The list debuts with a new name and a new logo
Orlando, Fla., (Dec. 7, 2006) – Golfweek magazine has recently released its fourth annual issue entitled Golfweek’s Best Residential Golf Courses – The Definitive Guide to Luxury Golf Course Living 2007, the release is accompanied by the release of a new name for the highly respected award program, as well as a new logo.
Within this special issue, Golfweek honors the top 100 residential golf courses from across the U.S. For the second year in a row, Golfweek’s No. 1-rated residential golf course is the Tom Fazio-designed Wade Hampton Club in Cashiers, N.C. At an elevation of 3,650 ft., Wade Hampton Club is often referred to as "Tom Fazio’s Masterpiece." Once again coming in at No. 2 is the Golf Club at Cuscowilla in Eatonton, Ga., a Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore design that has been wowing golfers and homeowners since it opened in 1998.
"Courses of Distinction" are also featured in the Golfweek’s Best Residential Golf Courses annual. These courses are on the raters’ ballot, and are either too new to be included or are top-notch rated courses that did not appear on the list.
"Smart developers understand that a well designed golf course can help drive public interest in a residential community," said Golfweek’s Best Courses program director and architecture editor, Bradley S. Klein. "The impact is felt not only by golfers but also by non golfing homeowners in the value of their residences."
The residential ratings are derived directly from the annual list of Golfweek’s Best Courses, published each March since 1997. Golfweek’s Best Golf Courses are ranked by nearly 400 raters throughout the country, who judge on the basis of 10 evaluation criteria. Rankings are calculated using a statistically rigorous process.
With the release of this year’s Golfweek’s Best New Courses list, Golfweek is also debuting a change in the program name and has released new program logos. Previously known as Golfweek’s America’s Best Courses, the program name has been changed to Golfweek’s Best Courses and a new diamond shaped logo has been introduced.
"Changing the name or our highly regarded course ranking program from America’s Best to Golfweek’s Best will allow more flexibility and unlimited potential in the future of our course rankings," said Al Snow, director of communications. "The old logo design was due for a much needed facelift and I feel the new logo we have developed reflects the beauty, distinctiveness and design excellence of the golf courses that we recognize as Golfweek’s Best."
In recent years, Golfweek has expanded the Golfweek’s Best Golf Courses brand beyond the annual issue and has added many additional features. There are now three annual guides: Golfweek’s Best Residential Golf Courses – The Definitive Guide to Luxury Golf Course Living, Golfweek’s Best Resort Golf Courses -The Definitive Guide to Golf Travel and Golfweek’s Best Courses You Can Play – The Premiere Guide to Golf’s Greatest Public-Access Courses. In 2004, Golfweek published a book written by Bradley S. Klein, based on the Golfweek’s Best rankings, entitled A Walk in the Park. Golfweek has also printed monthly editorial features that highlight the ratings process and the standards for evaluation. The criteria for evaluating the golf courses, and Golfweek’s Best Classic, Modern, New Courses and a comprehensive state-by-state list, may be found at www.golfweek.com/americasbest.
Founded in 1975, Golfweek is the journal of record for competitive golf. It delivers the most complete news and information about the game, the people and the industry, to golf’s most important audience. Golfweek is a part of The Golfweek Group, which also includes Golfweek’s SuperNEWS, TurfNet Monthly, Golf Life Orlando, FISH & FLY, Art Calendar, TurfNet.com, Golfweek.com and golf’s first online television network, GolfweekTV.com. The Golfweek Group is owned by Turnstile Publishing Co., which is headquartered in Orlando, Fla.
2006 Golfweek’s Best Residential Golf Courses
1. Wade Hampton Club
Cashiers, NC
Tom Fazio
1988
2. The Golf Club at Cuscowilla
Eatonton, GA
Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw
1998
3. Castle Pines Golf Club
Castle Pines, CO
Jack Nicklaus
1981
4. Black Diamond Ranch-Quarry
Lecanto, FL
Tom Fazio
1988
5. Paa-Ko Ridge GC
Sandia Park, NM
Ken Dye
2003
6. Mayacama Golf Club
Santa Rosa, CA
Jack Nicklaus
2001
7. Briggs Ranch
San Antonio, TX
Tom Fazio
2001
8. Long Cove Club
Hilton Head, SC
Pete Dye
1982
9. The Rim Golf Club
Payson, AZ
Jay Morrish & Tom Weiskopf
1998
10. Lakota Canyon Ranch GC
New Castle, CO *
Jim Engh
2005
11. Black Rock
Coeur d’Alene, ID
Jim Engh
2003
12. Forest Highlands-Canyon
Flagstaff, AZ
Jay Morrish & Tom Weiskopf
1989
13. The Preserve
Carmel Valley, CA
Tom Fazio
2000
14. Mountain Lake
Lake Wales, FL
Seth Raynor
1917
15. Forest Creek GC-North
Southern Pines, NC *
Tom Fazio
2005
16. Kiawah-Cassique
Kiawah Island, SC
Tom Watson
2000
17. Crosswater
Sunriver, OR
Bob Cupp & John Fought
1995
18. Pronghorn Club-Nicklaus
Bend, OR *
Jack Nicklaus
2004
19. Jupiter Hills GC-Hills
Tequestra, FL *
George Fazio, 1970
Tom Fazio, 2005
20. Stone Canyon
Oro Valley, AZ
Jay Morrish
1998
21. Quintero Golf & Country Club
Peoria, AZ
Rees Jones
2000
22. Lahontan
Truckee, CA
Tom Weiskopf
1999
23. Estancia
Scottsdale, AZ
Tom Fazio
1995
24. The Powder Horn Golf Club
Sheridan, WY
Dick Bailey
1997
25. Southern Highlands
Las Vegas, NV
Robert Trent Jones Sr. & Jr.
1999
26. Lake Las Vegas-SouthShore GC
Henderson, NV
Jack Nicklaus
1996
27. Old Tabby Links
Beaufort, SC
Arnold Palmer & Ed Seay
1994
28. Oak Tree Golf Club
Edmond, OK
Pete Dye
1975
29. Forest Creek Golf Club-South
Southern Pines, NC
Tom Fazio
1996
30. Seven Canyons
Sedona, AZ
Tom Weiskopf & Ken Kavanaugh
2003
31. May River Course at Palmetto Bluff
Bluffton, SC *
Jack Nicklaus
2004
32. Isleworth
Orlando, FL *
Arnold Palmer & Ed Seay, 1986
Steve Smyers, 2005
33. The Vaquero Club
Westlake, TX
Tom Fazio
2001
34. Forest Dunes GC
Roscommon, MI
Tom Weiskopf
2003
35. Quarry La Quinta
La Quinta, CA
Tom Fazio
1994
36. John’s Island-West
Vero Beach, FL
Tom Fazio
1999
37. Lake Nona Golf & Country Club
Orlando, FL
Tom Fazio
1984
38. Black Creek Golf Club
Chattanooga, TN
Brian Silva
1999
39. Winchester Country Club
Meadow Vista, CA
Robert Trent Jones Sr. & Jr.
2000
40. Tradition at La Quinta
La Quinta, CA
Arnold Palmer & Ed Seay
1998
41. Superstition Mountain-Prospector
Superstition Mountain, AZ
Jack Nicklaus
1997
42. Troon Golf & Country Club
Scottsdale, AZ
Jay Morrish & Tom Weiskopf
1985
43. Troon North-Monument
Scottsdale, AZ
Jay Morrish & Tom Weiskopf
1990
44. Colleton River-Nicklaus
Bluffton, SC
Jack Nicklaus
1992
45. Pradera
Parker, CO *
Jim Engh
2005
46. Darkhorse
Auburn, CA *
Keith Foster
2002
47. Ocean Hammock
Palm Coast, FL
Jack Nicklaus
2000
48. Desert Mountain-Outlaw
Scottsdale, AZ *
Jack Nicklaus
2004
49. Redlands Mesa
Grand Junction, CO
Jim Engh
2001
50. Old Greenwood
Truckee, CA *
Jack Nicklaus
2004
51. Saddle Creek Resort
Copperopolis, CA
Tad Buchanan & Carter Morrish
1996
52. Applebrook
Malvern, PA *
Gil Hanse
2001
53. Montreux
Reno, NV
Jack Nicklaus
1997
54. Forest Highlands-Meadow
Flagstaff, AZ
Tom Weiskopf
1999
55. Desert Mountain-Chiricahua
Scottsdale, AZ
Jack Nicklaus
1999
56. Reunion-Independence
Davenport, FL
Tom Watson
2003
57. Pine Canyon Club
Flagstaff, AZ *
Jay Morrish
2004
58. The Gallery-North
Marana, AZ
John Fought & Tom Lehman
1998
59. Silverleaf
Scottsdale, AZ
Tom Weiskopf
2002
60. Bull’s Bay
Mt. Pleasant, SC
Mike Strantz
2002
61. Reynolds Plantation-Great Waters
Greensboro, GA
Jack Nicklaus
1992
62. Desert Highlands
Pinnacle Peak, AZ
Jack Nicklaus
1984
63. Belfair-West
Bluffton, SC
Tom Fazio
1996
64. Kiawah-River
Kiawah Island, SC
Tom Fazio
1995
65. Twin Creeks CC
Cedar Park TX
Lee Schmidt, Brian Curly
& Fred Couples
2003
66. Black Diamond Ranch-Ranch
Lecanto, FL
Tom Fazio
1996
67. Colleton River-Dye
Bluffton, SC
Pete Dye
1998
68. Shark’s Tooth
Lake Powell, FL
Greg Norman
2002
69. Old Marsh
Palm Beach, FL
Pete Dye
1988
70. Tidewater
North Myrtle Beach, SC
Ken Tomlinson
1993
71. Haig Point
Daufuskie Island, SC
Rees Jones
1986
72. Belfair-East
Bluffton, SC
Tom Fazio
1999
73. Old North State Club-Uwharrie Point
Albemarle, NC
Tom Fazio
1992
74. Glenwild
Park City, UT
Tom Fazio
2001
75. Desert Mountain-Renegade
Scottsdale, AZ
Jack Nicklaus
1987
76. Desert Mountain-Geronimo
Scottsdale, AZ
Jack Nicklaus
1989
77. Southern Hills Plantation Club
Brooksville, FL *
Pete Dye
2006
78. Firethorn GC
Lincoln, NE
Pete Dye
1985
79. Riverfront GC at Harbor View
Suffolk, VA *
Tom Doak
1999
80. TPC at Snoqualmie Ridge
Snoqualmie, WA
Jack Nicklaus
1999
81. TPC at Sugarloaf
Duluth, GA
Greg Norman
1997
82. Vintage Club-Mountain
Indian Wells, CA
Tom Fazio
1981
83. Broken Top
Bend, OR
Jay Morrish & Tom Weiskopf
1993
84. The Virginian Golf Club
Bristol, VA
Tom Fazio
1993
85. Limestone Springs
Oneonta, AL*
Jerry Pate
2004
86. Victoria Hills Golf Club
Deland, FL
Ron Garl
2003
87. Bluffs CC & Resort
St. Francisville, LA
Arnold Palmer & Ed Seay
1988
88. Las Campanas-Sunset
Santa Fe, NM
Jack Nicklaus
2000
89. Golf Club at Fiddlers Creek-Creek
Naples, FL
Arthur Hills
2002
90. Bridges at Rancho Santa Fe
Rancho Santa Fe, CA
Robert Trent Jones Sr.
2001
91. The Mirabel Club
Scottsdale, AZ
Tom Fazio
2001
92. Mediterra-South
Naples, FL*
Tom Fazio
2000
93. Oak Tree GC-East
Edmonds, OK
Pete Dye
1979
94. Big Horn-Canyons
Palm Desert, CA
Tom Fazio
1998
95. Reynolds Plantation-Oconee
Oconee, GA
Rees Jones
2000
96. Greystone-Legacy
Birmingham, AL
Rees Jones
2000
97. Desert Mountain-Cochise
Scottsdale, AZ
Jack Nicklaus
1987
98. The Gallery-South
Marana, AZ
John Fought
2004
99. Berkeley Hall-South
Bluffton, SC
Tom Fazio
2002
100. Grande Dunes GC
Myrtle Beach, SC *
Nick Price & Craig Schreiner
2005
* New to List
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Amy Bunn
Marketing/Public Relations Manager
407-563-7016
abunn@golfweek.com