FORE STORIES
Join me as I play the oldest public golf courses in the US. Every round tells a great story!
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Check your calendars to see if you're free to join me for a round.
March, June, August
April 13 2024
How do you kick off the 2024 Fore Stories season, you return to where the journey began back in 2019. Come on by and get a round in.
June 8th 2024
Ottawa Park is said to be the second oldest 18 hole golf course to open specifically for the public. I'm looking forward to walking the fairways soon.
August 10th 2024
I know, I know, another "oldest golf course west of the Mississippi." I'm going to head out there and see for myself!
THE LIST
The Oldest Public Golf Courses
The List will reveal the golf courses I plan to play on my quest.
OAKHURST LINKS GOLF COURSE
WEST VIRGINIA - 1884
You can take a peek at living history at the Oakhurst Links golf course at the Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Springs, WV. The Scottish game of golf found new enthusiasts here when it was first introduced to West Virginia in 1884.
It is the oldest known golf course in the US with its original routing still in use.
Foxburg Golf Club is the oldest golf course in the US in continuous use. Open to the public from April 1 to October 31. The clubhouse was built in 1912 as a private residence, and it was acquired by the country club in 1942. It houses the American Golf Hall of Fame on the second floor, where visitors will find a priceless collection of golf clubs and other exhibits depicting golf’s rich, 400-year history.
Blog Post: Perfect Pace of Play
The exact year in which the golf course opened is not definite, but 1889 is the earliest year that golfing has been confirmed. That makes the course the oldest continuously played course in the United States and the second oldest course in the nation. The course has had several names over the years. The original name was Kentucky Golf Club, later Middlesboro Golf Club, and the current name of the Country Club of Middlesboro.
DUTCHER GOLF COURSE - 1890
PAWLING, NY
Dutcher Golf Course is recognized as the oldest 9-hole public golf course in the US
The golf course, to say the least, presents unique challenges to this day in the form of 18th-century stone farm walls that intersect the property. Aside from other standard traps and obstacles, golfers must navigate around the walls, which were never removed.
Grindstone Neck Golf Course, founded in 1891, is a rare jewel on the rugged Maine coast. Every hole at Winter Harbor’s nine-hole Grindstone Neck Golf Course delivers a water view of the Harbor or of Frenchman Bay and its famed pink granite-sculpted shoreline.
Established in 1888, Kebo Valley Golf Club is the oldest golf club in Maine, and eighth oldest golf club in United States.
Kebo is a very well conditioned Links style course. Rich in tradition, endless in surprises, incapable of being mastered, once played, never loses its attraction.
HIGHLAND LINKS - 1892
CAPE COD, MA
Highland Links Golf Course has celebrated over a century of golf. More significant than its age is Highland’s heritage. Deep natural rough, Scotch broom, heath, non irrigated open fairways, and spectacular ocean views keep the course a genuine links, as close to the Scottish tradition found anywhere in the eastern United States.
Legend has it that Gearhart Golf Links began life in about 1888, starting out as three holes of true links-style golf amongst the seaside meadows that characterize the North Oregon coast. By 1892, golf was a regular pastime for guests of the Hotel Gearhart on the three-hole course just across the street. With this history, Gearhart Golf Links is The Oldest Golf Course West of the Mississippi River
Originally built in 1892 as a three-hole course
Expanded to 9 holes in the early 1900s, and to an 18-hole course in 1929. After World War II in 1945, the course was brought back to its current 9-hole layout, boasting five Par 4s and four Par 3s.
The long, narrow course meanders through a canyon setting toward the ocean, offering stunning views of Avalon Bay and Catalina Casino. The small greens and deep bunkers are enough to challenge any golfer.
DOWNERS GROVE GOLF CLUB-1892
DOWNERS GROVE, IL
The Downers Grove Golf Club holds a significant place in U.S. History. The golf course was established on this site in 1892 as the original Chicago Golf Club, when Charles Blair MacDonald, who was, according to Golf Journal, “a true and imposing pioneer of golf in America” persuaded thirty of his Chicago Club colleagues to contribute ten dollars each to design and construct a nine-hole golf course.
Van Cortlandt Golf Course is located in the North Bronx close to the Yonkers border. It is the oldest public golf course in the USA. Known as "Vanny" by the locals, it is the most easily accessible NYC course to mass transportation. The # 1 train leaves you just a short walk to the course. Over the years many famous people have played at Van Cortlandt. They include Babe Ruth, Willie Mays, Joe Lewis and the Three Stooges.
Overland Park Golf Course is steeped in Denver history. The original Denver Country Club, this is the oldest running course west of the Mississippi. Conveniently located minutes from downtown, you can enjoy views of both the city and the mountains. Narrow fairways and small greens that are well-bunkered offer a challenge to golfers of any skill level. Plus there is Night Golf available.
WILLIAM J. DEVINE MUNICIPAL GOLF COURSE - 1896
DORCHESTER, MA
William J. Devine Golf Course at Franklin Park is the second oldest public golf course in the nation behind Van Cortlandt Park. The player who won America’s first professional match became the first head professional here (Willie Campbell); the youngster who ushered the American game to the forefront of the world stage honed his craft here (Bobby Jones); the world’s premier golf architect re-designed the layout here (Donald J. Ross)
DEL MONTE GOLF COURSE – 1897
MONTEREY, CA
THE JOURNEY BEGAN MARCH 17TH 2019
RETURNING TO PLAY AGAIN-03/30/24
The oldest continual golf course in California. Today, only two of California’s earliest golf courses remain in operation: Del Monte Golf Course and the course at the Presidio in San Francisco, built in 1896. 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.
WAWASHKAMO GOLF COURSE - 1898
MACKINAC ISLAND, MI
The Wawashkamo Golf Club is a nine-hole links golf course on Mackinac Island in the U.S. state of Michigan. The course was laid out by Alex Smith in 1898, and is as of 2017 the oldest continuously played golf course in Michigan.
Patty Jewett Golf Course, the third oldest public course west of the Mississippi built in 1898, has been city-owned since 1919. The entrance sets the elegant mood, complete with a wonderful wrought-iron gate and a drive down a narrow road lined with a canopy of 100-year-old trees. The 18-hole course has a par of 72 and can challenge even the most experienced golfer.
The Ottawa Park historic golf course is not only beautiful but is historic as well. S. P. Jermain, the man who established the Toledo Park System, is also known as the “father of public golf in Toledo.” Toledo’s parks were from the beginning open to the public. But in the 1890’s all golf courses were private. Mr. Jermain set out to do something about this, and in 1899 established a 9 hole course in Ottawa Park—the second oldest public course in the US.
Waveland Golf Course celebrated 100 years in 2001. It is the oldest municipal golf course west of the Mississippi. This 18 hole course was built in 1901 and has a traditional layout. Waveland might be probably the nicest municipal course in the state of Iowa.
Built in 1901, historic Normandie Golf Club is the oldest Public golf course still in operation in its original location, West of the Mississippi River. Designed in St. Louis by Robert Foulis, a disciple of Old Tom Morris of St. Andrews, Scotland fame. With its unique routing and throwback style, Normandie is a true golfing gem.
AIKEN GOLF CLUB - 1903
AIKEN, SC
The Aiken Golf Club is a throwback to the time when wealthy Northerners would "winter" at the luxurious Highland Park Hotel (destroyed in 1940) and play its 5,734-yard, par-70 course. Donald Ross, renowned for Pinehurst No. 2 and hundreds of other courses, laid out 11 holes in 1903; his protégé, John R. Inglis, completed the course in 1912 and remained as head professional until 1939.
Located in Forest Park just minutes from downtown St. Louis. Golf has been played in Forest Park since 1897. Built after the 1904 World’s Fair, the original 27-hole course was designed and constructed in phases by Scotsman Robert Foulis. Foulis started out as an assistant to Tom Morris at the Old Course at St. Andrews. The original “flat or Eisenhower Nine” opened in 1912. A second nine was completed the following year, and the third nine was finished in 1915. Recently the course was named the "Best City Golf Course in Mid-America."
Nestled in the gently rolling hills of St. Louis within the country’s second largest municipal park, Highlands Golf and Tennis Center's beautiful par-34, 2,700-yard 9-hole layout features zoysia fairways, A-4 bent grass greens and lush Bermuda roughs - with our unique urban setting, strategically placed bunkers, and beautiful flora and fauna creating both strategic diversity and a beautiful backdrop for golf.
Stay tuned for more...
