Golf Courses That Have Hosted the Most Major Championships

Whilst there are a variety of championships included on the PGA Tour, it's the Majors which are the most famous in the sport. The Augusta Masters, the U.S. Open, U.K. Open and the PGA Championship are perhaps the most exciting championships on the PGA Tour. They are played at some fantastic golf courses and settings. A variety of golf courses have been selected for the Majors, and there are a few which have been venues in a number of seasons.

Augusta National

The Augusta National course has been the venue for more Major championships than any other, quite simply because it has its very own. The Master's championship is the one Major that is played at a single venue (although the Players Championship, at TPC Sawgrass, is a close second). Each April the invitation golf championship invites the top ranked players from the PGA Tour to play in the Masters at Augusta.

The course is probably the most famous in the sport. With its pristine greens and fairways it has green keepers that can cut grass down to bowling greens. Each hole has a variety of shrubs and flowers such as tea olives, magnolias, camellias, junipers, hollies and yellow jasmines. As Augusta has a substantial maintenance budget it is usually ranked among the top golf courses in the United States.

As one of the foremost championship courses in golf it has some famous holes. Among the more notable are the 12th Golden Bell hole in which Rae's Creek separates the tee from the green. The 16th Redbud hole, a 170 yard par-3, also has a small lake in front of the green. It is a course with some great holes and landscapes.

Old Course at St Andrews

The Old Course at St Andrews, in Scotland, is another of the household name golf courses. It's the home of golf, and a course of considerable championship pedigree. This is one that has hosted 28 U.K. Open golf championships, which is a record number. Here Nicklaus, Woods and co have all been crowned Open champions.

The golf course itself now covers some 7,305 yards. It has approximately 112 greenside and fairway bunkers scattered along its holes. In addition to this, the course is also notable for its huge double greens which effectively combine two greens into one for a number of its holes.

It has a few famous holes such as the 17th Road Hole. This is a long par 4 that stretches some 495 yards, so it could be a short par 5. It includes the deep Road Hole bunker along its fairway. At is back green tarmac roadways and stone walls are both included within the hole. As a public course you can play this hole, and the others, at St Andrews.

Oakmont Country Club

Located at the rolling hills outside Pittsburgh is the Oakmont Country Club. This is one of Americas more historic courses that has been a regular venue for Major golf championship. Oakmont has hosted more Major golf championships than any other in the United States, except Augusta which is seasonal venue. Overall, it has played host to a record nine U.S. Opens, and an additional three PGA Championships. Furthermore, as it has been selected for another Open, a 10th will be played at the course.

As such, when it comes to championship golf few can match Oakmont. Its 18 holes cover approximately 7,255 yards. The course is notable for its slick and undulating greens. It also has more than 200 yards over its 18 holes, which is somewhat more than the Old Course. The most famous of its bunkers is that of the Church Pew bunker, which has transverging grass ridges, and comes into play on the third and fourth holes.

Among its famous holes is that of the 18th finisher. This is a classic final hole that extends some 484 yards. The hole has a tree-lined fairway and a multitude of bunkers scattered along it. It provides a suitable finale to any golfing championship.

Southern Hills Country Club

Southern Hills Country Club includes the Front Nine/Back Nine course. This is another of the United State's foremost championship courses located in Southern Hills, Tulsa. It has played host to a record four PGA Championships, and three U.S. Opens.

This golf course now extends 7,131 yards. It is a course that has a heated climate, and a tree-lined layout. That course also includes notable elevation changes between tees and fairways. Among its holes it has a 653 yard par-5 hole which eclipses most of the holes on the PGA Tour for distance.

Those are the courses that have hosted the most Majors. As regular venues for the Tour some gripping championships have been played on them. And there will be plenty more exciting Majors played at the legendary golf courses.