Old Warson Country Club
Ladue, Missouri
A Robert Trent Jones Sr. design in the affluent Ladue area, Old Warson hosted the 1971 Ryder Cup and has been a perennial top-100 course in America. The classic parkland layout through mature hardwoods features RTJ Sr.'s trademark large greens, expansive bunkers, and strategic water hazards.
History & Heritage
Old Warson Country Club opened in 1954, designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. in the affluent suburb of Ladue west of St. Louis. The course hosted the 1971 Ryder Cup — the last team featuring Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, and Lee Trevino together — where the U.S. won 18.5 to 13.5. Also hosted the 2009 U.S. Women\'s Amateur.
A fixture on Golf Digest\'s America\'s 100 Greatest Courses from the late 1960s through the 1990s. RTJ Sr.\'s trademark large, severely contoured greens make putting the defining challenge.
Signature Holes
A demanding RTJ Sr. par 3 requiring precise iron play to hold a large, severely contoured green. The par 3s are characteristically demanding in the RTJ tradition — massive surfaces with slopes that create three-putt territory from the wrong position.
What to Expect
An undulating, tree-lined par-71 through rolling Ladue terrain. The large, severely contoured greens are the defining feature — being on the wrong tier can mean three-putting or worse. Water on roughly a third of the holes. Immaculate conditioning.
Strictly private — one of the most prestigious clubs in St. Louis.
Playing Tips
Approach shot placement is everything. Being on the wrong tier of these massive greens means three-putt territory.
Tree-lined corridors punish wayward drives. Course management off the tee is rewarded.
Pay close attention to pin positions — the wrong side of these greens is genuinely penal.
Highlights
- ✓ 1971 Ryder Cup host venue
- ✓ Perennial top-100 ranked course
- ✓ RTJ Sr. classic parkland design in Ladue
Frequently Asked Questions
Did it really host the Ryder Cup?
Who designed it?
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