Top 100 Update - January 2006

We last re-sequenced the Top 100 website way back in October 2004 and after much effort we’ve done it again. We’ve blended our database with the latest Golf World, Golf Magazine and Golf Digest world rankings along with our very own Top 100 list, which we published in our 2005 book. Our list was based on visitors’ reviews posted on this website. 

Congratulations to Royal County Down, our new No.1 and well done to Murcar, The Island, Rosapenna (Sandy Hills), Chart Hills, Donegal, Littlestone, West Lancashire, Dooks, Castlerock and the Marquess course at Woburn, all of whom have made it into our Top 100. Incidentally, Woburn is the only golf club to have three courses in the Top 100. 

Commiserations to Ferndown, St Pierre, Tenby, Woking, Southport & Ainsdale, Liphook, Killarney (Killeen), Downfield, Southerness and Celtic Manor (Wentwood Hills), all of whom have slipped out of the Top 100. But we must remember that the real beauty of the Top 100 website is that no course will ever disappear. We’ll keep them all on the website and in the limelight. 

A number of courses have been elevated from the “your gems” section of this website to the ranked list. This is thanks to your passionate and informed reviews, which you’ve taken the time to post. We can’t thank you enough – it’s your honest comments that really do tell the story. These are the courses that you have elevated from “your gems”: 

Sandiway – in at 113, Brocket Hall (Palmerston) – in at 114, Delamere Forest – in at 117, Brocket Hall (Melbourne) – in at 125 

Two new courses have appeared, courtesy of Golf World’s tongue-in-cheek list: the antiquity of Royal Blackheath (142nd) and the young but exclusive Queenwood (121st). Musselburgh Links (Old Course) has moved from “your gems” to 163rd place (thanks to Golf World). Nairn Dunbar and Carton House (Montgomerie) have also jumped from “your gems” to 130th and 118th respectively (thanks to Golf Digest). Dromoland Castle is a new entry at 140th courtesy of Golf Digest who rated it as one of Ireland’s Top 20 courses – No.19 to be precise. 

Top 10 Highest Climbers

1. Conwy – Up 93 to 135th
2. Castlerock – Up 91 to 96th
3. Littlestone – Up 78 to 89th
4. Murcar – Up 75 to 70th
5. Cork – Up 74 to 128th
6. Clandeboye (Dufferin) – Up 64 to 160th
7. Perranporth – Up 61 to 129th
8. Malone – Up 51 to 102
9. Beau Desert – Up 48 to 131st
10. Buckinghamshire – Up 43 to 122nd   

Top 10 Biggest Fallers

1. Celtic Manor (Wentwood Hills) – Down 89 
2. Southerness – Down 65
3. Killarney (Killeen) – Down 61
4. Downfield – Down 44
5. Southport & Ainsdale – Down 36
6. Tenby – Down 35
7. Pyle & Kenfig – Down 35
8. Ashburnham – Down 33
9. St Pierre – Down 32
10. Berkshire (Blue) – Down 30

Just as a reminder, we derive our rankings based on the following: 

• Weighting courses appearing most recently in any ranking tables
• Weighted in favour of courses appearing in the World rankings
• Number of times that a golf course has appeared on a ranking table

www.top100golfcourses.co.uk

View the Castletown Golf Links Ranking details.