Customer Reviews

Zagat 2007/08 America's Top Golf

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Zagat has in my opinion the best reviews of restaurants around. It has attempted to get into the golf course review business, and while the reviews have the same familiarity as their other books, it lacks the comprehensiveness of courses to make it a truly worthwhile effort. I have found the Golf Digest/Fodor "Best Places to Play" book infinitely better as a travel golf resource. Not recommended.

I am a fan of Zagat guides. I've used them since the very beginning.

That said - I just got the Sixth Edition newest Golf guide. They say the information comes from a full range of golfers.

I golf in a handful of cities- enough to know about the courses. Sadly some of our favorites where not mentioned.

AND - Basically - NO executive courses.

In Los Angeles there is a course that is just over 3,000 yards 3 and 4 par executive course.
It is excellent for women AND men. In our group the men and women both have a challenge because the course requires precision - not just long drives :)
You have to hit over the canyons. It has views of the city up in the Glendale canyons.
There simply is not a better Executive course in Los Angeles than this one.
It is Scholl Canyon in Glendale. (please tell me if you know a better one)... :)
And yet - no mention of this course.

In a city as large as Los Angeles, or Palm Springs there are no mentions at all of any executive courses.

And, in the women friendly courses - they don't mention the ONE course in Palm Springs that constantly markets to women. It is Cimarron. They have 2 courses. The Boulder (longer with 6,500 yards) and Pebble Course a 56 par 3,156 yard course. Often we will play the short course on our first day and the long one the next day. It makes for a great weekend of golf.

Then there is Santa Fe - how do you NOT mention Marty Sanchez perhaps one of the most impressive Municipal golf courses to be played.
And, Travel and Leisure rates the "great 28" as one of the top 5 executive courses to play. (they also have a long course here as well) We have to agree. We played the course one late afternoon when we did not have time for a full game. And, it was GREAT. Beautiful course. Challenging - The women beat the men that day (again precision required here).
Canyons to cross... Truly one of the most scenic courses we have EVER played.

So - I guess it would be ok to keep the Zagat guide in the car if one does not have a cell phone with a browser. But, for now - We still find our best golf by going on the internet. Golf link has been good - and even the LOCAL free golf publications.

Golf digest is good to keep in the car with their "top" lists.

Note to Zagat:
Each City should have the top course for : Scenery - Difficulty - Executive or Women Friendly (which by the way are also "senior" friendly) - Municipal.
Each city should have TOP driving ranges. And, ones that have chipping and putting.

The lists in the back are great. But, where was the representation of the intermediate, women or senior golfers.
Golf Digest recently wrote in an article that 40% of NEW golfers are women. I'd think that a high enough number to list for them.

Sorry Zagat - this book just does not live up to your dining information.

I use this book to help select sites for golf trips. The book is a handy reference for highlighting the better courses of each city or county. I have also used the Fodors/Golf Digetst book and find both helpful, but the Zagat highlights only the better courses. If you're aiming for a quick review of better courses, it is very helpful. If you are looking for a review of a wider range of courses, you want to see the Fodors/Golf Digest book.