The Dallas Morning News course rankings are a team effort. The 81 were given a ballot of 300 courses and asked to rate them on a 10-point scale. are golf professionals, golf course architects, superintendents, people involved in the golf course industry and amateurs. Many of the amateurs compete in statewide and national events, and others have GHIN indexes north of 10.
Not even the most avid golfer has played all 300 courses, and the first marching order all are given is to vote only for the courses they have played, preferably within the last five years. We also give each of the a list of criteria to consider when rating. These criteria are similar to what national golf publications use.
The votes are tabulated, and a process known as winsorization is used to for outliers — high and low — to smooth the data. Because not every course is rated by every member, we determined that a course must receive votes from at least 13% of the to be eligible for Top 100 consideration. The standards are slightly lower for the top-50 public courses and the three lists of public courses broken down by price points.
Course rating criteria
Versatility: Does the course create a good mix for the high and low handicappers? Are better players challenged, while the high handicappers are able to enjoy play through the use of shorter teeing areas, alternate routes, location of hazards and accessible pins?
Shotmaking: Does it test accuracy, finesse, length and putting without putting too much emphasis on any of these skills?
Design: Is there a good balance? Differing lengths? Doglegs right and left? Placement of hazards? Contours and shapes of greens?
Afterthoughts: How much do you about the course? Do one or two holes stand out as great or bad?
Beauty: Do the scenic values add to the pleasure of a round? Trees, shrubs, hills, mounds, flowers, etc.?
Maintenance: How would you rate the course conditions, factoring in all aspects - tees, greens, fairways, bunkers? Spring, summer, fall or winter when viewed?
Enjoyment: How do you feel about being at the course? What about the amenities? From arrival to departure, was it a good, bad or indifferent golf experience?
ists
William Aycock, The Woodlands amateur
Mike Bailey, Golf writer, Houston amateur
Robert Banta, Frisco amateur
Kemberly Barrett, Waco amateur
Curt Breaux, Montgomery amateur
John Brechin, Dallas amateur
Walt Barnes, Dallas amateur
Brent Blackburn, Head professional, Corpus Christi Country Club
Bruce J. Burger, Director of agronomy, The Quarry Golf Club
Ben Burns, Pro emeritus, Crown Colony Country Club
Mark Button, Texas Golf Association Director of Business Development, Houston amateur
Tony Campagna, golf course materials consultant, Rockwall amateur
Miles Carlson, Superintendent, Woodlands Country Club
Greg Clark, Frisco amateur
Beth Cleckler, retired Morris Williams Golf Course manager, Austin amateur
John Cochran IV, Texas Golf Association director of competitions for South Texas
Brent Cooper, Dallas Amateur
Daniel Coughlan, Director of golf, Bent Tree Country Club
Rob Couture, Dallas amateur
Cameron Doan, Director of golf, Preston Trail Golf Club
Thomas Devanna, Head professional, Tangle Ridge Golf Club
Conrad Doss, The Woodlands amateur
Camm Dougherty, Corpus Christi amateur
Evan Dunkerson, Director of golf, Midland Country Club
Lou Duran, Frisco amateur
Bob Elliott, PGA Professional Life Member
Gilbert Freeman, Pro emeritus, Lakewood Country Club
Don Gafner, Dallas Golf Co. CEO, Sunnyvale amateur
Ed Gatlin, Life PGA member, Athens
Bill Hanley, USGA/TGA volunteer/rules
Mark Harrison, Northern Texas PGA CEO
Malcolm Holland, Dallas amateur
Mark Kazlowski, Cedar Hill amateur
Robbie Kearney, PGA vice president of golf operations, Crescent Hotels and Resorts
Trey Kemp, Golf course architect, Dallas
Randy King, Horseshoe Bay amateur
Timothy King, Head professional, Brook Hollow Golf Club
Keith Kirkendall, The Woodlands amateur
Lawson Klotz, Irving amateur
Nancy Kromar, Austin Amateur
Kellen Kubasak, Chief Operating Officer, First Tee San Antonio
Phyllis Kwedar, Kathy Whitworth Foundation board member, Fort Worth amateur
Ricky Lyons, General manager, Big Easy Ranch
James McAfee, Golf writer, Plano amateur
Mike McCabe, General manager, Golf Clubs at The Tribute
Cathy Marino, Jesuit golf coach, LPGA Professional
Timm Matthews, Radio/podcast host, Dallas amateur
Sam Morrow, Houston amateur
Bob Neal, Mansfield amateur
Terry Olson, Vice president Sales & Marketing, Lajitas Golf Resort
Casey Paulson, Project president, Driftwood Golf & Ranch Club
Marty Slade Perlman, Dallas amateur
Mike Peterson, PGA Tour rules official based in Dallas
Kevin Porter, Texas Golf Association director of competitions for North Texas
George Priolo, GM of golf operations/head professional, Comanche Trace Golf Complex, Amarillo
Jim Quinn, Manufactures Rep, Arlington senior amateur
Jerry Ransom, Greenville amateur
Jan Rapp, Dallas amateur
Paul Richards, Austin amateur
Corey Roberson, Director of golf, Cordillera Ranch
Robert Rodriguez, San Antonio amateur
Chris Rowe, Director of golf, Whispering Pines Golf Club
Casey Russell, Director of golf, The Covey at Big Easy Ranch
Linda Sackett, Boerne amateur
Lee Sandlin, Texas Golf Association president, Dallas amateur
Zach Sewill, Golf equipment company owner, Conroe amateur
Jonathan Shipley, Texas Golf Association past president, Katy amateur
Jeff Smelser, Superintendent, Galveston Country Club
Randy Smith, Pro emeritus, director of instruction, Royal Oaks CC, Dallas
Shane Smith, Conroe amateur
Mark Steinbauer, PGA education faculty
Art Stricklin, Golf writer, Plano amateur
Eldon Tarver, Austin amateur
Steve Termeer, General manager/COO, University of Texas Golf Club
Mark Tylenda, Lewisville amateur
Casey Wade, Head professional, Sterling Country Club, Houston
Pat Wheeler, Golf writer, Dallas amateur
Nannette Wheelis, Waco amateur
Jim Whitten, Dallas amateur
Greg Wille, Belton amateur
Chris Winn, Cypress amateur