 |
| Views back down the 13th hole |
As golf course rankings go, the biennial 'best in the world' list from America's Golf Digest magazine raises quite a flutter... so it's a massive boost to Royal County Down (RCD) which finds itself in the number one spot. It was number four in the last ranking.
The emphasis in this year's rankings is on seaside locations, which may explain RCD's rise over Augusta
National and Pine Valley... although maybe not for Cypress Point, which drops from 2nd to 4th. Royal Dornoch has risen one place to conclude the top five.
National and Pine Valley... although maybe not for Cypress Point, which drops from 2nd to 4th. Royal Dornoch has risen one place to conclude the top five.
For a full set of photographs of the course, click here.
 |
| Views down the 3rd at Royal County Down |
There are three other Irish courses on the list:
1. Portmarnock at 25
2. Royal Portrush at 27
3. Lahinch at 65
... but no slot for Ballybunion or Waterville, which might surprise a few people.
There are nine Scottish courses on the list, and six from England.
A massive congratulations to Royal County Down. Such an amazing golf course.
A strange one. A text book case of the Emperor's New Clothes?
ReplyDeleteDon't think it's strange at all. great news for RCD. 99.9% of golfers will never get chance to play cypress point or pine valley so makes it even harder for UK/irish courses to get recognition as anyone can play them and therefore don't have the mystique of some of the ultra-private US courses. Must get over to the highlands and play dornoch next
ReplyDeleteGreat as it is I have yet to meet a player who has played RCD who rates it the best course in Ireland. It does not have enough truly memorable holes. The sea doesn't come into play and it doesn't have the dramatic dunes of at least half a dozen other courses in Ireland. Tralee and Carne for me deserve to be on the list.
ReplyDeleteWell, Fran, I'd rate it the best course in Ireland... which doesn't mean it's my favourite by the way. Carne takes that slot.
DeleteHigh praise indeed. Where is it on your list of favourite courses? Is it very unfair to say that Carne may well have made the list if it was 100 years old?
ReplyDeleteInteresting about the 100 years old... I don't think it would have made a difference based on the new courses on the list but read William 's comment below - combining the new nine might make a difference!
DeleteRe RCD it would be in my top 5... with Enniscrone and Ballybunion. The 5th course is always a toss up. Between The Island, Waterville, Co Sligo, The European...
It's great to know that, RCD looking attractive and nice in pictures.
ReplyDelete⛳️ thanks
DeleteI love seeing a course that anyone is allowed to play ranked at the top of the world. Well done RCD.
ReplyDeleteI think if Carne put the Kilmore 9 together with the back 9 from the Hacket course, they'd quickly find themselves on the list.
What I did find surprising was that Golf Digest dropped Ballybunion and Waterville from the top 100. Waterville was rated near the bottom of the 100, but Ballybunion was ranked 27th (I think). I could see a course moving up or down substantially due to renovations or disasters and moving up or down a few slots based on the course maturing and changing tastes. That didn't happen with Ballybunion. It's great that they recognized RCD; however, Golf Digest's ranking system clearly needs some work. We knew that already though - nothing is perfect.
I was really happy to see Canada's Cabot Cliffs debut at #19 on the list. Now's I'll have to decide between a trip out there or another visit to Ireland.
I'm with you there... very surprised to see no Ballybunion as it fits the 'new' criteria so well. The Carne conundrum continues... But I've always liked the idea of combining the two.
DeleteThe problem they would face is that combining the two would probably leave no one playing the original front 9. It's quite the conundrum.
DeleteDo you know what was going on with the 12th at Carne? When I was there 12 was closed and had us using the 4th on Kilmore instead.
They are lowering the green, to make it more visible, among other things, and doing some levelling of the fairway at the bottom. Ally McIntosh is doing it.
DeleteI can see the charme of combining the Kilmore 9 with the Hacket back 9 in Carne. But what is so bad with the Hacket front 9 that "no one would be left playing them" ? I certainly would play there, too, once the journey to remote Carne has been made any way. I recall the Hacket front 9 as immensely enjoyable holes, too, and notwithstanding all its spectacular moments: Aren't the Kilmore 9 a bit odd in places (the ski slope style 3rd, or that scaring 9th teeshot...) ?
ReplyDeleteThat is one beautiful golf course. I would say a well deserved win!
ReplyDeleteFor world travelers, I always wished Golf Digest would do a top 10 list for EACH country, or something unique like that. Also, having those private courses on there where most can never play does not help my cause either ha!
ReplyDeleteInteresting idea about the top 10s... you should pitch that to GD. And I agree wholeheartedly about private courses - never see the point in including courses we can only fantasise about playing. K
Delete