National Golf Links of America

C.B. Macdonald's 1911 tribute to the best holes of Britain, laid out on Peconic Bay with huge, varied greens and the template holes later copied across America.

After years of studying holes in Britain, Charles Blair Macdonald set out to build a course that could stand beside the best abroad. He chose land on Sebonac Neck beside Peconic Bay, and Seth Raynor, a local civil engineer, supervised construction. The club took its name from its 67 founding members, who lived across the country. The course opened in 1911, with play on part of it starting earlier.

Several holes adapt famous British originals: the Sahara 2nd after Royal St George's, the blind Alps 3rd after Prestwick, the Redan 4th after North Berwick, a Road-hole 7th and an Eden 13th after St Andrews. Others are original, including the Cape 14th. The greens are large and wildly varied, and the out-and-back routing zigzags enough that the wind keeps shifting. National hosted the first Walker Cup in 1922 and again in 2013 but has never staged a men's major. A windmill between the 2nd and 16th holes is its landmark. Its influence on American design is the main reason it ranks this high.

Holes to know

3

Par 4 · 426 yd

'Alps,' modeled on Prestwick's 17th, with a blind approach over a hill and a large bunker to a hidden green.

4

Par 3 · 195 yd

'Redan,' a copy of the 15th at North Berwick with a long green set at an angle.

14

Par 4 · 365 yd

'Cape,' an original design whose green, moved for Sebonac Inlet Road, is now surrounded on three sides by a large bunker.

Championships

• Walker Cup 1922, 2013

Design history

• 14th ('Cape') green relocated when Sebonac Inlet Road was built