How Golf Monthly assesses the Top 100 Golf Courses

Golf Monthly editor Michael Harris gives an insight into the criteria used to assess the courses for inclusion in the UK & Ireland Top 100 Course Rankings

Formby

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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Mike Harris
Content Director

Mike has been a journalist all his working life, starting out as a football writer with Goal magazine in the 1990s before moving into men’s and women’s lifestyle magazines including Men's Health, In 2003 he joined Golf Monthly and in 2006 he became only the eighth editor in Golf Monthly’s 100-plus year history leading the brand until July 2023. He is now Content Director overseeing Golf Monthly and two other iconic sports brands, FourFourTwo and Rugby World.

His three main passions in golf are courses (he's played over 500 worldwide), equipment (he's always in search of something shiny to give him an edge) and shoes (he owns more pairs than he cares to mention!).  

Mike’s handicap index hovers at around 10 and he is a member of six golf clubs: Hartley Wintney, Royal Liverpool, Royal North Devon, Prince's, Royal Norton and the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews.

Mike's current What's In The Bag? 

Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 10° - Fujikura Ventus Blue 5S - Golf Pride MCC Plus4 grip

Fairway woods: TaylorMade Sim Max 3/15° - Fujikura Ventus Blue 6S & TaylorMade Stealth 7/20° - Fujikura Ventus Red 6S - Golf Pride MCC Plus4 grips

Utility Iron: TaylorMade Stealth UDI 3/21° - Aldila Ascent 90HY - Golf Pride MCC Plus4 grip

Irons: TaylorMade P790 (5-PW)  - Fujikura Axiom 75R - Golf Pride MCC Plus4 grips

Wedges: TaylorMade MG4 50°, 54° and 58° - KBS Tour Hi-Rev 2.0 shafts - Golf Pride MCC Plus4 grips

Putter: Evnroll ER2B - Gravity Grip 

Ball: TaylorMade - Tour Response (Yellow)