What is America's oldest golf course?
Emily Ross
Published Jan 19, 2026
Chicago 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).
What is the oldest public golf course in America?
The Van Cortlandt Golf Course opened on July 6, 1895, as the first public municipal golf course in the United States.
Where is the oldest golf course in the United States located?
The first golf course in the United States was Oakhurst Links, built in 1884 in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. It was originally a six hole track which was later expanded to nine holes. Oakhurst was the first course and golf club in the United States.
What was the first golf course built in the United States?
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.
What are the five oldest golf courses in the United States?
The 5 Oldest Golf Courses in the United States
- Nos. 1 and 2: Oakhurst Golf Club Versus the Foxburg Club.
- No. 3: The Quogue Field Club.
- No. 4: Shinnecock Hills Golf Club.
- No. 5: The Chicago Golf Club.
- Honorable Mention: The Royal Montreal Golf Club.
- Honorable Mention No. 2: St Andrew's Golf Club.
How old is the Savannah Golf Club?
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.
What is the oldest golf club?
The Old Course at St Andrews, also known as the Old Lady or the Grand Old Lady, is considered the oldest golf course. It is a public course over common land in St Andrews, Fife, Scotland and is held in trust by the St Andrews Links Trust under an act of Parliament.
How old is St Andrews golf course?
Golf has been played at St Andrews Links for 600 years. In 1552 Archbishop Hamilton's Charter recognised the right of the people of St Andrews to play golf at the Links. St Andrews Links takes up almost 300 hectares and The Castle Course almost 90 hectares.
What was the first country club in America?
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. In the second half of the nineteenth century, growing numbers of affluent families moved out of Boston to newly developed suburbs like Brookline.
Where was the first 18 hole golf course in the US?
Thus America's first golf course west of the Allegheny mountain range had been established. When the inaugural season had ended, Macdonald convinced Chicago Golf Club members to add nine more holes to the course. Therefore, in 1893, the first eighteen- hole golf course in the United States was established on this site.
What is the oldest 18-hole golf course?
Chicago 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).
What is the longest golf hole in America?
841 yards, 12th, Meadow Farms, Locust Grove, Va. The longest hole in America, another par 6, is part of the novelty of Meadow Farms, which features 27 holes of other one-of-a-kind experiences, including another hole in the theme of a baseball diamond.
How did golf get 18 holes?
According to the website Scottish Golf History, the number was cut to 18 pretty arbitrarily when four short holes were combined into two (played in two directions) in 1764. And this still wasn't a template right away for other courses as evidenced by Prestwick Golf Club opening in 1851 with just 12 holes.
What is considered the golf capital of the world?
More golf courses than anywhere in the world!
What US city has the most golf courses per capita?
Golf is a popular past time played by many Americans in many different cities in the United States. Of course, some cities are home to more golf courses than others. In 2020, Aurora, CO had the greatest density with 2.7 golf courses per 10,000 residents.
How old is Blackheath golf?
The oldest golf club
Legend has it that, more than 400 years ago, Blackheath Golf Club was instituted and in 1608 became the first ever golf club.
Is Musselburgh older than St Andrews?
History. Musselburgh was once certified as being the oldest golf course in the world by Guinness World Records; recently this 'record' was reassigned to St Andrews. There is documented evidence that golf was played at the links in 1672, while it is claimed that Mary, Queen of Scots, played nearby (at Seton) in 1567.
How old is Musselburgh Golf Course?
Established in 1938, The Musselburgh Golf Club is situated in a stunning, mature parkland location just a few miles outside Edinburgh. I became Captain of Musselburgh Golf Club in 2020 and it is a privilege to serve this prestigious club at the highest level.
What country invented golf?
Golf originated from a game played on the eastern coast of Scotland, in an area close to the royal capital of Edinburgh. In those early days players would attempt to hit a pebble over sand dunes and around tracks using a bent stick or club.
What is the oldest golf brand?
St. Andrews Golf Co. is the oldest golf manufacturer in the world and the only remaining manufacturer in Scotland. While they don't have the big name of other brands such as Titleist or Callaway, they have found a way to stay in business since 1881.
What is the oldest Golf Club in North America?
Niagara Golf Club circa 1875
This is the oldest surviving golf course in North America.
What is the oldest golf course west of the Mississippi?
Because the Presidio course was temporarily converted back into a practice drill field during the Spanish-American War, Del Monte Golf Course holds the distinction of being the oldest golf course in continuous operation west of the Mississippi River.
Why is golf called golf?
The word 'golf' is not an acronym for anything. Rather, it derives linguistically from the Dutch word 'kolf' or 'kolve,' meaning quite simply 'club. ' In the Scottish dialect of the late 14th or early 15th century, the Dutch term became 'goff' or 'gouff,' and only later in the 16th century 'golf.