Claremont Country Club - California - USA

Measuring only 5,469 yards from the back tees and playing to a par of 68, the course at Claremont Country Club first opened for play in 1903, set within a rather restricted 100-acre property by local professional Jim Smith. Five of the holes on the front nine are laid out on the other side of a public road that passes through the property.

Twenty-six years later, the club commissioned none other than Alister MacKenzie to redesign the course during one of his visits to California. There’s absolutely no chance of the club hosting professional events these days but the inaugural Oakland Open was held here in 1937, with Sam Snead winning his first professional event with scores of 69-65-69-67.

Notable holes include back-to-back par threes at the 2nd and 3rd, the 386-yard 7th (which crosses the fairways of the 4th and 5th), and the longest par four on the card, the well-bunkered 12th. The course concludes with a short par five, played slightly downhill to a home green that’s protected by several bunkers lurking in front of the putting surface.