Post by IAMCAPER on Jul 13, 2004 14:05:57 GMT -4
Two Cape Breton golf courses have been recognized by ScoreGolf in their annual rankings of the country’s Top 100 layouts, released Saturday.
The publication’s panel of Canadian golf experts and rankers gave high marks to the Cape Breton Highlands Links in Ingonish and Bell Bay Golf Club in Baddeck, both members of the Fabulous Foursome group of courses. Dundee Resort and Golf Club in West Bay and LePortage Golf Club in Cheticamp round out the set of renowned Cape Breton layouts.
Highlands Links was ranked fifth in the Top 100 category and first in the best value category. A former No. 1 rated course by ScoreGolf in 2000, Highlands has slipped to the fifth spot from being the No. 2 rated course last year.
But Ted Stonehouse, chairman of the Fabulous Foursome group of courses, said the slip is only a minor one.
“They’re fifth in the country and first for public courses,” said Stonehouse, who also serves as general manager and club professional at Bell Bay. “It’s a little bit disappointing, but they were still No. 1 for best value. To be ranked in the top five is extraordinary.
“For them to hang onto it there is outstanding and is great for all of us. They have some good publicity already on the television show as well as the magazine when it comes out.”
Stonehouse said the efforts of the staff and golf promoters are the key to Highlands Links’ success in the rankings on a yearly basis.
“The efforts that all the staff there put forward, like Irene Khattar who is the guru in the golf industry when it comes to dealing with media and rankers,” he said. “Getting the key people to our region, she is so crucial in doing that.
“Club professional Joe Robinson is a wonderful golf professional who is from the area all his life and has all the secrets of the golf course that a lot of people don’t know about.”
Bell Bay was ranked in the 44th position, up 12 spots from last year. The course was named the most underrated course in Canada by ScoreGolf in 2002.
Stonehouse said the leap is a great omen for his layout, which will host the 2005 Canadian Amateur Championship next summer.
“To see us bump up in rankings this year is hopeful and we really appreciate it,” he said. “I truly believe we have one of the finest staff in all of Canada. They bend over backwards for every person that comes through and I’m so proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish from a service point of view.”
Stonehouse credits much of the success to the course’s new superintendent Ray Pineau as well.
“He’s put a fresh new life into it for getting the course ready for the 2005 Canadian Amateur,” he said. “Hosting these major events gives us more and more exposure.
“As we continue to win not only ScoreGolf rankings, but Golf Digest rankings, that continues to hold the light to where we should be in the market place in all of Canada.”
ScoreGolf named Hamilton Golf and Country Club in Ancaster, Ont. the No. 1 course in the country, followed by the National Golf Club of Canada in Woodbridge, Ont., St. George’s Golf Club in Etobicoke, Ont. and Capilano Golf and Country Club, located just north of Vancouver, B.C.
The publication’s panel of Canadian golf experts and rankers gave high marks to the Cape Breton Highlands Links in Ingonish and Bell Bay Golf Club in Baddeck, both members of the Fabulous Foursome group of courses. Dundee Resort and Golf Club in West Bay and LePortage Golf Club in Cheticamp round out the set of renowned Cape Breton layouts.
Highlands Links was ranked fifth in the Top 100 category and first in the best value category. A former No. 1 rated course by ScoreGolf in 2000, Highlands has slipped to the fifth spot from being the No. 2 rated course last year.
But Ted Stonehouse, chairman of the Fabulous Foursome group of courses, said the slip is only a minor one.
“They’re fifth in the country and first for public courses,” said Stonehouse, who also serves as general manager and club professional at Bell Bay. “It’s a little bit disappointing, but they were still No. 1 for best value. To be ranked in the top five is extraordinary.
“For them to hang onto it there is outstanding and is great for all of us. They have some good publicity already on the television show as well as the magazine when it comes out.”
Stonehouse said the efforts of the staff and golf promoters are the key to Highlands Links’ success in the rankings on a yearly basis.
“The efforts that all the staff there put forward, like Irene Khattar who is the guru in the golf industry when it comes to dealing with media and rankers,” he said. “Getting the key people to our region, she is so crucial in doing that.
“Club professional Joe Robinson is a wonderful golf professional who is from the area all his life and has all the secrets of the golf course that a lot of people don’t know about.”
Bell Bay was ranked in the 44th position, up 12 spots from last year. The course was named the most underrated course in Canada by ScoreGolf in 2002.
Stonehouse said the leap is a great omen for his layout, which will host the 2005 Canadian Amateur Championship next summer.
“To see us bump up in rankings this year is hopeful and we really appreciate it,” he said. “I truly believe we have one of the finest staff in all of Canada. They bend over backwards for every person that comes through and I’m so proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish from a service point of view.”
Stonehouse credits much of the success to the course’s new superintendent Ray Pineau as well.
“He’s put a fresh new life into it for getting the course ready for the 2005 Canadian Amateur,” he said. “Hosting these major events gives us more and more exposure.
“As we continue to win not only ScoreGolf rankings, but Golf Digest rankings, that continues to hold the light to where we should be in the market place in all of Canada.”
ScoreGolf named Hamilton Golf and Country Club in Ancaster, Ont. the No. 1 course in the country, followed by the National Golf Club of Canada in Woodbridge, Ont., St. George’s Golf Club in Etobicoke, Ont. and Capilano Golf and Country Club, located just north of Vancouver, B.C.