What To Play – May 2016
It’s dawned on me during the creation of the Top 100 list, as well as the Top Real Courses list, that difficulty is an important factor in the enjoyability of a course for a lot of players. Ever since the Golf Club debuted, we’ve had an inkling, if not an outright understanding, that difficulty plays a very large part in the ultimate course rating given to a course. In fact, I’ve received an occasional bit of criticism here and there for my ratings, which tend (by appearances at least) to favor more difficult courses.
What I have not revealed in any of my lists so far, though, is that I keep a general evaluation of course difficulty with each course that I have reviewed. Therefore, it’s time for me to introduce the What to Play list. Here I’ll reveal a number of courses at various difficulties to keep an eye on. Rather than strictly following the Top 100 list, I’ll try to mix things up a bit and keep a fresh rotation of courses each month. Keep in mind, despite my best efforts to be objective, evaluating difficulty remains a very personal and subjective appearance.
I have no idea how this is going to go, so feedback is much appreciated!
Easy Courses
Yuchi Valley by Wes Hartman
| Name | Designer | Theme |
| Oceanic Athletic Club | Adam Benjamin | Highlands |
| TPC at Sawgrass (blacks) | Brandon Pugh | Tropical |
| Tobacco Dunes | Steve Pope | Boreal |
| Killarney Golf and Country Club | Nick Weisgerber | Highlands |
| Loch Lorne Golf Club, Perthshire, Scotland | Chris Biggins | Boreal |
| The Red October G&CC | Mick Pitcher | Harvest |
| Chudleigh Golf Club | Lez Marwick | Boreal |
| Cohutta Country Club | Todd Driver | Boreal |
| New South Flower | Ola Ericsson | Harvest |
| Yuchi Valley TST Pin A | Wes Hartman | Boreal |
Easy-Medium Courses
Spyglass Hill by Yeltzman
| Name | Designer | Theme |
| Idanha Ridge Golf Club | Henrik Sundqvist | Rustic |
| The Course at Hiwassee Hills | Todd Driver | Rustic |
| Harbor Island Platinum | Jeremy Blaylock | Highlands |
| Spyglass Hill 2015 | yeltzman | Delta |
| Pittsburgh Field Club (thurs) | Pete Kohelis | Rustic |
| Mai Phu Kyn Golf Club, Mekong Delta, Vietnam | David Jensen | Delta |
| The Capilano Club | Andre Quenneville | Boreal |
| Olde Scarpacci | Antonio Scarpacci | Highlands |
| Mistwood Golf Course | William Bradford | Highlands |
| Hocking Hills Country Club (Thursday) | Tim Jaquith | Countryside |
Hard Courses
The Tarantula Club by Keith Callahan
| Name | Designer | Theme |
| Royal Birkdale 2016 (Thursday Dry) | Yeltzman | Highlands |
| Dr. Yeti’s 9 Hole Haven at Crater Lake | Bryan Cowles | Autumn |
| Riviera Country Club – Thursday | Bryan Boomer | Rustic |
| TGC Players’ Club – Stadium Course | Dario Logan | Countryside |
| Whonnock Lake Golf Club (Black Diamond) | Andre Quenneville | Swiss |
| The Tarantula Golf Club | Keith Callahan | Desert |
| Chicago Golf Club | JELindholm | Countryside |
| Elmview – Open Day 1 | Brian Jeffords | Countryside |
| Blue Oak Country Club | Brett Carr | Countryside |
| Potomac Country Club | Brandon Pugh | Boreal |