West Region US Best In State Rankings 2014

March 27, 2014

West Region US Best In State Rankings 2014

The final phase of our revised and updated US Best In State rankings for 2014 is complete

27th March 2014

We are pleased to announce that the fourth and final phase of four Regional updates is now complete detailing our latest biennial US Best in State rankings.

The West Region of the USA, as defined by the US Census Bureau, comprises of thirteen states; the Mountain states of Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming, alongside the Pacific sates of Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington. For the purpose of grouping our Best in State updates, we have decided to implement the rollout in four regional phases (Northeast, Midwest, South and West).

The famous 19th century quote: “Go West, Young Man!” may well have promoted the expansion westward at an exciting time in US history, but statistically the Western United States is still one of the most sparsely populated areas in the country. Of the thirteen Western states, only California and Washington exceed the national average of inhabitants per square mile.

The eight states that make up the West’s Mountain Division cover an enormous and incredibly diverse geographical area. Despite these inherent challenges, the Mountain West currently has six golf courses in America’s Top 100 and the most highly ranked is the inland links of Ballyneal at Holyoke in Colorado – Colorado, incidentally, currently boasts three layouts in the national hundred. Most courses in the Mountain region are modern designs and two notable layouts with a farming theme can be found at Gozzer Ranch in Idaho and at the Rock Creek Cattle Company in Montana – both of which were fashioned in the new millennium.

Only the Mid-Atlantic States boast more golf courses in the national Top 100 than the West’s Pacific States. With eighteen layouts in the US hundred, the Pacific States are well endowed with top-flight courses and California (with eleven American Top 100 tracks) is the second most prolific behind only New York State. Cypress Point is the Pacific Division’s standard-bearer and those golfers lucky enough to tee it up at “The Point” consider it a seminal experience. Next door to the ultra-private Cypress Point is Pebble Beach, which is simply Mecca for many golfers. Host to five U.S. Open Championships and numerous other important events, Pebble may be expensive, but it’s a course that many golfers consider to be the best you can play in the entire USA.

Further up the Pacific Coast in Oregon you’ll find the only property in America where you can play four world-class courses. Bandon Dunes is an extraordinary property but it would be remiss not to savour Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw’s 13-hole par three course, Bandon Preserve, while visiting Bandon.

We’ve extended most of our Best in State ranking lists since our first iteration some two years ago. California now features a Top 50 for the first time and Arizona and Colorado now profile Top 30s. Washington now features a Top 25 and Nevada, Hawaii and Oregon now display Top 20s.

The latest revision of our Best In State rankings is simply work in progress, as we know there are many unheralded golf courses that we still need to feature. If you’re passionate about your home state’s golf courses and would like to help us further develop our Best In State initiative by shining a light on a hidden gem, then please send an email to info@top100golfcourses.com. We’d love to hear from you.

To learn more about our revised Best in State rankings for the West Region, please navigate to the dedicated US state pages by clicking on any one of the following links:

The Top 100 Team