The PGA Championship, one of golf’s four majors, has been played on a diverse array of courses since its inception in 1916. Initially a match-play event until 1958, it transitioned to stroke play and has since rotated across iconic venues, primarily in the United States, with a focus on challenging layouts that test the world’s best golfers. Below is a concise history of the courses that have hosted the PGA Championship, highlighting key venues, trends, and notable moments.
Match Play Era (1916–1957)
In its early decades, the PGA Championship was held at a variety of private clubs, often selected for their prestige and proximity to major cities. Courses were chosen by the PGA of America, emphasizing layouts that rewarded strategic play for match-play formats. Notable early venues included:
- Siwanoy Country Club, New York (1916): The inaugural championship, won by Jim Barnes, set the tone for high-caliber venues.
- Engineers Country Club, New York (1919): Walter Hagen’s first of five PGA titles came here, showcasing early star power.
- Oakmont Country Club, Pennsylvania (1922, 1951): Known for its punishing design, Oakmont became a recurring host, debuting in the match-play era.
- Winged Foot Golf Club, New York (1929): Bobby Jones competed here, and the course’s difficulty foreshadowed its future major pedigree.
Courses in this era were often shorter (under 7,000 yards) but demanded precision due to smaller greens and rudimentary equipment. Venues rotated frequently, with states like New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio hosting multiple times due to their golfing heritage.
Stroke Play Era (1958–Present)
The switch to stroke play in 1958 aligned the PGA Championship with other majors, requiring courses capable of handling larger fields and bigger crowds. The PGA of America began favoring longer, more modern layouts, often designed by renowned architects like Donald Ross, A.W. Tillinghast, and Robert Trent Jones Sr. The championship also became known for its geographic diversity, visiting nearly every region of the U.S.
Key Venues and Trends
Frequent Hosts:
- Oak Hill Country Club (1980, 2003, 2013, 2023): Hosted four times, its brutal fairways and lightning-fast greens have produced champions like Jack Nicklaus and Brooks Koepka.
- Whistling Straits (2004, 2010, 2015): A Dye masterpiece, replicating seaside links courses in the UK and Ireland, known for its length. Winners include Jason Day in 2015.
- Southern Hills Country Club, Oklahoma (1970, 1982, 1994, 2007, 2022): Hosted five times, its versatility suits both classic and modern players, with Tiger Woods (2007) and Justin Thomas (2022) among winners.
- Valhalla Golf Club, Kentucky (1996, 2000, 2014, 2024): A Jack Nicklaus design, it’s hosted four times, delivering dramatic moments like Tiger’s 2000 playoff win and Rory McIlroy’s 2014 clutch finish.
Geographic Spread:
- The PGA has visited 28 states, with New York (14times), Ohio (11), and Pennsylvania (9), leading the way, due to their concentration of historic clubs.
- Southern states like South Carolina (Kiawah Island: 2012, 2021) and North Carolina (Quail Hollow: 2017, 2025) have grown in prominence with modern resort courses.
- California’s Pebble Beach (1977), TPC Harding Park (2020), and Riviera (1983, 1995) brought West Coast flavor, though the championship rarely ventures west.
Course Characteristics:
- Length: Modern PGA venues often exceed 7,400 yards (e.g., Kiawah Island Ocean, 7,876 yards in 2021) to challenge long hitters like Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka, among others.
- Difficulty: Courses feature penal rough, fast greens, and strategic bunkering. Examples include Kiawah’s wind-swept Ocean Course.
- Variety: Unlike the Masters (always at Augusta), the PGA’s rotation tests players on parkland (Medinah, 1999), links-style (Whistling Straits, 2004), and resort courses (TPC Harding Park, 2020).
Notable Moments by Course
- Southern Hills Golf Club, Oklahoma (5 times, last in 2022): Tiger Woods won her in 2007, and Justin Thomas claimed his second PGA in 2022.
- Kiawah Island Ocean Course, South Carolina (2012, 2021): Rory McIlroy’s eight-shot win in 2012 and Mickelson’s historic age-50 triumph in 2021 showcased its coastal brutality.
- Quail Hollow Club, North Carolina (2017, 2025): Justin Thomas’ 2017 win marked its debut, and its return in 2025 highlights its status as a modern major venue with long par-4s and the “Green Mile” finish.
Recent Developments
Since 2019, the PGA Championship has been held in May (previously August), aligning with warmer weather and firmer conditions at northern venues like Bethpage Black and Oak Hill (2023). The PGA of America prioritizes courses with major-championship pedigree, often those that have hosted U.S. Opens or Ryder Cups (e.g., Hazeltine, 2002, 2009). Future sites include the venerable Aronimink (2026) and the new PGA Frisco’s Fields Ranch East (2027, 2034), signaling a blend of historic and new venues.
Unique Aspects
- Club Pro Inclusion: Unlike other majors, the PGA invites 20 club professionals, often leading to heartwarming stories on courses like Valhalla or Medinah.
- No Fixed Home: The rotation creates unpredictability, contrasting with Augusta’s consistency. This ensures fresh challenges but limits course-specific legacies.
- Public Access: Courses like Bethpage Black, Whistling Straits, and TPC Harding Park allow public play, a rarity among major venues.
Data Snapshot
- Total Venues: Over 80 unique courses have hosted since 1916.
- Most Frequent: Southern Hills (5), Oakmont (4), Valhalla (4).
- Architects: Donald Ross (e.g., Oak Hill, Aronimink), A.W. Tillinghast (Bethpage Black, Winged Foot), and Pete Dye (Kiawah, Whistling Straits) dominate modern selections.
- International Hosts: Only one non-U.S. course, Australia’s Royal Melbourne (1959, exhibition match), though discussions of future international venues persist.
Looking Ahead to 2025
The 2025 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club will leverage its 2017 experience, with a par-71 layout stretching to 7,600 yards. Its history of hosting the Wells Fargo Championship ensures infrastructure for large crowds, and its challenging design will test precision and power, potentially favoring players like McIlroy or Scheffler.
