Ranking of golf courses. Killing greenfees in smaller clubs ???

bobob

Have played a lot of golf in Ireland and especially in Connacht. I am trying to play as many courses as possible and decided I needed a kind of check list so I started with the Volvo sponsored top 100. A lot of good courses that deserve their places in the top 100, however there are so many courses especially locally in Connacht that are overlooked and other courses that are no way as good seem to always be way up the list. I spoke to many golfers who were visiting the area who take these ranking systems as gospel. So when they play a course in the top 70 say, if they think it's a bad course there is no way they will play a course which is lower ranked, although as a local I know is far superior. No chance for clubs to pick up the casual green fee. Wondering what you guys think

GreeBo

bobob wrote: »

Have played a lot of golf in Ireland and especially in Connacht. I am trying to play as many courses as possible and decided I needed a kind of check list so I started with the Volvo sponsored top 100. A lot of good courses that deserve their places in the top 100, however there are so many courses especially locally in Connacht that are overlooked and other courses that are no way as good seem to always be way up the list. I spoke to many golfers who were visiting the area who take these ranking systems as gospel. So when they play a course in the top 70 say, if they think it's a bad course there is no way they will play a course which is lower ranked, although as a local I know is far superior. No chance for clubs to pick up the casual green fee. Wondering what you guys think

I think a Star type system is better than a flat out ranking.
I dont know how you can say one course is 17 compared to another at 18, the reality is that they are pretty much identical. Not as good as the top 10 but better than the ones outside the top 25.

Almaviva

Maybe. But hey, life's not fair.

bobob

GreeBo wrote: »

I think a Star type system is better than a flat out ranking.
I dont know how you can say one course is 17 compared to another at 18, the reality is that they are pretty much identical. Not as good as the top 10 but better than the ones outside the top 25.

Agree totally. Just really annoying when some courses are living on past reputations when other courses have worked really hard to improve. There are four good parkland courses in south mayo - probably with very little between them, yet Westport is ranked inside the top 60, Ballinrobe at 90 which is a far superior course. Castlebar and Claremorris are also good courses and would get my vote ahead of Westport every time. Traditionally visitors to this part of the country would make base here in Westport so would play the top ranked course in the area - probably the worst of the four. Gives out the wrong message. Local hotels have realised that their guests arent happy with the standard of Westport golf club and are now sending them to Ballinrobe and Castlebar rather than their own club.

People should cop on and demand a true rating system or see some of the smaller clubs vanish:mad:

cackhanded

bobob wrote: »

People should cop on and demand a true rating system or see some of the smaller clubs vanish:mad:

Who's to say what's a true rating though? Rating courses is very subjective, I prefer to play a course myself before making up my mind. That said, if everyone I ask tell me not to bother with someplace then I'll probably listen.

Incidentally, just looking at Hooked for the courses you mention, Kevin has Ballinrobe slightly ahead of Westport with the other two well behind.

thewobbler

Short answer is no.

I don't agree either with Westport's continually high ranking in such tables. It's got one of the blandest opening stretches I've ever played in my life and this more than dulls the impact of its marquee holes.

But the reason why more people visit Westport GC than Ballinrobe GC or Castlebar GC is nothing to do with rankings. It's simply down to the fact that Westport town is a tourist hot spot with lots of hotels, and Westport is the closest golf course to this town.

sideboard

bobob wrote: »

Have played a lot of golf in Ireland and especially in Connacht. I am trying to play as many courses as possible and decided I needed a kind of check list so I started with the Volvo sponsored top 100. A lot of good courses that deserve their places in the top 100, however there are so many courses especially locally in Connacht that are overlooked and other courses that are no way as good seem to always be way up the list. I spoke to many golfers who were visiting the area who take these ranking systems as gospel. So when they play a course in the top 70 say, if they think it's a bad course there is no way they will play a course which is lower ranked, although as a local I know is far superior. No chance for clubs to pick up the casual green fee. Wondering what you guys think

Played Portumna recently...it is a monster of a course, and I would rank it highly. Gort also, what's the thinking of these courses?

BigChap1759

I stick to Kevin Markham's book "Hooked" - always find it very fair and invaluable for deciding where to play when on your travels

Righthammer

sideboard wrote: »

Played Portumna recently...it is a monster of a course, and I would rank it highly. Gort also, what's the thinking of these courses?

Wow Gort ..there is my idea of golfing hell.Don't get me wrong nicely presented course ,tough but also a lot of holes where good shots get punished .Hard to get around there without one hole causing disaster .The 18th fairway also doesnt like golf balls ...everything falls off to the steep bank on the left.Would much prefer Portuma or Galway golf club..but everyone to their own.:)