The National Golf Links of America is one of the most revered, private, and quietly magnificent golf courses on the planet.
National, as it known by those who know it best, occupies 250 acres alongside Peconic Bay near Southampton, New York. It’s a piece of land most golfers will never set foot on, sadly, but those who have will tell you — with an almost misty-eyed reverence — that this is golf in its purest, most playful, most inspired form. It’s a place where the soul of British links meets unashamed American ambition, where every hole tells a story, and where the iconic windmill isn’t just a symbol — it’s a statement.
With the historic Shinnecock Hills on one side and Sebonack Golf Club on the other, The National Golf Links of America unquestionably occupies sacred golfing ground. But unlike its neighbours, it exists quietly — almost secretively. You won’t find it soaking up TV time on Sunday afternoons. In fact, it’s rarely photographed. And yet, for those lucky enough to walk its fairways, it leaves an impression which lingers for a lifetime.
Why? Well, National is an architectural love letter to the great British links, a course built not to dazzle with spectacle, but to stir the soul. At the time he embarked on National, architect Charles Blair Macdonald believed the ideal golf course had yet to be built in America — one that challenged the mind as much as the swing. Having studied in St Andrews, he understood that true links golf wasn’t just about punishment and precision, but about strategy, creativity, and choice. The great courses of Britain fascinated him and Macdonald began mapping and studying what he called “ideal holes.” His mission was clear: to create an American course inspired by the best of the Old World — not simply through imitation, but through interpretation. And The National Golf Links of America was the result — a course built not just to test, but to enchant. Every step across its gently rolling dunes, every view out over the bay, every quirky bounce and bunker, feels like a conversation with golf’s past — and a reminder of just how magical the game can be when it’s left to breathe.
This is our guide to one of the world’s great golfing institutions. For those of you lucky enough to see it for yourselves, savour every step, listen closely to your caddie, take in the view from the windmill, and know that you are walking in the footsteps of golf history.
1. Not Famous but unquestionably world-class
The National Golf Links of America is consistently ranked among the world’s best golf courses. It’s spoken about in the same breath as the likes of Pine Valley, The Old Course, St Andrews, Royal Dornoch, Royal County Down and Cypress Point. Make no mistake National may never be famous to the man the street but don’t be fooled into thinking that makes it less important. If anything that’s the secret of its significance. The National Golf Links of America is unashamedly private, understated, exclusive. For purists, architects, historians, and players alike, The National Golf Links of America isn’t just one of the best courses in the world — it’s one of the most significant. And that weight of legacy, matched by its ongoing relevance and excellence, is what keeps it so firmly at the top of the rankings.
2. A tribute to the best of British
There are no weak holes at the National Golf Links of America and that’s no accident. What architect CB Macdonald, supported by local engineer, Seth Raynor, set out to build here wasn’t just a golf course — it was a statement of intent for American golf. After years studying the links of Scotland — from St Andrews and Prestwick to North Berwick and beyond — CB Macdonald returned to America with a radical idea: to create a course made up of a re-imagination of the greatest holes he had seen. But this wasn’t mimicry. These weren’t replicas. Each hole was adapted and elevated to suit the magnificent natural contours of this Long Island landscape. The Alps, the Redan, the Eden, the Road Hole — they were all inspired by, not identical to, their Scottish counterparts. And yet, over time, these holes have taken on a legacy of their own. So thoughtful was the routing, so seamless the execution, that even the most purist of traditionalists now see these as originals in their own right.
Macdonald didn’t just import golf architecture — he translated it. And in doing so, he gave America its first great course. A course that still, more than a century later, feels as relevant, as mischievous, and as masterful as the day it opened.
3. You might have The National to yourself
If you are fortunate enough to be invited to play the National Golf Links of America, and you can find your way along the drive which leads to the kind of gated entrance which befits a place of this stature, and you park up close to the sprawling clubhouse, designed by one of The National’s founding members, Jarvis Hunt, it’s possible you may find you have the place almost entirely to yourself. The National Golf Links of America is exclusive in every possible way. And that often means you will barely see another golfer outside your group on the golf course. And yet that matters not. What awaits you is a wonderful blend of blind shots to sloping greens and tiny pot bunkers, rolling terrain and spectacular views. It’s playful, testing, sometimes frustrating — but always entirely unforgettable. The National invites shot-making, not slugging. And it never tries to be fair. It tries to be fun. And it makes it all the more special because you know you are one of a handful of golfers who get to enjoy it.
4. The windmill is real — and iconic
The iconic windmill at National Golf Links of America isn’t just a charming quirk — it has a story every bit as rich as the experience of playing here. As legend has it, while C.B. Macdonald was still fine-tuning the layout, one of the founding members — Daniel Pomeroy, then president of Condé Nast — suggested that a windmill perched at the highest point might be a tasteful way to disguise an unsightly water tank. Macdonald, never one to ignore an aesthetic opportunity, took the idea to heart. On a trip to Europe, he hunted down the perfect specimen, had it meticulously dismantled, shipped across the Atlantic, and reassembled close to the 16th and 17th holes. From that day on, the windmill has become a spiritual landmark of the course, a whimsical but fitting crown on one of the most storied landscapes in American golf.
5. Caddies are part of the soul of the club
At National Golf Links of America, you don’t play alone — and that’s by design. Unaccompanied play isn’t permitted, and for good reason. This is one of the true meccas of American golf, and such a place deserves to be respected, preserved, and properly understood. Being accompanied by a caddie — or ideally, a member — isn’t just about etiquette. It’s about connection, care, and continuity.
This is not a course that reveals its secrets easily. The sight-lines are deceptive, the hazards well-hidden, and the options off the tee often more psychological than physical. Without a caddie’s wisdom, it’s easy to be lured into traps — or quite literally into the Road Hole bunker. And then there’s the code. Something about walking with a seasoned caddie puts you on your best behaviour. You rake more carefully, mark more neatly, talk a little less, and listen a little more. You become a better guest. And at a place like National Golf Links of America, that’s how it should be.
The caddies here are more than bag carriers. They are storytellers, historians, guides, and guardians of the course. Many have looped here for decades. They all know every break, bounce, and blind spot better than their own living rooms. If you do get to visit, make sure to ask yours about the fabled annual caddie match against next-door neighbours Shinnecock. It’s as fiercely contested as the Ryder Cup itself.
6. National: the home of American golf
Long Island is where American golf first took root and where it found its voice. As the game began to stretch beyond the shores of the British Isles in the late 19th century, it was here — amid the salt air and sweeping coastal landscapes — that golf found a natural home. Wealthy New York industrialists brought the game to their country estates, and with them came some of the earliest and most important clubs in America. The first purpose-built golf clubhouse in the United States was constructed in 1892 at next-door Shinnecock Hills, designed by architect Stanford White.
In the decades that followed, Long Island became a stage for many of the game’s early championships — and a proving ground for American course architecture. It’s no coincidence that the Island’s oldest courses follow the template of the Scottish links: low, windswept, treeless, shaped more by nature than by man. You’ll still find those subtle humps, hollows, and swales at places like Shinnecock, Maidstone, and, of course, The National Golf Links of America, where wildness of links golf has been married with the sculpted elegance of American design.
When CB Macdonald created National in 1911, he wasn’t just building a course — he was laying the foundation for what American golf could become. In that sense, The National isn’t just another elite club. It is, in many ways, the spiritual home of American golf architecture — the place where ideas were tested, traditions were reimagined, and the blueprint for greatness was drawn. If St Andrews is the birthplace of golf, then National Golf Links is where the American version of the game came of age.
7. The final six holes are sublime
The back nine at The National Golf Links of America is undeniably special — a masterclass in strategy, variety, and rhythm. But it’s the final four holes that elevate the round to something truly unforgettable. These aren’t just closing holes; they’re a crescendo. Each one demanding both precision and imagination – together they form one of the most exhilarating finishing stretches in American golf.
Take the 15th, for example. The tee shot may appear deceptively simple — wide enough to inspire confidence — but don’t be fooled. The real test comes on the approach. The green sits perched and sloping, its false front ready to spit out anything timidly struck, while anything long risks bounding over the back and into the lake that lurks quietly beyond. There’s a cleverly placed bunker right that seems magnetised to any shot that leaks even slightly. The smart play? Aim for the heart of the green, take your two putts, and walk away, content. It’s the kind of hole that punishes greed — and rewards respect.
Then comes 16, the iconic Punchbowl, which turns the tension into pure fun. A generous landing area and a massive, gathering green mean this is your chance to get aggressive. Hit the right line and the slopes will do the work, funnelling your ball toward the hole like it’s on rails. It’s one of the most memorable birdie chances on the course — and a brilliant example of Macdonald’s flair for drama and relief.
The 17th is a long par 4 that demands your absolute best. The tee shot must be both long and true, cutting through the wind and finding a slender ribbon of fairway. From there, a high, floating approach is required to reach a green wrapped in bunkers and backed by the iconic windmill, which stands sentry over the hole like a timeless guardian. The view from the tee is pure theatre. The shot itself? All business. And finally, the 18th — a par 5 that runs alongside Peconic Bay. It’s a fitting finale: reachable in two for the bold, but subtly treacherous in all the right places. The fairway rolls and narrows, the green is tucked and well-protected, and the breeze off the bay can turn club selection into guesswork. But if you manage to finish with a birdie — or even a solid par — you’ll walk off the green with that rarest of feelings in golf: satisfaction.
8. The National: birthplace of the Walker Cup
It may not host PGA Tour events, but The National Golf Links of America holds a deep and enduring place in golf’s competitive landscape. This is, after all, the birthplace of The Walker Cup, one of the game’s most revered amateur contests. The idea for the Walker Cup emerged in the years following World War I, a time when golf was seen as a bridge between nations and a symbol of renewal. At the centre of it all was George Herbert Walker, then president of the USGA. In 1920, he travelled to St Andrews to meet with the R&A. Inspired by those talks — and the camaraderie he witnessed across the Atlantic — Walker returned to America with an idea: an international team match between the best amateurs from the United States and Great Britain. He even offered to donate the trophy himself, and when the press dubbed it the “Walker Cup,” the name stuck. In 1922, the inaugural Walker Cup match was staged at Walker’s home club — National — a setting that could not have been more fitting. The course may only a decade old, but it was already being described as a masterpiece: a blend of of American design and British links. Hosting the finest amateur golfers from each country, felt entirely appropriate. The US side, captained by William C. Fownes Jr., defeated the visiting British team 8–4, and a new tradition was born.
The Walker Cup would return to National in 2013, nearly a century later, and it was as if the course hadn’t aged a day. The strategy, the wind, the decisions — all still relevant, all still compelling. And that’s the beauty of it. The National wasn’t built for crowds or cameras. It was built for the kind of golf that asks questions and rewards creativity. It’s a place where amateur golf’s noblest values still feel alive: honour, sportsmanship, and the enduring challenge of great design.
9. Inside the Clubhouse at National Golf Links of America
Most golf clubs serve burgers. The National Golf Links of America serves lobster. That, in a sentence, tells you almost everything you need to know about this remarkable place. From the moment you step inside the clubhouse, you understand this is no ordinary golf club — it’s a living museum, a shrine to the game’s golden age, and an experience as memorable as the course itself.
Lunch here isn’t an afterthought — it’s a ritual. Settle into the wood-panelled dining room beneath portraits of the club’s founding fathers, and enjoy one of the incredible lobster sandwiches. There might be oysters, or the famously indulgent mac and cheese. And to drink? An Arnold Palmer, or a crisp glass of Sauvignon Blanc, reasonably priced and expertly poured, as you watch the afternoon light dance on the bay, and groups making their up the 18th. For a few golden moments, it will feel like the outside world has melted away.
Wander the halls, and the sense of heritage deepens. There’s a very traditional, well-stocked bar, framed by golf maps, memorabilia, and vintage portraits. There are reading rooms, chess boards and backgammon tables all watched over by a statue of C.B. Macdonald himself.
Down the long, hushed hallway, busts of golf legends peer out from alcoves in the plaster, each one seemingly watching to make sure you conduct yourself with proper decorum. The main lounge, with its panelled walls and roaring fireplace, is part gentlemen’s club, part time capsule. Around every corner, there’s a reminder that this is where American golf first found its sense of style. Because at National, the clubhouse is more than a place to change shoes — it’s where stories live, where rituals endure, and where golf’s past still feels astonishingly present.
10. Why Once Is Never Enough
You can’t truly understand National Golf Links of America after one round. You might think you can — but you can’t. This is a course layered with subtleties and surprises, where the more you play, the more it reveals. It’s part of what makes The National so beloved by those fortunate enough to return: you don’t conquer it — you slowly decode it.
Like the great links of Scotland, National is built on strategy, nuance, and a little mischief. It thrives on blind tee shots and optical illusions. Fairways that look generous until you realise your line was all wrong. Greens that seem simple, until your ball trickles 30 feet the wrong way. You quickly learn that there’s more than one way to play every hole — and most of them are wrong the first time.
You finish a hole, turn back, and think: Next time, I’ll take it up the left… Next time, I’ll lay back instead of challenging the carry… Next time, I won’t flirt with that front bunker. The course doesn’t punish you cruelly — it just teaches you, quietly, with a raised eyebrow and a bemused smile. And that’s what makes it so special. You walk off the 18th green already plotting a better way around.
The beauty of The National is that there is no “right” way — just smarter ways, shaped by the wind, the bounce, and the imagination. Each round feels like an entirely new experience. Even if you stood on the same tees with the same clubs, you’d still face different decisions — and make different mistakes.
That’s why one visit never feels like enough. It lingers with you — not because of a single heroic shot or postcard-perfect view, but because you know, deep down, that you’ve only scratched the surface. It invites you back not to prove yourself, but to discover more. To peel back the next layer. To get one step closer to the quiet genius of its design.
It isn’t hard to understand why those who love The National love it fiercely. And as you drive away, you’ll catch yourself whispering the same quiet wish shared by every golfer who’s ever walked its fairways: Please, let there be a next time.
NATIONAL GOLF LINKS: FINAL THOUGHTS
In many ways the National Golf links of America is out of kilter with the spirit of our times: short attention spans, instant gratification, TikTok, YouTube shorts, dopamine-optimised trivia, fast food that fills you up in ten seconds but leaves you unsatisfied. The National is the antithesis – it may take you a lifetime to get here but, once you do, you need the patience to soak it up and to realise that — not unlike reading Tolstoy or listening to Wagner — that there are lulls, from which the crescendos and climaxes are all the greater. National is something rare in modern life: a golf experience that doesn’t just entertain, but endures. One that lingers in the mind not for days or months, but for years. You will never forget the day you played The National Golf Links of America.
*All images provided by L.C. Lambrecht. To buy these or any other images in his collection visit Golfstock.store
NATIONAL GOLF LINKS OF AMERICA: KEY FACTS
Phone: (631) 283-0410
Website: Ngla.us
Address: Sebonac Inlet Rd, Southampton, NY 11968
Directions to National Golf Links of America:
- Take the Long Island Expressway ( Route 495) to Exit 70.
- Turn right on to County Road 111.
- Drive on County Road 111 to the end.
- Turn left on to Route 27 East.
- Drive for 14 miles before turning left on to Shrubland Road.
- Drive 1.3 miles and turn left on to Sebonac Inlet Road.
- Then drive for 1.3 miles to the National Golf Links of America Clubhouse, which you will find on your left.
National Golf Links of America scorecard
National Golf Links of America Course Map
National Golf Links of America Logo
National Golf Links of America: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How do you become a member of the National Golf Links of America?
Membership at National Golf Links of America is strictly invitation-only. There is no public application process, and prospective members typically need sponsorship by current members. The club maintains a low profile and values discretion above all.
What is the membership cost at National Golf Links of America?
While exact figures are not publicly disclosed, membership cost at National Golf Links of America is believed to be somewhere north of $150,000 to join followed by mere pocket change of $12,000 per year. But what do you expect? You get what you pay for, and you are paying for an exclusive members club with world-class facilities.
What is the significance of the windmill at National Golf Links of America?
The windmill at National Golf Links of America is one of the most iconic landmarks in American golf. Positioned near the 17th tee, it serves as both a navigational marker and a symbol of the course’s heritage, tying together its whimsical spirit and architectural prestige.
How is National Golf Links of America ranked?
The course consistently ranks in or just outside the top 10 golf courses in the world, often alongside Pine Valley, Augusta National, and Cypress Point. The course is often, and quite rightly, recognised it for its architectural brilliance and historic importance.
