Top of the leader board

For the second consecutive year, the Virginia Golf Ratings Panel showcases its rankings of the commonwealth’s top 50 golf courses. And for the second consecutive year, the Cascades course — William Flynn’s classic design masterpiece that opened in 1923 — at The Omni Homestead is No. 1.

There was subtle movement in the top 10 courses in the ranking, most notably the Full Cry course at Keswick Hall & Golf Club improving from 10th to sixth. Panelists were impressed by the maturity of what was originally an Arnold Palmer design. The course was completely redone by Pete Dye in 2014.

The only new addition to this year’s rankings is Draper Valley Golf Club, near Radford, which debuts at No. 50.

The mission of the Virginia Golf Ratings Panel is to provide rankings that a broad spectrum of golfers can appreciate and to promote what panel members believe is a great game. The panel currently includes 46 men and women who, while their playing ability varies, share a passion for the game and an appreciation for course design. Each also maintains his or her primary residence in Virginia.

In voting for the top 50, panelists were asked to consider a number of factors — variety in design, routing, strategy, fairness, shot values, memorability and aesthetics — in determining their individual rankings. They could vote only for courses they’ve played (and there are more than 300 courses in the commonwealth).

From their ballots, the top 50 was determined by a blended scoring system that, first, averaged a course’s ranking per number of panelists who had played it and, second, rewarded total points received (the higher the ranking the greater the number of total points). 

Kevin Brafford is executive director of the Virginia Golf Ratings Panel, virginiagolfratings.com.

The Virginia Golf Ratings Panel’s Top 50 Courses