National Golf Links of America
National is a super exclusive, traditional club out on Long Island in the shadow (both figuratively and literally) of Shinnecock. Played in 2018 with my buddies, the Bills, and our host. The professional rankers and I agree on this course. Top ten. It has a great variety of holes – borrowed from the classic Scottish courses, It’s challenging (especially the greens) but it’s a lot of fun and getable. I actually played really well here, an 85. Scores don’t factor into how I rate a course but the fact you don’t feel beat up after 18 holes like you do at Pine Valley and Oakmont and this is definitely a club I could join, play often and enjoy. Of course, I could join if I had the coin and connections and if they invited me.
If you’ve read any of the other course reviews I’ve posted you might think I’m a boorish American yokel that would have no idea how to act at an old-money, traditional club. Ah but then you just don’t get me. Whenever I get an invite to play a club like National or Merion, I (and you should too) take the time to make sure I understand then follow the rules of the club. This is as a courtesy to the host and to the other members. Whether I think that I should have the God-given right to put my golf shoes on in my car in the parking lot, I check to make sure this is the etiquette at the club. And when in doubt, don’t. Go to the website. Email your host or your buddie that arranged the round and find out the rules. At this strata of club, I don’t even ask about tunes unless the host volunteers. This is not the time to try out those assless leather chaps your wife bought you. Dress golf conservative. Long pants. Not cargo pants or shorts. Don’t roll out of your car with your slides on or pull out that old beat up John Deere cap. Finally, always volunteer to pay (which seems obvious) even when it is business/client related. You wouldn’t believe how many people I’ve seen get invited to play a club and bail after the round without asking about paying. If the host and or whoever set you up says no then absolutely insist you pay the caddies and tip them egregiously well.
Back to National. I couldn’t tell you which was my favorite hole here and that’s a good thing. They’re all really, really good, different, interesting and fit together like an IKEA cabinet when completed. The windmill is iconic. When you get back after the round, make sure you hang for a Southsider at the Birdcage.
Golf Scrapbook 