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Golf Digest ranked the courses by writing to every golf association, federation
and union and requesting lists of the courses in each country, plus
nominations for the best layouts. Then, research was carried out, including
contacting many friends around the world and tourist boards to create a
comprehensive master ballot consisting of 1,005 of the best courses on Earth.
The ballot then was sent to their 800-plus course-rating panelists, to the editors
of the 22 international editions of Golf Digest and six other affiliate titles, and
to a collection of other panelists known and trusted by the editors. All were
asked to rate all the courses on a 10-point scale. The numbers were entered
into a database resulting in the ranking.
This is the first time since its opening in 1976 that Playa Dorada has made
the list. Juan Luis Hazim, in charge of the course after it was purchased by a
group of Playa Dorada resort owners from the government in 2004, comments
53rd
that achieving 53 in the ranking reflects customer satisfaction and highlights
the comeback the course has made over the past year. He explains that this
was achieved by working to restore the course maintenance to international
standards. “There was no magic, we didn’t invent anything, we just worked
so that the course could return to its original design,” he said.
Hazim emphasizes that Playa Dorada is a championship par 72 course,
with the same standards as any other world championship course. “This is
a signature Robert Trent Jones course,” he stresses, pointing out that Robert
Trent Jones himself designed this course. He designed Playa Dorada before
completing what many regard as Robert Trent Jones’ masterpiece, the last
course he was to design in his long golf career, Playa Grande, also along
the north coast.
While the course does not have the many holes along the ocean that are so
fashionable today, Hazim points out that it is a very “interesting course” and
what makes its mark is that it is a “mature” course. Playa Dorada Golf Course
dates back to 1976, and has several 50-year old mahogany trees, majestic
palms and other large trees along 10 or 12 holes. “A golf course, after all, is
a botanical garden where sport comes in contact with nature, the birds and
the flora merge on the terrain,” explains Hazim.
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