Valhalla Golf Club

Jack Nicklaus's 1986 course east of Louisville: a links-style front nine in a creek valley, a wooded back nine, four PGA Championships and the 2008 Ryder Cup.

Valhalla opened in 1986 on about 500 acres east of Louisville. Jack Nicklaus considered some 40 routings before building. The PGA of America later owned the course, which explains its record: PGA Championships in 1996, 2000, 2014 and 2024, Senior PGA Championships in 2004 and 2011, and the 2008 Ryder Cup. A group of members led by Jimmy Kirchdorfer bought the club in 2022, and the Solheim Cup is scheduled for 2028.

The two nines play very differently. The front nine runs through a low, open valley and feels links-like, with mounding Nicklaus built partly to protect fairways from flooding. The back nine climbs into hardwoods and plays as traditional parkland golf. After the 2011 Senior PGA, Nicklaus rebuilt all 18 greens. Nicklaus also returned before the 2000 PGA and the 2008 Ryder Cup to adjust the course. The finish includes a par-5 18th along a creek with a horseshoe-shaped green.

Valhalla has hosted some of the best finishes in recent major history. Tiger Woods won the 2000 PGA here, and Rory McIlroy finished his 2014 win in near-darkness for his fourth major. In 2008 the U.S. ended a run of Ryder Cup losses with a 16½–11½ win here. The short par-4 13th, with its island green on limestone, is the hole people remember.

Holes to know

13

Par 4

A short par 4 to a small island green built up on locally quarried limestone and surrounded by water.

18

Par 5

A par-5 finish beside a creek, with a horseshoe-shaped green that has decided several majors.

Championships

• PGA Championship 1996, 2000, 2014, 2024
• Senior PGA Championship 2004, 2011
• Ryder Cup 2008
• Solheim Cup (scheduled) 2028

Design history

• Pre-1996, 2000 and 2008: Nicklaus modifications ahead of major events
• 2011–12: Nicklaus modernization including rebuilding all 18 greens