There are quite some golf courses that have iconic features that you will remember once you played there, like the Church Pews on Oakmont Country Club, the ‘The Putter Boy’ (or ‘The Sundial Boy’) statue at Pinehurst Resort, the 17th island green at the TPC Sawgrass Stadium Course or the view of the Harbour Town Lighthouse on the 18th hole of the Harbour Town Golf Links at The Sea Pines Resort. There are also quite some special or iconic or unique bridges to cross on certain golf courses. Below some of the most known bridges are listed. Crossing them would – in some circumstances – definitely be a highlight in your golf career!
1Swilcan (Swilken) Bridge at St Andrews – Scotland
The Swilcan Bridge, or Swilken Bridge, is probably the most famous bridge in golf. This small stone bridge at the St Andrews Links Old Course spans the Swilcan Burn between the first and eighteenth fairway on the Old Course. The bridge is extremely small; it’s about 30 feet long, eight feet wide and six feet tall and is shaped like a simple Roman arch. It was built at least 700 years ago to help shepherds get livestock across. Everyone playing the Old Course will end up making a picture at the Swilcan Bridge.
Your chances to cross this bridge are fairly high. Just book well in advance (2019 is already fully booked), just go there and enter the ballot 48 hours in advance or just show up as a single golfer on the day of play and perhaps you are lucky enough to be added to a flight.
2Hogan Bridge at Augusta National – USA
The Hogan Bridge is the most famous bridge at Augusta National, although there are two other well-known bridges on the same course: the Nelson Bridge and the Sarazen Bridge. The Hogan footbridge takes golfers to Augusta’s 12th green. It’s made of stone and crosses Rae’s Creek. This creek was named after former property owner John Rae, who died in 1789. As the bridge is arched, it’s laid with artificial turf to help players get a better grip while crossing it. The brigde was named after Ben Hogan in 1958 to commemorate Ben Hogan’s record score for four rounds of 274 in 1953. At that time they thought it would probably stand all time as the record for The Masters tournament.
Your chances to cross this bridge are very slim. Probably the easiest route is to qualify for the US Masters. Really. You can also try to become a volunteer at The Master’s or apply to be a caddie. Still not very easy, but these are your best chances to play here!
3Friar’s Head – USA
Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw had quite some challenges while designing Friar’s Head. They had to come up with a design that would merge some breathtaking pieces of land above the Long Island Sound and an ordinary potato field to the south. They didn’t want one nine up in the dunes and the other down on the flat. So they moved the routing back and forth while reshaping the farm fields into gentle links-like land. Crossing the wooden bridge connecting the green of the 15th to the green of the 16th is just amazing. Great views and just a lovely bridge to walk over!
Your chances to cross this bridge are slim, but you could try to find a member who is willing to introduce you. Friar’s Head is a member’s only club. Expect to pay 250.000 dollars if you want to become a member here.
The 15th and 16th at Friar’s Head – a unique perspective on these two terrific holes, and the duneside bridge that connects them. pic.twitter.com/c1txfqPji6
— Cavalier Golf Photos (@LinksGems) 30 september 2017
4Bull Bridge at Royal Dublin Golf Club – Ireland
The Bull Bridge has linked the coast road at Dollymount with Bull Island since 1907 and exists in more or less its original state today. This bridge is not located on the golf course itself, but this narrow wooden construction leads out to the popular Dollymount Strand and Royal Dublin Golf Club. If you want to cross this bridge you might have to hurry, as there are plans to replace the bridge with a wider version. Bull Bridge has been the scene of many summer bottle-necks since it’s only one lane wide. With another golf course potentially on the way, developers will not want golfers to have to endure ever longer traffic jams, especially with the growth of the kite-surfing element on Dollymount Strand.
Note: there is another golf course on Bull Island; do you know which one?
5Riviera Nayarit – Mexico
Mexico’s Riviera Nayarit have become increasingly popular for both novice and professional golf lovers from around the world. It’s home to 8 exceptional golf courses designed by famous golf course architects like Jack Nicklaus Design, Greg Norman, Jim Lipe, Percy Clifford and Robert Von Hagge & Baril. The bridge to cross here is the longest suspension bridge for golf carts in the world. Again the bridge is not located on a golf course, but connects the El Nayar Golf Course (Jack Nicklaus Design) and Greg Norman Golf Course at Vidanta Golf.
Obviously there are many other courses with bridges and many courses are named after numerous bridges on their course (The Bridges at Sante Fe, Covered Bridge Golf Club, Red Bridge Golf Club, The Bridges Golf Club, Bridges Golf Course, Twin Bridges Golf Club and many more), but the bridges named in this post all have something really special.
Do you know any other iconic, unique or famous bridge on a golf course? Share it with us in the comments! We’d love to hear from you!