By Vinnie Manginelli, PGA
Valhalla Golf Club was first conceived in the early 1980s as the vision of Dwight Gahm, a prominent businessman and golfer in Louisville, Kentucky. The storied golf course was designed by Jack Nicklaus and has spent the past three-plus decades on Golf Digest’s list of the best courses in America.
According to its website, the mission of Valhalla Golf Club is “to provide a memorable golf experience that gives you a taste of championship history and southern hospitality you can only get in Kentucky.”
The course opened in June of 1986 and was named one of the top new private clubs in the country just a year later. Valhalla Golf Club is a 12-time Golf Range Association of America (GRAA) Top 50 Private Facility and is still considered the #1 course in the state of Kentucky.
It was announced in 1992 that Valhalla would host the 1996 PGA Championship (won by Mark Brooks), the first of many big events to help write the history of this legendary club. Just four years later, Tiger Woods would fend off Bob May in a PGA Championship duel for the ages. Over the next two decades, Valhalla would host the Senior PGA Championship in 2004 and 2011, the Ryder Cup matches in 2008, the PGA Championship in 2014 and 2024 and other big boys and girls junior events.
They did a greens renovation in 2012 that rebuilt all 18 greens with bentgrass that would better tolerate the Kentucky heat. They also reworked many bunkers, expanded the practice range, installed a new irrigation system and fixed some drainage issues.
Golf and socialization are at the forefront at Valhalla, with amenities including a newly designed clubhouse, locker rooms and expansive golf shop. There’s also a members-only golf shop, golf simulator room and members-only practice tee, putting green and chipping area. On the F&B side, there’s a half-way house and full dining room to satisfy the tastes of the Valhalla members.
The practice range at Valhalla has two large tees on the north side and one large tee on the south end. With one side of the range exclusively for members, it’s a real perk and valued amenity that adds to the member practice experience. They added Toptracer in 2021, the benefits of which have been well-documented in this publication – always a winning investment.
Valhalla Golf Club isn’t just enjoyed by golfers, or even by people – it is an Audubon-certified course, with 256 acres of natural habitat and sanctuary for a variety of birds and animals to call home.
Finally, according to the PGA of America directory, Valhalla employs several PGA Members from assistant professionals to its General Manager, Keith Reese, adding to the historic relationship between the Association and the facility. The PGA of America purchased a minority stake of the club in 1993, upping its investment in 1996 before purchasing the club outright in 2000. In June of 2022, four long-time Valhalla Golf Club members purchased the club from the PGA of America. Their vision for Valhalla has been “to become a premier club in the country with a golf experience unlike any other in the world.” It’s safe to say they’re well on their way to achieving that mission.
