fbpx

NCG Top 100s: The methodology behind our England 2022 rankings

 

Finding the best golf courses in England doesn’t happen by luck. Here’s how our England 2022 rankings list was put together.

Our panel

Dan Murphy, the editor of NCG Top 100s, chaired the panel, which comprised 17 experienced and knowledgeable golfers.

Panellist visits

Our panel were out and about visiting the short-listed courses throughout the 2021 season – specifically from when courses re-opened in late March to the end of October. This has enabled us to produce an up-to-date list.

Off-course facilities

We are only interested in golf courses – the round begins when we arrive on the 1st tee and ends when we walk off the last green.

What we base our rankings on

The following criteria and categories result in a final mark out of 100.

The criteria

1. Architecture and design: How well designed are the individual holes? And the course as a whole? Do the holes offer the golfer choices? Is there a mix of penal, strategic and heroic holes?

How does the course flow? Are tees generally close to the previous green? 

Does the course ‘fit’ into its surroundings? 

Are long and short holes interspersed evenly?  

How much better is the best hole than the least best hole? Do all the holes feel like they belong on the same course?  

Does the course test all facets of the game or is it asking the same questions repeatedly? Is the golfer’s ability to play a variety of shots with each club in the bag duly rewarded? (40 marks)

2. Conditioning, greens and presentation: How good is the turf to hit off? How good are the greens to putt on? Does each hole play in the same way as the others? (10 marks)

3. Scenery, surroundings and ambience: How attractive a place to play is this course? (10 marks)

4. Challenge and playability: When played off the correct set of tees, to what extent does the course challenge and test the skills of the elite golfer, while also being enjoyable and playable for the shorter hitter and higher handicapper?

On the one hand, does it give the golfer the chance to display their skills to the limit?

On the other hand, are there forced carries and excessively penal hazards that make it difficult for the recreational golfer to enjoy the course regardless of how conservatively they play? (10 marks)

5. Charm, distinctiveness, and memorability: Does the course inspire affection and live long in the memory? How reluctant are you to leave and how much do you want to return? (20 marks)

Total: /100

Courses who chose not be included

As well as the 160 courses that feature in this list, we also shortlisted the following courses: Beaverbrook, Effingham, Queenwood, Wentworth East, Wentworth Edinburgh, Wentworth West, Woburn Duchess, Woburn Duke’s, Woburn Marquess and The Wisley.

They politely advised us that they did not wish to be considered for this top 100, for various reasons.  We are entirely respectful of their decision and list them here only because you might otherwise have wondered why they do not appear in the list.

Price/accessibility/membership policies

None of these were factors – we were only interested in the golf course.

Home courses

Panellists are not be eligible to rank courses at which they were a member.

Whose opinions counted?

All panellists who had played a course submitted a ranking. However, we value more the rankings of panellists who have either played a course recently, played a course several times or both. We multiplied rankings by:

x2 If the course was most recently played in the last 10 years OR the reviewer has played the course 3 times or more 

x3 If the course was most recently played in the last 3 years OR the reviewer has played the course 5 times or more 

x4 If the reviewer has played the course 3 times or more and most recently within the last 10 years 

x5 If the reviewer has played the course 5 times or more and most recently within the last 10 years OR the reviewer has played the course 3 times or more and most recently within the last 3 years 

x6 If the reviewer has played the course 5 times or more and most recently within the last 3 years 

Example: Five panellists have played a certain course. Reviewers A, B, C and D have each played the course once, 15 years ago. Their scores are 48, 46, 50 and 56 respectively. Reviewer E has played the course eight times, and most recently this year. His score is 70.   

Score: 48 + 46 + 50 + 56 + (6 x 70) = 620 / 10 = 62

NCG Top 100s: The best golf courses in England

Visit the NCG Top 100s homepage for all this and much, much more.

Subscribe to NCG

Latest Posts

Royal County Down

Courses and Travel

‘It’s not going to stop’: Expect to pay even more to play GB&I’s top 100 courses

Read full article - ‘It’s not going to stop’: Expect to pay even more to play GB&I’s top 100 courses
Turnberry

Courses and Travel

Could new changes to Turnberry get it back on The Open rota?

Read full article - Could new changes to Turnberry get it back on The Open rota?
Old Course reverse

Courses and Travel

Want to play the Old Course in reverse? Here’s how…

Read full article - Want to play the Old Course in reverse? Here’s how…

Top 100s

Thorpeness: A glorious Braid heathland by the Suffolk sea

Read full article - Thorpeness: A glorious Braid heathland by the Suffolk sea

Top 100s

NCG Top 100s: Take a deep dive inside our list of Scotland’s best courses

Read full article - NCG Top 100s: Take a deep dive inside our list of Scotland’s best courses

Top 100s

NCG Top 100s Scotland 2023: Introducing our new No 1!

Read full article - NCG Top 100s Scotland 2023: Introducing our new No 1!

Top 100s

The shocking true cost of playing GB&I’s top 50 courses: Are golfers being priced out?

Read full article - The shocking true cost of playing GB&I’s top 50 courses: Are golfers being priced out?

Top 100s

How we put together our NCG Top 100s Scotland list

Read full article - How we put together our NCG Top 100s Scotland list

Top 100s

What are the most underrated golf courses in Scotland?

Read full article - What are the most underrated golf courses in Scotland?