Why ranking Scotland's top golf courses can never be definitive
It was between 2003 and 2009 and, for this particular list, we let the readers decide how the country’s top courses should be rated in order rather than a panel of experts, as is normally the case when undertaking such an exercise.
The result was something that didn’t sit well with the traditionalists as Loch Lomond, which was still a relative newcomer at the time, having only opened in 1993, came out on top ahead of the country’s plethora of outstanding established links courses.
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Hide AdThe main reason for Loch Lomond being so popular at that time, of course, was down to it being the home of the Scottish Open and almost a magical place where fans were allowed through the wrought iron gates for that week alone each year.
The vast majority had never actually played the course and never will, hence why I can see now why conducting such a poll in that way was flawed, though there can be no denying that Tom Weiskopf created an absolute gem on those bonnie banks of Loch Lomond.
I was reminded about that wee stooshie last week amid the reaction to a list of Scotland’s top 100 courses being published by Golf World/Today’s Golfer, with this one being collated on the strength of input from a 13-strong panel.
Three of that group have apparently played every single one of the 560-plus courses in Scotland, but, and this should really come as no surprise, that list has also caused eyebrows to be raised around the country.
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Hide AdThe top four are unchanged from 2019, with the Old Course at St Andrews still ranked No 1, followed by the Ailsa Course at Turnberry, Muirfield and Royal Dornoch.
After a jump of three spots, North Berwick lies fifth, with Kingsbarns, Carnoustie, Cruden Bay, Trump International Golf Links outside Aberdeen, Royal Aberdeen and Royal Troon completing the top 10.
North Berwick being in such a lofty position appears to have caused some murmurings of disagreement, though the West Links is undoubtedly a fun test of golf and perhaps that was something that was factored in by the panel up against more demanding layouts.
That being said, Ardfin, which is located on the southern tip of Jura, having been created by Australian architect Bob Harrison for the antipodean multi-millionaire, Greg Coffey, is reckoned to be darn difficult and it has been handed the status of highest newcomer in 11th spot.
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Hide AdOther talking points, and the chat was pretty lively over the weekend, include Nairn dropping 10 spots to 25th, the two courses at Blairgowrie - Rosemount and Lansdowne - both slipping 20 places to 46th and 68th respectively and other newbies on the list including Dumbarnie Links (24th) and Dunaverty (48th).
Loch Lomond, incidentally, dropped six spots to 15th, one above Castle Stuart, where the Scottish Open moved initially after leaving its long-time home in the west of Scotland.
What has to be remembered here, of course, is that these lists are subjective and, no matter how many experts are involved, you are never going to come up with one that is really definitive.
Take the Old Course at St Andrews, for example. Many love it, but others hate it. I’m with the former, but, at the same time, I wouldn’t rank it as my personal No 1 in Scotland.
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Hide AdMuirfield gets that vote, closely followed by Carnoustie, Royal Troon and the revamped Ailsa Course at Turnberry, while I’m also a huge fan of both the King’s and Queen’s Courses at Gleneagles, as well as Downfield in Dundee.
I would also have to agree with the current European No 1, Lee Westwood, that Nairn deserves to be higher, and the same goes, incidentally, for the 71st-ranked Torrance Course at Fairmont St Andrews.
In general, what the list does illustrate, of course, is that we are blessed with so many outstanding golf courses and here’s hoping that the remaining partners involved in the Ladies Scottish Open can come up with somewhere to get the pulses racing for this year’s event.
Make no mistake, it’s a huge blow to have lost Aberdeen Standard Investments as the title sponsor after a 12-year run, but there really is no better showcase for women’s sport in Scotland than this event and it would be great to see another company with inclusivity at its heart jump at his chance to open an exciting new chapter.
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Hide AdAs for that venue, well, watch this space as it could be very exciting indeed.
GOLF WORLD SCOTLAND TOP 100
1 St Andrews Old
2 Turnberry Ailsa
3 Muirfield
4 Royal Dornoch
5 North Berwick
6 Kingsbarns
7 Carnoustie
8 Cruden Bay
9 Trump Aberdeen
10 Royal Troon
11 Ardfin
12 Skibo Castle
13 Gleneagles King’s
14 Prestwick
15 Loch Lomond
16 Castle Stuart
17 Royal Aberdeen
18 Machrihanish
19 The Machrie
20 Western Gailes
21 Gleneagles Queen’s
22 Gullane No 1
23 Machrihanish Dunes
24 Dumbarnie Links
25 Nairn
26 Brora
27 Elie
28 St Andrews New
29 The Renaissance Club
30 St Andrews Castle
31 Southerness
32 Dundonald Links
33 Shiskine
34 Boat of Garten
35 Murcar
36 Dunbar
37 Panmure
38 Fraserburgh
39 Moray Old
40 Glasgow Gailes
41 Luffness
42 Gullane No 2
43 Kilspindie
44 Montrose 1562
45 Archerfield Fidra
46 Blairgowrie Rosemount
47 Fortrose & Rosemarkie
48 Dunaverty
49 Askernish
50 Lanark
51 Lundin
52 Leven
53 Ladybank
54 Crail Balcomie
55 Golspie
56 Gleneagles PGA
57 Moray New
58 Spey Valley
59 Turnberry King Robert The Bruce
60 Scotscraig
61 West Kilbride
62 Duff House Royal
63 Peterhead
64 Monifieth
65 Durness
66 St Andrews Jubilee
67 Archerfield Direlton
68 Blairgowrie Lansdowne
69 Tain
70 The Duke’s
71 Fairmont St Andrews Torrance
72 Downfield
73 Fairmont St Andrews Kittocks
74 Stranraer
75 Irvine
76 Edzell
77 St Andrews Eden
78 Troon Portland
79 Nairn Dunbar
80 Glenbervie
81 Prestwick St Nicholas
82 The Glen
83 Longniddry
84 Grantown-on-Spey
85 Newmachar Hawkshill
86 Kilmarnock (Barassie)
87 Bruntsfield Links
88 Gullane No 3
89 The Carrick
90 Stonehaven
91 Covesea
92 Powfoot
93 Auchterarder
94 Meldrum House
95 Portpatrick Dunskey
96 Dornoch Struie
97 The Roxburghe
98 Pitlochry
99 Wigtownshire County
100 Royal Burgess
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