GOLF’s High 100 Programs within the U.S. record: Meet the 11 newcomers

GOLF’s newest rating of the High 100 Programs within the U.S. dropped this week, and whereas the highest of the record featured the standard suspects — Pine Valley, Cypress Level, Shinnecock Hills, Nationwide Golf Hyperlinks of America and Oakmont rounded out the highest 5 as soon as once more — there have been fairly a number of newcomers.

Eleven programs appeared on GOLF’s newest record for the primary time or as returners. These programs have been from all components of the nation, and ranged from the newly-built, like California’s Ladera, South Carolina’s Previous Barnwell and North Carolina’s Pinehurst No. 10, to masterfully restored, like Minnesota’s Interlachen and Illinois’ Medinah #3.

The Lido in Wisconsin made the record’s most spectacular debut, although, coming in at No. 30. The course’s story is outstanding: Initially designed by C.B. Macdonald in 1917 in Lengthy Island, the structure was extremely regarded however was taken over by the U.S. Navy throughout World Warfare II, by no means to be performed once more.

However The Lido was given new life by Sand Valley Resort operators Michael and Chris Keiser, who commissioned Tom Doak and Renaissance Golf to recreate The Lido in Wisconsin, which, with the assistance of unique information and up to date 3-D modeling, Doak did — to unimaginable impact.

Ten of the 11 newcomers to GOLF’s record are non-public programs, however there’s one standout that anybody can play: Pinehurst No. 10. Cracking the record at No. 88, Pinehurst Resort’s first new course in practically three many years is one other Doak masterpiece, and one among solely two Pinehurst tracks that seem on the rating. (U.S. Open anchor web site Pinehurst No. 2 is No. 13.)

The numerous landscapes of those sensational programs is a feast for the eyes. Try all 11 newcomers to GOLF’s record beneath, and to browse the High 100 Programs within the U.S. rating in it’s entirety, click on right here.

GOLF High 100 Programs within the U.S. newcomers

(Course descriptions by Ran Morrissett)

30. The Lido

Sand Valley, Wisc.
Tom Doak, Brian Schneider, 2023 (C.B. Macdonald reincarnation)

The Lido, on Lengthy Island’s South Shore, opened for play in 1917, the work of C.B. Macdonald and Seth Raynor. The course met an unkind destiny within the Forties, however not till luminaries like Bernard Darwin had lavished reward on it; Darwin stated he thought Lido was the most effective course on this planet “as a battlefield for giants.” Properly! Some eight many years later Michael and Chris Keiser determined to recreate the course adjoining to their Sand Valley Resort. Key to the equation was Peter Flory, who open-sourced a whole bunch of classic pictures of the unique Lido and fed them right into a software program program that modeled the brand new Lido as precisely as attainable. The Keisers then employed Tom Doak and Brian Schneider (who spent greater than 230 days on-site) to construct the course. This course of included using GPS bulldozers, although discretion by Doak and Schneider was definitely required in getting the inexperienced contours excellent. The size of the course, the depth of its hazards and the dimensions of the greens, which common over 12,000 sq. ft, is dazzling. Virtually the entire nice template holes are represented, from the Alps tenth to the Redan sixteenth, making this course a strategic marvel. Panelist Clyde Johnson calls Lido the “final IQ take a look at for golf-course structure.” Certainly one of America’s nice designs is again! 

51. Previous Barnwell

Aiken, S.C.
Brian Schneider, Blake Conant, 2023

Architects Brian Schneider and Blake Conant borrowed basic design rules and utilized them in a recent method on a sandy parcel of rolling land exterior of Aiken. The firmness of the turf that superintendent Davis Verner routinely achieves (thanks, partially, to an absence of overseeding) permit the nuances of this design to glitter. Half-par holes abound. Are you able to attain the open however lengthy inexperienced on the par-5 opener? Do you have to drive attempt to the 2nd or 14th greens? (Should you try to fail, the hunter shortly turns into the hunted as deep bunkers guard these two quick 4s.) Can you employ the mounds on the par-4 eighth to kick an strategy shut on the inverted L-shaped inexperienced? Or how about attempting to bounce one onto the rolling inexperienced on the 235-yard eleventh? In the meantime, the rust colour of the centipede tough lends this open course a heathland-like really feel. Finishing the best is the membership’s ethos of giving again to the sport and the neighborhood, as established by Previous Barnwell founder Nick Schreiber.

73. Interlachen

Edina, Minn.
William Watson, 1911; Donald Ross, 1919; Andrew Inexperienced, 2024

Andrew Inexperienced has mastered the playbook for restoring Golden Age parkland gems, and he did so once more right here exterior Minneapolis the place Bob Jones gained one leg of the Grand Slam. Among the many enhancements: elimination of poorly positioned timber; restoration of fairway width; and increasing Donald Ross’s greens to their fill pads. Inexperienced additionally reintroduced Ross’s bunkering schemes, and most of the greens at the moment are surrounded by quick grass. Ross’s routing throughout ridge traces creates memorable and distinctive holes such because the par-3 fifth, par-4 sixth, par-4 tenth, par-5 twelfth and par-4 thirteenth. The occasional water hazard provides to the variety of obstacles that golfers should overcome. A well-played spherical right here is deeply gratifying because the course poses each conceivable query of its challengers.

74. Medinah (No. 3)

Medinah, In poor health.
Tom Bendelow, 1928-1932; Ogilvy, Cocking & Mead, 2024

One of the recognizable programs in American golf returns to our High 100 rank after an 8-year absence. The driving pressure was a homerun restoration by the Australian design agency of Ogilvy Cocking and Mead. Initially accomplished in 1932, No. 3 was arguably Tom Bendelow’s boldest and most interesting design, however taking part in host to main occasions took a toll because the slim, closely treelined course strayed removed from its Golden Age roots. OCM eliminated poorly positioned timber and reverted to Bendelow’s daring bunkering as a unifying theme. The rolling property is as soon as once more each putting and spacious, and it’s laced with nice holes all through. Using a cut up rail fence (which demarks out of bounds) at holes 5-7 gives wonderful strategic pressure, and holes 15 and 16 (the Cape sixteenth is one among 5 new holes created by OCM) are a blockbuster one-two punch.

82. Fox Chapel

Fox Chapel, Penn.
Seth Raynor, Charles Banks, 1925

This Tom Marzolf restoration was a strict return to Raynor’s 1925 imaginative and prescient, a few of which had been misplaced based mostly on recommendation that the membership acquired from A.W. Tillinghast within the Thirties. Raynor followers are left with a lot to relish, together with the Lion’s Mouth bunker introduced again at 9, the Double Plateau inexperienced reinstated at 13 and the well-known Bottle gap bunkering scheme returned at 16. All of the strategy areas have been sand capped, with the ensuing firmer surfaces permitting for short-game creativity. Moreover, quick grass now surrounds the inexperienced pads, guaranteeing that choices abound for restoration pictures. Panelist Barry Doyle has steered that Fox Chapel would possibly now be dwelling to Raynor’s greatest set of greens.

87. Ladera

Thermal, Calif.
Gil Hanse, Jim Wagner, 2023

Tucked away within the decrease Coachella Valley, this non-public membership nestles up in opposition to the Santa Rosa Mountains and gives one of many sport’s most peaceable settings. On condition that Jim Wagner and Gil Hanse manipulated each inch of this desert web site, they have been free to configure the fairways as greatest they noticed match. A number of tee pictures now require interesting diagonal carries over the likes of barrancas, low-lying vegetation and well-placed bunkers on the within of doglegs. Standout holes embody the 210-yard par-3 twelfth that includes a Biarritz sort swale on the rear of the inexperienced, and the drivable par-4 fifteenth that performs to an elevated, angled inexperienced. One of the best of the bunch is perhaps the 18th, with its large bunker on the left working in excellent unison with a sister bunker entrance proper. That is strategic golf at a excessive stage.

88. Pinehurst No. 10

Pinehurst, N.C.
Tom Doak, 2024

Give a gifted architect a sandy, rolling piece of land and place few restrictions on her or him, and it’s wonderful what may be produced. Donald Ross did so with a flourish at this resort, and this time, it was Tom Doak’s flip — and he was bonused with not having to make an allowance for the place properties would possibly go or having the nines return. The result’s a meandering tour that enjoys its personal pacing. The primary eight holes function three par-4s — the drivable 4th, the burly dogleg-right sixth and the intermediate size eighth that performs into outdated mining spoils — that spotlight the property’s range. In the meantime, the run from the bruising uphill 468-yard ninth to the 264-yard 14th is one among Doak’s sternest stretches. Pure wetlands function at two of the ultimate 4 holes. This number of obstacles finally make No. 10 a right away stalwart among the many resort’s choices.

92. Sankaty Head

Nantucket, Mass.
H. Emerson Armstrong, 1923

In response to panelist Roger Hoit: “Magical, mystical, whimsical, lovely, enjoyable — a day at Sankaty Head on the idyllic island of Nantucket is all of these issues and extra. Sankaty is course for everybody. It’s extremely playable from the stress-free ahead tees but in addition a stiff take a look at from the again tees, particularly within the prevailing southwest breeze, as gamers discovered on the 2021 U.S. Mid-Newbie right here. Jim Urbina did an exquisite job with a 2017 restoration of the unique Emerson Armstrong design. Highlights embody the 4th gap, a 520-yard reachable par-5 the place a well-positioned drive units up the chance to go for the inexperienced. The Sankaty Head lighthouse dominates the horizon for the second shot that requires navigating improbable bunkering, together with a trench bunker over the inexperienced. One other standout is the par-4 fifteenth. The strategy to this 410-yard gap is my single favourite shot on the course because it performs uphill with the enduring clubhouse and lighthouse looming on the horizon. Sankaty Head is among the sport’s nice one-hit wonders because it was Armstrong’s solely design.

94. Previous Elm

Highland Park, In poor health.
H.S. Colt, 1913

Harry Colt constructed Previous Elm in 1913, in one among his uncommon North American visits. Within the ensuing years, Donald Ross added his personal touches, representing the one vital time these two design titans spent collectively. Quick ahead 100 years and superintendent Curtis James has turned this course right into a haven for brief grass with a number of the quickest and firmest taking part in surfaces within the nation. Tee balls scamper eternally, not less than till they run into one of many Colt bunkers that architect David Zinkand has meticulously restored over the previous decade. The bouncy taking part in surfaces even have turned a number of the topped greens — like on the world-class 2nd and fifth holes — into terrifying propositions. Colt by no means constructed options that scream at you; and such is the case at Previous Elm, which is the type of design you wish to wrestle with 30 to 50 instances a yr. You may not lose a ball taking part in right here however you’ll surprise why you don’t fairly play to your handicap.

96. Trinity Forest

Dallas, Texas
Invoice Coore, Ben Crenshaw, 2016

Simply south of the town heart, this course shares most of the similar taking part in traits of the Previous Course at St. Andrews. The bottom is rumpled, and far of the enjoyable is derived from watching balls disappear over humps or down into swales — and questioning if they may reappear. Superintendent Kasey Kauff retains Trinity’s Zoysia fairways at lightning velocity, which means attempting to take care of management of your ball over these frictionless surfaces is kind of the problem. The PGA Tour performed an occasion right here for a number of years throughout the wet season, dishonest viewers from appreciating how fascinating — and strategic — this Coore & Crenshaw design actually is. As we speak, the nines are once more performed within the sequence that Coore & Crenshaw meant, which implies that the quick par-3 seventeenth, with its modern double punchbowl inexperienced, is within the climactic place it deserves.

98. Philadelphia Cricket Membership (Wissahickon)

Flowertown, Penn.
A.W. Tillinghast/1922; Keith Foster/2013

Keith Foster’s 2013 restoration, which options each nice selection and spaciousness, introduced all of A.W. Tillinghast’s design sparkle again. Some greens are open throughout the entrance and beg for a operating shot whereas others are perched and closely defended. The design displays Tillinghast’s genius for numerous inexperienced settings. His well-known trademark, the Nice Hazard (a mammoth central bunker that bisects the golf green), is especially properly achieved at PCC’s seventh gap. The course is also dwelling to one of many East Coast’s greatest finishers, a troublesome risk-reward par-4 with a creek that comes into play for those who don’t hug the left facet of the golf green off the tee.

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