By Stephen Hennessey, Golf Digest
May 2020
Even as golf continues to recognize the importance of fun and playability in course design, the measure of championship-caliber golf is still a course’s Resistance to Scoring. How does a course defend par? And is it fair? These courses embody that measurement.
Resistance to Scoring is one of seven criteria we asked our 1,100 Golf Digest course-ranking panelists in the United States and Canada to evaluate in helping us determine our latest America’s 100 Greatest rankings. Using those same evaluations, we’ve determined our 20 Hardest Golf Courses in the United States. By definition, these are courses with the highest measure of difficulty — while still being fair — for a scratch player from the back set of tees.
For some of us, playing these courses every day would beat up our egos. But to play some of golf’s classic designs, the right mentality is just to just enjoy the loop. Otherwise, judging by these comments from our course-ranking panelists, you might be in for a long day. —Stephen Hennessey
Please click on the slideshow below to view the courses:
About Tagmarshal
Tagmarshal has tracked over 10 million rounds of golf. Real-time data collected by the system using small “tags” clipped onto golf bags, installed in buggies or offered on handheld or cart-installed proprietary 2Way screen devices, transmits information to on-course staff or personnel in the pro shop identifying groups that are out of position before issues arise. Player assistants can then support in a proactive, objective, non-confrontational manner resulting in improved player experience, consistent round times and player time freed up to enjoy on-site food and beverage items as well as opportunities for additional tee sheet capacity.
More than 25 of the top 100 US courses partner with Tagmarshal including over 250 leading courses globally.
To learn more about how Tagmarshal improves the golfer experience, through on-course optimization, watch the free demo here.