Score Golf Top 100 Courses for 2022

[Showtime9]

Once again very disappointed in the rankings. I know rankings are arbitrary and shouldn't be taken to heart but its laughable the amount of Ontario courses on the list. Not one course from Manitoba, one from Saskatchewan. No idea who is the committee who decides this but at least show some sort of transparency on how this list is made.

[jibbs1082]

7 hours ago, Showtime9 said:

Once again very disappointed in the rankings. I know rankings are arbitrary and shouldn't be taken to heart but its laughable the amount of Ontario courses on the list. Not one course from Manitoba, one from Saskatchewan. No idea who is the committee who decides this but at least show some sort of transparency on how this list is made.

 

I think I would agree, but as an Albertan that ended up on the east coast, and has played significant golf all over North America, the fact of the matter is there is just significantly better architecture, conditions and historical value and aura with eastern golf. If you look at the Golf Digest top US - many are in the Northeast: New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania.

 

If a developer like Cabot could step up and build a Sand Hills or Sand Hollow type resort in Sask or AB's foothills, I would be really interested to see it. The only real "newer", meaning built in the last 30 years, courses that crack the top tier of digest in the US are Sand Hills, Whistling, Bandon. 

 

There is simply nothing that even sniffs that type of place in Canada other than Cabot. I am curious to see how Revelstoke plays out. If it ends up like a lot like the Banff and Canmore gimmicky golf courses, it will be a disappointment, but I have to expect Cabot will do it right. Would be great if they looked at some property on the Van Island and built a Bandon "North".... now that would be a kick in the butt that Canada Golf needs!!

 

Here is how Digest ranks which I would expect to be similar (Digest is maybe a little more robust):

https://www.golfdigest.com/story/how-our-panel-ranks-the-courses

 

-Shot Options: (Real) Risk, reward

-Challenge: Specifically from playing back

-Layout Variety: Long/Med/Short of each the Par 3s, 4's and 5's

-Distinctiveness: How different is each hole on the course

-Asthetics

-Conditioning

-Fun: Fun to play on a regular basis

 

 

Edited July 27, 2022 by jibbs1082

[Kale_m]

There are a few in Ab that made the list that I am kinda confused about ? Wolf creek old course? Garbage….

[Showtime9]

On 7/27/2022 at 4:58 PM, jibbs1082 said:

 

I think I would agree, but as an Albertan that ended up on the east coast, and has played significant golf all over North America, the fact of the matter is there is just significantly better architecture, conditions and historical value and aura with eastern golf. If you look at the Golf Digest top US - many are in the Northeast: New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania.

 

If a developer like Cabot could step up and build a Sand Hills or Sand Hollow type resort in Sask or AB's foothills, I would be really interested to see it. The only real "newer", meaning built in the last 30 years, courses that crack the top tier of digest in the US are Sand Hills, Whistling, Bandon. 

 

There is simply nothing that even sniffs that type of place in Canada other than Cabot. I am curious to see how Revelstoke plays out. If it ends up like a lot like the Banff and Canmore gimmicky golf courses, it will be a disappointment, but I have to expect Cabot will do it right. Would be great if they looked at some property on the Van Island and built a Bandon "North".... now that would be a kick in the butt that Canada Golf needs!!

 

Here is how Digest ranks which I would expect to be similar (Digest is maybe a little more robust):

https://www.golfdigest.com/story/how-our-panel-ranks-the-courses

 

-Shot Options: (Real) Risk, reward

-Challenge: Specifically from playing back

-Layout Variety: Long/Med/Short of each the Par 3s, 4's and 5's

-Distinctiveness: How different is each hole on the course

-Asthetics

-Conditioning

-Fun: Fun to play on a regular basis

 

 

Oh I 100% agree with you about the east coast. Along with BC and parts of AB, they should have the majority of courses in the top 100. However, there are nice gems in Manitoba (such as Falcon Lake, Granite Hills along with a couple of private clubs) that should be in the top 100. They even make the top 100 public courses in Canada in the Score edition. I am saying that the criteria for the rankings is not transparent and there are rumours that courses do pay to get on the list. For instance, Mickleson National just outside Calgary debuted in the top 20 I believe and from talking with friends out there its nothing special in their opinion. 

[jibbs1082]

1 hour ago, Showtime9 said:

Oh I 100% agree with you about the east coast. Along with BC and parts of AB, they should have the majority of courses in the top 100. However, there are nice gems in Manitoba (such as Falcon Lake, Granite Hills along with a couple of private clubs) that should be in the top 100. They even make the top 100 public courses in Canada in the Score edition. I am saying that the criteria for the rankings is not transparent and there are rumours that courses do pay to get on the list. For instance, Mickleson National just outside Calgary debuted in the top 20 I believe and from talking with friends out there its nothing special in their opinion. 

 

I agree there, I am always skeptical of paid promotions....

 

I've heard mixed reviews on Mickelson personally. I would like to play it next time I am in town... my gut feeling is I will be let down.

[PEI_Golfer]

On 7/27/2022 at 11:28 AM, Showtime9 said:

 No idea who is the committee who decides this but at least show some sort of transparency on how this list is made.

You can usually find a list of who the some/all of the raters are, but you have to know that a large portion are going to be Ontario based (largest golfing population in the country and most courses within 3 hours of a metropolitan area) and really only get to do so much travelling to see courses/play courses.  I used to know 3-8 guys each list, but haven't looked it up lately. 

 

Here's an old article, but shows who the panellists were in '18 (quick search, but info is out there)

 

https://scoregolf.com/features/the-top-100-rules-and-panel/

Edited August 12, 2022 by PEI_Golfer

[Double K]

On 7/27/2022 at 3:58 PM, jibbs1082 said:

 

If it ends up like a lot like the Banff and Canmore gimmicky golf courses, it will be a disappointment, but I have to expect Cabot will do it right. 

 

 

Curious. What about Banff resembles anything remotely close to being worth called gimmicky?!

[jibbs1082]

On 8/12/2022 at 2:58 AM, Double K said:

Curious. What about Banff resembles anything remotely close to being worth called gimmicky?!

 

I guess I generalized rockies golf... Banff Springs isn't really gimicky.

[MtlJeff]

These lists are mostly OK, they list a lot of the nicer courses. But if you follow them over the years it's a little silly. Le Geant and Le Diable used to be in the 50-80 range now they are in the 100-125 range.  Meanwhile Beaconsfield used to get 90-100 a lot and now is in 100th

 

I can tell you with 100% certainty none of these 3 courses has changed over the last 10 years. LOL....Beaconsfield is now a nicer course but it wasn't like 8 years ago haha. It's little things like that. What did Le Geant do to drop like 40 spots while courses behind it stayed where they are, i play it pretty much every year...Nothing's changed

 

Not to mention you won't meet many people from Quebec who would have Beaconsfield in their top courses even in the province. I can think of many i like better