Muirfield Village Golf Club

Jack Nicklaus's hometown club outside Columbus, built to be a spectator course and home of the Memorial Tournament since 1976.

Nicklaus named the club after Muirfield, where he won his first Open Championship in 1966, and set out to build a course that worked equally well for members and for watching a tournament. Land was bought in 1966, construction started in 1972, and the club opened on Memorial Day 1974 with an exhibition between Nicklaus and Tom Weiskopf, which Nicklaus won with a 66.

The course relies on bold bunkering, water hazards and narrow fairways that call for accurate driving. Nicklaus has controlled the design ever since, adjusting it repeatedly for equipment changes. After the 2020 Memorial he rebuilt every green with new bentgrass and subsurface air systems, reworked bunkers, and remade the 15th. He has called this his last major change. Beyond the Memorial, Muirfield Village hosted the 1987 Ryder Cup, Europe's first win on American soil, plus the 1998 Solheim Cup and 2013 Presidents Cup.

Holes to know

12

Par 3 · 180 yd

One of two holes left unchanged in the 2020–21 renovation.

14

Par 4 · 360 yd

A short par 4, also untouched in the latest rebuild.

15

Par 5 · 561 yd

Completely rebuilt in 2020–21 with new fairway bunkers and major grade changes.

18

Par 4 · 480 yd

Lengthened by 40 yards in 2013, with the stream rerouted, ahead of a finish framed by spectator suites.

Championships

• Memorial Tournament Annually since 1976
• Ryder Cup 1987
• U.S. Amateur 1992
• Solheim Cup 1998
• Presidents Cup 2013
• Workday Charity Open 2020

Design history

• 2010s: Nicklaus lengthened the 1st, 10th, 12th and 17th, added bunkers and rerouted the stream on the 18th
• 2020–21: Every green complex rebuilt, bunkers enlarged and the 15th completely redone