Golf Digest Top 100 Pure Movers

The latest Digest rankings are out. Here are my personal thoughts on some of the "pure" golf courses and their respective moves up and down the list or there inaugural listing.

A couple that jump out are Crystal Downs' solid move from 16 to 12 - Mackenzie's gem is well worth the trip. (see the picture above)

Sand Hills vaults into the top 10 and well deserved it is - a wonderful golf course

Bandon Trails also made a huge jump from 80 to 63. One a recent trip to Bandon Dunes Resort, all 8 of our group placed Trails in the top 2 (with Pacific) and some had it as their number one course on the property.

Also worth commenting on are the fallers...

Chicago fell a couple of places - who knows why? ...and equal with Whistling Straits - I don't think so!

Shoreacres fell 18 spots? - I loved Raynor's course. What's up, no one going to Chicago these days?

The new entries are notable for the volume of "pure" plays

Friars Head in at 34 seems high to me. Ballyneal on the other hand at 95 is way too low. Doak did a magnificent job. I can only think that more people accessed the formers New York location than Ballyneal's remote Colorado geography. Boston and Old Sandwich are both in and represent fine work by Gil Hanse and Coore and Crenshaw.

You can see the full list here.

The 2nd at Dormie Club

My obsession with pure golf at Dormie Club continues! Here is the view from the second tee - a great dogleg left with a big reward for those taking on the left hand bunker.

The 3rd at Dormie Club

Another picture of marvelous Dormie Club near Pinehurst. This shows the approach from the right side of the 3rd hole.

The 18th at Dormie Club

A number of people wanted to know if I had any other pictures of the magnificent Dormie Club near Pinehurst, NC. Over the next couple of days, I'll trawl through my files and find the good ones. Above is a view from behind the 18th green looking back down the par 4. It has a wonderful green with a "sweep" from right to left. Really, you have to see this place - it's Coore and Crenshaw at the top of their game.

Iliac Golf - Bringing Back the Pure

Bert La Mar is bringing back the pure to golf. His Carlsbad based company, Iliac Golf creates cool products including retro style leather headcovers and bags as well as up to the minute stylish clothing in modern fabrics. Iliac likes to say "Understated elegance with hidden performance and cutting edge technology."

Bert is a skateboard and snowboard dude turned golfer and it shows in his refreshing approach to the traditional game of golf. He likes to do things his way and his way is classic with a twist. You can read his story here.

Iliac has made amazing inroads into the leading clubs in the country with his products and it is unusual to visit a top club and not see his wool or leather headcovers presented in funky Iliac wooden crates. You'll be seeing a lot more of Iliac's products out there in 2011 as they ramp up in other categories.

I have his leather headcovers, naturally in green, and they'll last a lot longer than me and they make a statement, which is 100% Pure.

They say "I love the game of golf and my equipment says so!"

National Golf Links of America - What a Picture!

Our favorite golf landscape artist, Josh Smith has just released for sale an awesome picture of the 16th and 17th holes and windmill at the architectural gem on Long Island, National Golf Links of America. Golf aficionados go weak at the knees at the mere mention of C.B Macdonald's 1911 masterpiece. I have to be honest and say I liked the golf course, didn't love it. Modern equipment has made a mockery of some of the holes and as sacrilegious as it is, I prefer Sebonack across the road.
The picture is a beauty and is a complete one off - there are no prints and it will look splendid in someones office or den. If you are interested in purchasing the picture, the price is $3,500. You can email me at - nick@macduffconsulting.com

The Bulls Eye - Simple and Elegant

I have played golf for many decades. The vast majority of which I have used John Reuter's classic Bulls Eye putter. In the days when I could play (much better than I do know) the ever reliable blade putter holed more putts than any other putter I ever tried. Sure, I got funny looks, especially as everyone shifted to heel and toe weighted putters like the Ping Anser. But for me the Bulls Eye always came up trumps. 


The best putter I have ever seen (and played with) is Mark McNulty from Zimbabwe. Mark's stroke using the Bullseye is incredible and the old adage about "beware he who putts with the Bulls Eye" has never been more apt than when Mark putts. Johnny Miller's unbelievable round of 63 at Oakmont in the final round of the 1973 U.S Open was also achieved with the aid of the Bullseye. (he mentions it on almost every telecast!)


The original Bulls Eye design was by John Reuters Jr.  Made from soft yellow brass it was introduced in the 1940s and has been hugely successful ever since. In 1962, Reuter joined forces with the Acushnet Company and several subtle design modifications were made to the Bulls Eye's head shape, shaft and grip style. Each Bulls Eye continued to be shaped from brass heads for a soft, solid feel at impact. A unique flare tip and fluted shaft stood the test of time for enhanced touch and control. 


Here is a listing of the original designs.
Original: Medium weight, rounded toe, flat top. For right or left handers.
Old Standard: Medium weight with square toe and top blade. Sight line
Standard: Medium weight with rounded toe and top.
Light Blade: Like Old Standard but lighter, narrower.
Heavy Blade: Like Old Standard but with heavier, wider blade.
Bulls Eye Junior: Standard blade. 30" shaft. Scaled-down grip dimensions.
Heel Shafted Flange: Medium-heavy weight. Offset hosel. Sweet spot slot for improved feel and alignment.
Heel Shaft Flange II: Like the Heel Shafted Flange but without the Offset.
Wide Flange: Heavy, wide flange for low concentration of weight. Sweet spot slot. Idea. for large or slower greens.
Wide Flange Offset: Same as Wide Flange but offset.
Flange: Medium weight, slightly offset. Single sweet spot sight line.
LaFemme: Light weight for the woman golfer. Rounded toe, top and flange.
Left Handed Flange: Like the Flange but for the one out of every dozen golfers who plays left-handed. 


The ubiquitous Scotty Cameron got his hands on Reuters design in the 1980s and you can tell an original Reuters design from Scotty's remodel easily. A Bulls Eye with SC on the bottom is from Scotty. No SC and it's original. You would think the originals would be worth more, but that's not the case. As with all things Scotty, the collectors dictate the high prices, although his Bulls Eye style putters have rarely proved as popular as his Anser style putters.


The picture shows my 3 Bulls Eyes that get used in rotation. Two originals and one Scotty version.