For over 50 years, monthly publication Golf Digest has been rating and ranking the top golf courses in the U.S. as part of its ‘America’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses’ list. Announced last year, Johnny Dangerfield looks to the current top three in order to determine whether the list still stacks up in anticipation of the upcoming 2019-2020 rankings.
“A comprehensive, detailed presentation, Golf Digest’s biennial list takes into account comments from expert panelists, additional write-ups, and an extensive range of numbers and statistics,” explains Dangerfield, a passionate golfer, and resident of Daniel Island, South Carolina.
Third on the current list, he goes on to reveal, is Cypress Point Club, located on California’s Monterey Peninsula. “Something of a masterpiece, glamorous Cypress Point is set amid vast sand dunes along a jagged coastline,” says Dangerfield. A timeless course, according to many, Cypress Point does, however, divide opinion among certain golfers.
“The Golf Digest ranking says it all, really,” suggests Dangerfield of the division in opinion. The course has been ranked since 1966, holding second place in 1987-1988. Cypress Point maintains its position in third place from the 2015-2016 list.
Holding second place on the current list is Augusta National Golf Club, located in Augusta, Georgia. “This is easily one of the most famous golf clubs on the planet, my family and I have visited during the week of the tournament several time. There is no better golf atmosphere!” reckons Dangerfield. Founded in 1933, Augusta National Golf Club has conducted the annual Masters Tournament since 1934, only ever failing to do so during WWII, according to Golf Digest.
“The course is very much worthy of its place here on this list, I’ve tried everything I can to have the opportunity to play Augusta” says Dangerfield. Last year’s first place course, Augusta also took the top Golf Digest title in 2009-2010, 2011-2012, and 2015-16.
Taking the top spot for 2017-2018, Pine Valley Golf Club in Camden County, New Jersey reigns supreme, pushing Augusta National Golf Club into second. “Pine Valley is legendary,” says Dangerfield of the club and course, which has held the top position for over 20 years in total since 1966. Last year’s second most highly rated course on the list, Pine Valley Golf Club is praised for its original, unique character, forged from the sandy pine barrens of southwest Jersey, according to Golf Digest.
“I’ve never seen such architectural dominance around an entire course. Every hole could be considered ‘all-world’ as far as I’m concerned. The variety of every aspect of the course at Pine Valley is unparalleled in the world of golf,” says one of Golf Digest’s panelists of the course.
“I’d echo that sentiment one hundred percent,” adds Dangerfield, wrapping up.
Owner of Automaxx of the Carolinas, an automotive dealership based in Summerville, South Carolina, Johnny Dangerfield has scooped numerous golf trophies in the last decade. From Bulls Bay Golf Club in Awendaw, where he picked up tournament wins in 2008, 2015, and 2017, to Charleston’s Daniel Island Club where he scooped back-to-back tournament wins in 2017 and 2018, Dangerfield is a passionate golfer. An avid supporter of non-denominational Seacoast Church’s sports ministry, Seacoast Sports, Dangerfield currently resides in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina.
