Sugarloaf Golf Course in Carrabassett Valley and Belgrade Lakes Golf Course have jumped up in the rankings of the top 100 public golf courses in America as determined by Golf Digest magazine.

Sugarloaf is ranked 30th, leaping up from 45th in the previous rankings released in 2003. Belgrade Lakes is No. 63, up from No. 72. The top public list is headed by Pebble Beach (Calif.) Golf Links. The overall best course in America is Pine Valley (N.J.) Golf Club.

A panel of 850 low-handicap male and female golfers play and rate the golf courses based on shot values, resistance to scoring, design variety, memorability, aesthetics, conditioning, and ambience.

The two Maine clubs are ranked higher than a number of courses which hold PGA Tour events. The TPC at Deere Run, host of the John Deere Classic in July, is 56th; Bay Hill Club in Orlando, Fla., where Arnold Palmer hosts the Bay Hill Invitational, is No. 77; Torrey Pines Golf Course (South course) in San Diego, site of the Buick Invitational in January, is No. 89; and PGA West (Stadium course) in La Quinta, Calif., one of the courses used for the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, is No. 98.

Golf Digest, which has been publishing rankings since 1966, also ranks the top 100 golf courses in America, top courses in each state, and top courses around the world. The lists were published in the May issue of Golf Digest, which was released on newsstands Monday.

Sugarloaf was ranked No. 1 in Maine for the 20th straight year, followed by Belgrade Lakes, Samoset Resort in Rockport, Kebo Valley Golf Club in Bar Harbor, and Falmouth Country Club.