During early 2022, the latest Top 100 golf lists were published from Golf Australia Magazine and Golf Digest Australia. Both underwent a challenging time with the compilation, due to COVID related travel restrictions and border closures, limiting the capability for both panels to view the number of courses visited. To compensate, an extension of time for the ranking period occurred, to help ensure they were both as accurate as possible.
There was also a big change in what would be considered. Traditionally it has only been 18 hole courses which would find there way into the rankings. With an ever changing golf landscape, those with less are eligible to be included. The debutante for this was Bougle Run, the new 14 hole short course designed by Bill Coore, at one of Australia’s most popular golfing destinations, Barnbougle. It will be interesting to see if further courses, like Frankston G.C or even King Island G.C. manage to find their way into future rankings.
Hole 3 of Bougle Run in Tasmania
Both lists also saw the omission of Pelican Waters and Links Kennedy Bay, due to construction works. Ellerston due to lack of numbers being able to view the course, whilst Riverside Oaks Bungool course suffered flood damage. The last remaining similarity was Royal Melbourne West topping both lists at number one. A feat which doesn’t look likely to be topped in the immediate future.
Looking at the Golf Australia Magazine 2022 top 100, these are the standout aspects:
- Cathedral Lodge still not ranked, due to a request from the owners of the course
- The top four positions remain unchanged
- Debut or Returning:
- Lonsdale Links debut at 20 after redesign by OCM
- Yarra Yarra GC returning after rework by Tom Doak at 17 (previously rated in the 30’s)
- Bougle Run, designed by Bill Coore, debut at 38
- Sandy Golf Links (Sandringham GC) debut at 51 after rework by OCM
- Rosebud CC (North) debut at 69 after rework by OCM
- Largest Movements (greater than 10 spots):
- Sanctuary Cove (Pines) up twelve spots to 65
- Royal Hobart GC up nineteen spots to 71
- Settlers Run (73) and Glades (75) both dropping eleven spots
- Pacific Dunes down seventeen spots to 100
- Eastern GC (North) falling out from 84
Hole 15 at Yarra Yarra Golf Club
As for the Australian Golf Digest 2022 top 100 list:
- The top ten had little change. Positions 2-3, 5-6 and 10-11 swapping since the last ratings
- Debut or Returning
- The National (Gunnamatta) debut at 15 after redesign by OCM of what was the Ocean course
- Yarra Yarra GC returning at 27 after rework by Tom Doak (previously at 51)
- Lonsdale Links debut 37 after rework by OCM
- Sandy Golf Links (Sandringham GC) debut at 58 after rework by OCM
- Bougle Run designed by Bill Coore, debut at 63
- Killara GC debut at 83 after work by Harley Krause
- Rosebud CC (North) debut at 84 after rework by OCM
- Castle Hill CC returning at 89 after rework by Bob Harrison
- Largest Movements (greater than 10 spots)
- No courses (outside of debut or returning) managed to climb ten or more spots
- The only courses falling ten or more places, where those in the bottom 20, failing to remain in the top 100. These were Sun City CC (81), Arundell Hills (83), The Vines – Lakes (87) and Royal Pines (91)
- Pacific Dunes was the other large mover dropping 8 spots to 67
The top 100 lists are showing clubs who have invested in making positive improvements are being rewarded, not just with rankings, but attracting members and visitors.
I look forward to the 2026 lists, where there maybe a new challenger for the number one spot. That being Seven Mile Beach in Hobart, Tasmania.
