where is the first 18 hole golf course built in the us

by Mr. Darwin Dooley 4 min read

Downers Grove Golf Club (Original Chicago Golf Club)
In 1892, the in Downers Grove, Illinois was selected by Charles Blair MacDonald. MacDonald built a nine-hole course that expanded to 18 holes in 1893, making the Downers Grove Golf Club the site of the first 18-hole golf course in America.
Aug 19, 2019

What is the oldest 18-hole golf course in the United States?

In 1892, the in Downers Grove, Illinois was selected by Charles Blair MacDonald. MacDonald built a nine-hole course that expanded to 18 holes in 1893, making the Downers Grove Golf Club the site of the first 18-hole golf course in America.

What is the history of golf courses in America?

Yet, the first location of the original 18-hole course is fairly conclusive. The 18-hole golf course was built close to Chicago in the year 1893. This existed long enough to be officially recorded and gain enough fame to be remembered by historians, Chicago residents and avid golf players. Though very popular, this golf course was short lived.

How many holes are in the US Open golf course?

Shinnecock Hills Golf Club was founded in 1891, and has the oldest extant 18-hole golf course, as well as the oldest golf clubhouse, started in 1892 in America. It was also the first club in America to admit women, which it did from the start, and possibly the second in the world to do so, after Aldeburgh GC in England.

When was the first golf course built in New York?

Dec 23, 2017 · One of the oldest golf courses in the United States is the Quogue Field Club in Quogue, NY. The private course was built in 1887 and is still in use today. Originally, the Quogue was an 18-hole course. In 1938, however, three holes were lost to a natural disaster. Now, only nine holes remain of the original 18 from 1887.

Where did the first 18-hole golf course open in the United States?

Chicago Golf ClubChicago Golf Club is considered the oldest 18-hole course in North America (although the club's original site has public golf, nine-hole Downers Grove, which dates back to 1892). Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx considers itself to be the first public golf course in the U.S. (1895).Jul 11, 2018

Where was the first golf course in America built?

Foxburg Country Club, established in 1887, is the oldest golf course in continuous use in the United States. It is located in Foxburg, Clarion County, Pennsylvania, United States of America, approximately 55 miles (89 km) north of Pittsburgh on a hill rising about 300 feet above the Allegheny River.

In what year was the first 18-hole course constructed?

The 18-hole round was created at the Old Course at St Andrews in 1764. Golf's first major, and the world's oldest tournament in existence, is The Open Championship, also known as the British Open, which was first played in 1860 at the Prestwick Golf Club in Ayrshire, Scotland.

What is the oldest public golf course in the United States?

Van Cortlandt Golf CourseThe Van Cortlandt Golf Course opened on July 6, 1895, as the first public municipal golf course in the United States.

Where was the oldest golf club founded?

Royal Montreal is the oldest golf club in continuous existence in North America, having been founded in 1873, when eight gentlemen met in an office at the docks. It received its Royal title from Queen Victoria in 1884, the ninth club to obtain a Royal title.Jan 31, 2014

Where is the oldest golf course in the world?

The Old Course at St Andrews LinksThe Old Course at St Andrews Links in Fife, Scotland, UK, is the oldest golf course in the world. Archbishop Hamilton's Charter in 1552 is the earliest documentary evidence that allowed the people of St Andrews to play golf on the Links.

What is the oldest country club in Florida?

Ocean Trails in Palm Beach, opened in 1896, claims to be the oldest course in Florida. Whatever. In any case, the Ocala Golf Club is old. It's so old, no one can remember who the original architect was.Dec 21, 2007

What's the oldest golf course in South Carolina?

the Palmetto Golf ClubIt is believed that the Palmetto Golf Club is the oldest continually-operating 18-hole golf course in the Southeast that is still in its original location. Palmetto Golf Club could also be the second oldest golf club in the United States as well.

What were golf balls originally made from?

Until the mid-19th century, the featherie was the standard golf ball. It was made of cow or horsehide which was stuffed with feathers; most often goose feather. The leather, in order to be easier to work with, was soaked in water.Sep 21, 2016

What does the term bogey mean in the game of golf?

A player makes a “birdie” when he uses one fewer strokes than the par of the hole. If a player needs one stroke more than par to finish a hole, he makes a “bogey.” So, if you finish a par 4 with only 3 strokes, you make a “birdie”, but if you take 5 strokes to complete a par 4, you make a “bogey”.Apr 25, 2019

What was the first country club in the United States?

The Country Club of BrooklineInitially playing golf was not allowed under Massachusetts blue laws. In January of 1882, a group of wealthy men from the Boston area established the first country club in the United States, The Country Club of Brookline.

What is the oldest golf course west of the Mississippi?

Gearhart Golf LinksCOURSE HISTORY With this history, Gearhart Golf Links is The Oldest Golf Course West of the Mississippi River and shares the early spotlight with such courses as Victoria Golf Club (1893), Tacoma Country and Golf Club (1894) and Del Monte Golf Club (1897).

What is the oldest golf course in the USA?

St Andrews Golf Club. 1888 1897 1897. The St Andrews Golf Club is presently the oldest golf club documented to be in continuous existence in USA. It was started, as is widely known, by John Reid and four friends on three holes in an orchard on the outskirts of New York in November 1888 and nicknamed the Apple Tree Gang.

Where is the oldest golf club in the world?

The Savannah Golf Club, in Georgia, USA can trace its origins back to 1794 and claim to be the oldest golf club in North America and USA, on a non-continuous basis. There is a note in 1796 of the club holding a ball and also a notice of the annual general meeting to be held 1st October 1796 being the anniversary of the club formation.

Who founded Chicago Golf Club?

1893 1895 1895. The original course of the Chicago Golf Club was the first 18-hole course in North America. Its founder was Charles Blair Macdonald, who used to play golf on 7 holes on ‘Bluff’s Edge with two American friends, the landowner CB Farwell and Hobart Chatfield-Taylor. Encouraged by them, he raised funds ...

Where was the first golf course in Montreal?

The first golf course was a 9-hole layout on Fletcher’s Field, part of Mount Royal Park on the outskirts of Montreal but the club moved to Dixie in 1896 where it remained for over sixty years until it moved to its present site at Ile Bizard in 1959.

Who won the first Amateur Championship?

Charles B Macdonald won the first official US Amateur Championship in 1895. After the Chicago club moved to Wheaton the original 18-hole course reverted to 9 holes and now operates as the Downers Grove Golf Club. They say holes 2, 4, 7, 8 & 9 and still much as they were 110 years ago.

When was Shinnecock Hills Golf Club founded?

Shinnecock Hills Golf Club was founded in 1891, and has the oldest extant 18-hole golf course, as well as the oldest golf clubhouse, started in 1892 in America. It was also the first club in America to admit women, which it did from the start, and possibly the second in the world to do so, after Aldeburgh GC in England.

When was the USGA formed?

USGA. The US Golf Association was formed in 1894 and the Canadian Golf Association a year later in 1895. The founding members of the USGA were St Andrews Golf Club, The Country Club, the Chicago Golf Club, the Newport Golf Club and the Shinnecock Hills Golf Club. The Country Club 1892 1893 1899.

What is the oldest golf course in the US?

One of the oldest golf courses in the United States is the Quogue Field Club in Quogue, NY. The private course was built in 1887 and is still in use today. Originally, the Quogue was an 18-hole course. In 1938, however, three holes were lost to a natural disaster. Now, only nine holes remain of the original 18 from 1887.

Who designed the original golf course at Shinnecock Hills?

Here, one of the oldest, original golf courses exists, but only 12 of the 18 holes. Willie Davis designed the original 12 holes at Shinnecock Hills. In 1894, another six holes were added. Shinnecock Hills is noteworthy not only for its longevity, but also because of its progressive history.

How many bunkers are there in the Irish Open?

Host of the 2021 Irish Open, the Jack Nicklaus designed golf course is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful in all of the country. With five lakes and over 80 bunkers, the challenging course measures over 7,200 yards and features a unique ‘bunker walled green’ protecting the pin on the 16th hole.

Where is the Royal Montreal Golf Club?

The Royal Montreal Golf Club in Quebec has a history of different locations. When the Royal Montreal first opened in 1873, it was a highly recognized club. It even received a Royal title from Queen Victoria. Nonetheless, the Royal Montreal moved from its original location in 1896 to a new location while maintaining its original name. In 1959, it moved again, this time to its current location in Ile Bizard. It was, however, recognized as “in continuous use” throughout the transitions. Although the Royal Montreal is one of the oldest clubs in the United States, its location is not original. Therefore, it’s not among the truly old courses, but it deserves an honorable mention because of its prestige at the time.

When was Savannah Golf Course opened?

Shortly after the opening of St Andrew’s course in 1897 , the Savannah Golf Club responded with a course that has been in use since 1899. Although there are some discrepancies about what makes a golf course old, the oldest golf courses or clubs in the United States are all worth visiting if the opportunity arises.

Who designed the Co Sligo Golf Course?

Co. Sligo Golf Course features traditional links layout, designed by Harry Colt. The dune-covered landscape sets the scene for a course packed with undulations, elevated tees, and raised plateau greens for a stunning test of golf. The golf course is famed for its tremendous par 3s.

When was Ballybunion Golf Course founded?

Founded in 1883, the Ballybunion Old Course lives up to its tag as ‘One of a kind’. Measuring 6,739 yards from the tips, the wonderful dunescape sets the scene for a true links challenge, with the golf course often touted as possessing the best back nine in the country.

When was the first golf tournament held in the United States?

Montague hosted its first competition in 1888 in Scottish match play tradition. Their annual competition became the first golf tournament known to be played in the United States, and the medal given to the winner was known as the oldest golf prize in America.

When was golf first introduced?

The Beginning. Back in 1884, golf was not really heard of in the United States. Anyone who witnessed it or knew of it in other countries considered it a strange sport. When Russell Montague of West Virginia learned of the sport that was so popular in Scotland and where he studied in Great Britain, he was intrigued.

When was Oakhurst Links sold?

The thirty acres stayed in the Montague family for many decades and was sold to Lewis Keller in 1959.

Who was Keller's friend?

Keller knew the land’s history and, being a golf fan, was very interested when his friend and golfer Sam Snead told him about the property being for sale. Keller lived in New York but would come to play golf with Snead in West Virginia frequently. After seeing the property, he knew he had to make the purchase.

How many golf courses were opened in 2012?

The number of golf courses began shrinking in the early-2000s and, due to economic and societal factors, the trend shows no signs of abating. In 2012, only 13 new golf courses were opened in the U.S., compared with 154.5 that closed. (The .5 represents nine holes.) What We Can Learn About USA Golfers.

How long does it take to play golf?

While most golfers understand that a round of golf (18 holes) should take around four hours to complete, letting the pace of play slip up to five hours or more simply isn’t acceptable. If the average round of golf starts getting closer to five hours than four, many players will simply find something else to do.

Why is golf so popular?

Not only can you make new friends at the golf course, but it is also a great reason to catch up and spend time with friends that you have had for years.

What is the NGF?

Since 1936, the National Golf Foundation (NGF) has collected data pertaining to the United States golf industry. Among other statistics, the group tracks the number of golfers and golf courses as well as trends related to each.

How many rounds of golf are played in 2010?

Golfers who play public courses: 90%. Golfers who play at least eight rounds per year and consider themselves “passionate” about the game: 90%. Number of 18-hole rounds played in 2010: 33,000 (down from 40,000 in 1990) Increase in number of golf courses since 1990: 24%. Increase in number of golfers since 1990: 17%.

Is golf the best game in the world?

Golf is among the best games in the world, and we are all lucky to have the opportunity to play it on a regular basis. America is full of people who are passionate about the game, and we have some of the best golf courses in the world to enjoy as well.

What does it mean when the economy is stronger?

Not surprisingly, a stronger economy means that more people have money to spend on golf, and the popularity of the game goes up. Golf statistics can be somewhat useful in evaluating how many people play golf, but they are too influenced by outside sources to really indicate what people think about golf as a whole.

What is the oldest golf course in the world?

Famous links courses include the Old Course at St. Andrews, often described as the "Home of Golf", and Musselburgh Links, which is generally regarded as the first recorded golf course. The Open Championship, the oldest of golf’s major championships, is always played on a links course.

What is a golf course?

Aerial view of a golf course ( Golfplatz Wittenbeck at the Baltic Sea, Germany) A golf course is the grounds where the sport of golf is played. It consists of a series of holes, each consisting of a tee box, a fairway, the rough and other hazards, and a green with a cylindrical hole in the ground, known as a "cup".

How many holes are there in a golf round?

The cup holds a flagstick, known as a "pin". A standard round of golf consists of 18 holes. Most courses contain 18 holes; some share fairways or greens, and a subset has nine holes, played twice per round. Par-3 courses consist of nine or 18 holes all of which have a par of three strokes.

Where is the link in golf?

It is on links land near the towns of central eastern Scotland that golf has been played since the 15th century.

What is a successful design?

A successful design is as visually pleasing as it is playable. With golf being a form of outdoor recreation, the strong designer is an adept student of natural landscaping who understands the aesthetic cohesion of vegetation, water bodies, paths, grasses, stonework, and woodwork, among other elements.

How deep is a hole in a golf green?

The hole, or cup, is always found within the green and must have a diameter of 108 millimeters (4.25 in) and a depth of at least 10 centimeters (3.94 in). Its position on the green is not fixed and typically is changed daily by a greenskeeper in order to prevent excessive localized wear and damage to the turf.

Where is Big Cedar Lodge Legends of Golf?

In 2014, the PGA Tour held a Champions Tour event on a nine-hole par-3 course, the Big Cedar Lodge Legends of Golf in Ridgedale, Missouri, with four (regular division) or three (over-65 division) rounds played over the par-3 course, and one round played on a nearby regulation 18-hole course with par of 71.

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The Beginning

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Back in 1884, golf was not really heard of in the United States. Anyone who witnessed it or knew of it in other countries considered it a strange sport. When Russell Montague of West Virginia learned of the sport that was so popular in Scotland and where he studied in Great Britain, he was intrigued. With the help of …
See more on collegeofgolf.keiseruniversity.edu

Golf’S Oldest Prize

  • His colonial-style house, which was built four years prior to the golf course, served as the clubhouse, and the simple course boasted nine holes. Montague and his friends enjoyed playing on the course, known as Oakhurst Links, for many years. Montague hosted its first competition in 1888 in Scottish match play tradition. Their annual competition became the first golf tournamen…
See more on collegeofgolf.keiseruniversity.edu

Back and Forth

  • In 1912, Oakhurst Links was reverted back into a pasture after Montague moved to Virginia, and other friends who used the course moved away. The thirty acres stayed in the Montague family for many decades and was sold to Lewis Keller in 1959. Keller knew the land’s history and, being a golf fan, was very interested when his friend and golfer Sam Snead told him about the property b…
See more on collegeofgolf.keiseruniversity.edu

Keeping It Old School

  • Anyone who visits this historic golf course today knows that modern golf conveniences are not allowed. Some visitors even wear period clothing, and all golfers are required to use reproductions of the clubs and balls used in 1884 when the course was first built. It seems appropriate when visiting the first golf course in the United States. If you are interested in more details of Oakhurst…
See more on collegeofgolf.keiseruniversity.edu

Overview

A golf course is the grounds where the sport of golf is played. It consists of a series of holes, each consisting of a tee box, a fairway, the rough and other hazards, and a green with a cylindrical hole in the ground, known as a "cup". The cup holds a flagstick, known as a "pin". A standard round of golf consists of 18 holes. Most courses contain 18 holes; some share fairways or greens, and a s…

Types

Links is a Scottish term, from the Old English word hlinc : "rising ground, ridge", describing coastal sand dunes and sometimes similar areas inland. It is on links land near the towns of central eastern Scotland that golf has been played since the 15th century.
The shallow top soil and sandy subsoil made links land unsuitable for the culti…

Design

Although a specialty within landscape design or landscape architecture, golf course architecture is considered a separate field of study. Some golf course architects become celebrities in their own right, such as Robert Trent Jones, Jr.; others are professional golfers of high standing and demonstrated appreciation for golf course composition, such as Jack Nicklaus. The field is partially repres…

Features

The game of golf is played in what is called a "round". This consists of playing a set number of holes in an order predetermined by the course. When playing on an 18-hole course, each hole is played once; whereas, on a nine-hole course each hole can be played twice to complete a round. To begin a hole, players start by striking the ball off a tee. Playing the ball off a tee can only be used o…

Ownership and management

See also: Golf course superintendent, Greenskeeper, Turf management § Golf courses, Equipment manager § Golf, and Groundskeeping
There are three main categories of ownership and management of a golf course: private, commercial, and municipal.
A private course is owned and managed by a golf club on behalf of its members, on a non-profit …

Environmental impact

Environmental concerns over the use of land for golf courses have grown since the 1960s. Specific issues include the amount of water required for irrigation and the use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers in maintenance, as well as the destruction of wetlandsand other environmentally important areas during construction. The United Nations estimates that, worldwide, golf courses cons…

See also

• List of golf course architects

External links

• USGA Course Rating Primer at the website of the United States Golf Association