No paid marketing involved in Golf Digest and I don't think in DMN either. From the ones Ive played , the rankings generally seem to hold up fairly well.

Completely agreed about forming your own opinion. But rankings / word of mouth are a great smart for people with neither the time or funding to play every course out there.

The rankings are pretty much a sham. Especially the Houston area ones from my experience

I'm talking about the national ones.

I think the Dfw ones are generally pretty decent as well

Both are nice courses but you can drive by both and the trained eye can see which course is a better conditioned track. I'll leave it at that. Maybe I have a bit better eye than some as I have been very lucky to be involved in some very high end courses.

As for ranking, not to hijack the thread, don't believe all you see. I opened one of these high end courses and had to be involved in this process. Let's just say you need to hire a lobbiest to do what is needed. We received inside feedback and how to navigate a system. I use to eagerly await the rankings each year to see where my course ranked. We used to post it in the break room as a pride builder in our work. After this the rankings came in and sometimes just set on my desk. It really was disheartening to see the process unfold. DMN rankings I put no faith in at all.

My 2 cents is there are now too many good courses to properly rank them anyways. Hard to play them all at peak season times. The layout you can rank. The condition is very hard to be fair on. You can't keep greens hard and fast tournament style everyday. If you came day after a big tournament you may love it. 2 weeks later not so much. Ranking is hitting a moving target.

As for club management both come with evils. I have worked for a 1 owner and also worked for a greens committee style. They have their pluses and minuses. Neither one is better than the other.

I don't play gold anymore or run a course but it isn't hard to take a drive through and see which course I could see set up for a TV event. To each your own. Just enjoy the sport that has great roots and try and steer clear of the new way golf is played. You know the foot bump for a better angle or the oh that 4 footer is close enough. Lol

billionaire said:

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It's well known that for years you could play Miramont by simply calling and paying for a playing lesson.

Stating that a club is semi private because they allow a member in good standing to have a guest is crazy.
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When was the last time someone had a playing lesson at Miramont?

There are a lot more members with golf privileges at one of the clubs vs. the other....and only charter members at Miramont can have unaccompanied guests.

I'll end my commentary with the following: BCS is lucky to have these two courses.

Probably when Jeff Hunter was there!

Is that the same Jeff Hunter that is at Colonial now?

Think he came from San Antonio, but was he at Miramont prior?

Yes, Miramont to La Sonterra (I think) in SA... I haven't talked to him in a couple years, didn't realize he had a new gig.

Yes he started late May.

Im late to the party, but I'll just say:

We recently moved here and joined Traditions because we preferred the more heavily wooded lots and easier access to campus and downtown Bryan

Since then, we've been guests at Miramont twice.

Im a 15-17 hdcp and scored about the same at both places so far.

Staff at both is ABOVE AVERAGE for a club in Texas IMO

Maintenance and course conditions when ive been has been ABOVE AVERAGE at both

Miramont is essentially deserted. On a Saturday with perfect temps there were 8 groups that day per the Pro. We were the only diners at 12:45

SPI-FlatsCatter 84 said:

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Im late to the party, but I'll just say:

We recently moved here and joined Traditions because we preferred the more heavily wooded lots and easier access to campus and downtown Bryan

Since then, we've been guests at Miramont twice.

Im a 15-17 hdcp and scored about the same at both places so far.

Staff at both is ABOVE AVERAGE for a club in Texas IMO

Maintenance and course conditions when ive been has been ABOVE AVERAGE at both

Miramont is essentially deserted. On a Saturday with perfect temps there were 8 groups that day per the Pro. We were the only diners at 12:45

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Holy hell... How do they justify the upkeep of that place? Where do they get the budget?

Worked on the course as an undergrad. To say it's intensely managed would be an understatement.

ETA: as someone who hates people, that sounds awesome.

Yea... I've mentioned on here a few times before that during my time as a cart boy out at Miramont the course was empty all day every day. Eight groups actually sounds like a lot more than usual. There was a foursome that played pretty much every day of the week, then after that there maybe a few regulars that would play once a weekend and that was it. I spent a lot of time hunting around for golf balls in the woods.

Miramont, as in ALL of it, is one line item on Don Adam's ledger....#becausehecan

TT3000 said:

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Yea... I've mentioned on here a few times before that during my time as a cart boy out at Miramont the course was empty all day every day. Eight groups actually sounds like a lot more than usual. There was a foursome that played pretty much every day of the week, then after that there maybe a few regulars that would play once a weekend and that was it. I spent a lot of time hunting around for golf balls in the woods.

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This sounds like my dream course

92TXAG said:

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Miramont, as in ALL of it, is one line item on Don Adam's ledger....#becausehecan

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No. #accountingsayshecant

^
I
I
I
look at this nerd.

I've played out at Miramont several times in the past year and I don't recall seeing a group on a hole in front or behind me. Every now and then you see someone pass by but that's about it.

Miramont is perfectly managed. Pro shop is outstanding and the course is also. They do not make mistakes at Miramont. Traditions is a tough course but Miramont can be set up tough from the tips. Greens are perfect at Miramont. Don Adam has high standards .

Those who were booted deserved the expulsion.

The only rankings that matter are Golf Digest. The DMN list is a newspaper panel full of folks who can't get on most of the best courses. It's worse than flawed, it's fraudulent advertising.

I've never played Traditions or Miramont. Hope to change that next year.

This is simply not true. The DMN panel is made up of Golf Professionals, Golf Architects/Designers and others associated with golf. They can get on most anywhere anytime. The Golf Digest raters apply and pay a fee. By saying they are a rater it certainly helps them get on some courses, but is not an advantage.
Bottom line is that both are flawed,show bias etc. at the end of the day its a tool and its subjective. Just like food.,.I like cheese on my burger with jalapenos and my wife doesn't. So who's right? I am!