Palmetto Golf Club

Palmetto Golf Club, founded in 1892 in Aiken, South Carolina, is the oldest continually operated eighteen-hole golf course in its original location in the Southeast and likely the second oldest in the United States. The course began with four holes laid out by Thomas Hitchcock in 1892, expanding to nine holes designed by Herbert Leeds and completed to eighteen holes in 1895 with contributions from James Mackrell.

The par 71 layout measures 6,695 yards from championship tees, characterized by small elevated and undulating greens with strategically placed bunkers. Notable design work includes contributions from Donald Ross (1928) and Alister MacKenzie (1932), who converted sand greens to grass. Tom Doak provided MacKenzie restoration recommendations completed in 2005, while Gil Hanse currently serves as resident architect.

The course features challenging conditions despite its moderate length, with bunker renovations completed in 1995 and subsequent refinements to restore MacKenzie design elements. The competitive course record stands at 59, set by Dane Burkhart in 2005. Palmetto hosted the prestigious Devereux Milburn tournament from 1945-1953, attracting champions including Ben Hogan and Byron Nelson. The 1902 clubhouse was designed by renowned architect Stanford White.