Ballyneal garners top-5 national course ranking in Golfweek lists
By Gary Baines 8/16/2020
The last several days, golf viewers have generally raved about what they’ve seen at the U.S. Amateur — not only the golf itself, but the venue.
It’s no doubt the first time many of the viewers have gotten an extended look at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort on the Oregon coast — and determined for themselves if the courses there are worthy of all they accolades they receive.
And they certainly receive a lot of accolades. Just in recent weeks, in Golfweek’s ratings of the Top 200 Modern Courses in the U.S. — those that were built in or after 1960 — Bandon courses occupy a remarkable four of the top 15 spots on the list. Pacific Dunes is No. 2, Old Macdonald No. 5, Bandon Dunes No. 9, and Bandon Trails No. 15.
But, according to Golfweek’s rankings, a Colorado facility is right in the same lofty echelon. Ballyneal in Holyoke — which like Pacific Dunes and Old Macdonald was designed by Tom Doak (Jim Ubrina co-designed Old Macdonald and was a senior design associate at Pacific Dunes) — checked in at No. 4 among Golfweek’s top modern courses.
But Ballyneal certainly wasn’t the only Colorado course that was recognized by Golfweek when it recently published its best in the U.S. in three categories: Modern, Classic and Top Courses You Can Play. Rankings were based on the opinions of the publication’s nationwide network of raters.
In fact, eight different Colorado courses — one of which, The East Course at The Broadmoor, earned spots in two different categories — made the grade in those national rankings. They’re listed below, along with the top five overall on each list, and Golfweek’s picks for the top 10 Best Courses You Can Play in Colorado.
Golfweek’s Top 100 Courses You Can Play (in the U.S.; in other words, courses that are publicly accessible)
Top 5 Overall
1. Pebble Beach Golf Links in Pebble Beach, Calif.
2. Pacific Dunes in Bandon, Ore.
3. Pinehurst No. 2 in Pinehurst, N.C.
4. Old Macdonald in Bandon, Ore.
5. Whistling Straits in Mosel, Wis.
Colorado Courses on List
88. Fazio Course at Red Sky Golf Club in Wolcott
91. East Course at The Broadmoor Golf Club in Colorado Springs
100. Redlands Mesa Golf Club in Grand Junction
For complete list, CLICK HERE.
Golfweek’s Top 200 Modern Courses (in the U.S., built in or after 1960)
Top 5 Overall
1. Sand Hills in Mullen, Neb.
2. Pacific Dunes in Bandon, Ore.
3. Friar’s Head in Baiting Hollow, N.Y.
4. Ballyneal in Holyoke
5. Old Macdonald in Bandon, Ore.
Colorado Courses on List
4. Ballyneal in Holyoke
34. Colorado Golf Club in Parker
58. Castle Pines Golf Club in Castle Rock
190. Frost Creek in Eagle
For complete list, CLICK HERE.
Golfweek’s Top 200 Classic Courses (built before 1960)
Top 5 Overall
1. Pine Valley in Pine Valley, N.J.
2. Cypress Point in Pebble Beach, Calif.
3. Augusta National in Augusta, Ga.
4. Shinnecock Hills in Southampton, N.Y.
5. National Golf Links of America in Southampton, N.Y.
Colorado Courses on List
90. Cherry Hills Country Club in Cherry Hills Village
175. East Course at The Broadmoor Golf Club in Colorado Springs
For complete list, CLICK HERE.
Golfweek’s Best Courses You Can Play (in Colorado)
1. Fazio Course at Red Sky Golf Club in Wolcott
2. East Course at The Broadmoor Golf Club in Colorado Springs
3. Redlands Mesa Golf Club in Grand Junction
4. Norman Course at Red Sky Golf Club in Wolcott
5. Haymaker in Steamboat Springs
6. The Golf Club at Bear Dance in Larkspur
7. CommonGround Golf Course in Aurora
8. Fossil Trace in Golden
9. West Course at The Broadmoor Golf Club in Colorado Springs
10. The Ridge at Castle Pines North in Castle Pines
For the complete list by states, CLICK HERE.