Here's my predictions.
First, here's who I think are contenders to take the 2024 title:
1. Sillybizz: He's stated previously that he has the goal of hitting 100 reviews again next year, which historically has always resulted in a podium at minimum. 2023 is only one of two total years where 100 reviews wins you only a bronze - if Bizz can get 100 again, that'll at least be among the top totals.
2. Pizza God: He bagged over 300 courses this year, and seems to only be limited by time available to write reviews. He said this thread has added motivation in previous posts, so who knows what next year looks like between his work obligations and motivations to write a larger collection of reviews in 2024.
3. PastorofMuppets: Our 2023 Rookie of the Year has really outgrown that title already, as he has had one of the greatest first years of reviewing DGCR has seen. He has said he has the goal of hitting 100 again, and I think if I had to pick someone to take the title, it would be him, though Pizza God is also a very tempting pick considering he's taken silver with a >100 year in the past.
4. Wolfhaley: He's said he doesn't expect to come anywhere near his 150 count from this year, but with the amount of ground he's talking about hitting in 2024, it's hard to rule him out.
5. Monocacy: 2022 was his first year on a top 25 list, and he's not in line for a spot in 2023. But in the "Where are you playing in 2024?" thread, he stated the goal of hitting 100 courses, and looks to have the trip plans tentatively in place to do it. Already one of our newest CZ members with one of the greatest positive vote to review ratios you'll see from anyone on the site, 2024 could be a true banner year for this dark horse pick.
Who rounds out the top 25
In the last 3 years, here's who has popped up in at least two lists:
The Valkyrie Kid
Shadrach3
HyooMac
DIscGolfCraig
knobby325
wellsbranch250
Bennybennybenny
pmay5
ivanhenson
Surge5
DFrah
aclay
Jukeshoe
Pevio
UpShawt1979
EspressoPatronum
MrFrosty
lee76007
Tyler V
This list includes MrFrosty who unfortunately is no longer with us, but also excludes folks like mndiscg and Monocacy who only made 2021 or 2022 but will be on this year's list, and new folks from this year like PastorofMuppets, Naenae, and The Red Death 30. There are 19 people on this list, and if you include the four folks in line for making their first list in 2023, that's 24 reviewers.
How many new folks will we see?
My biggest bet is that we will not see all 24 people listed in that previous section on the 2024 list, because new players are a factor every year. If this year's current standings hold, here's how many folks made their first list in each of the last five years plus 2023:
2018: 9
2019: 5
2020: 12
2021: 5
2022: 6
2023: 4*
Essentially, history tells us we can reasonably expect five or six new folks to make the 2024 list, if not more. These may be folks who have already been reviewing in smaller numbers, or could be like each of our tentative new folks for 2023 who each wrote their first review in 2023. Either way, it'll be interesting to see who stays on and who falls off for a year. 2023 has some notable names in the double digits for reviews but looking in from the outside right now, including DIscinOhio, Upshawt1979, pmay5, and Bennybennybenny. Plus, while he hasn't reviewed much in 2022 or 2023, can you truly count out The Valk?
I'm predicting those five I listed at the top will round out our top five in 2024. After that, who knows; I'll pick wellsbranch250 and DiscGolfCraig to be solid to make the 2024 list. After that, I think well have at least 5 new folks crash the party.