Perspective from the 19th Hole is the title I chose for my personal blog, which is meant to give me an outlet for one of my favorite crafts – writing – plus to use an image from my favorite sport, golf. Out of college, my first job was as a reporter for the Daily Astorian in Astoria, Oregon, and I went on from there to practice writing in all my professional positions, including as press secretary in Washington, D.C. for a Democrat Congressman from Oregon (Les AuCoin), as an Oregon state government manager in Salem and Portland, as press secretary for Oregon’s last Republican governor (Vic Atiyeh), and as a private sector lobbyist. This blog also allows me to link another favorite pastime – politics and the art of developing public policy – to what I write. I could have called this blog “Middle Ground,” for that is what I long for in both politics and golf. The middle ground is often where the best public policy decisions lie. And it is where you want to be on a golf course.
The place where I play most of my golf – Illahe Hills Golf and Country Club in Salem, Oregon – again made GolfWeek magazine’s ist of “top private golf courses” in each state.
It was the second time in a row that Illahe made the list for Oregon, an honor I think it deserves as it stands among other solid courses in Oregon, such as Portland Golf Club, Columbia Edgewater, and Waverly.
As GolfWeek put it:
“No matter where you live or where you want to play, these tabulations by our Golfweek’s Best Rater Program offer something for every golfer.”
How does GolfWeek come with its “best in golf” lists?
It relies on the perspectives of more than 800 raters around the world. They are golfers who play the courses and rate each layout based on 10 criteria, with each offering its own 10-point scale.
Raters then offer one overall rating of 1 to 10, which is not cumulative based on the 10 criteria. An average of those overall ratings is calculated to create an annual score for each layout, allowing Golfweek’s Best to rank courses.
It is worth noting, GolfWeek says, that there are no perfect 10s. Only eight courses around the world with enough qualifying votes to appear on our top lists in 2024 are rated above a 9. An average rating above 8 indicates an incredible golf course. Anything above a 7 is worth traveling great distances to experience. Courses with an average rating of 6 to 7 are probably the best course in most cities.
Here, from GolfWeek, is a summary of the rating qualifications.
1. Routing
How well the holes individually and collectively adhere to the land and to each other.
2a. Integrity of design
The extent to which the existing holes either conform to the original design intent or, for those courses that have been renovated, the extent to which the holes embody a character that is cohesive rather than fragmentary.
2b. Quality of shaping (
The extent to which course construction creates design elements that fit in well and provide a consistent look or sensibility.
3. Overall land plan
Ease of integration of all built-out elements with native land including course, clubhouse, real estate, roads, native topography and landforms. Extent to which land plan facilitates long views of surrounds and/or interior views of property.
4. Greens and surrounds
Interest, variety and playability of putting surfaces, collars, chipping areas and greenside bunkers.
5. Variety and memorability of par 3s
Differentiation of holes by length, club required, topography, look and angle of approach.
6. Variety and memorability of par 4s
Range of right-to-left and left-to-right drives and second shots required, as well as spread of length, topography and look of the holes.
7. Variety and memorability of par 5s
Variety of risk/reward opportunities on tee shot; how interesting the second shots are; variety of third shots required.
8. Tree and landscape management
Extent to which ornamentals, hardwoods, conifers and other flora enhance the design and playability of a course without overburdening it or compromising strategic flexibility and agronomy.
9. Conditioning and ecology
Overall quality of maintenance, discounting for short-term issues (weather or top dressing); extent of native areas; diversity of plant life and wildlife.
10. “Walk in the park” test
The sense of the place as worthy of spending four hours on it.
So, with all this, my favorite course in the world, makes the private course list for Oregon! Good.
When I talked with Illahe’s head pro about this rating result, he offered another interesting perspective. He said that, if you asked pro golfers around Oregon for their ratings (not just amateur raters), Illahe would rank in the top five private courses in the state.
That said, I think I’ll go out and play golf again – now.
Perspective from the 19th Hole 