Old Warson

“Beyond the Missouri Sky” is one of Pat Metheny’s greatest albums which is a collaboration with bassist Charlie Hayden. The duets on the album epitomise their shared Missouri lineage and Old Warson Country Club is another classic Midwest creation.

Old Warson Country Club opened for play in 1954 and it’s one of Missouri’s finest layouts. Designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr., this undulating, tree-lined layout is certainly one of RTJ’s classics and the club was thrust on the world golfing stage when it hosted the 1971 Ryder Cup which saw Team USA beat the Great Britain squad 18½ points to 13½.

The short par four 14th is one of the most lauded holes in golf where the carry from the elevated back tee is more than 200 yards across a big lake to a landing area that looks narrower than Twiggy’s waist. Water down the left side of the fairway and bunkers flanking both sides of the fairway place fear in the bravest hearts. If your tee shot remains above ground, your approach shot must avoid three bunkers before finding relative sanctuary on the long, sloping and narrow green.

Old Warson hosted the 1999 Mid-Amateur Championship, which was won by Danny Green and the club hosted the U.S. Women’s Amateur for the third time in 2009.