For many, golf is not just how well you play but where you’ve played. Talk to any avid golfer, and they’ll ask about the courses you’ve teed off at. There are certainly no shortages of excellent golf courses in America, but these courses steeped in the game’s history should be on every player’s bucket list.
The oldest golf tee in continuous use in the United States is at the Omni Homestead Resort in Virginia, built in 1766. Initially only a 6-hole course, but later expanded to a full 18 by famous golf course designer Donald Ross.
1
Deemed the jewel of southern Arizona golf courses, Tubac has its fair share of history. Bing Crosby invested in the course, and Robert “Red” Lawrence, a founding member of the American Society of Golf Couse Architects, designed it.
2
Opened in 1906, the course at Woodstock is the oldest public course in Vermont. Redesigned by architect Robert Trent Jones in the early 1960s, the course sits in the perfect Vermont landscape for a day out in nature.
3
Opening in 1895, the Bedford course is one of the oldest in the United States. Starting as one of the more extensive golf courses in the country, the 18-holes at Bedford have been designed by the most accomplished architects in the sport’s history.
4
French Lick Springs Hotel & West Baden Springs Hotel – West Baden, Indiana
Three great architects designed three golf courses at these neighboring historical resorts in Indiana, including the iconic Donald Ross Course, designed by one of the most influential architects of the game.
5
The Grand Hotel Golf Resort, built in 1847, offers two complete 18-hole golf courses and draws Presidents, royalty, movie stars, and sports legends. In 2005, the courses were renovated to fit the modern game while keeping the original feel and playability for all levels.
6