Oakmont - Favorite clubhouse

[Jon Cavalier]

Many terrific suggestions.  I apologize for my inability to post photos, but would add Sunningdale and Loch Lomond in Britain, Baltusrol in the US (classic) and Capilano in Canada.  And Chicago Golf Club, for the metal lockers and more!

Baltusrol is a great one:

[Philip Caccamise]

Oakmont also has the best clubhouse food I've ever eaten. Puts the vast majority of golf eats to shame.

[Tim Gallant]

In the UK, gotta go with Swinley Forest. Everything seemed perfect, and I loved the outside facade. The R&A is also special, and is the place where I learned that I would never be a professional snooker player. I was devastated.

[Richard Fisher]

In the UK, Porthcawl,  Brancaster, The Sacred Nine, Swinley all score very highly on my personal clubhouse chart, and in very different ways. Of the larger houses, I have always really liked Hoylake and totally agree about Sunningdale. I also have a very soft spot for the 'expanded Victorian cricket pavilion' look which is still at the heart of (say) Westward Ho! and Harlech. Among newer clubhouse designs in the UK, I admire Portrush and Alwoodley (which received the ultimate accolade in UK architectural terms of being featured in Country Life), although I know this enthusiasm isn't universal. Basically, all these houses seem in keeping with their clubs, and create the right golf-centric atmosphere. Not over-grand, or even very smart (although one or two are), but in context absolutely fit for purpose, and, above all, welcoming.

PS Grateful thanks to Benjamin, for the lovely Shinnecock pix.

[Josh Stevens]

NZ and Woking for me.

Woking is better, but NZ is fun to wander about locker room and look at old names like Conan Doyle

[Keith OHalloran]

Some of my favorite clubhouses:


Newport:





Yeamans Hall:





Boston Golf Club:





Old Town Club:





Maidstone:





Sleepy Hollow:





Valley Club of Montecito:





Winged Foot:





Bayonne:





Oakmont:





Myopia Hunt Club:





And my favorite of all, National Golf Links:

Are you talking about beauty and look in photos? I ask because I am surprised to see Newport on this list. I agree, it has a nice look, but the inside is so empty it felt like an out of commission movie set to me. The best clubhouses are the ones that are used. Garden City is great. Nice mesh lockers, spike marks on benches etc etc.

[Steve Lapper]

Happy to see decorum restored!




Btw... Would add Mountain Ridge & Quaker Ridge (lboth Clifford Wendehack Designs), Friars Head (much better food than Oakmont    ) and Austin GC,


Cheers!

[Keith OHalloran]

Well, Brian, when someone I've never met, or even spoken to, publicly calls me a "belt-notching d-bag" with "no redeeming qualities," (implying that they do, in fact, know me, when they don't) and then proceeds to take little pissy shots every time I post something on this website, I start to wonder what I've done to offend that person.


When Kavanaugh shits all over my posts, at least he has the balls to own it.

You're not wrong. It behooves me to ask BHoov to stop being a dick. It's tiresome.

Terry & Jon,


Totally agree!


Especially from a guy who on a certain other golf site, spends plenty of time talking about his own belt-notching, and access games.

Heart warming to see the cavalry out.
P.S. Hoover is far more likely to be found lamenting his lack of belt notching and access than bragging about same, but I assume you knew that and decided your point would be better made by disregarding it.

[BCowan]

I know Mr Hoover and he is a fine guy.  People need to take a deep breathe and not take themselves too seriously.  His banter isnt malicious in nature.  Gotta love the factions or frats on this website

[BHoover]

This is obviously my fault. I have apologized to Jon Cavalier in a PM. I obviously showed lack of judgment and decorum, and for that there is no excuse.  I believe this is an issue between Jon and myself, for which I am to blame. I appreciate the comments from other posters, and I will try my utmost to use this as a lesson for future behavior. 

Regards.

[Thomas Dai]

I rather like the Clubhouse that sits behind this 18th green -



This one -



To sit behind near the Clubhouse window, or maybe better still sit in the sunshine behind the thick glass on the patio, and watch players coming down the 18th...bliss.


atb


Photos hijacked from this splendid photo-tour - http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,30926.0.html

[Tim Fenchel]

Lots of good ones, guys thanks for sharing. Keep them coming.


There is something I also like about the understated clubhouse.  Woking and Porthcawl are good examples.  As is Boston CC which I hadn't seen before.


I agree Keith about Newport.  No doubt its grand but seems stale, stuffy and empty.


Last year my father did a trip to the U.K. and he thought the clubhouse at Old Head fit the site well and had a nice comfortable feel inside.

[Brian Finn]

Especially from a guy who on a certain other golf site, spends plenty of time talking about his own belt-notching, and access games.

I don't know what other site you're talking about, but you've clearly got the wrong guy.  Hoover is the anti-whore.  His belt is practically notchless.  Perhaps you mixed him up with me, as my name is also Brian, I also used to live in Columbus, Ohio, and I notch my belt every damn chance I get!

On that note, my favorite clubhouse in the world is The Valley Club.  I can't think of a way it could be improved inside or outside, and the friendly, welcoming membership makes it better than anywhere else I've been.

[David Davis]

Merion
Crystal Downs
Oakmont
Camargo

+1 these are among my favorites in the US. Wonderfully understated. I'd add Cypress, Shinny and NGLA to that list. The bar at Oakmont was really the first thing I saw and I spent the first several moment in awe of that awesome old photo (blown up very large) behind the bar. It just kind of puts the entire experience in to perspective.


For Mac, the men's locker room at The Golf Club is one of the best I've ever seen. Loch Lomond as well, though perhaps I'm biased as these two have bars in them which is pretty cool.


Overseas, Europe UK, Royal Hague is like someones home (in fact it was), Utrechtse De Pan is almost fairy tale like, Kennemer and Noordwijkse both great. Morfontaine and Les Bordes wonderfully French.


Asia, is the place for overstated and exuberant. Though Naruo and Hirono are wonderfully old school, traditional and charming.


Shanqin Bay rates up there with Cypress as far as I'm concerned.


Ay, the list goes on.

[Matthew Mollica]

Barwon Heads, a 90 minute drive south west of Melbourne, has a degree of British charm. It sits next to an old-world course, on the edge of an old, small seaside village, and the beach is only several hundred yards away.  The sight of the house always fills me with a sense of happiness. The interior perhaps surpasses the exterior.

[Phil Lipper]

I love the Oakmont locker room. the cane lockers are classic, but to me its hard to beat Shinnecock.  I love the clubhouse and the fact its a Stanford White design really elevates it. The clubhouse that wasn't mentioned by anyone is Long Vue, which is great looking when you drive up to it.

[David Davis]

Jon C.,


Great pics, as always. When are you going to start a school for the rest of us to learn how to photograph golf related objects?


I'd also like to attend the Jon C. school of managing to pic the perfect day with the perfect light for each and every picture you take and show. Just out of curiosity, ever run into a rainy, or heck, even a cloudy day? ha ha...





Noordwijkse Golf Club





Kennemer golf Club





Utrechtse De Pan









Royal Hague Golf & Country Club

[Tim Fitz]

I too am a sucker for a great clubhouse, especially those that fit with the feel of the club overall.  The right clubhouse (and/or the right locker room/men's grill) can be the perfect start and end to a round of golf and really impacts my experience at a club.

All that said, I can't believe we have made it two pages into a thread and the Chicago contingent hasn't mentioned Shoreacres.  The wonderful clubhouse sits up on a bluff, looking out over Lake Michigan (our own inland sea).  It has the perfect balance - understated and classy.  It just fits so well with the course.

Rather than post one of my pictures that can't do the clubhouse justice, I hope that Jon C. can post a couple of his from his recent photo tour of Shoreacres.

[Mark Pritchett]

Garden City

[John Mayhugh]

My favorite is probably Brancaster.

Overlooks the 18th green.


With the course just outside a gate.


Nothing fancy.


Dogs are considered.


Comfortable, with a bar where you order lunch before you head out to play.


Well worn lockers and benches.


A nice view, especially from the upstairs seating.


And, though not a part of the clubhouse, a steward that watches members' dogs for them when they are out of town.


Best of all - a terrific golf course next to it!

[Josh Tarble]

One that hasn't been mentioned that I absolutely love is Champions Golf Club in Houston.  It will never wow anyone with it's beauty or awe with it's size.  But it perfectly captures the atmosphere of the club and the area.  It to me is almost a perfect clubhouse.

[Sean_A]

Tucky...yes, Brancaster's house is good, but is it better than this bunker?




ATB

Yes, I like Kington's house a lot.  Worlington's is good as well...same for Sandwich.

Ciao

[John Mayhugh]

Tucky...yes, Brancaster's house is good, but is it better than this bunker?

That's a tough question!  A better look at the bridge through the bunker.

[Sean_A]

That 18th is a very cool hole because from the tee it seems like it will be boring. There aren't many holes designed like this with oodles of room to drop an approach over the bunker but still have a chance to get close to a front pin on the front to back running green...wish there were a lot more holes of this ilk.


Ciao

[Tim Martin]

I love the Oakmont locker room. the cane lockers are classic, but to me its hard to beat Shinnecock.  I love the clubhouse and the fact its a Stanford White design really elevates it. The clubhouse that wasn't mentioned by anyone is Long Vue, which is great looking when you drive up to it.

+1 on Long Vue. Another favorite is Ardsley in Westchester County NY which also boasts some incredible views of the Hudson River. If brick is your thing both of these will cause your jaw to drop.