first golf course

[Chuck Glowacki]

What was the first golf course you ever played?  Mine was the old dunes course at Jekyll Island (9 holes).

[jonathan_becker]

Shady Hollow CC in Massillon, OH

[jeffwarne]

Augusta CC-had no clue how good I had it
18 holes at age 11 with my dad's inch long wilson staffs first time I ever touched a club

[Rees Milikin]

Belle Meade Country Club in Thomson, GA.

[Chuck Glowacki]

some old ole georgia boys, Jeff the start of something good.
think I was about 11 too, father became member at the
old Fort Gordon Golf Club (Forrest Hills) spent many a day
there, Mom would drop me off in the morning and pick
me up in the afternoon.  those were indeed the days.

[Garland Bayley]

Harlowton CC, Harlowton, MT now Jawbone Creek CC.

[Rob Curtiss]

Stoneycreek - a muni in Michigan when I was 11 years old...

Then I didnt play again until I was 37 years old on the golf course I live on- Lexington Oaks in FL

[Gary Slatter]

Huntsville Downs, 9-holes, Huntsville Ontario   Stanley Thompson design   My father worked on construction, stayed on as GK

[Tommy Williamsen]

La Tourette Golf Club in Staten Island, NY.

[PCCraig]

I have no idea...

[Chris DeToro]

Jefferson Park Golf Course in Falls Church VA.  Didn't play much until a couple years later, but that was the first...

[Ryan Coles]

Ashton Court CC.

A true hidden gem- seek it out.

[Bill_McBride]

Globetrotter Bill Shulz and I both played our first golf on the NLE par 3 Las Gallinas course just north of San Rafael, CA.   About 20 years apart.

[Paul Jones]

Iberia Golf and Country Club - New Iberia, LA. I wish the 9-hole course still existed, but now there subdivision behind my parents house.

[Thomas Dai]

Ashton Court CC.
A true hidden gem- seek it out.

Played some of my earliest rounds here. Might have changed since, but I recall some very raised greens, or at least they seemed very raised raised to a little kid. Most of my early golf was played with rented clubs on muni pitch-n-putts and short courses, many of which probably no longer exist. A great shame. Muni pitch-n-putts and short courses, great places for youngsters to start learning the game.
atb

[jeffwarne]

some old ole georgia boys, Jeff the start of something good.
think I was about 11 too, father became member at the
old Fort Gordon Golf Club (Forrest Hills) spent many a day
there, Mom would drop me off in the morning and pick
me up in the afternoon.  those were indeed the days.

Chuck that was 3 blocks from my house-didn't even know it was there until 3 years later.
Love that course-won HS sate Championship there.
They have DESTROYED that course-including the old putting green which was a gathering spot for many to practice/gamble.

Rees- used to like Belle Meade-my introduction to quirk
where I learned 7 was pronounced sebum... as in "I hit me a big ole sebum arn on that there hole"

[Ryan Coles]

Tongue in cheek obviously Thomas, but you're spot on and not just for youngsters.

In these days of over supply, there is a distinct lack of smaller facilities for the beginner and intermediate player. They upset established players at 'bigger clubs' and are made to feel unwelcome and this drives them away from the game.

[Thomas Dai]

Tongue in cheek obviously Thomas, but you're spot on and not just for youngsters.
In these days of over supply, there is a distinct lack of smaller facilities for the beginner and intermediate player. They upset established players at 'bigger clubs' and are made to feel unwelcome and this drives them away from the game.

Just about every town/city park had a muni pitch-n-putt/short course or muni putting green when I was a kid. And a muni bowling green too. Wonderful facilities. Memories of many happy times spent with friends and relatives. And you're right Ryan, not just for youngsters and beginners either. Alas such facilities are not commonly available to any generation these days. And private clubs, if they have the land available, and some do, are so reluctant to have a short course. A great shame and very shortsighted as these are the real places to 'grow the game' IMO.
atb

[Paul Gray]

Spot on Tom, absolutely spot on.

Not sure if it counts but the par 3 course/pitch and putt at Hayling, a genuinely outstanding short course. And I had no idea it was something out of the ordinary. Fortunately it's still going strong.

Actual 'full size' course, Great Salterns in Portsmouth which, if it sounds good, isn't! But that's actually harsh. It provided, and still provides, a welcome to all golfers of all standards without trying to push any other unwanted 'add ons.'

[Matt Bielawa]

Can't remember.  It was one of two 9-holers in Rochester, NY.  Either St. John Fisher GC or Island Valley.  In both cases, there was one cut of grass other than the greens and it was cut at a little over an inch probably.  No fairways.  To this day, the 9-holer at St. John Fisher might be the tightest set of holes I've ever played.

[BCowan]

Ryan and Tom

   I think it matters what city/region.  Money has been put into 9 hole course right where i grew up and they are doing well.  Lots of muni's where i grew up and where I live.  Plus many CC are turning public.  The market is working.  Maybe you are in the wrong place?

[Tyler Kearns]

First golf course I ever played on was Elmhurst at 6 years old, a Ross design that some years later sparked by interest in golf course architecture.

TK

[Pete_Pittock]

Portland Golf Club, about 60 years ago.

[Mike Sweeney]

Ran approved courses started from Day 1:

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/courses-by-country/usa/walnut-lane/

[Sean McCue]

Aronimink.