What is a Championship level course

[Understable]

What does it mean to be a "Championship course". I've been to a couple that on here claimed to be a Champ course that was 7000' but was a wide open field and another that was 5800'.

Is there a standard or is it really up to us golfers to make our own assumption as to what Champ means?

 

[BirdieMachine]

I've heard even par equals 1000 rated.

 

[scarpfish]

Its nothing more than a marketing term carried over from ball golf to help sell a project. There is no set "championship" standard and as far as I know, there was never one for ball golf courses either. All it probably distinguishes that the course is a step above your run of the mill pitch and putt.

 

[CFaberlle]

I've heard even par equals 1000 rated.

^^^This^^^

 

[sisyphus]

Not definitive by any means, but I'd suggest that a true 'championship' level course could host (or has already hosted) a National Tour event without the thought resulting in a chorus of derisive laughter.

 

[Cgkdisc]

Not sure I've heard it used for courses with less than 18 holes. So a Championship course has 18 or more holes and the person posting the listing thinks it's good enough to get that designation.

 

[bradharris]

the person posting the listing thinks it's good enough to get that designation.

I'm pretty sure it's just this

 

[biscoe]

yep- term is overused to the point of being completely meaningless

 

[JC17393]

I'm pretty sure if the course hosts a "championship" of some kind, it's going to be called a "championship" course. I'm with Biscoe, there's not a whole lot of meaning behind the term.

Having said that, I have unabashedly referred to my home course as a "championship" course because it hosts an annual championship that has some drawing power. It's at best a white level course, but for white level players, it's a championship course.

 

[Stardoggy]

Maybe any course that's actually hosted a championship.

 

[Cgkdisc]

In many cases, you hear that a course being built will be a "Championship" course and will be listed that way even though it hasn't had a Championship held there yet.

 

[DavidSauls]

In many cases, you hear that a course being built will be a "Championship" course and will be listed that way even though it hasn't had a Championship held there yet.

Likewise, lots of championships have been held on fairly easy courses. Even World Championships.

 

[goosefraba1]

I like the idea of it being designated as shooting course par is a 1000 rated round. That would be a pretty tough course!

My other thought is that a pro would be excited to play it.

A course that comes to mind instantly is Idlewild.... and maybe Mt. Airy.

 

[Rocaholic74]

Ok guys....I'm going to make this simple....

Championship Golf Courses:

Augusta National
Pinehurst
Congressional
Bethpage Black
Doral (The Blue Monster)
TPC at Sawgrass


Championship Disc Golf Courses

Iron Hill (Gold Layout)
Tyler State Park (All baskets in C)
Nockamixon
Winthrop Gold

 

[Chainsgoching]

I would say a true "Championship Level" course would have to follow certain criteria. It would have to be well maintained, have excellent teeing areas, top tier baskets, easily navigable with good signage, provides at least 18 holes that have scoring separation possibilities ( where a player could take a 2 or up to a 5), and also have considerable amounts of hole to hole decision making/ risk reward decisions to challenge even the top pros. Sure the term is used loosly, but that doesn't mean there aren't true "championship level" courses out there.

 

[Cgkdisc]

Championship Disc Golf Courses

Iron Hill (Gold Layout)
Tyler State Park (All baskets in C)
Nockamixon
Winthrop Gold

These courses can be made Championship worthy but are not on a daily basis with no pro shops, and Winthrop layout is only temporary. I'd say the IDGC and Maple Hill would be two Championship course locations available for play most of the time. I'm saying a staffed Pro shop should be a requirement of a Championship course site in addition to the quality of the course. Even the barest bones public ball golf course has as pro shop and yet some of our Championship courses barely have a port-o-john.

 

[biscoe]

These courses can be made Championship worthy but are not on a daily basis with no pro shops, and Winthrop layout is only temporary. I'd say the IDGC and Maple Hill would be two Championship course locations available most of the time.

pro shop= unimportant.

 

[Cgkdisc]

"Gold level" course does not need pro shop but to be considered a Championship course, it "should" have some key amenities. General media comes to see a "Championship" course and there's no one attending it with no HQ building such Idlewild? Doesn't make sense.

 

[Rocaholic74]

I would say that Hawk Hollow is a Championship level course...that course kicks everyone's butt!

 

[DavidSauls]

Gold course is really what a lot of people are thinking about here. At least it has something of a definition.