Golf Season Has Arrived!

We’re back! Although they can take away Kapalua, they can’t prevent us from declaring this week as the official kickoff of the golf season.

Annual PGA Tour Venue Review

Each year, I undertake my favorite tradition: grading and categorizing PGA Tour venues based on their design quality and how effectively they challenge professional golfers.

Evaluation Criteria

Before diving into this year’s rankings, my evaluation criteria for assessing a professional golf test remain unchanged:

• Consequences for Errancy: A narrow miss should result in some punishment, while a significant miss should carry a much harsher penalty. A course that lacks this challenge is not suitable for professional play.
• Shot Variety: Players should face the necessity of executing more than just typical high fades.
• Ground Interaction: The strategic complexity should not disappear once the ball touches the ground.

While I should probably include a criterion for variety in hole design—considering length, direction, style, and required shot types—I will not include the standard for tournament infrastructure. This is primarily a PGA Tour concern.

PGA Tour Venue Tiers for 2026

Let’s get into the official tiering of PGA Tour venues for 2026. Augusta National is the only course on the professional schedule that fully meets all three criteria. While I recognize it isn’t technically a PGA Tour venue, my focus here is on annual Tour stops, leading to the exclusion of three major championship venues. If I were to rank them, Shinnecock would likely fit between the top tiers, Aronimink would be mid-tier, and I’m still deliberating on Royal Birkdale.

Challenges and Opinions

I’d advocate for completely redoing TPC Twin Cities, but that could risk the lives of nearby residents who have to endure watching that subpar course daily. In all seriousness, the “Good Test, Ball-Knowers Know” tier showcases some of the most captivating venues on the PGA Tour. TPC San Antonio, despite some criticism for my preference, remains one of the toughest courses where a par truly means something.

Upcoming Changes

If Kapalua were still on the roster, it would likely drop from fourth to fifth tier this year. Its reputation would be more favorable without the ongoing trend of overly forgiving golf designs. Doral is a new addition this year, hosting the Cadillac Championship, though my current view is rather unfavorable—it’s lengthy and narrow with too much water. I’m open to reevaluating after the tournament in May.

Course Conditions and Future Prospects

Memorial Park is a delightful course, but it’s unfortunate that the Tour overseeds it for Masters preparation instead of fully utilizing the challenge of Bermuda grass. Despite this, Memorial Park boasts one of the finest putting surfaces on Tour, especially when wind conditions intensify. Bellerive isn’t a regular venue, so I won’t rate it now, but it’s set to host the BMW Championship this year.