Ryder Cup Drama '71
In 1971, Old Warson hosted the Ryder Cup, with golfing icons Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, and Lee Trevino all present in a pivotal U.S. victory. The event’s aura still resonates in the club’s lore and membership pride.
The verdict
Elite St. Louis Championship Classic
Old Warson delivers a timeless, challenging layout with deep tournament history and top-tier Midwest conditioning. The routing rewards strategy and shotmaking, offering club members and lucky guests a true championship experience.
Course DNA
Difficulty
83
Scenery68
Conditioning92
Shot Variety78
Walkability72
Green Complexity80
Wow Factor77
Design Quality83
At a glance
Quick facts
1971 Ryder Cup Host
Last Ryder Cup with Palmer, Nicklaus, Trevino together
USGA National Events
Hosted Mid-Amateur, Women’s Amateur, Senior Amateur
Rees Jones Renovation
Course refreshed in 2006
Longest Par 5
16th hole measures 605 yards
State Ranking
Top 5 in Missouri for decades
Signature Conditioning
Renowned for pure fairways and greens
Private-Club Atmosphere
Exclusive, classic St. Louis club
The design
The architecture
Old Warson is a definitive Robert Trent Jones Sr. design, showcasing spacious corridors through mature trees, broad landing zones, and elevated greens fronted by signature deep bunkers. The course’s rolling parkland terrain creates distinct holes where strategy trumps length, and position in the fairway means everything. Rees Jones's sensitive renovation honored the original vision, updating infrastructure and bunkers while preserving the sweeping rhythm and championship-tested shot values that define Old Warson's enduring reputation.
Robert Trent Jones Sr. built Old Warson with championship play in mind—wide enough for bold drives, but always requiring sharp iron play into cunningly defended greens.
Defining features
- Elevated, heavily bunkered greens
- Broad, tree-lined fairways with subtle movement
- Strong risk-reward par 5s
- Prominent par 3s with demanding carries
- Classic Jones front bunkering
- Undulating terrain shaping shot options
Hole by hole
Signature holes
Hole 6
Strategic Bend Par Five
PAR
5
YARDAGE
521
A reachable par 5 that tempts bold play off an undulating fairway, with bunkers lurking strategically around the layup area and fronting the green. The challenge escalates for those attacking in two, as misjudged approach angles are harshly punished.
Play it smart
Smart layups set up a short wedge in, but aggressive players must factor fairway positioning and deep greenside traps into their decision-making.
Where it bites
Stray second shots or greedy approaches can find deep bunkers or leave awkward pitches to a tiered, sloping green.
Course management
Shots to think about
Approach to a front-flanked green
Favor center-green—don’t take on the front bunker unless sure of your number.
Second shot on shorter par 5s (6 or 12)
Weigh risk/reward—a reachable green can bite back with deep traps and runoffs.
Club selection on par 3s
Wind swirls through the trees; trust your yardage, not your eyes.
Tee shot on 16 (605-yard par 5)
Commit to a shape and stay to the preferred fairway side for the best layup angle.
Driving on mid-length par 4s
Precision wins—find the short grass rather than overreaching for distance.
Late-round pressure holes (17-18)
Stay disciplined; center of green and solid two-putts keep big numbers off the card.
On the day
What to expect
Conditions
Pure, championship-ready fairways and immaculate, fast greens.
Pace
Efficient, traditional club pace—expect to play in well under 4 hours.
Vibe
Classic Midwestern private club: understated, polished, and tradition-rich.
Dress code
Traditional private-club golf attire required.
Before you tee off
Your game plan
01
Dial in approach wedges
Precision iron play is rewarded on Old Warson’s elevated, protected greens, so get comfortable hitting your targets from inside 150 yards.
02
Practice sand escapes
Bunkers fronting many greens demand a sharp short-game touch—tighten your explosion shots and bunker strategy.
03
Learn to manage match pressure
The back nine asks you to execute under scorecard pressure, especially on daunting par 3s and the marathon par 5 16th.
The lore
How it came to be
- 1954
Course opens, designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr.
- 1957
Hosts prestigious Western Amateur
- 1962
Venue for Trans-Mississippi Amateur
- 1971
Stage for historic Ryder Cup duel
- 1999
USGA returns for U.S. Mid-Amateur
- 2006
Renovation and refresh by Rees Jones
- 2009
Hosts U.S. Women’s Amateur
- 2016
Hosts U.S. Senior Amateur Championship
Stories & legends
What makes it special
Midwestern Champion Factory
Old Warson’s challenging greens and bold bunkering have shaped a generation of state and national amateur contenders. Many champions cut their teeth here—not just at the Ryder Cup, but at multiple USGA and regional events.
Architectural Heritage Preserved
Rees Jones’s 2006 renovation modernized infrastructure without compromising his father’s blueprint: elevated greens, broad fairways, and tactical bunkering, all sharpened for 21st-century play.
Conditioning Like A Major
Top national panels and Golf Digest consistently praise Old Warson’s turf quality—firm, fast, with greens that uphold exacting standards for championships and club play alike.
For the group chat
Fun facts
1
Hosted the last Ryder Cup to feature Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, and Lee Trevino together
2
Has ranked as high as #77 on Golf Digest’s America’s 100 Greatest
3
Course features no water hazards, relying instead on bunkers and terrain for challenge
4
Membership has included many prominent St. Louisans and sporting figures
5
The club’s trophy case includes Ryder Cup memorabilia and historic club artifacts
Build the trip
If you're making a St. Louis golf trip out of it
CourseAccessWhy it's on the listTrip
Bellerive Country Club
Private
Major championship pedigree and classic Midwest challenge.
Norwood Hills Country Club
Private
Historic 36-hole private venue with championship roots.
Forest Park Golf Course
Municipal
Great public access in the city—fun, affordable, central.
Gateway National Golf Links
Public
Modern public option with a big, dramatic feel.
Annbriar Golf Course
Public
Quality public routing with rolling countryside character.
Clayton or central St. Louis County—easy access to Old Warson, Bellerive, and city golf
Course DNA
If You Like Old Warson Country Club
Courses with the most similar DNA profile — matched by deviation shape across all eight playing characteristics.
Strong DNA Match8.3
Double Eagle Club
Galena, OhioConditioning
Why it matches: Double Eagle Club is a natural next stop after Old Warson Country Club: it offers similarly polished playing surfaces.
Strong DNA Match7.5
Baton Rouge Country Club
Baton Rouge, LouisianaConditioning
Why it matches: What links these two? Puts the same premium on presentation — a familiar feeling, expressed in Baton Rouge Country Club's own setting.
Strong DNA Match7.8
Wee Burn Country Club
Darien, ConnecticutConditioning
Why it matches: If Old Warson Country Club is your kind of course, Wee Burn Country Club is worth a look because it puts the same premium on presentation.
Community Sentiment
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