Golf fans are in for a treat this year, as the 2019 major championships as a whole are on some of the top courses in the world.
It’s not like majors are ever held on dog tracks, but even compared to the majors of the past five years, this season’s courses should be special.
The Golfweek’s Best raters judge courses on a 10-point scale in several categories such as memorability of par 5s, conditioning, walk in the park and the like. Courses are then given a total grade. Any course that ranks above 7 in the overall category is one of the best courses in the country, as that score places a course in the top 100 on either the Modern (built since 1960) or Classic (before 1960) list.
Using current Golfweek’s Best ratings, the four majors in each of the past five years have a combined rating of 32.86, with the average for each course 8.22. This year’s major courses have a combined rating of 34.66, with an average of 8.67.
How significant are those few decimal points? Using the Golfweek’s Best Classic list as a guide, 8.22 would place a course No. 18 in the United States, while 8.67 would have a course ranked No. 11 on the same list.
Basically, all these are great courses. It just so happens that 2019 is even greater than usual.
Masters: Augusta National Golf Club
Golfweek’s Best rating: 9.33
Where: Augusta, Ga.
Designer: Alister MacKenzie
Year opened: 1933
PGA Championship: Bethpage Black
Golfweek’s Best rating: 7.95
Where: Farmingdale, N.Y.
Designer: A.W. Tillinghast
Year opened: 1936
U.S. Open: Pebble Beach Golf Links
Golfweek’s Best rating: 8.86
Where: Pebble Beach, Calif.
Designers: Jack Neville and Douglas Grant
Year opened: 1919
British Open: Royal Portrush Dunluce Links
Golfweek’s Best rating: 8.52
Where: County Antrim, Northern Ireland
Designer: Harry S. Colt
Year opened: 1929
2018 major courses
Augusta National: 9.33 rating
Shinnecock Hills: 9.33
Carnoustie: 7.84
Bellerive CC: 6.84
Combined: 33.34
2017 major courses
Augusta National: 9.33 rating
Erin Hills: 7.05
Royal Birkdale: 7.90
Quail Hollow: 7.28
Combined: 31.56
2016 major courses
Augusta National: 9.33 rating
Oakmont: 9.09
Royal Troon: 7.56
Baltusrol Lower: 7.54
Combined: 33.52
2015 major courses
Augusta National: 9.33
Chambers Bay: 7.37
St. Andrews Old Course: 8.82
Whistling Straits: 8.28
Combined: 33.80
2014 major courses
Augusta National: 9.33 rating
Pinehurst No. 2: 8.41
Royal Liverpool: 7.21
Valhalla: 7.15
Combined: 32.10
Combined ratings by year
2019: 34.66 (8.67 per course)
2018: 33.34 (8.34)
2017: 31.56 (7.89)
2016: 33.52 (8.38)
2015: 33.80 (8.45)
2014: 32.10 (8.025)
(Gwk)
