I just read this sentence in the latest Disc Golf World about the course in England at Whitcombe Farm-- "according to PDGA Radio News presenter Brian Sullivan (it) is the most beautiful in the world" (p. 48). This is hyperbole, and it�s an astounding claim, but it must be a beautiful course nonetheless. But that got me thinking-- is it possible to determine the most beautiful course in the world? If so, how? There are many daunting challenges to overcome, not the least of which are local bias and subjectivity over the criteria to use.

So let me throw it out to you-- is it even possible to determine the most beautiful course in the world, or at least the top 10? If so, how would you do it? Since no one has, or probably even can, go to every course in the world, can they be compared? Gregg Hosfeld has played almost 800 courses, but what about those in other countries, and what about the other >1400 that are still out there? Is one of these more beautiful than those he's seen? If you haven�t seen every course, then how can determine which is the most beautiful?

So what are your thoughts on how to even go about such a beauty pageant? I don't want candidates, just your thoughts on the feasibility of the process.

Here are a few of my thoughts to get things rolling:

1) You need a panel of judges. An odd number, like 7 or 9, sounds good. They should have a lot of playing, design, and evaluation experience. Chuck Kennedy, John Houck, Harold Duvall, Tom Monroe immediately come to mind.

2) The world would need to be divided up according to concentrations of courses. Much of Asia could be lumped together. Countries with lots of courses, like Sweden, should get at least one contestant.

3) Since the majority of the courses are in the U.S. it needs to be divided up in it's own way. It just wouldn't make sense for the U.S. to have one candidate in the pageant along with smaller countries like Switzerland. States with lots of courses like TX, CA, MI, NC should have special consideration, or be further divided based on course concentration.

4) But even small countries could have several candidates. It seems conceivable to me that Switzerland may well have 3-5 of the world's most beautiful courses.

5) Criteria for beauty need to be determined. Then how do you weight them? The design of the holes also comes into play here.

6) Personally, I think this should be solely about beauty not about quality. So you could have terrible tees and bad baskets and no amenities, but still have the most beautiful course. Overall quality is a separate determination.

7) Local bias and subjectivity need to be overcome by some means.

Well, that's a start at least...

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. ;) Therefore it's all just a matter of opinion.

That said, The High Country DGC in Jefferson, NC. is the most beautiful course I have ever seen! :)

My bet is, it's probably in Colorada or maybe Californica

there's a mountain on an island in the Pacific...

Nevermind........completely off the focus :confused:

there's a mountain on an island in the Pacific...




Like This.....

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g103/Magilla6930/PoliPoli.jpg

Mike R. is indeed a sage...

Mike R. is indeed a sage...



;)
:D