Erin Hills - Not in golf digest's top 100 courses??

[cbehan]

Written by Ron Whitten:

[quote]One more clarification: Erin Hills is not a candidate for Golf Digest’s ranking of America’s 100 Greatest because I helped design the course and I continue to be intimately involved with the biennial 100 Greatest list. While it’s not a true conflict of interest (because I don’t have a vote in picking the 100 Greatest), it still has the appearance of impropriety. How could I convince readers that I didn’t put the squeeze on panelists to get Erin Hills ranked?[/quote]

http://www.golfdigest.com/golf-courses/blogs/wheres-matty-g/2011/09/erin-hills-post-game-review.html

[5 O'Clock Charlie]

[quote name='CPSOX' timestamp='1317784328' post='3626619']
Erin Hills isn't a top 100 course under any circumstance.
[/quote]

I think if you walked it, you would change your mind. Saw it for the first time at the AM walking in the fairways following a friend and it's in my personal top 5.

[CPSOX]

[quote name='5 O'Clock Charlie' timestamp='1324696516' post='3982023']
[quote name='CPSOX' timestamp='1317784328' post='3626619']
Erin Hills isn't a top 100 course under any circumstance.
[/quote]

I think if you walked it, you would change your mind. Saw it for the first time at the AM walking in the fairways following a friend and it's in my personal top 5.
[/quote]

I did walk. Sorry, still no love.

[dlygrisse]

There are a lot of great courses in the USA, so many in fact that if a course, especially one that is just a few years old, does not make the list it shouldn't be considered an insult. There are probably 100-200 courses not on this list that could legitimately feel snubbed.

It is a very cool looking course from what I saw on TV, but saying it is automatically a top 100 course because it will hold a US Open in the future is a little silly, in fact it is pretty surprising that the USGA picked it....I am sure there were some back room dealings and some politics involved in the selection. My guess is Ron Whitten has a few buddies on the executive committee in Far Hills New Jersey.

[jabrch]

IIRC, EH got the Open and the AM before it was even opened to play - and long before the redesign/enhancements. Is it a Top 100 course? That's obviously subjective. It's in the top 100 I have played - but that's not much an accomplishment since....I probably haven't played 100 different courses.

[usgaer]

[quote name='kg92lefty' timestamp='1314667004' post='3528838']<br />they're making it easier for the open so maybe it will be in there then.  But the Golf Digest list is all about how the course treats the reviewer and his buddies and how much money they give GD.  For example: Wolf Creek, looks cool on the web but its actually it s*** shape, they pay a lot of $$$$ for their ranking.  Erin Hills is probably not paying golf digest.<br />[/quote]<br /><br /><br />




I am aware of how the"reviewers" rate the courses and your rant is totally wrong and misguided

[Thrillhouse]

Its a cool looking course just like chambers bay is a cool looking course but I would still prefer to see a US open at a traditional venue like winged foot or olympic (like this year!).

[jdhallissey]

wolf creek was in amazing shape in june when i played it. erin hills looks pretty coool. Why it is not rated could be a number of issues.

[johnstitch]

Maybe they realise it is as natural as Pamela Anderson's cleavage and as far removed from real British and Irish links courses and virtually unplayable to anyone worse than category one. Same with Kiawah, Whistling Straits and several other modern monsters that GD seem to favour. Difficult does not mean good to the average player.

[dunahoo]

brother in law played in US Am this year and said he is shocked an Open is coming to Erin Hills given there is 1 hotel in the area... where the people gonna stay out there?

[dfjb23]

Why is it not a top 100 course????

Because the routing is lackluster at best considering this is one of the best inland pieces of property for golf . It's walking only and the course stretches over 8 miles from start to finish.

The course is worth playing but it's a hugely missed opportunity.

[teejaywhy]

[quote name='dlygrisse' timestamp='1324956280' post='3990827']

It is a very cool looking course from what I saw on TV, but saying it is automatically a top 100 course because it will hold a US Open in the future is a little silly, in fact it is pretty surprising that the USGA picked it....I am sure there were some back room dealings and some politics involved in the selection. My guess is Ron Whitten has a few buddies on the executive committee in Far Hills New Jersey.
[/quote]

I won't comment on back room dealings, certainly there are negotiations that go on prior to any course being awarded a USGA championship.

But I should point out that there are two elements of a newer USGA philosophy in play:
- A desire to bring more championships to PUBLIC GOLF courses.
- A desire to bring championships to courses that embody more of a links-style playability that can test more of the many of facets of the game rather than the same old traditional linear/aerial attack game that simply relied on narrowing the fairways, growing the rough super deep and speeding up the greens to ridiculous levels.

[CPSOX]

They are bringing events to public places because private clubs typically ask for more $$$.

It ain't because they're better courses.

[teejaywhy]

[quote name='CPSOX' timestamp='1326833867' post='4100763']
They are bringing events to public places because private clubs typically ask for more $$.

It ain't because they're better courses.
[/quote]

If cost is the main motivation, why would they fund multi-million dollar renovations to BethPage and Torrey South?

[CPSOX]

[quote name='tjy355' timestamp='1326997020' post='4118633']
[quote name='CPSOX' timestamp='1326833867' post='4100763']
They are bringing events to public places because private clubs typically ask for more $$.

It ain't because they're better courses.
[/quote]

If cost is the main motivation, why would they fund multi-million dollar renovations to BethPage and Torrey South?
[/quote]


It's still cheaper that way.