A month in the frantic world of professional golf is a long time, but Italy will remember July 2018 for many years to come after the unassuming Francesco Molinari claimed the Claret Jug, his first major victory and the first major won by an Italian professional golfer. M. James Ward believes The Open is Golf’s greatest major and the author also takes a look at the five greatest Open Championship players in the modern era.

Carnoustie, the most demanding links, hosted the 147th Open earlier this month. To better understand the fascinating elements that the links provides, four architects weighed in with their views – Behind the architectural curtain. We also take a look back at the Black Knight’s statement 50 years ago at Carnoustie.

Also this month we’ve released our latest Top 100 Golf Courses of South Africa and the Top 20 Golf Courses of Brazil. Our Best in State biennial re-ranking process for the USA continues unabated as we refresh the rankings for the twelve states in the Midwest. Back in Europe, we take the perfect short summer break at Gleneagles.

Within our latest 2018 Top 100 for South Africa, 13 courses remain in the same position, 40 move up, 44 fall down and three drop out. Our highest new entry is a remote 9-hole course with no fewer than 72 different tee boxes. The first of our chart non-movers is the Links course at Fancourt, which retains its position as South Africa’s number 1.

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When we last re-ranked Brazilian courses, just before the start of the Olympics, the Rio 2016 Olympic Golf Course was listed at number 2 and it remains in the runner-up position in this revised edition of the Top 20 chart, but it’s the extraordinary, ultra-private, Fazio-designed course at Santapazienza near São Paulo which retains the number 1 position.

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Our Best in State biennial re-ranking process for the USA reaches the western half of the Midwest, embracing the Farm Belt states of Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota. Only four courses in this prosperous heartland region currently occupy positions within our US Top 100 but that doesn’t mean to say there’s a dearth of great golf venues here.

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In this divisional Best in State biennial re-ranking release for the USA, we focus on Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin in the eastern half of the Midwest. 18 courses in this region claim a slot within our US Top 100, which gives a fair indication of the strong golfing prowess of this territory, but only one state in this quintet has a new No.1.

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Andy first sampled the Gleneagles experience around thirteen years ago, he loved it then and the love affair deepened after his short visit when he stayed and played all three courses at “The Glorious Playground” in the height of mid summer. Not only did he enjoy the finest hospitality available in Scotland, but also he names his favourite course at the opulent five-star resort.

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This course absolutely floored me. I have enjoyed the wonderful green complex designs of Tom Doak and Coore/Crenshaw but this course matches or exceeds many of the designs I’ve played by those famous architects… I honestly believe if they could find room for nine more holes and build them to the quality of this nine you would have a Top 100 USA course on your hands.

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