We know that rankings — particularly golf course rankings — can be extremely subjective. But it’s always nice to be considered among the “Best of” and in the 2021-22 Golf Digest state-by-state rankings, several McConnell Golf courses were recognized as among the best in state.

In Tennessee, the magnificent Donald Ross layout at Holston Hills Country Club in Knoxville, which recently played host to the Korn Ferry Tour’s Visit Knoxville Open, was ranked No. 6 in the state by Golf Digest. Click here to view the full list.

In South Carolina, Arnold Palmer’s spectacular design at Musgrove Mill Golf Club in Clinton was tapped as the state’s 19th best layout. Click here to view the full list.

Last but certainly not least, in North Carolina, Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro was ranked No. 18 in the state, Old North State Club in New London was ranked No. 24, while Treyburn Country Club in Durham was ranked No. 30. Click here to view the full list.

Of course, as we mentioned, golf course rankings are subjective. The North Carolina Golf Panel ranks all 10 of McConnell Golf’s North Carolina courses in the state’s top 100, including a trio of layouts — Old North State, Sedgfield Country Club and Raleigh Country Club — rated among the state’s top 20. Click here to view the full list. In South Carolina, the state panelists rank “The Mill” high every year, and also include Greg Norman’s memorable design at The Reserve Golf Club on Pawleys Island.

McConnell Golf was built upon the concept of “pure golf for the true golfer,” focusing on enhancing both the individual club’s and its company’s overall membership value. The McConnell Golf portfolio throughout the Carolinas, Tennessee and now Virginia includes courses designed by Ross, Fazio and Palmer, as well as other architectural legends Pete Dye, Greg Norman, Hale Irwin and Ellis Maples.

McConnell Golf is the only individual golf course proprietor in the world that owns four Ross-designed courses. This includes Greensboro’s Sedgefield Country Club, the longtime home of the PGA Tour’s Wyndham Championship.

“McConnell Golf is a company that has set its vision on building clubs of the future,” said McConnell Golf Chief Operating Officer Christian Anastasiadis. “We see things differently than other clubs or operators, focusing on the little nuances that make a trip to the club memorable for the customer.”

To arrive at its ranking of “America's 100 Greatest Golf Courses,” as well as the “Best Golf Courses in Each State,” the Golf Digest panelists play and score courses on the eight criteria below:

SHOT OPTIONS

How well does the course present a variety of options involving risks and rewards and require a wide range of shots?

CHALLENGE

How challenging, while still being fair, is the course for a typical scratch golfer playing from the tees designated as back tees for everyday play (not from seldom-used championship tees)?

LAYOUT VARIETY

How varied is the physical layout of the course in terms of differing lengths (long, medium and short Par 3s, 4s and 5s), configurations (straight holes, doglegs left and right), hazard placements, green shapes and green contours?

DISTINCTIVENESS

How individual is each hole when compared to all others on this course?

AESTHETICS

How well do the scenic values of the course add to the pleasure of a round?

CONDITIONING

How firm, fast and rolling were the fairways? How firm yet receptive were the greens? How true were the roll of putts on the day you played the course?

CHARACTER

How well does the course design exude ingenuity and uniqueness and possess profound characteristics that you would consider outstanding for its era?

FUN

How enjoyable for all levels of golfers would this course be to play on a regular basis? NOTE: Golf Digest's Fun category was introduced two years ago, so Golf Digest does not have enough data to use in the calculations of 100 Greatest rankings.

To arrive at a course’s final score, the magazine totals its averages in the seven categories, doubling Shot Options. A course needs 75 evaluations over the past 10 years to be eligible for America's 100 Greatest and the Second 100 Greatest.

“Our courses continue to merge history, beauty and opportunity for our avid golfing membership and their guests,” said McConnell Golf President & CEO John McConnell. “With the enhancements made at Raleigh Country Club and new projects planned at other McConnell Golf courses, I am proud of what we have accomplished in the past year and eager to see how the rankings play out in the future.”