Rating golf courses

I am asked frequently which are my top ten links courses and of course it is difficult to say.  There are so many variables; the weather, the welcome, and the way you played affect your impression and biases.  Then one needs to consider history, the style, the condition of the course, the facilities and the character of the place.  And there are more extraneous elements such as ease of access, places to stay and eat etc.  And sometimes one doesn’t get the chance to experience all the facilities on each visit to give full weighting on a level with every course played.  So having given myself a handful of mulligans I have arrived at this system.

Character; style, history, anticipation/excitement levels, scenery.  Hereinafter Seagull’s view

Condition; of greens, bunkers and fairways.  Hereinafter Greens & bunkers

Links Experience; Is it a true links? facilities, welcome, a good tour destination.  Hereinafter Links experience

I have allotted a total of 72 points thus

Seagull’s view          36

Greens & bunkers    18

Links experience      18

This way no course is over par and the weaker courses might have a gone round in a little over 2 ‘shots’ per hole which is not too shabby!  I will attempt to go over my notes on earlier rounds to score those already played which may, or may not, provide interesting comparisons, or competitive discussion.  Let me know if you have any better suggestions.