Golf Digest ranks Kiawah Island's Ocean Course as the toughest in America.
Yesterday, I was reading the January issue of Golf Digest and came across its list of “America’s 75 Toughest Golf Courses.”
As someone who has always valued “the overall experience” over sheer difficulty, I flipped right past it.
But then I flipped back.
Many of the names were familiar, top-100 courses that I have been lucky enough to play and thoroughly enjoyed.
I started wondering just how many of Golf Digest’s “America’s Toughest” courses were also on its list of “America’s Greatest.”
So I counted them. And I was shocked by what I found.
Fifty-one.
Yes, according to Golf Digest, 51 of America’s 75 hardest golf courses (or nearly 70%) are also among America’s best.
Mmm, that seems to suggest that, in general, a golf course must be diabolically difficult to be “great,” and I’m not sure I agree with that.
Challenging? Of course. But so tough they “make you feel like quitting the game?” Again, I was shocked at how many of America’s top-100 appeared on both lists.
What do you think? Does toughness equal greatness?
Please take a minute to share your comments below.
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{ 39 comments… read them below or add one }
Maybe toughness = greatness if you’re a low handicapper, but I think most of the world’s golfers define a great golf course by how well it looks, how well it’s kept, and how much fun they have. And usually, a back-breaking course is no fun at all.
The most overlooked feature of golf courses, even the toughest ones, is multiple sets of tees. Golfers with higher handicaps should put their egos aside and play from the tees that suit their game. That way golfers of all abilities can enjoy the experience of playing these great courses, instead of struggling to play a course that is simply too much for their abilities.
It all depends on what tees you play the course from. On a tough or great course, I still would play from the front tees to see where the trouble is located. Hopefully I would have a great time for my money.
May I throw in the thesis that a great course is gentle and fun on normal players and from the lady tees, but a mind-blowing beast from the back tees?
I am a 10 handicap golfer and I rate a course on the esthetic appearance the shape of the greens the amenities the staff the overall experience. I do not play from the tips I am 58 and I don’t want to hit a 3 wood for my second shot on the par 4
I am not interested in how diabolical the golf course architect can be.I want to enjoy the round and have a reasonable risk reward type course experience.
I played Oakmont in PA. I never played Pebble, St. Andrews, August, etc. But if they are better than Oakmont they must be truely great. Oakmont was pure heaven. From the look, the playing conditions, caddies, clubhouse, service, tradition, etc. Hard? – absolutely (played it some 3 weeks before Women’s U.S. Open) but fair and a real treat. I honestly do not think it is rated higher because it is more exclusive than Augusta to play.
I believe that the challange is a part of the equation. I also think that uniqueness such as desert golf, ocean courses, mountain courses counts. At least in this country (Not Great Britain which is all about the history) esthetics and course condition is a great part of the equation. As long as you play the correct tees for your ability to which the architect designed the coure you can be challanged but not beat up.
Most of the great courses that I have played have been tough. I am a 15 capper, and my score is always against the course. If it is difficult and I paid $$$$ then I feel satisfied regardless of score. I don’t need to shoot in the low 80′s everytime I play. It is fun to try and conquer the # 1 handicapped holes and succeed, but I don’t always have to, to enjoy myself! If I am playing Whistling Straights for the first time, the game is not diminished if I shoot 100+. “Golf is not a game of perfect”.
Different features result in “resistence to scoring”. For example, scoring at Augusta is made difficult mostly because of the speed and slope of the greens, otherwise the course would be only average in difficulty. TPC Sawgrass is difficult because the greens are tough to hit, otherwise the greens are fairly tame for putting and the fairways relatively generous off the tee. Precision off the tee is required at many courses such as Quail Hollow or Riviera, but once in the fairway the greens are accessible and will yeild good scores. The toughest catagory is way too relative to stand alone. The toughest golf course will inevitably be a terrible design.
I am surprised at how many Top 100 courses are in this rating of most difficult. I can name dozens of courses that are tougher to score on than Pine Valley. In fact, most of the players that I know that have played Merion, Pine Valley, and Aronimink, think Pine Valley is the least difficult to score on close to your handicap. Although few would disagree with its top ranking in the Best overall catagory.
Fortunately the great courses that are difficult also have tee’s that are considerably shorter and more appropriate for the average player. Yes Pacific Dunes is tough from the championship tees (where most raters gauge a course), but playing from the more reasonable forward tees makes it very enjoyable for all. Also, “toughness” is also sometimes weighted by championship conditions … nobody plays Shinnecock or Pebble Beach under similar US Open conditions!
There a couple of requirements to make a course truly great. The course has to have risk and reward features – but you are not grinding on every hole – - it can’t be filled with 325 yard par fours with giant fairways you can hit no matter how bad your swing –the truly great course has to have beautifully landscaped terrain and brilliant use of the natural contours of the land coupled with a golf course architect that takes advantage of the natural features and beauty of the terrain he is given. The mark of a masterpiece is a sculpture by the correct artist creating a work of art that can be appreciated by the low and high handicapper alike – these subtle combinations of the ability to make shots and to make recovery an option all using breathtaking natural scenery is what makes a course great in my opinion.
I second Thomas Villetto’s comments. I am more interested in the design features, playability for the 10+ handicap player, the condition of the course and affordability rather than how hard it is. Difficulty is the most over hyped measurement of a “great” a golf course is; cost is the second most overused measurement. There is no reason why a “great” golf course has to charge more than $100/round other than snob appeal. That includes private courses.
I turned down an opportunity to play Erin Hills because it would have cost me $300 (including caddie)
I think the toughness of a course is the risk- reward factor,the esthetics,course conditions! I have played courses B4 that are so tough-you hit a perfect shot and you are still on a downhill lie or uphill lie( PGA West–Stadium ) is a prime example! So hard hit it dead center and still have a crazy un playable lie!Then some course try to trick th greens–so ungulating that 1′ by or short and you have a longer putt than the first! Crazy or just plain STUPID! For a course to be demanding but rewarding that is the ULTIMATE course! And yes all you egomaniacs play the right tees as much as it’s no fun 4 you–it’s worst for us behind you waiting on every shot because you are struggling and can’t find your ball because your stretching your abilities!
I firmly believe difficulty is greatness. The results of the overlap is spot on in my mind. If Pine Valley, Augusta, Cypress Point, Bethpage, Oakmont….etc were rated as sloped at 120…they wouldn’t be great. The undulating greens, forced carries,strategic bunkering and fast putting surfaces create great courses that are difficult. Without comparing the lists first hand right now my guess is the primary characteristic that keeps a difficult course off the great course list is conditioning.
To be great, in my opinion, a course needs:
great terrain or great scenery
a great test of golf, forcing you to use most if not all of the clubs in your bag
great conditioning
fairness (by this I mean not tricked up)
at least a little history
I just got back from a trip to the Monterey Peninsula, I played Pebble Beach, The Links at Spanish Bay, and Cypress Point. I hated Spanish Bay, it was way too tricked up in my opinion. Cypress Point was heaven. I absolutely fell in love with Pebble Beach. Cypress Point and Pebble Beach have all of the above.
I agree with those above who talk about playing the correct tees. If you do that, most hard courses become playable, unless they have incredibly hard green complexes (some of Spanish Bay’s greens needed a wind mill and a clown’s mouth).
Just another Golf Digest sell-out. No effort was put into the list. I have played many of the course on the list. I am a 9 handicap. I have played many more obscure courses that did not make the list. To research the toughest takes time. Golf Digest was simply filling pages with names we already know. It was much easier to bang out the article using course names that are familiar to us. Frankly, for the average golfer most of the course on the list are unaccessible so how can we the readers even comment on the choices. All most all of the courses have hosted major tournaments so of course they’re difficult and challenging.
I must say that the media has created an aura about the great courses that they must be played one foot off the tips in order that they can be experienced to the fullest. Nothing could be farther from the truth. The architects who designed these masterpieces did not create the courses with this in mind. Jack Nicklaus stated this in his early designs.
If you are a mid to high handicapper play the course to your ability, not Tiger Woods. Believe me the experience will be on eyou wanted it to be when you shelled out the $200.00 – $500.00 for the round, not torture.
A great golf course should have some difficult holes which make the course challenging, but not so difficult an 18 handicapper can’t finish it…I have been lucky to have been a low handicapper most of my golfing career and I appreciate a challenge, but if the hole is unfair to the point it becomes work to make just a bogey, then to me it is no longer fun….except for those professionals who make a living playing golf, most of us mere mortals would prefer a course we can have a resonable chance at par….asthetics and playability enter into the equation, but if it is not a fair hole, how can it be great?
Also, the PGA tour plays many of the quote “hardest courses in the country”. I’m not really sure the hardest list really is accurate for a bogie golfer. Also, the tour often doesn’t play the hardest courses for two reasons: One, they hate to look silly with the guys missing cut badly and Two, the hardest course often do not have room for a gallery to watch the play. In Scottdale, the TPC far easier than most of the other courses and Pinehurst isn’t too bad for making boogies, just hell to make pars. Johnny Miller’s death by paper cuts is No. 2 on the nose.
My sons are low single digit handicappers and I’m a high-teens. I agree with D. He nailed this one. The greatest courses are those that can be enjoyed by all handicappers.
The most difficult course I have played is the TPC at Scottsdale. I did enjoy the experience, however, and played from the tees that suited my game. It was not the tee shots that were the problem. The greens were like putting on a smooth table top, and it was difficult to hold approach shots on the greens. That said, I thoroughly enjoyed playing a course I have seen on television, in spite of the difficulty.
I like what D. added. A course could be located in the most beautiful location in the world, with the best conditions, most unique, best service, etc. I can appreciate that if I find it anywhere, frankly who wouldn’t? But as a lower handicapper, if I’m just hitting PW in every green and there is no variety in length from the tee or second shots in and doesn’t make you think on a majority of shots, my game hasn’t been challenged, which I believe is why we play the game. Everyone wants to improve, and challenging yourself to get better and working your way to maybe go play the back tees is what makes it fun. Just so happens many of the courses on the top 100 offer that experience.
Lets not forget that the whole purpose of these Golf Digest lists is promotion…. not fact. So it stands to reason that they use the “toughest’ list to promote the same courses they promote via the “greatest” lists.
Toughness can equal greatness… if the toughness results in the greatest players doing well. Buts that is the elite golfer side… the average golfer thinks a course is great if they were tested but felt capable of doing well, the course condition and service is 5 star, the pace of play reasonable… and the company enjoyable.
I agree with all things said so far. Aesthetics is paramount (WOW Factor) and choosing the right tees is important. I am a 4 handicap and I shot 92 at Old Macdonald and it was the funnest round of golf I have ever played. Including Pebble Beach, St. Andrews, Sawgrass, etc. I didn’t lose a ball but I missed on the wrong side all day, but trying to tackle the next shot was so much fun. As the USGA rating shows the par-71 Old Macdonald will play 6,978 yards from the black tees where it has received a USGA Course Rating of 74.1 and a USGA Slope Rating of 133. The most forward tees, Royal Blue, are 4,280 yards with a USGA Course Rating of 62.6 and a slope of 104.
A truly great golf course makes it hard to score but allows you to play with the same ball all the way around.
A tough course is exactly that…tough. It can be one of the greatest courses as well. I believe the research process could be better when choosing these courses. I see a lot of courses that were previously on the list that are not anymore. Did they magically get easier to play somehow ? Overall i believe there should be a bigger distinction between the two lists. If the greatest courses indeed are the greatest they should be enjoyed by all (and maybe a little more accessible, i mean, why do i care that Pine Valley is the greatest course in the country if i cant play it?) . The toughest should be tough for the low handicappers especially. that’s all.
A great golf course does not have to make you want to quit the game. A great golf course can be great for many-many reasons: natural beauty, variety, overall setting, difficulty…
There is a golf course in the center of Boston called George Wright. It is a Donald Ross course with a historic club house which is a magic door from city to country. for USD 22 you can play a magnificent course with some of the fastest greens in the North East and all of the wonderful Donald Ross challenges. This is a great American course and is a piece of golfing history. It is 1 of a kind. Would Golf Digest call this course one of America’s top 100?
I also thought the Golf digest list was a bit flawed. It seems to factor in “fame” more than pure difficulty and it ignores setup and weather factors. The names on the list are porbably reasonable but not the relative rankings. Several courses listed are really not that difficult from appropriate tees with normal set up (not US Open) and good weather. For example, it is quite easy to score well with normal setup and good weather on Pebble Beach. But turn on a 20mph+ wind and/or set it up for an Open and look out. Most of the seaside courses and some others I have played are like this such as Spyglass, Cypress Point, Pacific Dunes, Bandon Dunes, the Olympic Club and Pinehurst #2. As a low handicap senior, I have shot par or better on all of these (from “regular” tees) but also have shot 85-95 in tough conditions. Conversely there are several courses that are so tough that I would probably never break 80 in perfect conditions. I think of Kiawah, Winged Foot, and Oakmont as examples. These belong at the top of the list.
I think the relationship between greatness and toughness is in the eye of the beholder. I find that my friends who are single digit handicappers tend to like a difficult course more because it challenges them. And as a high percentage of the raters for golf digest are single digits, they tend to pick the toughest courses as the best. Take Bandon Dunes resort for example. They have 4 fantastic courses there. You ask 4 people who played there which course is their favorite and you will probably get 4 different answers. I do tend to find that of my friends that played it, the high handicappers picked Bandon Trails and now Old MacDonald as their favorite, usually because they are the most challenging. I’m a 12 and think Pacific Dunes is the greatest course in the world, because of the views, location, conditions and enjoyability.
Great courses = playable by all types golfers. Score is irrelevant, but the primary measure of toughness. A tough course that isn’t playable by the greatest number of players can’t be great. Example: a water feature that requires a 200 yard carry for all players and no alternate route can’t be a great hole. A course full of such features would be tough, stupid, but never great.
To me there are many factors that make a great course and challenging is one of them, conditioning, staff, etc. I’ve played Muirfield Village, Bandon & Pacific Dunes, Royal County Down, Portrush, Portmarnock, Pebble, and others on the list, all challenging and difficult, and great by any standards because they were fun not stupid hard. You could score no matter your handicap depending on the tees you played. Lee Trevino has it right when he says many of the courses being built today aren’t built for the average golfer and it’s killing the game.
Another word for Oakmont. Bobby Jones said if you have any flaw in your game, Oakmont will expose it. That is a great course to me. Like someone said, Augusta is easy if you can putt. You shouldn’t have a major weakness in your game and get away with a good score at a great course – regardless of which tees you play.
Also, Miller says Oakmont’s #1 and #18 are the hardest start and finish holes in major championship golf. Palmer says 15 is the geratest par 4 in the world. Mickelson says 7-10 are the hardest four holes in golf. #8 is the longest U.S. Open par 3 and #12 is the longest par 5. And I haven’t even mentioned the signature church pew hole #3 where I watched Sergio Garcia take 3 strokes to get out of that fairway bunker.
Hard, yes but I would play Oakmont every day for the rest of my life.
There’s a ‘famous name’ bias in their selection criteria. The same group(s) that selected the top 100 also chose the toughest list and while they were allowed write-ins – and looking at both lists surely some of those made the list – it is the courses the collective group has most in common that were most likely to be ranked. I’m a bit surprised the overlap isn’t larger than it is.
Good question. It shouldn’t be.. but a difficult course gets attention and attention gets you on lists. A diabolical difficult course may be fun to experience once.. but do you really want to play it everyday? Important to provide a true test… but if that test involves losing a dozen ball each round, it’s going to be difficult to continue to grow the game.
A golfer knows a great golf course by how it plays for both low and high handicappers. The course needs to provide significant challenge for the low handicapper to shoot par, but it also needs to offer a playable layout for the high handicapper as well. The great links courses usually achieve this quite nicely.
Tough and great are neither synonyms not antonyms and I don’t think “tough” by itself has any place in determining a great course. However, I do believe many of the characteristics that make a course tough can also make it great.
For example, a great golf course should have interesting greens complexes. Generally this means that the greens are not easy to putt and have some undulations and other challenges (i.e. spped). Tough courses also generally have undulations and other challenges.
Another example, is the great courses generally have variety and multiple ways to play the hole in their par 3′s as a group or par 5′s as a group. For par 3′s this might mean having a short hole that has a lot of trouble (bunkers or water or roll out areas), then a couple of mid length holes maybe one uphill and one downhill and a longer par 3. This certainly increases the toughness of the course. For the group of par 5′s to be interesting/great you need to maybe have one or two risk/reward holes and need to add some challenges to teh approaches to keep big hitters for going for it in 2. This also often leads to increasing the toughness of the course (esp the “risk” part).
On the other hand, things like blind shots, redan greens w/ huge drop offs or long grass around the greens or too narrow fairways or long carries over hazards will definitely make a course tough, but surely don’t make it great.
So it is possible for a course to be great and tough, but by itself tough doesn’t make it great.
It continues to amaze me that the majority of lists as well as comments above show that the level of exclusivity might be the true rating of difficulty. I have played 500 plus courses in the US, both very private and very public. The majority of them are a joy to play both from the tips in my younger days and the current USGA concept of “play it forward”. Each course has its difficulty whether it be greens, topography, length or just plain a pain to play. Each golfer has a different game, which is the beauty of the game. We should all just enjoy the fact of playing from the right side of the grass and enjoy the personal prospective of the “difficulty” of whatever course we play.
If you play from the appropriate tee boxes, then the difficulty of the course will be in proportion to your level of play. But I agree with many of the commenters above in that a “great course” is primarily judged by the scenery, conditioning, challenge and variety of holes. Sometimes, a 105 yd Par 3 with an island green and no bail out area is alot harder to play than a 600 yd Par 5.
Either way, I am ready to tackle the best.
I enjoy GVI and want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas.
TK
My concept of a “tough” course is one for which a well played shot is rewarded and a poor one is penalized, perhaps a little more severely than on less challenging layouts. Case in point: Last week I played the wonderful Camden Country Club in Camden, SC, the state’s only Donald Ross design (he redid a Walter Travis layout in 1939). The greens and surrounds were pure Ross, with few level places to put a pin. I misread a few chip shots and slightly mishit a few others; on less challenging greens, I might have been able to save par with more or less level putts from six feet, but at Camden, the same sloppy play yielded longer putts with significant breaks. I produced a mediocre score for the day but had as much fun as I can remember. Maybe that is the measure of a “tough” course; it beats you up for your mistakes, and fairly so.
To make my point, the Old Course at St. Andrews isn’t beuatiful, isn’t a “grind” but I hope I have the opportunity toplay it again. The “ghosts” keep it perfect!