Golf Magazine publishes a list of the Top Ten Golf Courses to Watch. Who says so? Who does the rating? You might be surprised to find that of the 1oo members of their judging panel – only four! count ’em – only four were women.

Guest Author Catherine Mitschele shares some thoughts. In our comment section, we invite yours as well.
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Golf Course Ratings

Guest Author: Catherine Mitschele

The Golf Course Gold Standards for Women Golfers

Here we have Golf Magazine’s Top Ten Golf Courses to Watch. It is important to note, however, that out of the 100-judge panel, Golf Magazine only saw fit to invite four women golfers (yes, only four) to participate. Upon this discovery, we thought that their results might be a tad bit skewed, so we have taken it upon ourselves to give you the skinny on whether these courses are under par on our Golf Course Gold Standards for Women Golfers Rating Scale. The following are the five categories against which these golf courses were held as they relate to women golfers:

• The Beginning Golf Experience
• Game Options
• The Pro Shop
• Forward Tees
• Equal Accessibility of the Course

Erin Hills Golf Course

4½ Star Golf Course

Located in Erin, Wisconsin, this golf course was designed by Michael Hurdzan, Dana Fry and Ron Whitten. With its spectacular farmland backdrop and four-tee hole layouts, Erin Hills was awarded the 2008 Women’s Amateur Public Links before the golf course was completely built. This is a very good sign.

Sunday River Golf Course

4¾ Star Golf Course

Designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., this Newry, Maine golf course offers multiple game options, a four-tee hole layout, an impressive practice facility and a wide range of instructional choices for beginner women golfers.

Marquette Golf Club

5 Star Golf Course

Marquette boasts two separate golf courses – the Heritage and Greywalls, from designer Mike DeVries. Greywalls has our optimum 5-tee layout as well as a fantastic pro shop that offers high quality apparel and equipment for both men and women golfers.

Red Tail Golf Club

4¾ Star Golf Course

Located in Devens, Massachusetts, the Red Tail Golf Club offers a four-tee hole layout, extensive beginner instruction and practice facilities for women golfers, not to mention the fact that this golf course has been awarded the 2009 Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship. Another very good sign.

The Tribute Golf Club

4 ½ Star Golf Course

The Tribute Golf Club in The Colony, Texas is exactly that. All 18 holes are designed after British golf courses such as St. Andrews, Muirfield, Turnberry and Carnoustie. However, there is a four-tee layout at every hole as well as an extremely well-equipped pro shop which is much better for women golfers than some of the Tribute’s inspirations.

Coral Canyon Golf Course

5 Star Golf Course

Designer Keith Foster hit a hole in one with this beautiful, five-tee layout golf course. In addition to numerous game options and an extensive collection of apparel for women golfers, Coral Canyon Golf Course has one of the most personalized golf instruction opportunities available.

Circling Raven Golf Club

5 Star Golf Course

If a five-tee hole layout, detailed and individualized instruction and five onsite restaurants are not enough, this Idaho golf course is adjacent to the Coeur D’Alene Casino. Talk about a hole in one!

Apache Stronghold Golf Club

4¾ Star Golf Course

Designed by Tom Doak, this San Carlos, Arizona is just an hour away from Phoenix and certainly well worth the trip! With its onsite golf school that offers every imaginable kind of golf instruction and its four-tee hole layout, Apache Stronghold is a desert oasis for women golfers.

Farm Neck Golf Club

3 ½ Star Golf Course

This Geoffrey S. Cornish designed golf course in Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts has a driving range, individual and group lessons available and four sets of tees. However, Farm Neck is known for its difficult bunkers and massive pond that follows the golfer for nine holes. This might not be a good golf course for women golfers.

Atlantic City Country Club

3 Star Golf Course

We’re not terribly impressed with Harrah’s golf course. With only three tees at each hole, the Atlantic City Country Club is quite proud of its century of history. Unfortunately, that history precedes the whole men-and-women-are-equal thing. Women golfers may want to get married here for the beautiful surroundings and the fabulous catering, but we’re quite sure this is not a women-friendly golf course.

Gold Standards for Women Golfers!

Catherine Mitschele worked on Wall Street for 27 years and opened and ran an institutional brokerage firm in London. When she returned to the States in 2003, she sold her business and retired.

Since then she learned to love the game of golf from her father before he passed away in 2006. Now she is dedicated to the sport and to promoting it among women from all walks of life.

For more information, go to the website at http://www.Women-Golfers.com

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