For several years now we have been answering questions about the volatility in our Top 100 with data on the scoring differences between those towards the top of the ranking and those towards the bottom.
Almost 10 points (out of 50) separate Royal Melbourne (West)(1) from WA Golf Club (50) this year, yet only two-and-a-half points separate Pacific Harbour (51) from Macquarie Links (100).
Clearly there are more opportunities for big jumps or drops down in the bottom half of the list than there are nearer to the top. This is especially true now, with Royal Melbourne and the other top 10-14 courses opening up a commanding lead over the rest of the list.
It’s become more difficult than ever for those courses on the outside to jump back into this elite group. Royal Melbourne (West) itself is now a point-and-a-half clear of Kingston Heath at number two, and two points clear of Ellerston (3) and Barnbougle Dunes (4).
As has been the case for many years, Australian Golf Digest collates its Top 100 ranking by assembling a large and active panel of golf connoisseurs and industry insiders.
These keen and passionate golfers then visit courses across the country and rate them all according to separate design, memorability and conditioning criteria.
The scores are tallied and an average across the panel established. What was pleasing in 2014 was the number of established courses who improved their average rating from 2012. Some, like Metropolitan, National (Moonah) and Barwon Heads, actually went backwards despite scoring higher, because of improvements made at competing clubs.
While we naturally look to the top and celebrate the excellence of Royal Melbourne, Kingston Heath, Ellerston, New South Wales and the two Barnbougle courses, there are great stories across the Top 100 this year. On the Mornington Peninsula each of St Andrews Beach and The National (Old) and The National (Ocean) courses have achieved their highest ever ranking.
The St Andrews Beach (21) result will please those who regard this as the Peninsula’s finest course, and lambaste us for its relatively poor showing in the past. Sorrento also improved 13 places in 2014, rounding out a good year in general for Mornington Peninsula golf.
On the other side of Melbourne’s Port Phillip Bay, the Creek Course at Thirteenth Beach, which made its first appearance on the list last ranking, climbed 18 places to 77th.
Of the other 2012 newcomers, pleasingly each of the brand new courses took strides forward this year. Both Kalgoorlie (60) and Sanctuary Cove (Palms) (63) enjoyed double-digit gains after solid debuts, while Hamilton Island improved 2 places to a very credible 37th in Australia.
New arrivals in 2014 include just one brand new golf course, Stonecutters Ridge (67), as well as the completely redesigned East Course at The Grange Golf Club (40) in Adelaide, both designed by Greg Norman’s company.
Despite inferior terrain and a tight site, Norman’s large, flashy bunkers at The Grange made their mark and our panel preferred this redesign work to his original design in the west of Sydney.
Perhaps it was the private club ambience trumping the estate course feel, but either way both Stonecutters and The Grange should be pleased with a solid ranking debut. As should the RACV Club in Victoria, whose Healesville Country Club (80) was recognised several years after its Michael Clayton/Michael Cocking redesign.
Waiting even longer, the Fleurieu golf course (99) in South Australia makes its first appearance on the Top 100, 16 years after opening.
Of course whenever there are winners there are losers as well, and this year’s list is headed by a pair of prestigious private clubs, Yarra Yarra (down 14 to 48) and Royal Canberra (down 12 to 49), who have fallen to new historic lows. Portsea’s fall (down 10 to 54) will have been less unexpected but no less painful for a club now banking on revitalised amenities to attract new members.
St Michael’s (down 14 to 75), Paradise Palms (down 19 to 85), the Henley Course at The Heritage (down 23 to 94) and Riversdale (down 15 to 95) are other courses to take a big tumble in 2014.
Over the past 20 years there have been a number of high ranking courses that have dropped completely off our Top 100 (see page 130) and this year the Lakes Course at The Vines Resort in WA came dangerously close to joining them. When ranked previously as a tournament Composite Course, The Vines was a regular in the Top 30, but since the decision in 2010 to rank individual courses separately the Lakes has crashed from 50th to 69th and now down to 93rd.
While The Vines is in danger of missing the list entirely next time, as with any course in the bottom 20, some minor improvements could lead to a sharp rise back up the list. Equally, those on the fringe and outside the Top 100 should take comfort in the knowledge that similar improvements to their course would lead to inclusion in 2016.
Those nearest the Top 100 and unlucky to miss in 2014 were Arundel Hills, Pymble, Sandhurst Club (Champions), The Sands Torquay, Royal Perth, Palm Meadows, Long Reef, Yering Meadows, North Lakes, Royal Hobart, Flinders, Albany and Tallwoods.
The message to these clubs, and others in Australia, is that the 2016 ranking cycle has begun and our panellists are already on the lookout for the next Top 100 golf course. Perhaps it could be yours.
AUSTRALIA’S TOP 100 COURSES
1 – Royal Melbourne (West) VIC
2 – Kingston Heath VIC
3 – Ellerston NSW
4 – Barnbougle Dunes TAS
5 – New South Wales NSW
6 – Barnbougle Lost Farm TAS
7 – Royal Melbourne (East) VIC
8 – The National (Moonah) VIC
9 – Lake Karrinyup WA
10 – The National (Old) VIC
11 – Victoria VIC
12 – Royal Adelaide SA
13 – Metropolitan VIC
14 – The Lakes NSW
15 – The Australian NSW
16 – The Dunes VIC
17 – Joondalup (Quarry/Dune) WA
18 – Woodlands VIC
19 – Moonah Links (Legends) VIC
20 – Newcastle NSW
21 – St Andrews Beach VIC
22 – Kooyonga SA
23 – Links Kennedy Bay WA
24 – Royal Sydney NSW
25 – Barwon Heads VIC
26 – Magenta Shores NSW
27 – Royal Queensland QLD
28 – Commonwealth VIC
29 – Thirteenth Beach (Beach) VIC
30 – The National (Ocean) VIC
31 – Moonah Links (Open) VIC
32 – Brookwater QLD
33 – Huntingdale VIC
34 – Peninsula (North) VIC
35 – The Cut WA
36 – Peninsula (South) VIC
37 – Hamilton Island QLD
38 – Elanora NSW
39 – Glenelg SA
40 – Grange (East) SA
41 – Links Hope Island QLD
42 – Bonville NSW
43 – Grange (West) SA
44 – The Grand QLD
45 – The Vintage NSW
46 – Terrey Hills NSW
47 – Palmer Resort Coolum QLD
48 – Yarra Yarra VIC
49 – Royal Canberra ACT
50 – The Western Australian WA
51 – Pacific Harbour QLD
52 – Sanctuary Cove (Pines) QLD
53 – Spring Valley VIC
54 – Portsea VIC
55 – Pacific Dunes NSW
56 – Capricorn (Championship) QLD
57 – Glades QLD
58 – Pelican Waters QLD
59 – Concord NSW
60 – Kalgoorlie WA
61 – Links Lady Bay SA
62 – The Heritage (St John) VIC
63 – Sanctuary Cove (Palms) QLD
64 – Mount Lawley WA
65 – Settlers Run VIC
66 – Avondale NSW
67 – Stonecutters Ridge NSW
68 – Lakelands QLD
69 – Sanctuary Lakes VIC
70 – Meadow Springs WA
71 – Twin Creeks NSW
72 – Sorrento VIC
73 – Port Fairy VIC
74 – Amstel (Ranfurlie) VIC
75 – St Michael’s NSW
76 – Secret Harbour WA
77 – Thirteenth Beach (Creek) VIC
78 – Cottesloe WA
79 – Long Island VIC
80 – RACV Healesville VIC
81 – Eynesbury VIC
82 – Castle Hill NSW
83 – Tasmania TAS
84 – Murray Downs NSW
85 – Paradise Palms QLD
86 – Araluen WA
87 – Cranbourne VIC
88 – Narooma NSW
89 – Indooroopilly (West) QLD
90 – Monash NSW
91 – Kooindah Waters NSW
92 – Alice Springs NT
93 – The Vines (Lakes) WA
94 – The Heritage (Henley) VIC
95 – Riversdale VIC
96 – Palmer Gold Coast QLD
97 – Federal ACT
98 – Horsham VIC
99 – Fleurieu SA
100 – Macquarie Links NSW
