GOLF’s Prime 100 course panelists are among the many most revered and well-traveled course evaluators within the sport. They’re additionally eager to share their opinions. On this GOLF.com collection, we’ll unlock their unvarnished views on all questions course-related. Take a look at GOLF’s newest Prime 100 Programs within the U.S., Prime 100 Programs within the World, Prime 100 Programs You Can Play, Finest Municipal Programs within the U.S., 100 Finest Quick Programs and 100 Finest Programs in U.Ok. and Eire. Meet all of our Prime 100 panelists right here.

GOLF lately launched its newest rating of the Prime 100 Programs within the World, with Pine Valley but once more coming in as No. 1. Some programs dropped off the checklist, whereas eight newcomers had been added to it. What was the most important shock you noticed within the rating?

Invoice Hogan (panelist since 1998): Comfortable to see St. George’s Hill in England elevate within the rankings (up 17 to No. 71). Such a novel heathland course with elevation modifications — a real delight to play.

Will Davenport (panelist since 2020): I used to be more than happy to see St. George’s Hill transfer up the checklist (a perennial favourite of mine). I additionally noticed the extremely touted Lido pop up on the checklist, and I’m excited to see how we discuss concerning the course as its fame grows. Notably, the transfer that Sunningdale New made on the checklist (up 10 to No. 54) bolsters the case for Sunningdale because the most interesting 36-hole membership on this planet.

Jeff Lewis (panelist since 2003): I admit to a bias right here, however I used to be stunned and disenchanted that Quaker Ridge fell off the checklist. There’s a tendency in rankings to have fun the most recent opening or renovation, and a few issues fall off the radar when there isn’t something “new” about them.

Josh Sens (panelist since 2015): I agree with Jeff that there will be recency bias within the rankings. However on this case, I believe the extra related development is the spectacle and high quality of a few of golf’s most notable new and distant areas. On the cliffs of the Caribbean. Within the wilds of Norway. Alongside the ocean in New Zealand. That’s some powerful competitors. Then there’s the truth that in just about any rating, when you get previous the highest 20 or 30 that the majority educated folks would agree on, you’re moving into the realm of hair-splitting and subjectivity, the place you’re attempting to quantify one thing that’s unquantifiable. Attempt explaining to me why a course ranked, say, 82nd, ought to actually be sixty fourth. Or vice versa. Good luck arising with an argument that may’t be countered with one thing equally affordable.

There are solely 100 spots, and greater than that variety of programs that you may make a case for belonging on the checklist. Inevitably, somebody’s going to be left feeling like they acquired appeared over. You’re going to get quibbles, disagreements, even harsh critiques, and one of many few issues that may be stated for positive is that anyone who claims to have the target fact is kidding themselves.