Award’s 23rd Straight Year Recognizes the Best in Golf Course Design; 23 States with Courses Included
New York, NY—For the 23rd consecutive year, Golf Digest has unveiled the results of its survey of America’s Best New Courses. The latest ranking, which also includes the Best New Canadian courses, appears in the January 2007 issue (on newsstands December 12).
The magazine selected King Carter Golf Club, in Virginia, as America’s Best New Public Under $75; Osprey Meadows, in the foothills of Idaho, as America’s Best New Public $75 and Over; The Concession Golf Club, east of Sarasota, Fla., as the year’s Best New Private Course; and The Stanwich Club, in Greenwich, CT, as America’s Best New Remodel. (The Remodel category was added in 2005 to recognize courses that underwent such extensive makeovers that the owners and members consider them new).
The full ranking and feature story on America’s Best New Courses 2006, along with additional course photography not appearing in the magazine, can be viewed now at www.golfdigest.com/bestnew.
More than 165 new and remodeled golf courses nationwide were nominated for this year’s ranking. Golf Digest has conducted America’s Best New Courses rankings since 1983. Its panel of more than 800 low-handicap male and female golfers nationwide played and evaluated (at their own expense) nominated golf courses that opened between May 1, 2005 and April 30, 2006. Golf courses were rated on shot values, design variety, memorability, resistance to scoring and aesthetics. The average scores for each criterion were combined and totaled to determine the winners.
"It was a season that celebrated authenticity in golf design," said Ron Whitten, Golf Digest Senior Editor, Architecture. "America’s Best New Courses of 2006 reflect what pleasures can result when man and money yield to Mother Nature."
King Carter Golf Club, America’s Best New Public Under $75, was designed by Joel Weiman (a first time Best New winner, who is the in-house course architect of Maryland based contractor McDonald & Sons). Located in southeast Virginia, the course was named after the 18th century tobacco baron, Robert (King) Carter, who previously owned the land.
Osprey Meadows, America’s Best New Public $75 and Over, was designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. (a five-time Best New Course winner) and Bruce Charlton and is located in central Idaho along the 21-mile-long Lake Cascade.
The Concession Golf Club, America’s Best New Private, was co-designed by Jack Nicklaus and British golf legend Tony Jacklin. The course is located outside of Sarasota, Fla., and marks Nicklaus’ sixth Best New win and Jacklin’s first.
The Stanwich Club, America’s Best New Remodel, is located in southern Connecticut. A longtime member of Golf Digest’s America’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses (1969-’79 and 1987-2003), Stanwich has been extensively made over by Tom Fazio (a 12-time Best New winner—the most of any architect since the ranking’s inception).
As part of the America’s Best New Courses survey, the magazine also recognizes the Best New Canadian courses. The Ridge at Manitou, in Ontario, was designed by Thomas McBroom and is this year’s winner. This marks McBroom’s fifth Best New triumph in the Canadian category.
Contact:
Andrew Katcher, Golf Digest
212-630-2488
andrew.katcher@golfdigest.com
Bret Hopman, Golf Digest
212-630-2490
bret.hopman@golfdigest.com
