM5bzY5BGNvbG8DYmYxBHBvcwMzBHZ0aWQDBHNlYwNzcg--/RV=2/RE=1449614503/RO=10/RU=http%3a%2f%2fwww.amazon.co.uk%2fPlay-Worlds-Most-Exclusive-Clubs%2fdp%2f1634507991/RK=0/RS=cFBuLes6F5gp0BuUCtf0rPR9lrE-

[DoubleorQuits]

I believe the US release date is in April 2016.

[BrianL99]

http://www.amazon.com/Play-World%C2%92s-Most-Exclusive-Clubs/dp/1634507991

[HoffTTM]

[quote name='vallygolf' timestamp='1448407275' post='12642454']
I live in Arizona so I dont know any of these individuals. If you want to find them go to New York, or the Midwest or any course that is has no hint of civilization. That is basically the criteria for being ranked in the top 100........ Yes I think it is total BS that there are no golf courses ranked in the top 100 you can play from one of the most public friendly high end golf destinations in the world. Their disdain for desert golf is palpable. #43 on their list wouldnt beat out my top 10 public here in Arizona. So go ahead and seek out these people, just dont expect a conversation based in reality:)
[/quote]

Number 43 happens to be Bethpage Black, wouldn't mind knowing which 10 AZ publics are better than that.

[italianstallion]

[quote name='HoffTTM' timestamp='1449592484' post='12694958']
[quote name='vallygolf' timestamp='1448407275' post='12642454']
I live in Arizona so I dont know any of these individuals. If you want to find them go to New York, or the Midwest or any course that is has no hint of civilization. That is basically the criteria for being ranked in the top 100........ Yes I think it is total BS that there are no golf courses ranked in the top 100 you can play from one of the most public friendly high end golf destinations in the world. Their disdain for desert golf is palpable. #43 on their list wouldnt beat out my top 10 public here in Arizona. So go ahead and seek out these people, just dont expect a conversation based in reality:)
[/quote]

Number 43 happens to be Bethpage Black, wouldn't mind knowing which 10 AZ publics are better than that.
[/quote]

The defense rests.....

[bhilk]

[quote name='italianstallion' timestamp='1449593658' post='12695014']
[quote name='HoffTTM' timestamp='1449592484' post='12694958']
[quote name='vallygolf' timestamp='1448407275' post='12642454']
I live in Arizona so I dont know any of these individuals. If you want to find them go to New York, or the Midwest or any course that is has no hint of civilization. That is basically the criteria for being ranked in the top 100........ Yes I think it is total BS that there are no golf courses ranked in the top 100 you can play from one of the most public friendly high end golf destinations in the world. Their disdain for desert golf is palpable. #43 on their list wouldnt beat out my top 10 public here in Arizona. So go ahead and seek out these people, just dont expect a conversation based in reality:)
[/quote]

Number 43 happens to be Bethpage Black, wouldn't mind knowing which 10 AZ publics are better than that.
[/quote]

The defense rests.....
[/quote]

While desert golf is a lot of fun I can name ten states that have better golf. New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, California, Michigan, Oregon, Nebraska, North and South Carolina, and Wisconsin. You could also put Illinois and massachusetts on that list. Desert golf falls more into a love it or hate it category when it comes to rankings. A lot of desert golf is very similar. It was all built in what is considered modern golf design. Complete lack of any golden age architect hurts desert golf. Plus a majority of the courses were built in a time when name architects were building over penal target golf. Also the turf restrictions hurt this so you tend to find a lot of narrow, one dimensional golf. Recent courses have bucked the trend like Coore and crenshaws work at talking stick and we ko pa. You see a lot of variety at these two. If you enjoy this kind of golf I could see how Arizona is your favorite. That's the great thing about golf. We can all have our favorites. Lists are made to create talk such as this. Bethpage may not be for you. It is a very difficult golf course. The amazing thing about New York is there might be ten better courses on Long Island! Courses like Shinnecock, National, Friars Head, Maidstone, Garden City, Sebonack, Piping Rock, St. georges, Fishers, and the creek. Those ten alone smoke Arizona golf. Even when you get to states like Michigan I would rather play Crystal Downs, Greywalls, Kingsley, Dunes Club, Lost Dunes, Oakland Hills, Orchard Lake, Arcadia, and Franklin Hills before I would play We Ko Pa. Arizona has great golf but can not offer the variety that these states offer. Arizona has a bunch of really good golf but when you start talking amazing golf like top 100 it falls short.

[WiscoGolfAddict]

[quote name='bhilk' timestamp='1449602454' post='12695630']
[quote name='italianstallion' timestamp='1449593658' post='12695014']
[quote name='HoffTTM' timestamp='1449592484' post='12694958']
[quote name='vallygolf' timestamp='1448407275' post='12642454']
I live in Arizona so I dont know any of these individuals. If you want to find them go to New York, or the Midwest or any course that is has no hint of civilization. That is basically the criteria for being ranked in the top 100........ Yes I think it is total BS that there are no golf courses ranked in the top 100 you can play from one of the most public friendly high end golf destinations in the world. Their disdain for desert golf is palpable. #43 on their list wouldnt beat out my top 10 public here in Arizona. So go ahead and seek out these people, just dont expect a conversation based in reality:)
[/quote]

Number 43 happens to be Bethpage Black, wouldn't mind knowing which 10 AZ publics are better than that.
[/quote]

The defense rests.....
[/quote]

While desert golf is a lot of fun I can name ten states that have better golf. New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, California, Michigan, Oregon, Nebraska, North and South Carolina, and Wisconsin. You could also put Illinois and massachusetts on that list. Desert golf falls more into a love it or hate it category when it comes to rankings. A lot of desert golf is very similar. It was all built in what is considered modern golf design. Complete lack of any golden age architect hurts desert golf. Plus a majority of the courses were built in a time when name architects were building over penal target golf. Also the turf restrictions hurt this so you tend to find a lot of narrow, one dimensional golf. Recent courses have bucked the trend like Coore and crenshaws work at talking stick and we ko pa. You see a lot of variety at these two. If you enjoy this kind of golf I could see how Arizona is your favorite. That's the great thing about golf. We can all have our favorites. Lists are made to create talk such as this. Bethpage may not be for you. It is a very difficult golf course. The amazing thing about New York is there might be ten better courses on Long Island! Courses like Shinnecock, National, Friars Head, Maidstone, Garden City, Sebonack, Piping Rock, St. georges, Fishers, and the creek. Those ten alone smoke Arizona golf. Even when you get to states like Michigan I would rather play Crystal Downs, Greywalls, Kingsley, Dunes Club, Lost Dunes, Oakland Hills, Orchard Lake, Arcadia, and Franklin Hills before I would play We Ko Pa. Arizona has great golf but can not offer the variety that these states offer. Arizona has a bunch of really good golf but when you start talking amazing golf like top 100 it falls short.
[/quote]


I have not played any Desert golf courses, but am always told I'll love it. I really appreciate your take here, though - that's exactly what it is: Personal opinions. [url="http://wiscogolfaddict.com/2012/10/17/topreviewednonwisc/"]In my own best courses in the country rankings[/url] (link), I put the Dunes course at The Prairie Club in NE ahead of tons of courses that most people, including Golf Digest raters, would say are superior courses (Bandon Dunes, Old Macdonald, Bandon Trails, Streamsong Red and Blue, Chambers Bay, etc.). That's my opinion. I LOVE every single one of those courses I mentioned and they are all in the discussion of my all-time favorite course, but when you're talking the best of the best (which is what top 100 courses are), to me The Dunes course is almost as good as it gets! Pac Dunes is still a little higher, though, in my book

Good thread for the most part.

[vallygolf]

[quote name='italianstallion' timestamp='1449593658' post='12695014']
[quote name='HoffTTM' timestamp='1449592484' post='12694958']
[quote name='vallygolf' timestamp='1448407275' post='12642454']
I live in Arizona so I dont know any of these individuals. If you want to find them go to New York, or the Midwest or any course that is has no hint of civilization. That is basically the criteria for being ranked in the top 100........ Yes I think it is total BS that there are no golf courses ranked in the top 100 you can play from one of the most public friendly high end golf destinations in the world. Their disdain for desert golf is palpable. #43 on their list wouldnt beat out my top 10 public here in Arizona. So go ahead and seek out these people, just dont expect a conversation based in reality:)
[/quote]

Number 43 happens to be Bethpage Black, wouldn't mind knowing which 10 AZ publics are better than that.
[/quote]

The defense rests.....
[/quote]



Actually if you read my post it says 100 best you can play. I am of the opinion that private golf ratings are useless and worthless. #43 is the Dormie club in the Pinehurst area North Carolina. I have played Bethpage Black, and had a great round at a fantastic course. Having a different taste in golf we can debate its placement as #43 on the best of all courses in the US. Desert golf is not universally loved, but it cannot be refuted that the design elements found in nearly all universally recognized masterpiece courses can be found in Arizona. I also find it curious that many of the desert golf detractors cite "target golf" as a chief complaint, but in the same breath exclaim "they are all resort corses". I recognize those are not mutually exclusive, but tight and tucked (target golf) doesnt fit with grip it and rip it (resort golf). My conclusion then has to be bias. I have played most of the great courses in this country (FYI i would play Crystal Downs again before WE Ko Pa as well). You can like it or not, but to omit Arizona golf from the top 100 you can play is biased, and in my opinion nearly omitting desert golf all together is like omitting Pablo Picasso from art because of personal taste. This is not an implication of other golf courses, just a factual bias by a should be authority on public golf.

[HoffTTM]

[quote name='vallygolf' timestamp='1449616756' post='12696644']
[quote name='italianstallion' timestamp='1449593658' post='12695014']
[quote name='HoffTTM' timestamp='1449592484' post='12694958']
[quote name='vallygolf' timestamp='1448407275' post='12642454']
I live in Arizona so I dont know any of these individuals. If you want to find them go to New York, or the Midwest or any course that is has no hint of civilization. That is basically the criteria for being ranked in the top 100........ Yes I think it is total BS that there are no golf courses ranked in the top 100 you can play from one of the most public friendly high end golf destinations in the world. Their disdain for desert golf is palpable. #43 on their list wouldnt beat out my top 10 public here in Arizona. So go ahead and seek out these people, just dont expect a conversation based in reality:)
[/quote]

Number 43 happens to be Bethpage Black, wouldn't mind knowing which 10 AZ publics are better than that.
[/quote]

The defense rests.....
[/quote]



Actually if you read my post it says 100 best you can play. I am of the opinion that private golf ratings are useless and worthless. #43 is the Dormie club in the Pinehurst area North Carolina. I have played Bethpage Black, and had a great round at a fantastic course. Having a different taste in golf we can debate its placement as #43 on the best of all courses in the US. Desert golf is not universally loved, but it cannot be refuted that the design elements found in nearly all universally recognized masterpiece courses can be found in Arizona. I also find it curious that many of the desert golf detractors cite "target golf" as a chief complaint, but in the same breath exclaim "they are all resort corses". I recognize those are not mutually exclusive, but tight and tucked (target golf) doesnt fit with grip it and rip it (resort golf). My conclusion then has to be bias. I have played most of the great courses in this country (FYI i would play Crystal Downs again before WE Ko Pa as well). You can like it or not, but to omit Arizona golf from the top 100 you can play is biased, and in my opinion nearly omitting desert golf all together is like omitting Pablo Picasso from art because of personal taste. This is not an implication of other golf courses, just a factual bias by a should be authority on public golf.
[/quote]

Mainly because Digest is an awful publication. The golf magazine public list has about 7 AZ courses on it.