Shinnecock Hills Golf Club

Golf arrived in America in the 1880s, brought by Scottish and British immigrants who carved rough layouts into pastures, farmland, and coastal dunes. Remarkably, many of those original courses are still in operation. Some have hosted U.S. Opens and produced legends. Others remain quiet nine-hole tracks where you can walk on for under $30. All of them offer a direct connection to the earliest days of American golf. Before the boom: the 1880s pioneers The debate over which American golf course is truly the “oldest” depends on how you define it. Several claim the title based on different criteria: oldest club, oldest course in continuous use, or oldest incorporated club. Dorset Field Club (1886) in Dorset, Vermont is one of the strongest contenders. Originally called Dorset Golf Links, the course was laid out in 1886 by summer residents who played across roads, through swamps, and amid apple orchards. It operated as a nine-hole course for over a century before expanding to 18 holes in 1999. Dorset Field Club is private, so access requires a member invitation, but the course has been in continuous operation for nearly 140 years. View Dorset Field Club on FairwayDB. Foxburg Country Club (1887) in Foxburg,...