Start with the name this place is so old and crammed full of Boston bluebloods that it didn t need any further qualifiers Brookline as it is often known is the very first country club in the United States dating to 1882 and was another of the USGA s founding clubs The club has a regulation 18 hole course and a nine hole executive course The 18 hole features small greens and wide fairways with many deep bunkers and two water hazards When special tournament play occurs and the club needs a championship length course they combine different holes from each of the courses to create a temporary 7,010 yard course Originally founded in 1882 the course was the site of the famous 1913 U S Open won by amateur Francis Quimet over Harry Vardon and Ted Ray in a playoff The U S Open was also played here in 1963 won by Julius Boros and in 1988 won by Curtis Strange More recently l the Country Club was the site if the 1999 Ryder Cup known as the Battle at Brookline which was won in a thrilling comeback by the United States