What is the oldest golf course in the USA?

While it was Scotland where golf originated, the game dates back a long way in the USA, too. But what is the oldest golf course in the USA?

There is some debate to this question, however, most agree that Oakhurst Links is the oldest golf course in the USA.

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Oakhurst Links is situated in West Virginia, and was first opened in 1884 as a nine-hole course. The club hosted its first competition in 1888. The course layout takes inspiration from those that were already in Scotland at the time, which is no surprise since it was Scotsmen who made the journey to design the course.

However, come the early 1900s, the layout had fallen into disrepair, and was no longer in use. That was until Sam Snead visited in 1938, when he encouraged one of his friends to buy and restore the golf course. Snead would go on to say that he believed the course to be the oldest in the country. 

Such is the history of the club, Oakhurst Links has been host to the National Hickory Championship on 16 occasions. In that event, players compete with equipment from that era, as well as wearing the appropriate attire from the 1900s.

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In fact, if you are playing here, there is no option but to play with old clubs that are provided by Oakhurst Links. You’ll not need a golf bag, either. Instead, guests are required to carry their sticks, just like the old days.

If you’re looking to play it, however, you might encounter some difficulty. The club encountered severe flooding in 2016, and has still not been able to re-open.