Miles Bennett
Golf and graveyards are not the most obvious pairing, but golf courses and cemeteries share the same grounds all over the world. From the Oak Point Golf Course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort, to the Ballybunion Golf Club in Ireland, many golf courses have been built alongside cemeteries. In fact, some golfers even wish to have their ashes scattered on their favourite course. In 2022, Ivana Trump, the first wife of former U.S. President Donald Trump, was buried near the first hole of the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey, sparking speculation about potential tax advantages for the Trump family trust.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Golf courses with cemeteries | Bally's Golf Links at Ferry Point in New York, Darby Creek Golf Course in Ohio, Oak Point Golf Course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort, The Pulpit Club in Caledon, Ont., The Donald Ross Course at French Lick, Chastain Park in Atlanta, Georgia, Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey |
| Notable graves | Ambrose Taylor (Oak Point Golf Course), Chris Haney (The Pulpit Club), Ivana Trump (Trump National Golf Club) |
| Golfers' preferences for burial | Many golfers would like their ashes scattered on their favourite golf course |
| Tax implications | Burial of Ivana Trump at the Trump National Golf Club may have advantageous tax implications due to New Jersey's tax code exempting cemetery land from taxes, rates, and assessments |
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What You'll Learn
Golfers who wish to have their ashes scattered on a golf course
Golf courses and cemeteries share the same grounds all over the world. Many golfers would love to have their ashes scattered on their favourite golf course, and some even choose the hole they'd like to spend eternity on.
If you are a golfer who wishes to have your ashes scattered on a golf course, there are a few things you should keep in mind. First, you should check the policies of the golf course in question. Some golf courses may not allow the scattering of ashes at all, while others may have specific rules and regulations that you or your loved ones will need to follow. For example, while the golf course managers may permit the scattering, they may not want people dumping an urn full of ashes into a sand trap, on a tee box, or on a green.
It is also important to consider the person who will be scattering your ashes. In some cases, it may be necessary to have someone who is familiar with the golf course do the scattering, to ensure that the correct location is chosen and that the ashes are scattered respectfully. If you have chosen a golf course that is located in a colder climate, you may also need to consider what to do if there is snow on the ground when the time comes.
Additionally, it is worth noting that cremated remains are not all like small grains of sand. They often contain pieces of bone, which can be irregular in shape unless they have been ground after cremation. This may be something to discuss with the golf course management when seeking permission.
Finally, it is important to be respectful of other golfers who may be using the course. While having your ashes scattered on a golf course can be a unique and meaningful way to honour your love of the sport, it is important to ensure that you are not causing any disruption to the game or to the maintenance of the course.
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Golf courses built near cemeteries
There are several instances of golf courses being built near or on top of cemeteries.
In San Francisco, the Lincoln Park Golf Course was built on top of an old cemetery. Two large memorials on the municipal course commemorate this history. Similarly, in the 1930s, Atlanta's Chastain Park Golf Course was constructed on top of a cemetery.
In other cases, golf courses have been built adjacent to cemeteries. For example, the Pulpit Course at the Pulpit Club in Caledon, Ontario, includes a small cemetery on the left of the par-4 sixth fairway. The cemetery originally only included a memorial for one family, but now also houses the gravestone of Trivial Pursuit co-inventor Chris Haney. There is no penalty for landing on the cemetery, and the scorecard includes a disclaimer that "a ball coming to rest within [the] fenced grave site has two club lengths relief on the fairway, no nearer the hole."
In Texas, The Bandit, an 18-hole course outside of New Braunfels, winds around the former ranchland of the Koehler family, whose cemetery remains near the 10th hole. In Ohio, a cemetery sits just off the fourth tee box at the Darby Creek Golf Course.
In some instances, golf courses have been built on top of or near historically significant burial grounds, sparking debates about how to honor the dead. In Florida, it was discovered that the Capital City Country Club, a golf course in Tallahassee, was built on top of a slave cemetery. While there are no plans to exhume or disturb the remains, discussions are ongoing about how to memorialize the site.
In other cases, cemeteries have been incorporated into the design of golf courses. For example, the Heritage Links Golf Club in Cape May County has a cemetery on the 8th hole, which is noted on the course's website. Similarly, the Jameson Golf Links outside of Dublin features a first-hole cemetery, St. Marnock's Graveyard, located slightly off the course.
Some have even proposed building cemeteries within golf courses. Donald Trump has expressed interest in building a cemetery for himself and members of his private golf club at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey.
While some may find the idea of combining golf courses and cemeteries distasteful, it is clear that the two can coexist in some instances, whether by accident, necessity, or design.
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Golf balls landing in cemeteries
Golf courses and cemeteries share grounds all over the world. While most courses don't have a cemetery on the course, there are a few notable exceptions. For instance, a cemetery sits to the right of the sixth tee at Bally's Golf Links in New York, and just off the fourth tee box at the Darby Creek Golf Course in Ohio. The Oakridge course at The Landings Club in Savannah, Georgia, has a hole recognised by members as 'The Cemetery Hole'.
The Pulpit Course at the Pulpit Club in Caledon, Ontario, brushes up against a small cemetery on the left of the par-4 sixth fairway. The scorecard carries a local disclaimer that "a ball coming to rest within [the] fenced grave site has two club lengths relief on the fairway, no nearer the hole". Similarly, at the Donald Ross Course at French Lick, golfers have noticed a cemetery on the other side of the street.
Some golf courses have even been built on top of old cemeteries. In Chastain Park, Atlanta, Georgia, it was discovered that a section of the golf course sits right above an old potter's field graveyard. There are no plans to disturb the graves, and there is a possibility that wildflowers will be planted on the turf above to allow the permanent residents peace and respect.
Golfers have different ways of dealing with golf balls landing in cemeteries. Some take a mulligan and play on, while others wonder about the respectful thing to do. One golfer at the Heritage Links Golf Club in Cape May County, which has a cemetery on the eighth hole, chose to keep their actions a secret: "When I hit my ball so close to the headstone, do I hit it where it lies? Do I move it a respectable distance away? What is a respectable distance? What did I do? I'll never tell".
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Tax avoidance through cemetery burial
While golf courses and cemeteries may share the same grounds, the concept of "where golf meets the grave" can take on a different meaning when considering tax avoidance through cemetery burial.
In some jurisdictions, burying a loved one on your property can indeed change its zoning, classifying it as a cemetery. This reclassification can have significant tax implications, as cemeteries are often exempt from property taxes. For example, in California, the Cemetery Exemption applies to property "used or held exclusively for the permanent deposit of human dead or for the care and maintenance of the property of the dead," excluding profit-driven ventures.
However, it is important to note that burying a loved one in your backyard does not automatically equate to a tax-free scenario. For instance, while New York and Louisiana require a funeral director's oversight, other states mandate specific preservation methods, adding complexity and cost. Even with the potential for tax deductions on funeral expenses, the financial benefits of home burial may not outweigh the costs of traditional funeral services.
Additionally, there are important considerations regarding the practicalities of home burial, such as zoning laws, death certificate filings, and the emotional toll of managing these details while grieving. Furthermore, the property must be held in good faith exclusively for burial purposes, meeting zoning laws and reasonable size expectations.
While the idea of a cemetery tax break has circulated, it is just a rumor. Thus, while it may be legal to bury a loved one in your backyard, it is not a guaranteed means of tax avoidance, and it is essential to carefully weigh the pros and cons of such an undertaking.
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Graves affecting golf course landscaping
Golf courses and cemeteries share the same grounds worldwide. While this may be a spooky sight for some, it is an appealing resting place for avid golfers. Golf courses are a big investment, requiring a lot of land and maintenance to ensure golfers have a good experience.
Golf courses require careful maintenance to ensure the grass remains green and healthy. One key element is proper irrigation, with advanced systems delivering water in a precise and controlled manner. Another important aspect is weed control, which can ruin the course's appearance and cause disappointment for players. Goosegrass, for example, thrives in compacted soil and can be challenging to remove. Dovegrass, on the other hand, spreads easily through its seeds and can withstand cold temperatures. Fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides are also used to improve the grass and suppress weeds. Aeration is another critical practice, improving fertilizer efficiency, moisturizing the soil, and increasing grass resiliency.
Some notable examples of golf courses with cemeteries include Bally's Golf Links in New York, where a cemetery sits to the right of the sixth tee. At the Darby Creek Golf Course in Ohio, a cemetery is located just off the fourth tee box. The Pulpit Course in Caledon, Ontario, features a small cemetery on the left of the par-4 sixth fairway, including the gravestone of Trivial Pursuit inventor Chris Haney. The Oak Point Golf Course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort in South Carolina was built in 1989, and golfers may find their balls landing next to gravestones of people who passed away decades before, such as Ambrose Taylor, who died in 1943.
In Chastain Park, Atlanta, Georgia, a section of the golf course sits above an old potter's field graveyard. There are plans to plant wildflowers on the turf above the graves to pay respect to those buried there. While some golf course managers may be concerned about the scattering of ashes on the course, many golfers express a desire to have their ashes spread on their favourite golf course.
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Frequently asked questions
"Where golf meets the grave" refers to golf courses that share the same grounds as cemeteries.
There are many examples of golf courses meeting graves around the world. For instance, there is a cemetery to the right of the sixth tee at Bally's Golf Links at Ferry Point in New York, and at the Oak Point Golf Course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort in South Carolina.
Yes, there are. The Pulpit Course at the Pulpit Club in Caledon, Ontario, and the Donald Ross Course at French Lick are two other examples.
Ivana Trump, the first wife of former U.S. President Donald Trump, was buried near the first hole of the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey. This sparked speculation that her grave's location could benefit her ex-husband's tax planning.
Many golfers would love to have their ashes scattered on their favourite golf course, and some have even picked out the hole they'd like to spend eternity on.
