Far and Sure: The Story of America's First Golf Course

Nearly 140 years ago, in the tiny village of White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, the beginning of American golf courses started at Oakhurst Links. Five men, from various parts of the globe settled in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains and carved a 9-hole golf course out of the rolling countryside and began match play. This 28 minute historical documentary by West Virginia’s own Brett Ward and Mike Riley, dispels previous claims by other golf courses, including St. Andrew's in Yonkers, New York, by proving golf started here in the Greenbrier Valley years prior to the founding of every other golf course and club in the United States. For nearly 50 years, matches continued at Oakhurst until the Greenbrier Resort opened their first golf course. The pastures and fairways of Oakhurst sat dormant for almost 60 years until Lewis Keller began the uncovering process with Sam Snead and Bob Cupp. Oakhurst Links opened for public play in 1994 with a ceremonial tee shot by golf legend Sam Snead. In 2012, the land was purchased by The Greenbrier Resort but currently sits idle, undisturbed. In 1994, when opened for public play, hickory golf clubs had to be used to play this 9 hole course. The National Hickory Championships were held at Oakhurst multiple times to crown a champion. See interviews from the Greenbrier Resort’s own, Dr. Robert Conte, golf course architect, Robert Cupp, U.S. Amateur Champion, Billy Campbell and former Oakhurst Links owner, Lewis Keller. Far and Sure tracks the story of Oakhurst Links and its original five members who founded it including the original owner, Russell Montague, who came to the region from Boston, Massachusetts. The other members; Alexander MacLeod, Roderick MacLeod, George Grant & Lionel Torrin came from different parts of the world. Oakhurst Links is an important part of American history that’s never been told before on screen.