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Five South Carolina courses are included in Golf Magazine's 2007 "Top 100
Courses in the U.S." and two of them will be included in the "Top 100
Courses in the World." The rankings will be published in the magazine's
September issue.
Kiawah Island Golf Resort's Ocean Course leads the South Carolina pack,
making the United States list at No. 28 and is 48th in the world.
Harbour Town Golf Links at Hilton Head Island also made both lists, coming
in at No. 40 in the U.S. and No. 70 in the world.
Other South Carolina courses included in the U.S. rankings are Yeamans Hall
Club at No. 60, Long Cove on Hilton Head Island at No. 88 and the Golf Club
at Briar's Creek on Johns Island at No. 90.
The Ocean Course, designed in Pete Dye and opened in 1991, jumped eight
places in the world rankings and five spots in the U.S. rankings. Golf
Magazine also has it No. 3 in its "Top 100 You Can Play," published last
September. The Ocean Course is ranked No. 38 in the U.S. by Golf Digest,
which also put it in the top spot for its list of "America's 50 Toughest."
"We're certainly honored and excited to move up in both categories," said
Brian Gerard, director of golf for Kiawah Island Golf Resort. "With the
opening of our new clubhouse and the PGA Championship coming in 2012, we
hope to continue that trend."
The course was the site of the 1991 Ryder Cup, and this spring the Senior
PGA Championship was held there.
Harbour Town Golf Links on Hilton Head Island, designed by Dye and Jack
Nicklaus, slipped 11 spots to No. 70 in the world rankings and dropped six
places to No. 34 in the U.S. rankings. Harbour Town opened in 1969.
Yeamans Hall, opened in 1925 and designed by Seth Raynor, dropped one spot
to No. 60.
"It's flattering. We're fortunate to be included with such great golf clubs
in the country," said Yeamans Hall head professional Claude Brusse. "With
the redo that Tom Doak did in 1998 and the ongoing changes and updates to
our golf course, we feel like we have one of the finer products in the
world. We're not out looking for publicity, but we're flattered."
Long Cove Club, designed by Dye and opened in 1981, dropped 10 places to No.
88. Briar's Creek fell 26 spots.
"We're concentrating on getting our clubhouse finished, but I think as we
mature in the coming years we'll have a better chance of recognition on
those lists," said Briar's Creek founder and developer Steve Koenig. "We're
delighted to get any top 100 ranking, especially considering the
competition."
The top 10 courses in the world rankings included: No. 1, Pine Valley, N.J.;
No. 2, Cypress Point, Calif.; No. 3, St. Andrews (Old Course), Scotland; No.
4, Augusta National, Ga.; No. 5, Pebble Beach, Calif.; No. 6, Shinnecock
Hills, N.Y.; No. 7, Royal County Down, Northern Ireland; No. 8, Muirfield,
Scotland; No. 9, Oakmont, Pa.; and No. 10, Merion (East), Pa.
The top 10 U.S. courses are: No. 1, Pine Valley, N.J.; No. 2, Cypress Point,
Calif.; No. 3, Augusta National, Ga.; No. 4, Pebble Beach, Calif.; No. 5,
Shinnecock Hills, N.Y.; No. 6, Oakmont, Pa.; No. 7, Merion (East), Pa.; No.
8, Sand Hills, Neb.; No. 9, Pacific Dunes, Oregon; and No. 10, National Golf
Links, N.Y.
The complete lists can be viewed at
www.golf.com
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