THREAD: Wearing my essential ⁦ @paranoiacs⁩ t-shirt, watch and Yoruba bracelets as I prepare to delve into ⁦ @GOLF_com⁩ Top 100 in the U.S...Heart rate currently at 64 BPM. Let’s start reading...

Ran Morrissett was the first person to give me the green light to writer about golf. Forever grateful to Ran and happy to see he's part of the @GOLF_com team. We are in the best of hands...Here we go.

Ranking golf courses is a fool's errand, so who better than me to review this list. The first thing I like to look for on any list is "how low is Augusta?" Any higher than #3 and it goes immediately to recycling. Lets' see...#6? OK, I see you, Mr. Morrissett. Good call.

Where I've played doesn't matter. Where I grew up playing helps frame. I played mostly at @DwanGolfCourse (L) which- once again - didn't make this list. At 13 y.o., I saw Raynor's Minnesota Valley (R) and thought it was heaven. I visited this summer. It's great but not on list.

The pictures are stunning. @chancbenjamin took this picture of the only golf course in the entire Palm Springs valley that matters- Stone Eagle. (Thunderbird actually matters quite a bit. Apologies. The Reserve is also awesome. As is The Players. That's it.)

The worst people I've ever met are neo-nazis (like the guy who *tried* to steal my bike a few weeks back) Ohio State fans and the people who have these peg boards where they keep track of their top 100 conquests. We all know and love someone with this board. All of us.

Back to the magazine....Top 100 list aside, these little pop-outs are great and informative. Top architects!

And the top states! First rant...The two best courses in Minnesota (and a few others that should be) in the top 100 aren't. (Seated heart rate has climbed to 77 BPM.)
I'm not here to disagree or agree, but the east coast bias in these rankings is strong and always has been.

What does it say about golf that the classics dominate the list & architects that appreciate the golden age do, as well? In an age of American idiocy, this list brings me joy. As @mikeclaytongolf pointed out, things were really bad in the 70's...

Something caught my eye on this list- Willie Watson's 1915 White Bear Yacht Club & St Louis CC, a 1914 MacDonald design...Came in at #76 & 78 both as "new" additions...New? Maybe "back again!" but new? What took so long?

FOLKS...We are hitting nerves. I was just sent a "cease & desist" from people I will not name. But I will not cease or desist. This game is our game. All of us.

Here's a snapshot of "by era." It's interesting...Is this recency bias? 25 of the top 100 were built in the last 20 years? OK....

Hang on...someone at my door.

Probably a good idea to stay away from the Top 100...Let's look at the "Best in Regions." The West is LOADED. If there are 12 better course in the world than the Valley Club, I've not seen them. Cannot wait for Brambles- the first Coore &Crenshaw in California to open shortly.

The Southeast, home to 60 year-old frat boys in quarter zips and leather loafers. And somehow 20 golf courses that are better than @TobaccoRoadGolf?!?!? (Seated heart rate now at 84 BPM.)

The "Heartland"....[[veins popping from neck and forehead.]]]

OK, look....

DID ANYONE BOTHER TO VISIT SPRING HILL?
DID YOU EVEN PLAY INTERLACHEN?
HOW IN THE HELL IS NORTHLAND RANKED SO LOW?

DAMMIT DAMMIT DAMMIT.

"I SAID TAKE IT FROM MY COLD DEAD HANDS."

Why do I even read these damn rankings....

I'm sure ranking all the great courses of the world is hard work. The people at @GolfMagazine do a fine job. It can be fun (and frustrating) to read the lists and I feel should buy @GolfMagazine (and a heart rate monitor) and see the list for yourself.

I AM CRYING. FOR REAL.
Forget the Top 100 for a minute... @Josh_Berhow wrote a piece about Loyal "Bud" Chapman. EASILY one of the top 5 influences in my golf life. Buy, buy, buy and read, read, read about Bud Chapman.