The National Golf Club Golf Course

Designer: Tom Watson

Tom Watson designed The National in perfect harmony with the rolling terrain and wooded glens of the Parkville countryside. Our 18-hole cham…

Tom Watson designed The National in perfect harmony with the rolling terrain and wooded glens of the Parkville countryside. Our 18-hole championship course opened to our private membership in 2000. Today, many consider it one of the most challenging—and rewarding—in the country. Each hole at The National offers spectacular views and unique challenges for golfers of all skill levels. Number 9 takes your breath away with its 100-foot drop from the tee to the fairway. Number 17 tests you with its lengthy fairway, hard-to-read green, plus a few hazards along the way. And of course, the 18th guides you up to our graceful clubhouse.

# 1 /

Par: 4

A beautiful hillside ridge frames the left side of this sharp dogleg right par 4 opener. A stream meanders along the right side. The smart…

A beautiful hillside ridge frames the left side of this sharp dogleg right par 4 opener. A stream meanders along the right side. The smart play is an iron off the tee as the fairway narrows at the dogleg. A mid-iron approach to the green remains.

Yardage by Tee:

WATSON 358

CHAMPION 324

MEMBER 287

CLUB 263

FORWARD 263

Slope:

# 2 /

Par: 5

This short, risk/reward par 5 is a true classic. Drives that hug the left side leave a clear shot and a chance to get on in two. Tee shots…

This short, risk/reward par 5 is a true classic. Drives that hug the left side leave a clear shot and a chance to get on in two. Tee shots that go right leave your access to the green blocked by trees. All second shots must carry the creek.

Yardage by Tee:

WATSON 498

CHAMPION 472

MEMBER 438

CLUB 384

FORWARD 384

Slope:

# 3 /

Par: 4

This short uphill par 4 features a back-to-front sloping green. An approach hit short will roll back off the green much like they do at Aug…

This short uphill par 4 features a back-to-front sloping green. An approach hit short will roll back off the green much like they do at Augusta National.

Yardage by Tee:

WATSON 342

CHAMPION 330

MEMBER 317

CLUB 267

FORWARD 252

Slope:

# 4 /

Par: 3

This par 3 is stubbornly guarded by a lake on the right. Bailing out left, away from the water, leaves you to face the anxiety of a difficu…

This par 3 is stubbornly guarded by a lake on the right. Bailing out left, away from the water, leaves you to face the anxiety of a difficult pitch toward the lake.

Yardage by Tee:

WATSON 197

CHAMPION 178

MEMBER 162

CLUB 144

FORWARD 115

Slope:

# 5 /

Par: 5

This par 5 plays through a beautiful valley. You must negotiate side-hill lies and bunkers on your trek from tee to green. Take more club …

This par 5 plays through a beautiful valley. You must negotiate side-hill lies and bunkers on your trek from tee to green. Take more club than you think you need on the uphill approach as front bunkers and elevation change demand it.

Yardage by Tee:

WATSON 534

CHAMPION 508

MEMBER 484

CLUB 446

FORWARD 406

Slope:

# 6 /

Par: 3

The tee shot on this par 3 is played to a slightly elevated, plateau green guarded on both sides by bunkers.

Yardage by Tee:

WATSON 206

CHAMPION 186

MEMBER 166

CLUB 142

FORWARD 98

Slope:

# 7 /

Par: 4

The fairway on this par 4 slopes from left to right toward the lake. Stay left so your approach is not blocked by the trees on the right. …

The fairway on this par 4 slopes from left to right toward the lake. Stay left so your approach is not blocked by the trees on the right. Bunkers surround the green.

Yardage by Tee:

WATSON 437

CHAMPION 412

MEMBER 393

CLUB 369

FORWARD 274

Slope:

# 8 /

Par: 4

This par 4 is known as the “up and over” hole. Tee shots are played uphill to a fairway plateau that slopes off to the left, right and beh…

This par 4 is known as the “up and over” hole. Tee shots are played uphill to a fairway plateau that slopes off to the left, right and behind.

Yardage by Tee:

WATSON 430

CHAMPION 399

MEMBER 368

CLUB 327

FORWARD 287

Slope:

# 9 /

Par: 4

The close of the outward nine starts from elevated tees. You’ll drop nearly 100 feet to a fairway guarded by a large bunker left and water …

The close of the outward nine starts from elevated tees. You’ll drop nearly 100 feet to a fairway guarded by a large bunker left and water right. The green is set hard against National Lake. Less is more here, so club down on the approach shot.

Yardage by Tee:

WATSON 418

CHAMPION 404

MEMBER 369

CLUB 324

FORWARD 297

Slope:

# 10 /

Par: 4

This is the first of two enormously long par 4’s on the inward nine. The tee shot plays to a right to left sloping fairway. The approach s…

This is the first of two enormously long par 4’s on the inward nine. The tee shot plays to a right to left sloping fairway. The approach shot is played downhill to a large green framed by bunkers.

Yardage by Tee:

WATSON 457

CHAMPION 423

MEMBER 387

CLUB 361

FORWARD 361

Slope:

# 11 /

Par: 4

The tee shot on this long par 4 is hit to another sloping fairway; thus, one slopes from left to right. The downhill second shot must be ac…

The tee shot on this long par 4 is hit to another sloping fairway; thus, one slopes from left to right. The downhill second shot must be accurately struck to avoid the bunker on the front right side of the green. If you made par on 10 & 11, well done.

Yardage by Tee:

WATSON 466

CHAMPION 437

MEMBER 403

CLUB 372

FORWARD 372

Slope:

# 12 /

Par: 4

Shorter than the previous two, this par 4 is no less challenging. The tee shot is played uphill, leaving an approach to an amphitheater gre…

Shorter than the previous two, this par 4 is no less challenging. The tee shot is played uphill, leaving an approach to an amphitheater green built to accommodate a gallery. Don’t let this hole distract you; focus on the shot, rather than a beautiful scenery.

Yardage by Tee:

WATSON 427

CHAMPION 402

MEMBER 374

CLUB 346

FORWARD 346

Slope:

# 13 /

Par: 4

Finally, a very short, downhill par 4. The short-iron approach must be precise as the small green is protected by bunkers and a stream. Th…

Finally, a very short, downhill par 4. The short-iron approach must be precise as the small green is protected by bunkers and a stream. The front three quarters of this tricky green is receptive, but the back quarter slopes toward trouble; a “Sunday” pin placement there is reversed for championship play.

Yardage by Tee:

WATSON 330

CHAMPION 306

MEMBER 296

CLUB 266

FORWARD 266

Slope:

# 14 /

Par: 3

The par 3 is the shortest hole on the course. An accurate iron will be required to hit the narrow, sloping green. Like on Hole 5, you’d be…

The par 3 is the shortest hole on the course. An accurate iron will be required to hit the narrow, sloping green. Like on Hole 5, you’d better take more club than you think you need to reach this little uphill dandy.

Yardage by Tee:

WATSON 131

CHAMPION 125

MEMBER 117

CLUB 117

FORWARD 117

Slope:

# 15 /

Par: 5

The slightly uphill tee shot on this par 5 is to an undulating landing area from which you’ll get a beautiful view of the green complex. Th…

The slightly uphill tee shot on this par 5 is to an undulating landing area from which you’ll get a beautiful view of the green complex. The green sits on a right-to-left sloping hillside, requiring second shots to come in from the right. If they don’t, you’ll face a most difficult approach.

Yardage by Tee:

WATSON 556

CHAMPION 533

MEMBER 475

CLUB 442

FORWARD 442

Slope:

# 16 /

Par: 3

The green on this long, downhill par 3 is tucked into a hillside that slopes to the right. Trees shadow it’s left side. There is real trou…

The green on this long, downhill par 3 is tucked into a hillside that slopes to the right. Trees shadow it’s left side. There is real trouble on the right, so miss the green to the left; the maintained hillside will kick an errant shot back toward the putting surface.

Yardage by Tee:

WATSON 216

CHAMPION 192

MEMBER 172

CLUB 133

FORWARD 133

Slope:

# 17 /

Par: 4

This precariously long par 4 plays through a generous collecting valley framed by trees sitting well above the fairway. For best results, a…

This precariously long par 4 plays through a generous collecting valley framed by trees sitting well above the fairway. For best results, a sizable tee ball is required, but you must avoid the creek that meanders along the right side. A testy and long approach to a large green remains.

Yardage by Tee:

WATSON 457

CHAMPION 428

MEMBER 395

CLUB 349

FORWARD 349

Slope:

# 18 /

Par: 5

This long par 5 is flanked b the meandering stream. The water is right of the tee shot landing area, then crosses the fairway and must be c…

This long par 5 is flanked b the meandering stream. The water is right of the tee shot landing area, then crosses the fairway and must be carried by the second shot. You face a risk reward decision; try for the green in two or lay-up. The stream, jutting in from the left, makes layouts tricky.

Yardage by Tee:

WATSON 577

CHAMPION 550

MEMBER 517

CLUB 488

FORWARD 390

Slope: