The Nineteenth hole is a slang term used in golf, generally referring to 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 holes[2], so golfers will say they are at the 'nineteenth hole', meaning they are enjoying a drink after the game. The concept is similar to Après-ski in skiing.[3] In miniature golf, the 19th hole on most courses is usually the hole that one can putt to win a free game.[4] The 'nineteenth hole' is also a slang term meaning the place where they bury people who get in the way.[5]
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 towards the end of the Lars von Trier movie Melancholia[7], the main character Claire is shown as she passes the nineteenth hole on the golf course belonging to the mansion where the movie takes place.