American Hole 'n One's Blog

What makes a golf course famous? Is it the history and location, or is it architecture? Does a golf course become famous due to impeccable maintenance of its links? Each of the five famous courses described below offers all of these elements and more.

Pine Valley Golf Club

Situated in southwest New Jersey, the Pine Valley Golf Club provides an ambitious course on nothing less than a grand scale. Here's what one reviewer at Golf Digest had this to say about the strategic, penal, and heroic design features of this world-class golf course:

"I've never seen such architectural dominance around an entire course. Every hole could be considered 'all-world' as far as I'm concerned. The variety of every aspect of the course at Pine Valley is unparalleled in the world of golf."

Cypress Point Club

Considered one of the most exclusive private golf courses in the world, Cypress Point Club offers breathtaking views, brisk sea breezes, and an Alistair Mackenzie course that former USGA president, Sandy Tatum, dubbed 'the Sistine Chapel' of golf.'

The oh-so-elite private golf club opened in 1928 and hosted the Bing Crosby-founded Pebble Beach Pro-Am tournament from 1947 through 1990. The club boasts fewer than 300 members, and you need to be personally invited to play. If you don't know a club member yet, now might be a good time to strike up a friendship.

Shinnecock Hills Golf Club

Designed by the architectural team of Dick Wilson and Willie Dunn, the Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, New York opened its links to members in 1891. In addition to being famous as the first golf club in the United States to admit female players, the 180-hole regulation course is considered to be America's oldest extant golf club as well as home to the oldest clubhouse in the country.

Kingsbarns Golf Links

Consistently ranked among Great Britain's top golf courses, Kingsbarns is a totally traditional, old-school Scottish links that is beloved by golfers the world over. Undulating greens, North Sea views, and an exceptionally gracious clubhouse make this cracker of a course a must-play for any golf aficionado visiting the birthplace of golf.

Kingsbarns Golf Links opened in 2000, making it one of Scotland's newest golf courses. The oldest course in Scotland –and the world-- sits right up the road.

St. Andrews Old Course

Famed throughout the world as the birthplace of golf, the old course at St. Andrews, Scotland, boasts history, beauty, and a public course that is accessible to all.

Since people started golfing at the St. Andrews links in the 15th century, several additional courses have been constructed in the Fife region. In 1895, the Tom Morris-designed New Course opened its links for business. Two years later, the Jubilee Course welcomed golfers for the first time. In 1914, Harry S. Colt's Eden Course was unveiled. In 1972, a relatively easy none-hole introduction to the links opened in the form of Balgove Course. 1993 saw the first putt at Strathtyrum Course which was followed by the debut of the equally famed Castle course in 2008.

If you are a tournament organizer who would like to know more about ghosting your next golf event with a show-stopping giveaway or grand prize, or how American Hole 'n One can help to make your next event a success.