The U.S. Open has been hosted at some of the most magnificent golf courses in the United States, like Winged Foot, Shinnecock Hills, and of course Pebble Beach. And with the 2019 tournament having just wrapped up a couple of weeks ago at the last of those majestic venues, we spent some time looking at other golf courses around the United States that could make excellent hosts for this prestigious tournament. We picked them for their reputations, designs, locations, and difficulty ratings, as well as their abilities (so far as we perceive them) to host such a big event.
Bandon Dunes
Faithful to the links-golf tenets of the game’s Scottish roots, this three-course golf resort easily rivals Pinehurst and the Monterey Peninsula. It is a prime example of a golf course being notable for the golf alone, and not all the other elements that go along with hosting a major. In fact, all three courses (Bandon Dunes, Pacific Dunes, and Old Macdonald) have the necessary ingredients to host a major: spectacular layouts, ocean views, and unpredictable weather conditions that could make for challenging play. While not near major infrastructure, any of the three courses could be made major-ready and provide a different look for the U.S. Open.
Raw is a good word to describe Bandon Dunes specifically, though we’ll also note that it’s as close to Scotland as you can possibly get in the U.S., from a style and atmosphere perspective. With a par 72 and a 74.1 rating, it’s a course that’s very easy to embrace, but still one that requires mastery on many of its holes. The deception provided by mounds and bunkers would test any golfer’s skills and, and make fora an excellent tournament among the pros.
Gaylord Springs Golf Links
Gaylord Springs Golf Links – Nashville, Tennessee
Another Scottish links-style course, Gaylord Springs was designed by U.S. Open and PGA Champion Larry Nelson, and is situated by the Cumberland River in Nashville. It is a challenging, 18-hole, par 72 course surrounded by limestone bluffs and wetlands protected by the federal government. This challenging course has hosted Champions Tour events and has received numerous accolades for its impeccable quality. Throw in its 220 acres and 43,000-square-foot clubhouse, and Gaylord Springs would be an ideal place to host a U.S. Open Championship. Nashville easily has the infrastructure to host the major event, as evidenced by the fact that it’s already a fairly active pro sports town.
We’ll also note that with the loosening of Tennessee’s gambling restrictions this year, this could serve as the rare U.S. Open destination with a betting component. To be clear, new legislation in Tennessee allows online-only sports betting, so it’s not as if there would be active sportsbooks erected at the majors. But golf crowds tend to include more than a few betting enthusiasts, who would undoubtedly enjoy the opportunity to do some mobile wagering while watching a professional tournament at Gaylord Springs. And with a 73.1-rated course that forces players to plan and react to undulating greens and substantial length, there would likely be some unpredictable outcomes to make the betting all the more interesting!
Harbour Town Golf Links
Harbour Town Golf Links – Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Harbour Town regularly hosts the RBC Heritage Classic, and is thus a regular stop on the PGA Tour. The course, designed by Pete Dye with help from Jack Nicklaus, is one where approach shots require high accuracy, rather than power, as many of the fairways are tree-lined with gentle doglegs. The par-71 course covers 7,099 yards of flat terrain and small, sloping greens, with several challenging par-3 holes.
The trickiest feature at Harbour Town is actually its infamous par-4 18th hole. Its 458 yards require a long tee shot straight toward an iconic lighthouse, and is made all the more challenging by the winds blowing in from the Calibogue Sound. One can only imagine the drama this 18th hole might provide on Sunday of a major! Beyond this hole, a few small modifications might have to be made, such as adding a little more rough and firming up some of the greens. But with world-class facilities, beautiful surroundings, and a 75.6 rating, Harbour Town could just make for a perfect U.S. Open destination one day.