The 2025 PGA Championship is heading to Charlotte, and Quail Hollow Club is once again in the spotlight. Known for its polished fairways, pristine greens, and a deep history on the PGA Tour, the course should be the talk of the golf world for all the right reasons. But thanks to a former pro with a sharp tongue, it’s a viral quote, not a birdie or bogey, that’s dominating headlines.
Hunter Mahan, once a regular name on the PGA Tour and now coaching high school golf in Texas, offered his take on the course to The Athletic. And he didn’t hold back.
“I guess I would say Quail Hollow is like a Kardashian. It’s very modern, beautiful and well-kept. But it lacks a soul or character,” Mahan stated.
The line quickly made its way across social media- and not because it captured hearts.
Fans React As Mahan’s Metaphor Goes Viral
The comparison stirred things up. Some golf fans winced. Others laughed.
“Jesus CHRIST lmao,” one fan wrote on X.
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Jesus CHRIST lmao pic.twitter.com/Eg9YTmjl1a
— Christopher Powers (@CPowers14) May 13, 2025
Another chimed in: “I didn’t see Hunter Mahan delivering the quote of the week, but here we are.”
I didn’t see Hunter Mahan delivering the quote of the week, but here we are.
— Stephen Hennessey (@S_HennesseyGD) May 13, 2025
Taking a blow torch to the Kardasians and Tom Fazio in the same sentence … repping Ball-Knowers Inc. hard. Cc @GabbyHerzig pic.twitter.com/Y6VabIf6Yz
One even called it, “Only half-kidding when I say this Hunter Mahan quote might be the best golf quote of all-time.” Safe to say, no one had this on their bingo card.
Only half-kidding when I say this Hunter Mahan quote might be the best golf quote of all-time https://t.co/TDmoPAR5GK
— Ben Portnoy (@bportnoy15) May 13, 2025
Quail Hollow is no stranger to big events. The private club, opened in 1959 and designed by George Cobb, has hosted PGA Tour events since 1979. It’s been home to the Wells Fargo Championship since 2003 and staged the Presidents Cup in 2022. The PGA Championship returns this week for the first time since 2017.
The course’s most famous stretch, known as The Green Mile, tests players with a trio of punishing finishing holes. But critics like Mahan see a deeper issue. The layout, repeatedly reworked to keep pace with the modern game, doesn’t always ask players to think hard or take risks. For some, that takes away from the challenge.
Still, few would turn down a tee time here. With its $100,000 reported initiation fee, exclusivity is part of its brand. And while Mahan’s comment sparked laughs and groans, it also hit on a tension many feel but few say out loud: beauty isn’t everything, especially in golf.
Also Read: PGA Championship At Quail Hollow Forced To Ban Fans
