Nineteenth hole explained

In golf, the nineteenth hole is a slang term for a pub, bar, or restaurant on or near the golf course, very often the clubhouse itself.^[1] A standard round of golf has only eighteen (18) holes of play.^[2] An alternate term for a bar is a "watering hole"; thus, by extension, continuing the day after 18 holes of golf at a watering hole makes the bar a "nineteenth hole". The concept is similar to Après-ski in skiing.^[3] The R&A has called the Jigger Inn, which overlooks the 17th Road Hole on the Old Course in St Andrews, Scotland, "Arguably the most famous 19th hole in the world",^[4] while Golf Monthly has also called it "the most famous 19th hole in golf".^[5]

References in media

The golf stories of author P. G. Wodehouse, which are narrated by his character, the Oldest Member, discuss the nineteenth hole.^[6]
At the beginning and again towards the end of the Lars von Trier movie Melancholia, the main character Claire is shown passing the nineteenth hole, which in reality did not exist, on the golf course belonging to the mansion where the movie takes place. Lars von Trier said this was a reference to Limbo.^[7]
In a 1985 episode of Knight Rider entitled "The Nineteenth Hole" (Season 3, Episode 16), the term is used as slang, meaning the place where "they bury people who get in the way".^[8]
A 1989 British television sitcom The Nineteenth Hole, written by Johnny Speight and starring Eric Sykes, was centred on the nineteenth hole. Felt to be racist, sexist and unfunny, it was cancelled after just one series.^[9]
In the first episode of the BBC drama The Night Manager, Richard Roper's subordinate Corky says that the only golf he plays is the 19th hole.^[10]

Notes and References

Web site: Golf-Dictionary.com--Golf dictionary, terms and tips. www.golf-dictionary.com. 2008-08-05. 2008-05-31. https://web.archive.org/web/20080531035352/http://www.golf-dictionary.com/golf_terms_n.php. live.
Web site: Golf History FAQ: 18 Holes . Kelly . Brent . About.com . 2008-08-05 . 2008-09-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080924195043/http://golf.about.com/cs/historyofgolf/a/hist_18holes.htm . dead .
Web site: Definition of APRES-SKI. www.merriam-webster.com. 2019-11-04. 2019-11-04. https://web.archive.org/web/20191104230706/https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/apres-ski. live.
Web site: Jigger Inn at The Open. 2022-07-14. The R&A. 2021-07-26. https://web.archive.org/web/20210726023028/https://www.theopen.com/JiggerInn2022. live.
Web site: What Is The Jigger Inn?. 2022-07-14. Golf Monthly. Hibbitt, James. 6 July 2022 . 2022-07-14. https://web.archive.org/web/20220714051417/https://www.golfmonthly.com/features/what-is-the-jigger-inn. live.
Web site: P.G. Wodehouse @ Classic Reader. www.classicreader.com. 2019-11-04. 2019-11-04. https://web.archive.org/web/20191104230711/http://www.classicreader.com/author/75/. live.
Web site: Little White Lies magazine . Lars Von Trier – Articles - Little White Lies . littlewhitelies.co.uk . 2015-09-29 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150929034831/http://www.littlewhitelies.co.uk/features/articles/lars-von-trier-16234 . 2015-09-29 . unfit . 2019-11-04.
Web site: The Nineteenth Hole - knight rider . original series . knight rider online. knightrideronline.com. 2010-11-10. https://web.archive.org/web/20160830062620/http://knightrideronline.com/knight_rider/season_three/the_nineteenth_hole/. 2016-08-30. dead.
Web site: Eric Sykes. 4 July 2012 . 2020-06-02. 2020-08-06. https://web.archive.org/web/20200806235059/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/culture-obituaries/tv-radio-obituaries/9375396/Eric-Sykes.html. live.
Web site: 01x01 - Episode 1 - The Night Manager Transcripts - Forever Dreaming. transcripts.foreverdreaming.org. 2016-06-28. 2016-08-08. https://web.archive.org/web/20160808071221/http://transcripts.foreverdreaming.org/viewtopic.php?f=575&t=25519. live.