ORLANDO, Fla. (April 14, 2011) – Golfweek – the most authentic, authoritative and independent voice in golf – will debut its inaugural Golfweek’s Best Canadian Courses list tomorrow as part of its April 15 issue. Divided into the top 30 Classic courses (built before 1960) and top 30 Modern layouts (built after 1960), Golfweek’s Best Canadian Courses list proves that the Great White North knows a thing or two when it comes to the greens.
“We’ve been remiss in not acknowledging sooner the fine quality of courses to be found within the borders of our northern neighbor,” said Bradley S. Klein, national director of Golfweek’s Best Courses rating program. “Two things are really striking about these Canadian layouts. One is the absolute dominance of architect Stanley Thompson, who has the top three Classic courses and a total of 10 from the 30 on the list. The second is the way Canadian course design has managed to highlight a stunning natural environment, both in the Atlantic Maritimes and out in the rugged Rockies.”
Highlands Links (Ingonish Beach, Nova Scotia), St. George’s Golf and Country Club (Islington, Ontario) and The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge Golf Club (Jasper, Alberta) – all designed by Thompson – lead the Classic list. Meanwhile, layouts from Ontario control the top of the Modern list with The National Golf Club of Canada (Woodbridge, Ontario), Devil’s Paintbrush (Caledon, Ontario) and Rocky Crest Resort (Mactier, Ontario) taking top billing.
To produce Golfweek’s Best Courses lists, an expert team of 675 course raters annually identifies the best layouts from two distinctly different eras: pre- and post-1960. The exclusive system acknowledges that prior to 1960 – the year that separates Classic from Modern – most course designers relied on native contours for course features. After 1960, as the game became more popular, designers began to utilize high-tech engineering and advanced mechanical means to transform the landscape to suit their design.
Visit Golfweek.com/GolfweeksBest to view the complete list of Golfweek’s Best Canadian Courses.
About Golfweek’s Best Ratings
Since beginning its rating system in 1997, Golfweek has developed the most respected ranking structure in the industry. Every year, Golfweek’s nationwide team of course raters, which currently boasts 675 evaluators, surveys more than 2,200 courses – rating each nominated course on the basis of Golfweek’s 10 strict standards of evaluation. Collectively, Golfweek raters have turned in more than 51,000 votes. Golfweek’s Best Courses lists include: Modern, Classic, New, Casino, Municipal, Campus, Residential, Resort, Canadian, Caribbean & Mexico, Great Britain & Ireland, Courses You Can Play and Tour Courses You Can Play. The full criteria for evaluating the golf courses may be found at Golfweek.com/GolfweeksBest.
About Golfweek
Founded in 1975, Golfweek is the most authentic, authoritative and independent voice in golf. Serving enthusiasts who are truly passionate about the game of golf, the Golfweek brand includes Golfweek magazine, Golfweek.com, Golfweek OnDemand, Golfweek Mobile, Golfweek Custom Media, The Golf Wire, The Apparel Wire, The Tour Van and TurfNet.com. Golfweek is part of Turnstile Media Group, which specializes in developing diverse media platforms that engage and strengthen the communities they serve. Founded in 1990 and headquartered in Orlando, Fla., Turnstile Media Group is also the parent of Professional Artist, Community Media Holdings, The Seminole Voice, The Winter Park/Maitland Observer and Turnstile Connect.
Contact:
Elizabeth Hawkins, Marketing Director | 407.563.7006 | EHawkins@Golfweek.com