Golf Magazine Top Courses In CA

[Scottbox]

The latest Golf Magazine Top Courses in CA just came out:

 

https://golf.com/travel/best-golf-courses-california-2024-2025/

 

Many of these courses deserve to be on this list, and I'm glad there are some new ones (Ladera). That said, there are some very questionable choices. Bel-Air is not particularly great after their renovation and doesn't deserve to be #10. Lakeside deserves to be higher. Hillcrest is a joke and shouldn't even be on the list. Wilshire should be at the bottom (it's not even open, undergoing a renovation). And the omissions of Hacienda, El Cab, PVCC, Newport Beach CC, and especially Saticoy are pretty laughable.

[Archimedes65]

Yeah, I gotta question Harding Park and PGA West-Mountain being in the top 40.  Both are pretty forgettable courses IMO.

[James the Hogan Fan]

How many of these are "you can play" places?

 

Pebble, Spyglass, Harding Park, Rustic Canyon, Torrey Pines, maybe some of the Palm Springs resorts?

[carrera]

On 12/26/2024 at 11:29 AM, Archimedes65 said:

gotta question Harding Park

Agree.  Very "average" course.

[Archimedes65]

9 hours ago, carrera said:

Agree.  Very "average" course.

 

I’ve only played it twice.  First time was literally a week or two after the redo many years ago and I remember wondering what all the hype was about.  It felt like a typical muni, just with good course conditions.  Played it again years later and came away with the same opinion. Nothing made me want to play it again.  And I’ve heard rumor that conditions have deteriorated there over time.

[Chanceman]

Yeah HP is one of those “at least you can say you’ve played it” courses. 

[Jgolfer99]

After having had a friend work for one of the golf ranking publications, I can tell you that the system itself is a bit suspect.  Most of these lists are prepared using internal local, state and national lists based on various technical stats on the courses, prestige factors and a large part of “pay to play” so to speak.  Courses need to actively seek and be willing to host the ranking individuals and will often make the play day elaborate with free lunch and plenty of golf shop swag.  Technically the courses are not supposed to know who the ranking writers are, but they always do.  Conversely there are other courses who either do not actively engage with the publications and or make it difficult to play and do not bend over backwards for free stuff.  Generally those courses either do not show up in the rankings or do not place highly.  Outside of the top 1/4 or so, many others on the list seem to be favorites based on the ranking writer’s personal experiences/swag of sorts.

[Mullenboy]

1 hour ago, Jgolfer99 said:

After having had a friend work for one of the golf ranking publications, I can tell you that the system itself is a bit suspect.  Most of these lists are prepared using internal local, state and national lists based on various technical stats on the courses, prestige factors and a large part of “pay to play” so to speak.  Courses need to actively seek and be willing to host the ranking individuals and will often make the play day elaborate with free lunch and plenty of golf shop swag.  Technically the courses are not supposed to know who the ranking writers are, but they always do.  Conversely there are other courses who either do not actively engage with the publications and or make it difficult to play and do not bend over backwards for free stuff.  Generally those courses either do not show up in the rankings or do not place highly.  Outside of the top 1/4 or so, many others on the list seem to be favorites based on the ranking writer’s personal experiences/swag of sorts.

Which magazine did your friend work for?  I ask because all of that seems to ring true for some, but not necessarily for Golf Magazine... and this is a Golf Magazine list.  Their panel is primarily famous people in the golf world... the type who do not need nor would be influenced by special treatment.  Or at least that is my impression.  I know a few of their panelists.  

 

I could be wrong.

 

In any case the list seems close enough for me.  There is never gonna be full agreement.  

 

I do agree about Harding... very very over-rated.  I also think SFGC and Cal Club are each too high.  MPCC Dunes should be clearly higher than MPCC Shore.  But it's all nit picking.  Like I say.... close enough.

 

 

Edited January 14 by Mullenboy

[Jgolfer99]

There are differences in how each publication operates to be sure, but from my understanding there are several overlaps in how the overall process tends to work.  He had primarily been at Golf Digest and had gone on quite a few of the "ranking outings" primarily in the Midwest and East Coast. 

[Mullenboy]

25 minutes ago, Jgolfer99 said:

There are differences in how each publication operates to be sure, but from my understanding there are several overlaps in how the overall process tends to work.  He had primarily been at Golf Digest and had gone on quite a few of the "ranking outings" primarily in the Midwest and East Coast. 

There are similarities for sure, but there are also very key differences.  I've been a rating panelist for Golf Digest for many years and especially in recent times as the number of panelists has exploded, your criticism here can definitely apply to us.  Interesting he says he went to "ranking outings"... Golf Digest typically has shied away from those until the last couple years.  Now that they exist, it does go just how you say.  Even more guilty is GolfWeek... they've done events like that for a long time.

 

Still people are people.... some are affected, lots are not.

 

In any case this is a GOLF MAGAZINE list.  From all I know and have experienced, your critiques do not apply to them - at least not nearly as much as the others.

[manku]

Wilshire, Hillcrest and Bel-Air are there because of their history and location.   And pricey membership dues.  

 

I’ll play any time I’m invited, but none would be memorable if they weren’t right in the city of LA.  

[JohnnyBGoode92]

1 hour ago, manku said:

Wilshire, Hillcrest and Bel-Air are there because of their history and location.   And pricey membership dues.  

 

I’ll play any time I’m invited, but none would be memorable if they weren’t right in the city of LA.  

What’s the initiation and membership process like at Bel-Air?

[Scottbox]

On 1/25/2025 at 9:28 AM, JohnnyBGoode92 said:

What’s the initiation and membership process like at Bel-Air?

3-400k and you need to know a ton of people and play a lot of guest rounds so the members can make sure you're their kind of people. It helps if you're rich, drink a lot, and like to gamble on golf. 

[Par4Nate]

13 hours ago, Scottbox said:

3-400k and you need to know a ton of people and play a lot of guest rounds so the members can make sure you're their kind of people. It helps if you're rich, drink a lot, and like to gamble on golf. 

 

Two outta three okay?

[Schley]

California is blessed with a very deep bench. I think the lists would be better put in tiers and not ordinal. Let's see what happens with Brambles eventually. Will make it there this summer.