The 10 Greatest PGA Championships
Golf’s oldest professional major, the PGA Championship, dates to 1916. Compelling storylines and dramatic finishes define the PGA, both during its match-play years (1916–57) and since. However, a few PGA Championships have proved to be truly memorable. With apologies to the Gene Sarazen/Walter Hagen duel in 1923 and the Byron Nelson/Ben Hogan clash in 1940, […]
Top 10 Courses that have Hosted Majors and PGA Tour Events
Many clubs relish the opportunity to host significant professional championships. An elite few completely embrace the role. Over the past century, a handful of venues have added to the lore of the game by doing double duty, hosting at least two major championships and a minimum of 12 PGA Tour events. Most names on the […]
The Top 10 Courses Named for Trees
Trees on golf courses can be loved and admired, but they can also be controversial. Recent trends have focused on serious tree removal. Yet, dozens of clubs owe their very existence to trees, meaning the club’s name incorporates a type of tree. Oaks and pines predominate among this group, so to provide a bit of […]
How the Old Course Inspired Augusta National
When Bobby Jones and Alister Mackenzie designed Augusta National, they took much of their inspiration from the Old Course. Can you see the connection? Bobby Jones and Alister MacKenzie, the original architects of Augusta National, had something else in common: The course they admired the most in the world was the Old Course at St. […]
11 Architects Who Directly Influenced Augusta National
Even the most casual golf fan is aware that Augusta National Golf Club was designed by Alister MacKenzie, in tandem with amateur legend and Grand Slam winner Bobby Jones. However, not even serious Masters students realize that nearly 20 prominent figures in the game have effected changes to the course design over the past 90 […]
Golf’s Ultimate Encounters with Nature
Pebble Beach delivers golf’s best encounter with nature The most glorious courses not only challenge and entertain, they also transport us into stirring settings that stimulate our senses. For providing the ultimate encounter with nature, one awash in sensory overload, Pebble Beach Golf Links has no peer. It offers elements you can see, hear, feel, […]
Top 12 Scenic Public Courses in America
Get the camera ready—it’s photo safari time. The following list of courses is ranked according to eye candy and accessibility. This roster is limited to public-access courses in the United States that may or may not have hosted major championships or boast superior design, but which definitely overwhelm the senses with scenic beauty and visual […]
The Next A-List Golf Architects
On an undeniably tall, slippery ladder, three acclaimed designers are primed to climb to the top rung. Every generation has its own collection of A-List architects. Naming them isn’t hard. A stiffer challenge is identifying who will comprise the next crop. Being an A-List architect means your name is on the short list every time […]
The Ace and the Hurricane: Katharine Hepburn’s Whirlwind Day at Fenwick
Katharine Hepburn’s very good, very bad day at Fenwick At the close of the 20th century, the American Film Institute named Katharine Hepburn “the greatest American screen legend” among females. For sheer drama, however, no scene she ever filmed could compare with her real-life role on September 21, 1938. Earlier that year, Hepburn was mired […]
Top 10 “Old” Courses You Can Play
When Old Barnwell in Aiken, S.C., opened in 2023, it got me wondering about the very best “Old” courses in golf—that is, courses ancient or modern that feature “Old” in the course name. While it’s true that some of these layouts go back many years, others are of considerably newer vintage. Old Barnwell is completely […]
