Lunchball
Inwood Country Club is hallowed ground in the history of American golf, serving as the stage for Bobby Jones’ first major championship victory at the 1923 U.S. Open. Located on the edge of Jamaica Bay, this Herbert Strong design (restored meticulously by Tom Doak) is a masterclass in low-lying, coastal architecture. It doesn’t rely on brute length; instead, it uses narrow corridors, relentless sea breezes, and flat-but-deceptive greens to defend par. It feels like stepping into a sepia-toned photograph, where the ghosts of Walter Hagen and Gene Sarazen still roam the fairways.
From a ‘Lunchball’ perspective, Inwood is the ultimate rebuttal to the modern bomber’s game. You can’t just overpower this place; you have to outthink it. The course is tight—claustrophobically so in spots—demanding precision off the tee akin to threading a needle in a gale. The routing constantly shifts direction, meaning the wind is never coming from the same place twice. It is a gritty, glorious throwback that proves 6,600 yards can still bring the world’s best to their knees if the angles are sharp enough.
Comparison: 18th
Inwood 18th
Inwood Country Club
Road Hole
St Andrews (Old Course)
Architectural Analysis
While aesthetically different, Inwood 18 and the Road Hole share the DNA of the 'Championship Heartbreaker.' Both are iconic finishing holes that demand a terrifying approach shot over a hazard (Inwood's lagoon vs. the Road Hole bunker/road) to secure a title.