Historic Hotels of America®, the official program of the
National Trust for Historic Preservation for recognizing and
celebrating the finest historic hotels across America, is pleased
to announce The 2024 Top 25 Historic Hotels of America Most
Historic Golf Courses list. This unique list of historic resorts
chronicles the history of golf in the United States through many of
the most beautiful, prestigious, and iconic American golf courses
that continue to attract both leisure seekers and serious athletes.
Many of these golf courses were designed in the late 19th and early
20th centuries, often called the Golden Age of golf course
architecture. The golf courses at these Historic Hotels of America
resorts were designed and renovated by legendary golf course
architects ranging from Golden Age architect Donald Ross to more
recent visionaries, such as Pete Dye. Scottish-born Donald Ross
started his career in golf at the venerable St Andrews course in
the 1890s but spent most of his career and life in the United
States. He designed many of the country’s Golden Age courses,
including some of the courses at Pinehurst Resort in North
Carolina, The Omni Homestead Resort in Virginia, and The Broadmoor
in Colorado. His influence on the game and its architecture
continues to this day, both on his historic courses and on new
courses that his designs inspired. In addition to claiming famous
architects and championships, each course has earned a reputation,
in part, based on the many famous people who have played on their
greens: U.S. presidents, world leaders, golf champions, film and
entertainment celebrities, and famous inventors and industrialists.
The golf courses included in The 2024 Top 25 Historic Hotels of
America Most Historic Golf Courses list are some of the country’s
most historic and treasured spaces. Today, guests can make their
own history when they stay and play where champions have
played.
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Mission Resort + Club (1964)
Howey-in-the-Hills, Florida. Credit Historic Hotels of America and
Mission Resort + Club.
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The Omni Homestead Resort (1766) Hot Springs, Virginia
Visitors are invited to tee off at the most historic first tee
still in continuous use in the United States at The Omni Homestead
Resort in Hot Springs, Virginia. The Omni Homestead Resort was
established in 1766, and its first tee is part of the aptly named
Old Course, which opened in 1892 as a six-hole course. Expanded to
nine holes by 1898, the Old Course ultimately reached a full 18
holes after a 1913 expansion by famed golf course designer Donald
Ross. The Old Course has long been associated with U.S. presidents.
William McKinley was the first U.S. president to play golf while in
office (1897–1901), and he did so on the Old Course, teeing off at
the Old Tee in 1899. President (1909–1913) and chief justice of the
U.S. Supreme Court (1921–1930) William Howard Taft adored the Old
Course, making time to play in the middle of a Virginia State Bar
Association conference in 1908. Today, the presidential favorite is
open to all. The Omni Homestead Resort also offers travelers a
fantastic game on The Cascades course. For over a century, The
Cascades course has offered challenging links set against the
backdrop of Virginia's breathtaking Allegheny Mountains. PGA Tour
record holder Sam Snead launched his career on this fabled Virginia
mountain golf course. Designed by legendary golf course architect
William S. Flynn in 1923, The Cascades uses its varied terrain to
influence play rather than dictate it. The Cascades has hosted
eight USGA championships and will be the site of the 2025 U.S.
Senior Women’s Amateur championship and the 2029 U.S. Senior
Amateur championship, putting the course among the country’s elite
with 10 or more USGA championships. Nationally ranked, The Cascades
frequently tops lists of the best mountain courses and is regularly
listed as one of the top 100 courses in the country. The Omni
Homestead Resort was inducted as a Charter Member of Historic
Hotels of America in 1989 and designated a National Historic
Landmark by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior in 1991.
Tubac Golf Resort and Spa (1789) Tubac, Arizona
Tubac Golf Resort and Spa, located on the Santa Cruz River in
Tubac, Arizona, was established in 1959 by a group of
investors–including entertainer Bing Crosby–who purchased a
historic Spanish Colonial-style ranch dating to 1789 to be the site
of a luxury resort. Its first 18-hole golf course opened the same
year. The mid-century course was designed by renowned golf course
architect Robert “Red” Lawrence. The original course has been
hailed as the "Jewel of Southern Arizona Golf Courses." Red was a
founding member of the American Society of Golf Course Architects
and designed several famous courses throughout the country. The
architectural beauty of the resort, set with the backdrop of the
distant Santa Rita Mountains and the local cattle ranch, gives the
game played there its unique charm. The Santa Cruz River provides a
surprisingly lush landscape, with plenty of ponds and tall
cottonwood trees. In 1996, its beauty was recognized by Hollywood
as the setting for iconic scenes in the Kevin Costner-led golf
movie, Tin Cup. In 2006, the resort expanded to 36 holes in total.
The historic 18-hole course transformed into three distinct
nine-hole courses: the Otero Course, the Anza Course, and the
Rancho Course. Today, the resort invites locals and travelers alike
to play its three desert oasis courses. The design allows golfers
to choose two nine-hole courses for an 18-hole game, for three
different golfing experiences on the grounds of the historic
course. Tubac Golf Resort and Spa was inducted into Historic Hotels
of America in 2008.
Woodstock Inn & Resort (1793) Woodstock, Vermont
Golf at the Woodstock Inn & Resort, established in 1793 in
Woodstock, Vermont, dates to 1895, when a distinguished guest
lamented to the general manager about the lack of a golf course, as
he had brought his clubs all the way from Boston. The inn obliged,
and the first course was built that year. The resort’s current golf
course dates to 1906, and it is the oldest public golf course in
the state. The 5th green is the only portion on the course that
remains from the 1906 design. In the early 1960s, the course was
redesigned by notable golf course architect Robert Trent Jones Sr.,
under the direction of the inn’s new owner, Laurance S.
Rockefeller. Rockefeller was a great fan of golf, and he and his
wife, Woodstock native Mary French, enjoyed playing the course
together when they were in Vermont. Jones, a creative and prolific
golf designer, oversaw the construction of other mid-century
courses at Rockefeller’s remarkable Mauna Kea Beach Hotel (1964)
and the burgeoning Colonial Williamsburg Resort around the same
time. Today, surrounded by the lush Kedron Valley and featuring
stunning views of Mount Peg, the Woodstock, Vermont golf course is
a picturesque venue. The 18-hole course boasts a par-70 layout that
offers an unforgettable experience for golfers of all abilities.
Woodstock Inn & Resort was inducted into Historic Hotels of
America in 2016.
Omni Bedford Springs Resort (1806) Bedford, Pennsylvania
Omni Bedford Springs Resort was established in 1806 and,
naturally, was an early adopter of golf in the United States. The
resort is home to one of the nation’s first golf courses, with 18
holes—considered very large for a golf course at that time—first
designed by Spencer Oldham in 1895. Aptly named, the Bedford
Springs Old Course was redesigned by A.W. Tillinghast in 1912 and
reimagined by the renowned golf course architect Donald Ross in
1923. Giants of the Golden Age of golf course architecture, both
Tillinghast and Ross are honored by the World Golf Hall of Fame.
Ross had trained at St. Andrews in the 1890s and then spent most of
his career and life in the United States, where he designed many of
the country’s championship courses. Overlooking breathtaking views
of the Allegheny Mountains and Cumberland Valley, this remarkable
course features the work of three masters of golf architecture.
Renovated in 2007 by architect Ron Forse, early-20th century
documentation of the Bedford Springs Old Course was used to restore
lost holes and other historical features contributed by Oldham,
Tillinghast, and Ross. Preserved and updated, this remarkable
palimpsest course can be enjoyed today by 21st-century players
eager to experience the game as it was designed by leading
architects of the game’s Golden Age. Omni Bedford Springs Resort
was inducted into Historic Hotels of America in 2014.
French Lick Springs Hotel (1845) French Lick, Indiana and West
Baden Springs Hotel (1902) West Baden Springs, Indiana
Golf and history enthusiasts are in for a treat at French Lick
Resort in French Lick, Indiana, which boasts three courses designed
by three greats of 20th-century golf course design. Notably, the
resort’s most historic golf course—on account of its age, closeness
to the original form, and the distinction of its designer—is the
Donald Ross Course. Designed in 1917 by Donald Ross, who is
considered to be one of the greatest and most influential golf
course architects of the game’s Golden Age, this namesake course
was an immediate success. The resort first hosted the PGA
Championship in 1924, won by Walter Hagen. Hagen played a major
role in popularizing the game as a professional sport and was the
first golfer to become a millionaire playing the game. In the years
since, the course has also gone on to host LPGA championships and
Senior PGA events. Along with the greats of the game, world-class
golf has attracted scores of celebrities to French Lick over the
years, including singer Bing Crosby, comedian Bob Hope, business
magnate Howard Hughes, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice,
and professional football player Peyton Manning. Before he became
basketball’s “Larry Legend,” French Lick native Larry Bird worked
and played on the French Lick golf course in his youth. The French
Lick Resort encompasses two historic hotels, French Lick Springs
Hotel (1845) and West Baden Springs Hotel (1902), where guests have
access to the Donald Ross Course, as well as courses designed by
Pete Dye (2009) and Tom Bendelow (1907). French Lick Springs Hotel
was inducted into Historic Hotels of America in 2000, and West
Baden Springs Hotel was designated a National Historic Landmark by
the U.S. Secretary of the Interior in 1987.
Grand Hotel Golf Resort & Spa (1847) Point Clear,
Alabama
Golf course architect Perry Maxwell designed an 18-hole
championship golf course for the Grand Hotel Golf Resort & Spa
in Point Clear, Alabama, in 1947—just in time for the Grand Hotel’s
centennial, as it was established in 1847. After World War II, a
long-awaited retreat to the Mobile Bay resort offered weary
Americans a chance to play Maxwell’s brand-new 7,104 yards of
oak-lined links. Unsurprisingly, it was a grand success. Another
nine holes were added, first in 1967 and again in 1983. Today,
there are two 18-hole golf courses at the resort’s Lakewood Club:
the Dogwood Course and the Azalea Course. Since 1947, the Lakewood
Club has hosted former President Gerald Ford, European royalty,
movie stars, and sports legends, along with legions of local and
visiting golfers. The Ken Stabler Charity Golf Classic was held at
the Lakewood Club for several years and hosted professional
football players and other celebrities. It also played host to the
U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur championship in 2021, 1986, and 1974,
one of 14 championship tournaments run by the United States Golf
Association. Despite its impressive age, the Dogwood Course is
well-kept and cared for. It was renovated in 2005 by the Robert
Trent Jones Golf Trail Team and again in 2018, all to give it a
fresh and modern feel while retaining Maxwell’s vision for the
course. Grand Hotel Golf Resort & Spa was inducted into
Historic Hotels of America in 2011.
Mohonk Mountain House (1869) New Paltz, New York
On top of the beautiful Shawangunk Ridge, named one of the "Last
Great Places on Earth” by The Nature Conservancy, is Mohonk
Mountain House in New Paltz, New York, where nature-seekers can
find golf, gardens, and peace. The resort was established in 1869,
and a historic nine-hole golf course (the Rest Course) was laid out
by the resort’s founder, Albert Smiley, in 1897 on an apple orchard
at the Mountain Rest Dairy Farm. Scotsman Robert D. Pryde added
Scottish golf course genius to the greens when he lengthened the
course to 2,350 yards in 1911. In 1925, the course doubled in size
to 18 holes, when a second nine-hole course (the Hillside Course)
was added. Although the Hillside Course was eventually converted
into a ski slope in 1963, golf is still featured at the historic
resort. Today, the Mohonk Golf Course features undulating fairways
and protects itself with blind tee shots and uneven lies. Its
19th-century design provides a challenge for 21st-century golf
equipment, making it a shot maker's paradise and one of the best
nine-hole golf courses in New York. Mohonk Mountain House was
designated a National Historic Landmark by the U.S. Secretary of
the Interior in December 1986 and was inducted into Historic Hotels
of America in 1991.
Jekyll Island Club Resort (1887) Jekyll Island, Georgia
Jekyll Island Club Resort on Jekyll Island, Georgia, began as an
exclusive Gilded Age private retreat for America’s wealthiest
families in 1887. Today, the barrier island resort community is
open to all, and welcomes golfers to play on its four grassy,
windswept courses as they have for over 120 years. The first golf
course at Jekyll Island Club was constructed in 1898. The most
historic golf course still in play on the island is the nine-hole,
par-36 Great Dunes Course designed by Walter “Old Man” Travis in
1926. Travis was a championship amateur golfer, an Australian
immigrant to the United States who worked as a writer between
winning British, U.S., and Cuban tournaments. Summoned to the
island by some of the nation’s most elite families during the Club
Era, Travis created the best course that money could buy. In golf
history, along with hosting notable figures and golf championships,
Jekyll Island is significant because the United States Golf
Association chose it as the site for equipment testing. In 1924,
the USGA tested new steel clubs against the traditional hickory
clubs, as well as golf ball sizes and densities. These tests on
Jekyll Island’s courses changed the game of golf. Jekyll Island
Club Resort was inducted into Historic Hotels of America in 1994
and was designated a National Historic Landmark by the U.S.
Secretary of the Interior.
Grand Hotel (1887) Mackinac Island, Michigan
Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, Michigan, provides guests of
“America’s Summer Place” with a stunning 18-hole golf course. The
Jewel, comprised of the Grand Nine and the Woods Nine, is the only
course in the country with horse-drawn carriage rides between
nines. The Grand Nine, located across from the hotel with views of
the Straits of Mackinac, was designed in 1901 by golf links artist
Tom Bendelow and then redesigned during Grand Hotel’s centennial in
1987 by golf course architect Jerry Matthews. In 1994, Matthews
enlarged the golf course with the Woods Nine, located in the
interior of Mackinac Island, with views of the Mackinac Bridge and
the Upper Peninsula. Among the many sports champions and notable
figures who have played The Jewel include 1987 U.S. Open
Championship winner Scott Simpson, sports announcer Jim Nantz, and
former U.S. President Gerald Ford. Ford was fond of Mackinac Island
throughout his life, with his first visit taking place all the way
back during his youth in the 1920s. (He served as an Eagle Scout at
the State Park Commission’s Mackinac Island Scout Service Camp.) As
such, Ford returned frequently while on vacation, engaging in
activities like sampling fresh candy at Mary’s Fudge, touring Fort
Mackinac, and playing a round or two at The Jewel. Grand Hotel was
designated a National Historic Landmark by the U.S. Secretary of
the Interior in 1989 and was inducted into Historic Hotels of
America in 2001.
The Lodge at the Presidio (1894) and Inn at the Presidio (1903)
San Francisco, California
Located within the Presidio of San Francisco, California, the
Presidio Golf Course dates to 1895, when John Lawson designed nine
holes for military officers to play. Lawson noted, “God shaped this
land to be a golf course. I simply followed nature.” The course is
known for its spectacular forest setting, as well as its
challenging play. Golf course architect Robert Wood Johnstone
expanded the Presidio Golf Course to 18 holes in 1910. The Presidio
Golf Course has hosted some of the world’s greatest athletes,
celebrities, and famous artists of the 20th century: baseball Hall
of Famers Babe Ruth and Joe DiMaggio, comedian Bob Hope, crooner
Bing Crosby, and cartoonist Charles Schulz all played the Scottish
game at the Presidio. The course is also notable for its
environmentally sensitive management practices and has been
recognized as a leader in environmentally sensitive golf course
management. The Presidio is managed by a private-public partnership
between the National Park Service, Golden Gate National Parks
Conservancy, and the Presidio Trust. Heritage travelers interested
in playing the public golf course can stay at The Lodge at the
Presidio (1894) or the Inn at the Presidio (1903). Inn at the
Presidio was inducted into Historic Hotels of America in 2011, and
The Lodge at the Presidio was inducted into Historic Hotels of
America in 2018.
Pinehurst Resort (1895) Pinehurst, North Carolina
From humble beginnings as a pasture, to becoming one of the
premier golf courses in the country, Pinehurst Resort is steeped in
the sport’s history and tradition. Historians and golfers today
celebrate Pinehurst Resort for its role in popularizing golf and
providing blueprints for what a golf course should look like during
the Gilded Age. Pinehurst Resort’s founder, James Walker Tufts,
hired renowned golf course architect Donald Ross to oversee the
day-to-day operations of its golf services. Ross went on to design
four of Pinehurst Resort’s 10 championship golf courses in play
today, including its most famous course, Pinehurst No. 2, which was
constructed in 1907. Pinehurst No. 2 has served as the site for
more championship tournaments than any other golf course in the
United States. Among the many well-known competitions held at
Pinehurst No. 2 are the PGA Championship, the Ryder Cup, and the
U.S. Open, as well as the North and South Open Championship. It
most recently hosted the 2024 U.S. Open. The historic greens of
Pinehurst No. 2 also saw the legendary duel between Payne Stewart
and Phil Mickelson during the closing round of the 1999 U.S. Open.
The two were neck-and-neck heading into the last two holes of the
tournament. Stewart stuck his approach to four feet on 17 for
birdie, then holed a dramatic 15-foot putt on the 72nd hole to win
the championship, beating Mickelson by one shot. In April 2024,
Pinehurst Resort opened its first new 18-hole golf course in 30
years, Pinehurst No. 10, designed by Tom Doak. Pinehurst Resort was
inducted into Historic Hotels of America in 1991.
Omni Mount Washington (1902) Bretton Woods, New Hampshire
Omni Mount Washington resort is located at the base of stunning
Mount Washington: at 6,288 feet, the highest peak in the Northeast.
The resort is surrounded by nearly 800,000 acres of the White
Mountain National Forest and is home to Bretton Woods, New
Hampshire’s largest ski destination. Omni Mount Washington offers
two golf courses: the award-winning 18-hole Mount Washington Course
and the challenging 9-hole Mount Pleasant Course. Meticulously
restored to Donald Ross’s original 1915 design, the 18-hole Mount
Washington Course reopened in August 2008 and has been named New
Hampshire’s “Best Course You Can Play” since 2009 by Golfweek
magazine. It has played host to prominent golf enthusiasts and
professionals, including U.S. pro golfer Gilbert Nicholls, golf
course designer Alex Findlay, British golf champions Harry Vardon
and J.H. Taylor, and U.S. Open winner Willie Anderson. The 9-hole
Mount Pleasant Course, which opened in 1895, is a par-35 course
running 3,215 yards alongside the Ammonoosuc River with gorgeous
mountain views. The course was restored and upgraded by Cornish
& Silva golf course architects in 1989. The full-service
clubhouse features lessons, clinics, and merchandise, and The
Grille is open seasonally and offers indoor and outdoor dining for
lunch and libations. Omni Mount Washington was inducted as a
Charter Member of Historic Hotels of America in 1989.
The Otesaga Hotel (1909) Cooperstown, New York
Located in historic Cooperstown, New York, the Leatherstocking
Golf Course opened alongside The Otesaga Hotel in 1909 on the
shores of scenic Otsego Lake. Featuring naturally contoured
terrain, sweeping views, and diverse elevations, this championship
par-72 course will inspire a player’s best game. Among many
standout features are two great finishing holes: #17 par-3, playing
up to 195 yards over water; and #18 par-5, with an island tee and
the fairway along the lake. What began as a nine-hole course was
transformed in 1919 by legendary golf architect Devereux Emmet, who
expanded the course to 18 holes across 90 acres. This classic,
Northeast-style course has changed little since then, though the
late 1990s brought some upgrades, including expanded tee boxes, a
state-of-the-art drainage system, restructured cart paths, and
reshaped bunkers. With its location in Cooperstown, home of the
National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, the course has played
host to some of the legends of the game. In 1936, the inaugural
class of inductees was enshrined, including Ty Cobb and Babe Ruth,
whose golf game that weekend started a long tradition of Hall of
Famers playing Leatherstocking during Induction Weekend.
Leatherstocking has also hosted the New York State Four-Ball
Championship, as well as the New York State Junior Championship.
The award-winning course offers an unforgettable experience for
both guests of The Otesaga and locals. The Otesaga Hotel was
inducted into Historic Hotels of America in 1994.
Omni Grove Park Inn (1913) Asheville, North Carolina
The historic Grove Park Golf Course at Omni Grove Park Inn in
Asheville, North Carolina, has been described as the only rival to
Pinehurst No. 2 in a ranking of the state’s Donald Ross-designed
courses. The 18-hole, par-70, 6,400-yard course clears a bright
green path through the rolling hills of the Blue Ridge Mountains,
and elevated points give players spectacular views of the mountains
and the magnificent Arts and Crafts-style historic hotel. The
course opened in 1899 and was beautifully redesigned in 1926 by
golf course architect Donald Ross, while the Grove Park Inn opened
in 1913. Ross was a Scottish-born immigrant who trained as a young
man with the great “Old” Tom Morris at St. Andrews during the
1890s. He then spent much of his career and life in the United
States, where he designed many of the world’s championship courses
during the Golden Age of golf course architecture. His iteration of
the Grove Park Golf Course was a stop on the PGA Tour between 1933
and 1951. It was played by PGA stars Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan, and
Jack Nicklaus, and more recently by former President Barack
Obama—one of ten U.S. presidents to stay at the resort. The Grove
Park Golf Course was updated in 2001 and retains master designer
Donald Ross’s vision. Omni Grove Park Inn was inducted into
Historic Hotels of America in 2000.
The Broadmoor (1918) Colorado Springs, Colorado
Known as the “Grand Dame of the Rockies,” The Broadmoor offers
two historic and magnificent golf courses nestled in the Rocky
Mountains: the East Course and the West Course, designed by Donald
Ross and Robert Trent Jones Sr. Located in Colorado Springs,
Colorado, golfers enjoy challenging terrain and amazing mountain
vistas while surrounded by red rocks and white peaks in Pikes Peak.
The Broadmoor opened in 1918, and golf was part of its glamour from
the very beginning. The resort’s original 18-hole course was
designed by legendary golf course architect Donald Ross in 1916 at
the behest of Spencer Penrose, who envisioned turning his new
mountain getaway into a world-class resort. Ross, who had designed
golf courses for several of the top clubs in the country (including
Pinehurst No. 2, which opened in 1907), declared The Broadmoor's
golf course in Colorado Springs his best work. When The Broadmoor
Golf Course opened for a Red Cross fundraiser on July 4, 1918, it
was the highest golf course in the United States, at 6,400 ft in
elevation. The course was split into two, the East Course and the
West Course, by renowned landscape architect Robert Trent Jones Sr.
between 1952 and 1964. Today, both courses feature holes designed
by both Jones and Ross. The Broadmoor has hosted many major golf
tournaments, including the 1959 U.S. Amateur (Jack Nicklaus's first
major win), the 1967 U.S. Amateur, and the 1995 U.S. Women's Open
(Annika Sorenstam's first major title). Today, guests are invited
to play the courses and to visit the Broadmoor Golf Club’s Heritage
Hallway, an exhibition of golf history in the Rockies. The
Broadmoor was inducted as a Charter Member of Historic Hotels of
America in 1989.
The American Club (1918) Kohler, Wisconsin
Guests at The American Club, which was established in 1918 in
Kohler, Wisconsin, are invited to experience championship golf on
any of the four Kohler courses, which have been rated among the
world’s greatest. All designed by the legendary golf course
architect Pete Dye in the 1980s and 1990s, these courses have
hosted many championships, including two PGA championships, two
U.S. Women's Opens, and the 2020 Ryder Cup. Two courses were
constructed at Blackwolf Run® (the River Course and Meadow Valleys
Course) and two at Whistling Straits® (the Straits Course and the
Irish Course). At Blackwolf Run, the original 18 holes featured two
nine-hole layouts, River and Valleys, that opened in 1988. They
were both later expanded by an additional nine each. Each hole on
both courses at Blackwolf Run is bestowed with a name that reflects
the natural features of the glacier-carved land. The Sheboygan
River separates the River Course and Meadow Valleys Course and cuts
a seven-mile path that divides the resort. Whistling Straits opened
in 1998. This wild, windswept coastal links-style course was
sculpted along the grass-topped dunes of the Wisconsin coastline.
In late September 2021, the 43rd Ryder Cup was held at Whistling
Straits. It was the first public course in a quarter-century to
host the Ryder Cup. The Blackwolf Run layouts are fun and
remarkable for their unique characteristics, which include Pete
Dye’s signature design features, especially on the River Course,
and two railroad car bridges found on the Meadow Valleys Course.
The American Club was inducted into Historic Hotels of America in
1991.
The Vinoy Resort & Golf Club, Autograph Collection (1925)
St. Petersburg, Florida
The Vinoy Resort & Golf Club, Autograph Collection emerged
in the early 1920s following a golf bet made during a house party.
A wealthy businessman named Aymer Vinoy Laughner hosted parties to
entertain his friends and community, including professional golfer
Walter Hagen. During a party at Laughner’s St. Petersburg home, the
business magnate engaged in a good-natured dispute with Hagen over
the power of his drive. According to one story, Laughner attested
that Hagen’s swing—while powerful—had no chance of damaging the
crystal within his pocket watch. The haggling reached its crescendo
when Hagen wagered a bet of $170,000 that he could, indeed, smash
its glass casing. Placing the watch firmly on the ground, Hagen
proceeded to forcefully launch golf balls several dozen yards away
on a distant neighbor’s lawn. But much to the golfer’s surprise,
the watch had somehow survived the contest unscathed. Honorably,
Hagen surrendered the money to Laughner. (Hagen could afford it:
considered one of the greatest golfers of the 20th century and a
leader in the growth of professional golf in the 1910s and 1920s,
he was the first player to make a million dollars at the game.)
Party guests mused that Laughner ought to use that money to build a
spectacular holiday destination in downtown St. Petersburg—and that
is what he did. The hotel’s golf club opened in 1927, and guests
played the game on the 18-hole Snell Isle golf course, designed by
landscape architect John R. Van Kleek. In 1992, the championship
Vinoy Golf Course was redesigned by Ron Garl. Garl designed courses
with the philosophy that a golf course should “sit softly on the
land," and the Vinoy Golf Course at Snell Isle is a beautiful
testament to that concept. Nestled along the downtown St.
Petersburg waterfront, The Vinoy Resort and Golf Club was inducted
into Historic Hotels of America in 1991.
The Inn at Death Valley (1926) Death Valley, California
Guests can experience a round of golf at the lowest elevation
golf course in the world during a stay at The Inn at Death Valley.
Located 214 feet below sea level within the vast desert of Death
Valley National Park, the resort’s Furnace Creek Golf Course
features palm and tamarisk trees framing the fairways. The high
peaks of the Sierra Nevada range are visible from all areas of this
18-hole, par-70 course. The Pacific Coast Borax Company built the
Furnace Creek Inn in 1927, hoping to attract business to its Death
Valley Railroad. The railroad was in dire need of additional
revenue and began running passenger trains for tourists who wanted
to experience the natural beauty of Death Valley at the comfortable
new inn. Golf at Death Valley dates to the same year, when a date
palm caretaker set up a three-hole golf course for local borax
miners. In 1931, a nine-hole course was developed around the ranch
land and date palm orchards. It was the first grass golf course in
the California desert. In 1968, noted designer William F. Bell
expanded the course to 18 holes. Golf course designer Perry Dye
reworked the course in 1997, and a state-of-the-art irrigation
system was installed to allow it to remain open all year. Athletes
familiar with the course include basketball champion Bill Walton
and Australian golf champion Steve Elkington—who played the course
for his TV show, Secret Golf. Future golf champion Phil Mickelson
received his first set of clubs at the Furnace Creek Pro Shop,
purchased for him by his father. To young Mickelson’s delight, the
shop sold clubs for left-handed players. He went on to win six
major PGA Tour championships, including three Masters titles, two
PGA Championships, and one Open Championship. The Inn at Death
Valley was inducted into Historic Hotels of America in 1999.
The Wigwam (1929) Litchfield Park, Arizona
Travelers to The Wigwam in Litchfield Park, Arizona, are invited
to step onto its historic emerald fairways and experience a golf
resort built for golfers. This Litchfield Park tradition began in
1930 when Scottish gardener Jacques Phillip designed and dug the
resort’s original nine holes. The resort had opened a year earlier
and was first operated by the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company,
which had created the resort complex as a vacation destination for
its high-ranking executives. Phillip knew that Goodyear executives
enjoyed the game, so he used his tractor to build them a golf
course. The tee boxes, fairways, and greens were all made of sand,
with thick oil on the greens to keep the sand from blowing away.
The original course design was lost in the 20th century when three
new courses emerged in the 1960s and 1972: the Blue and Gold
courses (named for the colors of the Goodyear Tire & Rubber
Company logo) designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr., and the Red
Course designed by Robert “Red” Lawrence. The Wigwam’s notable Gold
Course opened for play in 1965. The first foursome to play the
original design in the early 1940s included professional golfers
Jimmy Thomson, Horton Smith, Lawson Little, and Vernon Oren Allen.
Little won the U.S. Open in 1940, and Smith won the first Masters
tournament in 1934 (and again in 1936). Other notable players at
The Wigwam include actor Clint Eastwood, and professional golf
stars Brooks Koepka, Justin Thomas, and Bryson DeChambeau. The
Wigwam was inducted into Historic Hotels of America in 2010.
The Hotel Hershey® (1933) Hershey, Pennsylvania
Tee off at the sweetest golf course on Earth! Golf started in
Hershey, Pennsylvania, in 1909, when founder Milton S. Hershey had
a nine-hole course built between his chocolate factory and his
home. In 1930, he commissioned Maurice McCarthy to design the West
Course. McCarthy also designed the Juvenile Golf Club (now Spring
Creek Golf Course), which opened in 1932 as the first course in the
country built specifically for children under the age of 18. The
Juvenile Country Club used Milton S. Hershey’s home, High Point
Mansion, as its clubhouse for decades. Guests at The Hotel Hershey®
in Hershey, Pennsylvania, enjoy access to the Hershey Country
Club’s West Course. In 1934, Henry Picard was hired as the Head
Golf Professional. Nicknamed the "Hershey Hurricane" and “Chocolate
Soldier,” his on-course skills led to 26 wins on the PGA Tour,
including the 1936-1937 Hershey Open, 1938 Masters Tournament, and
the 1939 PGA Championship. After Picard, legendary professional
golfer Ben Hogan—considered one of the greatest players of all
time—served as Head Golf Professional at Hershey. Of his 63
tournament wins, 52 occurred during his tenure as Hershey’s golf
professional, including six majors. Since its founding, numerous
national tournaments have been held at the Hershey Country Club,
and individuals, including players Arnold Palmer and Jan Stephenson
and former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge, have walked its greens.
The Hotel Hershey® was inducted into Historic Hotels of America in
1991.
The King and Prince Beach and Golf Resort (1935) St. Simons
Island, Georgia
The King and Prince Beach and Golf Resort on St. Simons Island,
Georgia, one of the Golden Isles of the larger chain of Sea
Islands, has welcomed travelers to play the award-winning King and
Prince Golf Course since it opened in 1989. Nestled in forests and
salt marshes, just south of the Hampton River, the course was
designed by golf course architect Joe Lee, who planned 18 holes,
par-72. Today, golfers travel along 800 feet of elevated,
marsh-traversing cart bridges to experience play on four
spectacular holes gently carved from the marsh islands. The golf
course features MiniVerde®, ultra-dwarf Bermuda grass, and green
collars that are 60 inches around each green and planted with
Tifsport Bermuda grass. Water features include lagoons, marshlands,
creeks, and ponds, creating both aesthetic appeal and natural
hazards. The course's climate is warm and humid, with hot summers,
mild winters, and substantial rainfall, particularly in the summer,
maintaining green conditions. Playable year-round, the best
conditions are usually in the spring and fall. The course is often
found on golf's "must-play" lists for the Florida to Myrtle Beach
circuit. In 2009, the resort embarked on an extensive restoration
campaign led by landscaper Billy Fuller, that included the
re-grassing of green complexes, renovating bunkers, and irrigation
improvements. The King and Prince Beach and Golf Resort was
inducted into Historic Hotels of America in 1996.
Williamsburg Inn (1937) Williamsburg, Virginia
In addition to its immersive historical experiences in
Virginia’s colonial capital, Colonial Williamsburg Resorts has
offered world-class golf to guests since 1947. That year, a 9-hole
course designed by Fred Findlay opened for guests at the
Williamsburg Inn, which had opened ten years earlier in 1937. Soon,
Colonial Williamsburg leadership decided to upgrade the golf
offering by commissioning the world-renowned architect, Robert
Trent Jones Sr. to design an 18-hole course. In 1963, the Golden
Horseshoe Golf Club opened to rave reviews. The name comes from the
gift given by Colonial Lieutenant Governor Alexander Spotswood to
the men who went with him on an exploratory mission across the
Appalachian Mountains and the Shenandoah Valley in 1716. Upon their
return, Spotswood gave them each a jeweled, golden horseshoe.
During the golf boom of the 1990s, Colonial Williamsburg built a
second 18-hole course and selected Rees Jones, the son of the Gold
Course architect, Robert Trent Jones, Sr., to design the Green
Course. The Gold Course has undergone two restorations to keep the
conditions pristine, the most recent being conducted by Rees Jones
in 2017. Both the Gold and the Green Course are cut through mature
hardwoods and pines on a rolling topography that is undisturbed by
housing or development. Robert Trent Jones Sr. remarked that “the
Gold Course is a natural arboretum upon which a great golf course
has been built.” Williamsburg Inn was inducted into Historic Hotels
of America in 1994.
Rancho Bernardo Inn (1963) San Diego, California
Rancho Bernardo Inn in San Diego, California, opened its doors
to guests in 1963. Within a year, along with a place to stay, the
retreat also offered travelers a chance to experience a
championship golf course on 6,631 yards of rolling green hills. The
course at Rancho Bernardo Inn was designed in 1964 by William F.
Bell, son of golf course architect William Park Bell. Bell and his
father are well known for their work designing award-winning
championship golf courses across the West Coast and Southwest,
especially in California, Arizona, and Nevada. The course at Rancho
Bernardo Inn has hosted events sponsored by the Professional
Golfers’ Association (PGA), starting with the San Diego Open in
1964. Art Wall Jr. won the resort’s inaugural tournament, beating
both Tony Lema and Bob Rosburg by two strokes each. The LPGA then
hosted the Honda Civic Classic at the Rancho Bernardo Inn from 1978
to 1980. Golfing legend JoAnne Carner won two of the three
competitions, further solidifying her status as one of the foremost
athletes within professional golf. Her three different career USGA
wins place her on par with the likes of Jack Nicklaus, Arnold
Palmer, and Tiger Woods. Rancho Bernardo Inn was inducted into
Historic Hotels of America in 2021.
Mission Resort + Club (1964) Howey-in-the-Hills, Florida
The historic Mission Resort + Club in Howey-in-the-Hills,
Florida, is home to two historic and picturesque golf courses: Las
Colinas and El Campeón. The latter, El Campeón (The Champion), is
the most historic of the two. Built in 1917 by George O'Neil, El
Campeón is one of the oldest courses in the Southern United States
and has a classic design, although it features unusually sharp
elevation changes in the typically flat Central Florida terrain. It
has hosted everything from local high school and college
competitions to professional tournaments. Las Colinas (The Hills)
course, which was created in 1992 by former PGA Tour winner Gary
Koch, lives up to its name, with wide fairways rolling over gentle
rises. Both courses at Mission Resort + Club feature undulating
greens surrounded by tropical vegetation and incorporate large
water hazards on many holes. Among the many high-profile guests
that have teed-off at Mission Resort + Club are Arnold Palmer,
Tiger Woods, Jack and Gary Nicklaus, Bubba Watson, and Jim Thorpe.
El Campeón course is a Founding Member of the Florida Historic Golf
Trail. In 2009, El Campeόn golf course was awarded the Florida Golf
Course of the Year by the National Golf Course Owners Association.
It is also one of the first courses in the Southeast with grass
greens. Mission Resort + Club was inducted into Historic Hotels of
America in 2023.
Mauna Kea Beach Hotel (1964) Kohala Coast, Hawaii
The Mauna Kea Golf Course was the first resort golf course on
the island of Hawaii, and the first course built on an ancient lava
flow. This award-winning championship golf course at the Mauna Kea
Beach Hotel, on the Kohala Coast of Hawaii, has led the way in the
beauty and design of golf courses in Hawaii since its debut in
December 1964—just before the hotel officially opened in 1965. In a
made-for-television event, the course was debuted by golf’s “Big
Three:” Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, and Gary Player. Since that
premiere, the course has welcomed celebrities, professionals, and
amateur golfers who recognize it as a “bucket list,” must-play
course. Specifically, guests and locals continue to come back to
this course just to see the epic over-the-ocean third hole. Golf
course architect Robert Trent Jones Sr. designed the course and
developed a new technique that transformed the rocky surface into
soil. The course features high-efficiency, ultra-dwarf TifEagle
Bermuda grass on the greens and Tifway 419 hybrid Bermuda grass on
the tees, fairways, and roughs. Rees Jones, son of Robert Trent
Jones Sr. has continued to upgrade the course to ensure it offers
challenging, memorable play for all player levels. The course’s 99
bunkers and undulating greens present a challenge for the most
seasoned golfers, and a memorable day of play for leisurely
golfers. Its signature over-the-ocean par-3 Hole 3 is among the
most daunting, photographed, and awarded par-3 holes in the world.
It is a stunning tee shot of 272 yards from the championship box to
the green. Mauna Kea Beach Hotel was inducted into Historic Hotels
of America in 2016.
“Congratulations to the golf courses named to The 2024 Top 25
Historic Hotels of America Most Historic Golf Courses list. These
courses are beautiful historic sites where visitors can play a game
they love, teach someone the game, or view championship golf
tournaments—history in the making. Families gather on them to make
their own memories,” said Lawrence Horwitz, Executive Vice
President, Historic Hotels of America and Historic Hotels
Worldwide. “Historic Hotels of America offers golf destinations in
desert oases, on tropical islands, between mountain peaks, along
vineyards, and parallel sandy coastlines. Travelers will be eager
to take home a golf tee, golf ball, scorecard, or other souvenir
from the first time they played at any of these iconic golf
courses.”
About Historic Hotels of America®
Historic Hotels of America® is the official program of the
National Trust for Historic Preservation for recognizing and
celebrating the finest historic hotels across America. The National
Trust for Historic Preservation was chartered by U.S. Congress in
1949 and is a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The
National Trust for Historic Preservation is leading the movement to
save places where our history happened. To be nominated and
selected for membership in this prestigious program, a hotel must
be at least 50 years old; designated by the U.S. Secretary of the
Interior as a National Historic Landmark, or listed in or eligible
for listing in the National Register of Historic Places; and
recognized as having historical significance. Of the more than 300
historic hotels inducted into Historic Hotels of America from 45
states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, all historic
hotels faithfully preserve their sense of authenticity, sense of
place, and architectural integrity.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240718832178/en/
Katherine Orr Director, Marketing Strategy & Communications
Historic Hotels of America | Historic Hotels Worldwide
korr@HistoricHotels.org