Tiger Woods returns to the green, so too does Zagat Survey, which today released the sixth edition of its America's Top Golf Courses survey and launched its brand new iPhone application, GOLF BY ZAGAT. Based on the experiences of 6,054 avid golfers who played an average of 8.8 rounds per month, the survey covers 1,149 of the top public, semi-private and resort layouts, as well as urban driving ranges and the leading private courses.
The results reveal that despite the nation's current fiscal woes, avid golfers -- and the industry that caters to them -- seem determined to weather the storm. Throughout the year, celebrity designers have been sprucing up old favorites and creating standout new courses; and almost half of surveyors say that the economy has not affected their game.
"Most golf enthusiasts aren't abandoning their games, they're just looking for better deals, and packages that maximize value," says Tim Zagat, CEO of Zagat Survey. "This year's survey shows that there are more options and price points than ever, which is also good news for newcomers to the sport."
Ratings and reviews can be found in the sixth edition of Zagat's America's Top Golf Courses guide book, ZAGAT TO GO(sm) for BlackBerry Smartphones and the new iPhone application, GOLF BY ZAGAT(sm), which allows users to store their favorite courses, handicaps and scores, and is GPS-enabled to help links-lovers find the closest place to tee off.
And the Winners Are: Long Island's Bethpage, Black, host of the upcoming 2009 U.S. Open, took honors as the top-rated course in this year's survey, thanks to a supremely challenging layout by A.W. Tillinghast. According to one of the initiated respondents, "you haven't golfed until you've played the Black." This year's Top Newcomer is Chambers Bay (WA), and the gorgeous Pebble Beach (CA) once again ranks as the guide's Most Popular course.
Not Teed Off - Teeing Up: The economic crisis has hit the country hard, but many avid golfers are determined to weather any storm. Nearly half of surveyors (44%) say that the economy has not affected their game, and only 16% say that they are playing less because of it. A whopping 74% of these avid golfers say they will take one to three golf-specific vacations in the next year. However, players are adjusting to the economic climate as 33% of them say they are seeking out special deals more than before and 16% report playing at cheaper courses than in the past. Happily, there are plenty of affordable options to choose from, including this Survey's lowest priced layout, Kansas' Buffalo Dunes, costing a mere $25 per round. Long Island's Bethpage Black, this year's winner for Top Course, is also listed as a top-five pick for best in value.
Quality Over Quantity: According to industry reports, only 72 new 18-hole courses opened in the U.S. in 2008, the lowest total in decades (in 2000, 518 courses made their debuts). But while quantity may have dipped, new quality courses abound. Newcomers include Nevada's Jack Nicklaus-designed The Chase at PGA Golf Club Coyote Springs; Utah's Sand Hollow Resort, a John Fought design that weaves through red rock outcroppings; and Oregon's Tetherow, a Scottish-style track from David McLay Kidd of Bandon Dunes fame. Golfers can expect more layouts from high-profile architects in the year to come.
Greener Grass: The race to be green is in full swing at courses across the U.S. In New York, Long Island's stand-out, Bethpage, is the highest rated club taking on Environmentally Friendly operations. Colorado's venerable Broadmoor has instituted a recycling program and water-use restrictions, and converted 50 acres of turf to native grassland. South Carolina's Kiawah Island had all five of its courses certified in 2008 as Audubon International Cooperative Sanctuaries, and Hawaii's Mauna Lani now generates its own solar power.
Expert Overhaul: Following the lead of New York's Bethpage Black and San Francisco's Harding Park, properties across the U.S. have brought in big names to refurbish old layouts -- a wise choice, considering that 71% of surveyors say that the course architect influences their decision on where to play. Miami's Normandy Shores was redesigned by Arthur Hills, and South Carolina's Sea Pines Resort turned its Sea Marsh spread into Heron Point, a much tougher, more scenic Pete Dye design. Nevada's Shadow Creek was tweaked and lengthened by Tom Fazio; and Arizona's Troon North, Monument traded out nines with its sibling, Pinnacle, with all 36 holes refurbished by Tom Weiskopf.