Every golf course in the world has a reason for people to visit it. Whether it’s a local muni steeped in history and closeness to its community, or a bucket-list private club halfway around the world—you go to a golf course to experience everything they’ve got.
And sometimes, the things they’ve got have nothing to actually do with the golf course itself. It’s an Instagram-crazy world out there and golf courses have been swept into the hoopla of creating foodie-friendly items that are worth a like on social media.
On this list, we’re celebrating the food and drink items that golf courses have become famous for. Sure, the courses themselves are worth a trip—but a repeat visit might be wrapped in wanting to imbibe in the bistro instead.
Here are the best pours and plates in golf.
Item: Fescue Rescue
Course: Erin Hills Golf Course
The host of the 2017 U.S. Open is a brute of a course. To soften the impact of the potentially higher-than-usual score a golfer may come in with after playing on a Midwest summer’s day at a windswept major championship venue, the food and beverage team at Erin Hills created the “Fescue Rescue.” Served in a pint glass, the drink features Jameson whiskey, ginger beer, lemonade, and is garnished with a slice of lemon.
Item: Burger Dog
Course: Olympic Club
The burger has become an integral part of the California club’s more than 150-year history. Originally created for the Hot Dog Bills stand outside the club’s Lake course, the sandwich was so popular—players would head across the street for a food break—the owners of Olympic asked to have the stand moved inside the grounds. The burger’s recipe is available online and features ground chuck formed into a hot-dog like patty topped with cheese, red relish, dill pickles, mustard, and onions on a toasted bun.
Item: Arnold Palmer
Course: Bay Hill Club and Lodge
The Arnold Palmer is available at almost every golf course in the world, but it’d be hard to top one at the home of the King himself, Bay Hill. Palmer liked to have three parts unsweetened iced tea to one part lemonade, but it’s usually served half-and-half these days. The drink was apparently so-named when he ordered it after playing golf in Palm Springs. A woman overheard, thought it sounded refreshing, and asked for an “Arnold Palmer.”
Item: Cog Dog
Course: Cog Hill Golf & Country Club
There may not be something as synonymous with golf than a hot dog at the turn. And, there may not be a more iconic place for a hot dog than in Chicago. At Cog Hill, about an hour from the Windy City, the four courses move more than 800 Cog Dogs on a busy weekend day—all on fresh buns. The large dogs are made from premium meats and there are two kinds of homemade relish available as toppings.
Item: Azalea
Course: Augusta National Golf Club
The fauna at Augusta National isn’t the only Azalea worth, well, fawning over on your visit to the most iconic golf club in the world. The sweet and refreshing cocktail features vodka topped with lemonade and a splash of electric grenadine syrup to get that perfect shade of pink. The drink is mixed and then garnished with a maraschino cherry and orange slice. Pineapple juice can be subbed for lemonade.
Item: Seafood Chowder
Course: Cabot Links
When journalists began to come to Cabot Links to not even play golf—just try the chowder—the staff at Canada’s top layout knew they had a winner on their hands. Other courses can serve a chowder, but it’s almost impossible to top Cabot’s given its proximity to some of the best seafood in the world on Cape Breton. Cabot’s version features haddock, scallops, and lobster, plus bacon, potatoes, carrots, leeks, and celery.
