Bobby Jones once called the par-3 seventh hole at Palmetto Golf Club the best medal play par-3 he's ever played.

Golfweek magazine recognized all 18 holes at the Aiken course in its 2010 Best Courses issue, which comes out today. On the Classic list, Palmetto became the lone newcomer to the top 100 list, checking in at No. 97.

"It's fantastic," head golf pro Brooks Blackburn said. "Any time you get recognized, it's a great thing."

Palmetto is famous for its classic layout, which includes its short length but challenging greens.

The course plays only 6,695 yards from the tournament tees, but general manager and director of golf Tom Moore said the length makes the tract deceptive.

"People look at the scorecard and think they can tear it up," Moore said. "Then you walk off 18 scratching your head after shooting somewhere between 75 and 80.

"It just doesn't give up many under-par rounds."

In the Palmetto Intercollegiate, the annual college golf tournament USC Aiken played host to earlier in the week, only three of 90 players broke par in the 54-hole event.

Palmetto, which was founded in 1892, has been recognized before by several publications. In 1995, GOLF magazine recognized is as one of "The First Clubs of America." Golf Digest named Palmetto as the 20th best course in South Carolina for 1995-96.

"The only reason we're not ranked higher is that the writers aren't familiar with the golf course," Moore said. "It is what we all know. It's a very classic golf course."