Golf Monthly Top 120 Course Rankings - in association with HSBC

published 6 July 2006

Welcome to the Golf Monthly Top 120 Course Rankings in association with HSBC.

At Golf Monthly we believe we have created a unique system for evaluating golf courses, the methodology of which we explain below. At its heart lies the belief that this should be a practical list compiled by golfers for golfers. To that end every review is taken directly from the assessment forms each of our panellists submits after every course visit. I hope their words inspire you to get out and play some of the best courses in the world.

In 2004 Golf Monthly launched its Top 120 Course Rankings in association with HSBC. The aim was to bring a new perspective on course rankings and produce a true golfer?s guide to the best courses in Britain and Ireland. To implement that vision Golf Monthly invited club golfers from across the UK and Ireland to apply to become a course assessor by outlining their golfing experience, interest in golf courses and current handicap. We received well over 1,000 applications and over 500 of those golfers have become card-carrying members of the HSBC Regional Course Rankings Panel. From that pool we then hand picked a panel of 15 golfers based across Britain and Ireland to assess the shortlist of 175 courses that wished to be considered for a place in the final list of the Top 120. These club golfers are supported by four members of the Golf Monthly editorial staff and between them they were given the remit to visit all the clubs on the shortlist. By the time the assessing window for the 2006 rankings closed at the end of August this year, the 19 golfers on the panel had played over 750 rounds on these courses.

Golf Monthly panellists are briefed in detail on what elements to pay particular note to when assessing each criteria. For example, when judging the ?quality of test and design?, panellists are urged to consider the variety of holes, fairness of the test and strategically-positioned hazards. The ?presentation? category looks at the condition of the course with particular attention paid 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? is awarded on the aesthetics of the course and takes into account the views and scenery on offer. The final category of ?ambience? evaluates the overall feel and atmosphere of the course and club and is a good indicator of how welcoming a club is to visiting golfers. A decimal points system allows panelists to distinguish between clubs that are similar in certain categories. For example the difference between a 16.1 and a 16.8 in the ?presentation? category may lie in the way the bunkers are maintained.

In a bid to make the rankings as comprehensive and practical as possible we did not limit the assessors? remit to simply evaluating the course in terms of its design and condition because we don?t believe it?s useful to simply produce a list of the most testing or best-designed courses in Britain and Ireland. Golf Monthly?s aim was to offer a more rounded view, taking into account factors which have a major impact on a golfer?s enjoyment of a day out, such as the welcome one receives, the facilities available to visitors and the value for money the day represents.

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