In the tradition of Carnoustie, Royal Lytham, St. Anne’s Old Links, and other famous seaside courses in the British Isles, Gateway National is a first-class links course even though it’s not within sight of the ocean. Actually, it’s not within a thousand miles of the ocean, but we digress. Designed by renowned golf course architect, Keith Foster, and developed by Tim Crowley and Denny Walters, Gateway National remains the only true links-style golf course in the St. Louis Metropolitan area.
Gateway National offers you the rare opportunity to return to the rich traditions of the game. Rolling links, separated by gentle mounds, meander through lush, green pasturelands. Tall grasses, lakes, wood-tie bunkers, and occasional giant cottonwoods complete the landscape. In view of the magnificent Gateway Arch, you will cross occasional stone bridges, glide on raised boardwalks through quiet wetlands, and enjoy play on the only public course, bent grass fairways within hundreds of miles. Laid out through native grasses, it’s easy to forget you are just minutes away from the action in downtown St. Louis, and not tucked away deep in the Scottish Highlands.
The layout of Gateway National takes into account the factor the wind will play on the course and allows the player the options of running the ball up or flying it onto the greens. This will test the player’s ability with shots seldom called for on ordinary courses. The bentgrass turf that carpets each fairway, offers players the perfect firm surface from which to strike a crisp approach. Tall native grasses frame each of the generous fairways, but will test both the players’ skill and temperament should his ball find itself among them. Adding to the challenge on each hole is a host of fiendish bunkers along with natural wetlands and Scottish style burns (streams) that wait to devour any ball that strays too far off line!
A fearsome 7178 yard par 71 from the championship tees, our course has four sets of more manageable tees for the enjoyment of those not quite up to the challenge of the PGA Tour caliber layout. Pick the length that suits your enjoyment of the game. The large greens, once reached, offer ample opportunity for birdies! With such smooth rolling surfaces, the player has no one but himself to blame should the ball not fall into the cup.
