Golf Courses that are National Historic Landmarks... very few

[Jeff Schley]

Do you know who they are?  I didn't and was surprised that there were only 4.
https://www.golflink.com/travel_35150_national-historic-landmark-golf-courses.html
Not sure the order, but I do know Baltursol is the last in 2015 to be added.

Merion
Oakmont
Pinehurst no. 2
Baltursol


The process sounds VERY lengthy and comprehensive with less than 10 landmark designations made in the entire country per year.
I see our own Tommy raised this topic back in 2006 with some clubs identified. http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,22652.0/nowap.html
Here is a link for someone to search if you have the time: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nationalregister/database-research.htm

[Alan FitzGerald CGCS MG]

Reading Country Club got on the National Register of Historic Places last year. Looks like its a step below national historic landmarks but it looks like there are more clubs on that list.


https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/reading-county-club-secures-place-in-history

[Tom_Doak]

Even the clubs that have gone through this process have been wary of putting another layer of bureaucracy into the management of the club and any possible renovations to the golf course - although, I guess if Merion can spend $15m to blow up and rebuild its landmark course, no one at the federal level is taking the designation too seriously!

[Terry Lavin]

Olympia Fields has been on the US National Register of Historic Places for more than twenty years.

[David Amarnek]

Isn't Merion West on the US National Register as well the East course?

[jim_lewis]

Jeff:
Pinehurst #2 is not a stand-alone National Historic Landmark (NHL). It is an important part of the Pinehurst Historic Landmark District, which includes #2 and several hundred other older properties in Old Town Pinehurst.
 
Tom:
The NHL program is managed by the National Park Service. They have no authority to veto a change in a designated NHL. If they disapprove of a change sufficiently, their only authorized option (after sufficient warnings) is to withdraw the NHL designation.
 
Jim Lewis

[Jon Cavalier]

There’s an enormous difference between the National Historic Landmark designation (which 4 clubs have received) in terms of the administrative handwringing that goes into it and the National Registry of Historic Places (on which there are dozens of golf clubs).

[Terry Lavin]

There’s an enormous difference between the National Historic Landmark designation (which 4 clubs have received) in terms of the administrative handwringing that goes into it and the National Registry of Historic Places (on which there are dozens of golf clubs).

There you go with the facts and the law again...