National Golf Links of America is a prestigious links-style golf course in Southampton, New York, located on Long Island between Shinnecock Hills Golf Club and Peconic Bay. Though the course is noted for hosting the initial Walker Cup in 1922, which the United States won 8 and 4, it has never hosted a major men’s championship. Shinnecock is a private club. All guests must be signed in by an accompanying member, at the front desk before play. No guests will be permitted to tee off without a green fee ticket.
Guests may not pay cash for any charges in the Clubhouse; they must sign the host Member’s name. Gratuities may not be paid to any employee of the Club, other than the Caddie Master and locker room attendant. Caddies should be paid directly. Cellular telephones and other communication devices are not to be used or displayed in the Clubhouse or on Club grounds (Exception: inside cars in the parking lot and in the telephone room in the Clubhouse).
Appropriate golf attire is required in the Clubhouse, on the practice area and on the golf course. Unacceptable clothing includes T-shirts, tank tops, sports jerseys, jeans, cut-offs, sweat suits, jogging and other short shorts. Flip-flops and sandals are not permitted. All shirts should remain tucked in. Hats should be worn with the bill forward and removed when entering the Clubhouse. Only soft spikes are allowed in the Clubhouse and on the golf course. Thank you in advance for conscientiously following our rules and the basics of golf etiquette, and for treating all members of our staff with the utmost respect.
The National was founded in 1908 under the leadership of Charles B. Macdonald. The golf course was constructed with the assistance of Southampton engineer, Seth Raynor. After studying many of the courses in Scotland and England, Mr. Macdonald set out to build a first class course in the United States which would incorporate many of the better qualities of golf courses in the British Isles. Among the famous holes represented at the National are the Road Hole and Eden from St. Andrews, Alps from Prestwick, Redan from North Berwick and Sahara from Sandwich. The National has inspired a number of golf architects who have made frequent visits to study some of its challenging and enduring features. The private 18 hole course covering 253 acres is located on Peconic Bay in the Town of Southampton, New York.
NGLA, or “National,” as it’s known, brought Seth Raynor and C.B. Macdonald together for the first time and what they created still stands as a marvel of strategic design. Some of its template holes, including the Alps 3rd, the Redan 4th, the Short 6th and the Leven 17th, are arguably superior to their namesake holes in the United Kingdom that Macdonald copied. Legendary golf writer Bernard Darwin summed it up nicely when he opined, “The National Links is a truly great course; even as I write I feel my allegiance to Westward Ho!, to Hoylake, to St. Andrews tottering to its fall.”
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