How the Top Golf Courses Score
On Our Women-Friendly Ratings
Part I

Our Golf Course Gold Standard

Pine Valley Golf Club, Cypress Point Club, and Augusta National Golf Club are respectively rated 1st, 2nd & 3rd in Golf Magazine’s Top 100 Courses issue. It is important to note, however, that out of the 100-judge panel, Golf Magazine only saw fit to invite four women golfers (yes, only four) to participate. Upon this discovery, we thought that their results might be a tad bit skewed, so we have taken it upon ourselves to give you the skinny on whether these courses are under par on our Golf Course Gold Standards for Women Golfers Rating Scale.

The following are the five categories against which these US golf courses were held as they relate to women:

• The Beginning Golf Experience
• Game Options
• The Pro Shop
• Forward Tees
• Equal Accessibility of the Course

Read on . . . you might be surprised at what we found!

Pine Valley Golf Club
Pine Valley, New Jersey
1/2 Star

Located in Pine Valley, New Jersey, this golf course was designed by George Crump & HS Colt in 1918. World renowned for its beauty and the diversity of each hole, Pine Valley is almost always ranked #1 on Golf Magazine’s top 100. This is how close to #1 it ranks for women:

• The Beginning Golf Experience
  Since Pine Valley does not accept women as members, there is absolutely no beginning experience for women golfers at all.
  No Star
• Game Options
  There are no short game (or really any other) options for women at Pine Valley. If you want to play this golf course, you’ll play it the old-fashioned way – all 18 holes over 3-4 hours – and they’ll still expect you to have dinner on the table when they get home.
  No star.
• The Pro Shop
  When I called to find out whether the pro shop at Pine Valley offered any women's equipment or clothing, they hung up on me. I’ll take that a as a “no.”
  No star.
• Forward Tees
  If you manage to make it to Pine Valley during “Women’s Hours” on Sunday, you have the option of the championship tee and the regular tee, which is still difficult for some of the most skilled men, let alone women golfers who might have a hard time making it to the green at all and still have room on the scorecard with that yardage.
  We’ll give Pine Valley a ¼ star for at least having more than one choice.
• Equal Accessibility of the Course
  Annika Sorenstam wanted to play at Pine Valley on a weekday. They made even her wait until Sunday after 1pm, when they shout “woman on the floor” and take down the “No Girls Allowed” sign from the gate for a few hours.
  We will give them ¼ star for effort.

Cypress Point Club
Pebble Beach, California
3 3/4 Stars

On the books, architect Alister MacKenzie designed this famous US golf course in 1928. What

the books rarely point out, however, is that Marion Hollins, a high-profile woman golfer of the time, was heavily involved in both its design and financial backing. Pebble Beach, California is home to this celebrated US golf course and Golf Magazine calls it #2.

• The Beginning Golf Experience
  Although Cypress Point does not cater to beginning women golfers, they are not excluded from membership. There is a year round teaching pro that is available to both men and women.
  We'll give Cypress Point a ¾ star for being inclusive.
• Game Options
  Cypress Point does not publicize any special game options for women on a tight schedule and tee times are not welcome. However, there is a driving range where women can make a few good drives on their lunch break.
  We'll offer a ½ star for light to moderate convenience.
• The Pro Shop
  The pro shop at Cypress Point does offer clothing for women. However, the collection is extremely limited in that it is entirely possible to count the number of pieces on your fingers and toes. There are no women staff at the pro shop and they do not offer equipment for women golfers.
  Because Cypress Point took a minute to realize that women golfers exist, we'll give them a ½ star.
• Equal Accessibility of the Course
  In addition to the five-tee layout, which speaks volumes about where this US golf course is headed, Cypress Point publishes its internal club champions – both men and women.
  Again, a full star for having a woman golfer as a club champion.

Augusta National Golf Club
Augusta, Georgia
1/4 Star

Rated #3 by Golf Magazine, Augusta National Golf Club is well-known, not only for its exclusivity but specifically for the the public challenge against its all-male stance submitted by the National Council of Women's Organizations in 2003. To date, there has been no public statement about when and if women will be admitted as members, except to reply “that timetable will be ours, and not at the point of a bayonet.” Interestingly, this Augusta, Georgia golf course was designed by Alister MacKenzie in 1933, who was commissioned to do the job by none other than our steadfast woman golfer, Marion Hollins. We can only assume that Marion was able to play on her own at this US golf course since she is the one who financed its architecture and even designed a bit of it herself. However, let's not jump the gun here.

• The Beginning Golf Experience
  Since women are not allowed to be members, there is no such thing as a beginning golf experience for women golfers at Augusta.
  No star.
• Game Options
  There are no options for women, let alone game options.
  No star.
• The Pro Shop
  Women golfers are not allowed in the pro shop, and actually, unless you are a member or with a member, you are barred from entrance. We can only assume that there is nothing for us in there anyway. Even during the Masters, the pro shop is off limits except to members of the Augusta Secret Society.
  No star.
• Forward Tees
  Since this golf course is not really “supposed” to be played by women, why would they add any women-friendly amenities?
  No star.
• Equal Accessibility of the Course
  Women golfers are allowed on the golf course only if they are accompanied and closely supervised by a male member. There is one exception: if you really, really, really want to gain entrance to this highly independent, separatist US golf course, you can serve as a male golfer's caddy.
  We'll give them ¼ star for throwing us a bone.

While there are plenty of women-friendly U.S. golf courses out there, Golf Magazine's top three leave a bit to be desired when it comes to women golfers.

Be sure to read Part II - Top U.S. Golf Courses on our Women-Friendly Gold Standard