How Golf Monthly assesses the Top 100 Golf Courses
Golf Monthly Top 100 Course Rankings
Top 100 Golf Courses Assessing Procedure
When we set out to assess golf courses for possible inclusion in the Golf Monthly Top 100 Course Rankings we look at four key criteria against which to judge the course.
1. Quality of test and design
2. Presentation
3. Visual appeal and enjoyment
4. Ambience
Golf Monthly staff and reader panellists give each course a mark out of 20 for the two criteria we deem to be most important – “quality of test and design” and “presentation”. Two marks out of ten are then awarded for “visual appeal and enjoyment” and “ambience”. These are totalled together to give an overall mark out of 60, which is incorporated into a detailed assessment form completed after each visit
Panellists are briefed rigorously on what elements to pay particular note to when assessing each criterion. For example, when judging the “quality of test and design”, they are urged to consider the variety of holes, the fairness of test and the strategic positioning of hazards.
The “presentation” category looks at the condition of the course, paying particular attention to the quality and consistency of the greens, definition of fairway and rough, and the condition of course “furniture”. The mark for “visual appeal and enjoyment” relates to the aesthetics of the course and takes into account the views and scenery on offer. “Ambience” evaluates the overall feel and atmosphere of the course and club, and in a nutshell sums up the all-important “visitor experience” we come away with.
In more general terms, when it comes to separating clubs whose marks are very close, Golf Monthly leans towards traditional members’ golf clubs and, among that type of club, those which can offer what we believe to be the ultimate experience for any visiting golfer – to be welcomed and made to feel like a member of the club for the day. Such clubs will trump all others when it comes to our final judgment.
After a visit to a contender golf course all pannelists fill out a detailed form assesses the following criteria.
Assessment criteria: Quality of test and design
Where next?
- Golf Monthly's Top 100 Golf Courses
- An introduction to Golf Monthly's Top 100 Golf Courses by editor, Mike Harris
- Who makes up The Top 100 Golf Courses panel?
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This article has more pages:
- 1. How Golf Monthly assesses the Top 100 Golf Courses
- 2. Golf Monthly's Top 100 Golf Courses Assessment Criteria: Quality of test and design
- 3. Golf Monthly's Top 100 Golf Courses Assessment Criteria: Condition and presentation
- 4. Golf Monthly's Top 100 Golf Courses Assessment Criteria: Visual Appeal
- 5. Golf Monthly's Top 100 Golf Courses Assessment Criteria: Ambience
Reader comments
Add your commentsOctober 30 14:32
Stuart Herd
I was amazed to see, having played the course, that Royal Worlington & Newmarket made it into the top 100 courses as the course itself is nothing special and the quality of some of the clubhouse facilities is poor. When you look at the near miss list I have played Princes rently, which has and will be a final open qualifying course, and it is quite frankly streets ahead of Royal Worlington in virtually every respect. The Royal Worlington clubhouse is far below the facilities at Walton Heath yet the latter is described as in need of an imminent upgrade.
November 08 12:12
Michael Harris
Thank you for your comments. Opinions of course vary and we encourage debate on the Top 100.
Undoubtedly Royal Worlington is unusual and that makes it somewhat of a connoisseurs course which could lead it to be overlooked by those with a one dimensional outlook of what makes a great course but the four panel members who visited Royal Worlington during the latest assessing period were in agreement that it offered a unique experience and therefore justified it's place in our Top 100. In addition to the year round test and fabulous design of the 9 holes and the charming clubhouse the locker rooms and facilities at Royal Worlington have benefited from a refurbishment which took place around a year ago.
Princes had many visits in this period - including 5 from senior members of the editorial team - and was very close to making the final list but again it was a unanimous decision from the panel that it did not feature.