Ranking the top courses designed by Alister MacKenzie

The golf world’s attention is focused on Augusta National Golf Club this weekend, bringing plenty of attention to famed golf course architect Alister MacKenzie. But the annual home of the Masters, as great as it is, isn’t even MacKenzie’s top-rated layout.

Golfweek’s Best ranks courses every year based on the input of more than 800 raters worldwide, and Augusta National in 2022 ranked No. 3 among all classic courses in the United States built before 1960. Golfweek’s raters judge each course on a scale of 1 to 10, with only the top handful of courses in the world surpassing an average rating of 9.

Augusta National – which has been heavily modified over the decades – comes in at 9.51 out of 10, so clearly MacKenzie and the architects who followed with renovations at Augusta National did great work on the old tree farm. Funny thing, though, it’s not even the best course in the U.S. designed by the Scottish surgeon.

That honor belongs to a club out west. Click through to see MacKenzie’s top courses in the world, as rated by Golfweek’s Best.

It’s worth noting, MacKenzie laid his hands and intellect on many courses. The ones below include tracks that were MacKenzie originals or received substantial MacKenzie input, often with help from other designers. Several clubs he worked on, such as California Golf Club, were not included in the following calculations because much of his work has been redone in subsequent renovations or he didn’t have the majority of the design input.

So here goes, MacKenzie’s top 10:

The 17th hole at Alwoodley Golf Club in Leeds, England (David Cannon/Getty Images)

10. Alwoodley

Average rating: 7.46
Where: Leeds, England
Opened: 1907
The MacKenzie details: This heathland layout was MacKenzie’s first design.
Ranking: No. 26 among Great Britain and Ireland’s classic courses; T-39 among all international classic courses

9. New South Wales Golf Club

Average rating: 7.73
Where: La Perouse, New South Wales, Australia
Opened: 1928
The MacKenzie details: For this course bounded on three sides by the Pacific Ocean and Botany Bay, MacKenzie planned the bunkering and layout in 1926. A handful of architects have made alterations and renovations, including Tom Doak.
Ranking: No. 25 among all international classic courses

8. Valley Club of Montecito

Average rating: 7.74
Where: Montecito, California
Opened: 1929
The MacKenzie details: MacKenzie worked with Robert Hunter…