For the first time in history, a televised competition will be played at Seminole: Rory McIlroy and Dustin Johnson vs Matthew Wolff and Rickie Fowler. Find out everything you won’t see on TV.

2020 is proving to be an unusual and perhaps pivotal year in modern history. Everything has been affected and reshaped by the pandemic: among other things, there is a complete absence of live sports. During lockdown, revisiting historic past events has become a common pastime while we wait for the return of live sports on TV.

That wait ends on May 17, and in a very special way: Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson, Matthew Wolff and Rickie Fowler will play a charity Fourball Skins Game. But what makes it special is not only the return to competition—it is also the venue. Seminole Golf Club, which will host the Walker Cup in 2021, will open its doors to TV for the first time, allowing everyone to experience this Donald Ross masterpiece from 1920 in all its glory. One more detail? The players will not use caddies; instead, they will carry their own bags, just as they did when they were promising young amateurs.

:contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0} is a very exclusive and special place: it is extremely difficult to access, and for most people this will be the first time they see the course in motion. The course was designed by the brilliant Donald Ross, originally from Dornoch, Scotland, and has been an icon ever since. The property sits adjacent to the Jupiter Beach area in Florida, separated by a small dune about 12 meters high, which is the highest point on the layout at the 13th green, 14th tee and 18th tee.

A scene recalling Claude Harmon’s famous round of 60

Personally, I was extremely fortunate to play there twice (one of those rounds with Bob Ford—its long-time Head Pro), and in these lines I want to share some stories and secrets of this iconic course that you will not see on TV.

The course

The land is a simple rectangle with little natural movement beyond the elevation of its masterfully shaped greens by Ross and, more recently, restored bunkers by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw. There is plenty of waste area (natural sandy ground that is not a bunker), palm trees, doglegs both ways, and greens that are the course’s trademark: firm, bermuda tifway, with extremely difficult-to-read slopes. Missing on the wrong side turns short game recovery into a near-impossible task.

There are many excellent holes. Some look harmless, but once played, the margin for error is extremely small. The course measures 6,800 yards and has remained almost untouched since 1920, except for new tees on holes 1 and 10. The club members—including Gerry McIlroy (Rory’s father)—prefer a shorter, more playable course rather than one excessively difficult for professionals.

The club: stories and personalities

The club, beyond its exclusivity, has many stories and details that make it special, starting with Head Pro Bob Ford, who also holds the same role at Oakmont Country Club. Ford has a story that perfectly reflects his character: the course record is 60 (-12) by Claude Harmon (Butch’s father). Once, Bob was at -13 in the fairway of the 18th after his drive and, upon reaching his ball, withdrew, saying he had to take an important phone call… He refused to break Harmon’s record!

“Pro’s Pros,” a book about club professionals, featuring Bob Ford

Seminole was also a favorite practice venue for Ben Hogan before the Masters at Augusta, due to the speed of its greens. And it clearly worked out well for him!

In private U.S. clubs, the Member/Guest is one of the highlights of the year, and at Seminole it is the most important event along with the Coleman Cup. It is played the Monday following the Honda Classic at PGA National, and guests are PGA Tour professionals. They themselves say it is one of the most coveted invitations.

One of the most special aspects of the club is its locker room, perhaps the most iconic in the United States. The “Past Champions” boards, the displayed books, historical photos, memorabilia, and the way members are treated make it truly unique.

Outside the clubhouse there is a swimming pool that nobody uses. Legend has it that one member once did—and it was his last day at the club. The pro shop is one of those places where it is worth buying everything due to its quality and variety.

The clubhouse entrance at Seminole, featuring its iconic Native American emblem

The book “Pro’s Pros” tells the stories of several club professionals who shaped U.S. golf history; Bob Ford’s career is part of it.

The club opens early, offering breakfast and lunch to members and their guests. It is an unwritten rule that nobody remains at the club after 5 p.m., and therefore dinner is not served.

Recently, Tom Brady—legendary Patriots quarterback who moved to Tampa Bay—was admitted as a member, joining many notable personalities who are part of this select club.

In a few days we will see it live. As with Augusta National, it is very likely that television will not fully capture the contours of the greens or the difficulty of certain shots. At Seminole, the ocean is right next to the course, and as we all know, sea influence and wind can significantly affect a round of golf. We don’t know how much of the club and its history TV will show this weekend, but we do know we are about to enter a very special place for the first time. In a time with few live events and given what Seminole represents, this is an opportunity not to be missed.

We share an interview (in English) with Bob Ford in which he discusses, among other topics, Seminole and his excitement about the club hosting the Walker Cup next year—the amateur competition between the United States and Great Britain & Ireland. The piece is from Silver Club Golfing Society.