According to what I can find, there are 19 golf-related listings on the National Registry of Historic Places. One of them is a miniature golf course, so you'll have to decide whether it counts or not. For what it's worth, here are the 19:
1.) Golf, Gun, and Country Club, Fairhope, Alabama (I believe this is just a clubhouse building, and not a course)
2.) City Park Golf Course, Denver, Colorado (I can vouch for the fact that this course fits into the "rat-ass muni" category)
3.) Hartford Golf Club Historic District, West Hartford, CT (The boundaries of the district as defined in the registry appear to include the golf course (27 holes). The club's website (
http://www.hartfordgolfclub.org) indicates that the architects were Devereaux Emmett and Donald Ross, originally built in 1896. I believe this course was the subject of some debate on this site regarding the contributions of Mr. McGovern.)
4.) Langston Golf Course Historic District, Washington D.C. (The boundaries of the district include the course. I can't find much info on the course after a quick look, but it appears to not be much to get excited about.)
5.) Winter Park Country Club and Golf Course, Winter Park, Florida (The original course was laid out by John Dunn in 1900, according to a historical website devoted to the course (
http://www.geocities.com/brendonelliott/golf_history.html). Does not, at this point, look to be much from a golf course perspective.)
6.) Le Mars Municipal Park and Golf Course Historic District, Le Mars, Iowa (All I can find is that a 9-hole golf course was opened here in 1936, but I have no knowledge of its significance or historical relevance.)
7.) Otis Park and Golf Course, Bedford, Indiana (Other than it was built in 1923, I couldn't find much else about the course.)
8.) East Baton Rouge City Park Golf Course, Baton Rouge, Louisiana (There was a move afoot last year to demolish this Thomas Bendelow design, but I am not sure how that all turned out.)
9.) Knox Mequnticook Golf Club, Rockport, Maine (A quick search revealed no information about this club, but the historic interest appears to be the club building, not the course. Any additional information would be appreciated).
10.) Keweenaw Mountain Lodge and Golf Course Complex, Copper Harbor, Michigan (Appears to have been built in 1933, but could find no info on architect.)
11.) Tall Maples Miniature Golf Course, Sea Breeze, New York (Now called Whispering Pines Miniature golf course, it opened in 1930 and was designed by Donald Ross. Ok, I'm kidding about that.)
12.) Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, Southampton, New York (You may have heard of this one.)
13.) Euclid Golf Allotment, Cleveland Heights, Ohio (The first nine holes of the course were built in 1901, designed by William Herbert Way (runner up in the 1899 U.S. Open). Another 9 holes were developed, but the land for them was donated with the stipulation that golf not be played on the sabbath. This restriction, amongst other factors, cause the Euclid golf club itself to move in 1912, and the course no longer exists. The Historic District is the housing area where the course used to sit.)
14.) Stark Clearview Golf Club, East Canton, Ohio (The only golf course designed, built, owned, and operated by an African American (William Powell), the original 9 holes of this course were opened in 1948. Interesting history, but I couldn't find any reviews of the course itself.)
15.) Merion Golf Club East and West Courses, Ardmore, Pennsylvania (I have not played it, but I hear it is pretty good. Very good. Ok, classically and impeccably good. It would be interesting to know whether or not the courses' designation as National Historic Places created any issues for work that has been done on the course, as I'm not sure how much pull the Historic Registry has when Federal Funding is not involved.)
16.) Belle Meade Golf Links Subdivision, Nashville, Tennessee (The boundaries of the Historic District appear to include the golf course of the Belle Meade Country Club, designed by Donald Ross in 1901. The course is not, however, the primary cause of the historical designation, but instead is an amenity to the neighborhood which has many mansions and estates. It is apparently the "old money" section of Nashville.)
17.) Weber El Monte Golf Course Clubhouse, Ogden, Utah (The course itself, a 9-hole affair with nice views, is not actually on the Historic Registry.)
18.) Menomonee Golf Club, Waukesha, Wisconsin (Now called the North Hills Country Club, this course is the home of the annual Vince Lombardi Golf Classic. Built in 1929, I called the club and asked them who designed the course. They laughed and told me "someone from Illinois." Any additional info would be appreciated.)
19.) Opequon Golf Club, Martinsburg, West Virginia (I have no additional information about this club or course.)
It is interesting that there are really only three "classic" courses listed. Is there some negative for a club in a listing? Why do more classic clubs not apply to be on the list? Is it fear of Federal interference, or apathy regarding the list?