Course Overview
The countdown to the PGA TOUR Championships with the BMW Championship the week before setting up who will be crowned PGA Champion for 2026.
In 2025 the BMW Championship was played at Caves Valley Golf Club & the 2026 edition returns to which last hosted the BMW in 2008.
Bellerive last hosted the 2018 PGA Championship, but the history of Bellerive Country Club begins well over a century ago, in 1897, when it first opened its doors as a modest nine-hole course in north St. Louis, shared among just 166 founding members.
As the club grew, the membership officially incorporated in 1910. Seeking a name steeped in local history, they chose to honour Louis St. Ange de Bellerive, the last French commander in North America. That same pivotal year, the club relocated to a new course in Normandy designed by Scottish architect Robert Foulis, a location they would proudly call home for the next half-century.
By 1955, visionary members Hord Hardin and Clark Gamble recognized the need for a larger footprint and spearheaded a movement to relocate the club further west. They brought in the legendary golf course architect Robert Trent Jones Sr., who hand-picked a sprawling prime farm location in Ladue. After years of careful shaping and planning, this new course- affectionately dubbed the “Green Monster of Ladue”– officially opened to the membership on Memorial Day in 1960.
It did not take long for the “Green Monster” to capture the attention of the golfing world.
Just 5 years after opening, in 1965, Bellerive made history by becoming the youngest course ever to host the U.S. Open. The tournament was a thriller, concluding with South African Gary Player defeating Kel Nagle in a playoff. Not only did Player complete his career Grand Slam with this victory, but he also generously donated his winnings to cancer research and junior golf, leaving a legacy at the club.
That unforgettable U.S. Open paved the way for decades of world-class championship golf. Bellerive proudly hosted the inaugural U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship in 1981, allowing St. Louis native Jim Holtgrieve to claim victory on home soil. In 1992, the course challenged the game’s best once again during the PGA Championship, where Nick Price captured his very first major title. While the club was slated to host the American Express World Golf Championship in September 2001, the event was understandably cancelled following the tragic events of 9/11.
Major championship golf triumphantly returned to Ladue in 2004 for the U.S. Senior Open, where Peter Jacobsen bested a stellar field to win his first major. Recognizing the need to keep the historic course up to modern championship standards, Bellerive underwent a massive, year-long renovation shortly after. In a fitting tribute to the course’s origins, the 2006 project was entrusted to Rees Jones, the son of the original architect.
The refreshed course immediately proved its mettle. It hosted the 2008 BMW Championship during the FedEx Cup Playoffs, delivering Camilo Villegas his 1st career Tour victory. Five years later, the 74th Senior PGA Championship arrived at Bellerive. This 2013 event cemented the club’s place in golf royalty, making Bellerive only the third club in history to host all four men’s traveling major championships. The club’s historic run continued in August 2018, when it was granted the distinct honour of hosting the 100th PGA Championship, drawing the eyes of the sporting world as top golfers battled for the Wanamaker Trophy.
Today, Bellerive stands as one of the premier venues for professional golf in the Midwest. Remaining true to its core mission, the club continues to be the preeminent family country club in St. Louis, seamlessly blending top-tier dining and social experiences with a nationally recognized golf course. Looking ahead, Bellerive is poised to write its next great chapters, preparing to welcome back the BMW Championship in 2026, followed by the highly anticipated Presidents Cup in 2030, where the pride of Missouri will once again be on full display for the world.
The Course
Par 72
7547 yards
Tee– Zoysia grass
Fairways– Zoysia grass
Greens- A-4 Bentgrass
Hole 1 – Par 4 · Yards 425
Bellerive’s opening hole is a straight line 425-yard par 4. The tee shot doesn’t require length, as the fairway bunkers squeeze the landing area right at 300 yards, but you will want to find the fairway to access the hole locations, especially on the left side of the green. You will see plenty of less-than-driver selections off the tee all week.
Hole 2 – Par 4 · Yards 410
change in the renovation of 2006, being transformed from a long dogleg left, to a shorter but more versatile short par-4. The most recent enhancement to the hole features a dramatically elevated tee box, clearly introducing the players to the water feature and penalty area that snugly guards the left side of the fairway. With the fairway gently sloped left, with rough heights cut low bordering the water, encouraging any ball hit down that side to trundle into the pond. You will see a variety of clubs utilized to find the fairway, which then gives the player a short-iron or a wedge to go after the pin.
Hole 3 – Par 3 · Yards 148
Being the shortest hole on the course players will look to birdie but water surrounds much of the green, making the right and back hole locations dangerous. If the cup is cut over the left ridge, there will be a good chance to see a hole-in-one that day.
Hole 4 – Par 4 · Yards 521
Played as a par-5 for the Bellerive members, this long dogleg left will be set up as a 500+ yard par-4. Most players will be able to hit their tee shots past the left bunker but will need to slide just left of the two large bunkers guarding the right side of the fairway. The heavily bunkered green, although a good size target approaches to the front and back right side of the green will play as birdies. If the hole location is back left, very few players will be able to take on that challenge. A risk to reward hole.
Hole 5 – Par 4 · Yards 471
This is one of the classic Robert Trent Jones par 4’s. Any kind of par will be happily accepted with the rare birdie chance coming when the hole is cut on the left side of a massive green. All tee shots kick to the right, towards an always thick and healthy rough. the left rough is even more hazardous. Finding the fairway off the imperative on hole 5.
Hole 6 – Par 3 · Yards 213
This is the signature par 3 at Bellerive. In the 1965 U.S. Open, this hole played to an incredible 4.03 stroke average. The green has even shrunk a bit since the renovation, making the front of the green just as difficult to hit as the back right shelf. Hole locations cut in the middle swale always provide some excitement with tee shots feeding toward the cup. Par is exceptional.
Hole 7 – Par 4 · Yards 381
This is the shortest par-4 on the front side. The proper tee shot usually played with a wedge, the green is well guarded and undulated, making it difficult to control approach shots coming from outside the fairway.
Hole 8 – Par 5 · Yards 610
This hole underwent a slight change to the landing area. The left fairway bunker, which guarded the dogleg, has been removed, allowing players to take an aggressive line to hit the green in 2 shots. The creek that hugs the right side is now exposed, making golfers think twice when laying up for their second shot. This green offers a wide but shallow target. Any hole cut on the left side of the green is protected by two deep bunkers.
Hole 9 – Par 4 · Yards 433
You can take your pick between holes 5, 10, or 15 as to which is the toughest of the par 4s at Bellerive, but this hole might yield as many bogeys as any of those. At only 433 yards, it’s not the length that makes this hole so challenging. The classic uphill approach to the most complicated green on the course makes it impossible to gauge the right distance to be hole high. If the hole is not cut in the front bowl, players will have very few good birdie chances. This hole might offer some of the most interesting up-and-down attempts or lag putts during the round.
Hole 10 – Par 4 · Yards 508
The other ‘member par-5 turned par-4′ stands at 508 yards, with a sharp left turn at the fairway bunker. This will require the players to either play safety to the bend, which will leave them a mid-iron to a very wide, but shallow green. For those taking an aggressive line off the tee, they will have to avoid the bunker that guards the left elbow of the fairway. If successful, a short iron may give them a rare scoring opportunity on the 10th.
Hole 11 – Par 4 · Yards 355
A true risk/reward short par 4! Players choosing to lay up short of the pond guarding the front right of the green will only need a mid-iron to do so. This will leave the player with a wedge to a long, narrow green. The risk taker will need a precise drive to hit the green. However, the hole can also be played at distances from 275 to 355 yards, enticing more players to try to hit the green.
Hole 12 – Par 4 · Yards 452
the 12th provides one of the most visually appealing tee shots from an elevated perch and plays at 452 yards. Keep the ball out of the left fairway bunkers and it opens up the angle to the green. In 1992, Nick Price holed a 105-foot putt for birdie on route to victory at the PGA Championship, his first major title.
Hole 13 – Par 3 · Yards 156
Simply put, hole location means everything as to how tough this hole will play. If the flag is on the accessible left side of the green, plenty of birdies will follow. If the hole is cut back centre or right, a routine two-putt will be a tall task. The slopes and ridges in this large green make for quite a roller coaster ride when putting. Elite putters to the fore.
Hole 14 – Par 4 · Yards 410
This is the beginning of “The Ridge”, the gauntlet of finishing holes at Bellerive. Secluded back in the trees, the 14th challenges the player to hit a tee shot to a landing area guarded by bunkers on the right and deep rough on the left. The bombers will have to be accurate, as the fairway narrows. The green is so tucked around the corner that players hitting approaches from the left side might not be able to see their target. Birdies will come in bunches when the hole is placed on the front right of the green.
Hole 15 – Par 4· Yards 495
Another perfect example of a Robert Trent Jones par-4, the 15th is a tough par but a reasonable bogey. Quite long at 495 yards and usually into a prevailing southerly wind, a good tee shot gives a player a chance to hit a middle or long iron into this wide, but shallow, target. If you miss short right or go over this shallow green the steep right-to-left slope makes short pitches and chips very challenging from deep bunkers.
Hole 16 – Par 3 · Yards 237
Another tough hole on “The Ridge” at 237 yards and like the 15th into a prevailing southerly breeze, look for players to carve long irons and hybrids, into this large, elevated green. Just make a 3 here and be on your way. The front bunkers are no place to be as the unlucky player will have a hard time just seeing the flag stick from within the depths of the sand.
Hole 17 – Par 5 · Yards 597
The tee box has been relocated to the east side of the long creek that guards the hole through its entirety. In addition to that change, an additional 15-30 yards of potential tee selections may add to the challenge of a birdie. Best strategy is keep the tee shot left of the penalty area and then decide if negotiating the cross bunker at 70 or so yards is worth the risk… if up for the challenge, players can reach the green in two and make a late move up the leader board.
Hole 18 – Par 4 · Yards 457
A classic finishing hole, the 18th gives very little, accuracy off the tee and finding the fairway vital or otherwise, this may be the hardest green to hit on the entire course. The most exciting hole location on this green, is the middle-left swale that allows a player to fee the ball towards the hole. Otherwise, getting approach shots close for birdie may be at a premium on the closer. A par on the 18th is important to survive “The Ridge”.
The last 5 holes as we saw at the recent 2026 US Masters can make the difference, a very controlled game will be required.
What to Look For
Only the top 50 from Memphis compete here, making the field smaller but more elite. Bellerive’s demanding test rewards complete performers — elite tee-to-green ball-striking, strong short-game play, and Bentgrass putting ability all matter. Players who peak in August tend to compete strongly for the championship title.
Tips Coming: Full selections and analysis, from our chief analyst MJ, will be published Wednesday 19 August 2026 approx 3pm AEST ahead of the event tee-off.