Holes 1-3 – Warriors Choice Foundation

Hole 1 – “Birth of Legends”

Year(s):
1775

Key Historic Moment:
The Continental Congress establishes the Marine Corps on November 10, 1775, at Tun Tavern, Philadelphia.

On-Course Activation:
Replica Tun Tavern tent with colonial-style refreshments; QR code to read the original founding resolution.

Facts (1–18)

On 10 November 1775, the Second Continental Congress authorized two battalions of Marines.
Tun Tavern in Philadelphia is traditionally cited as the recruiting site for the first Marines.
The earliest Marines served as shipboard infantry and amphibious raiders.
Continental Marines fought aboard Continental Navy ships during the Revolutionary War.
The Marine motto “From the Halls of Montezuma…” references later Mexican War service but roots in early expeditionary ethos.
Early Marines were recruited from taverns, ports, and maritime trades.
The original Marines were organized into companies that sailed with the fledgling navy.
Marines in 1775 were uniformed differently across units—standardization came later.
The founding reflected colonial need for disciplined shipboard troops.
The early Corps established Marine identity: small, mobile, and ship-integrated.
Marine officers were often experienced seamen and sailors with combat experience.
Marines provided guards for diplomatic missions and naval supplies during the war.
Revolutionary-era Marines fought in boarding actions and ship-to-ship combat.
The Corps’ founding cemented the U.S. practice of having dedicated naval infantry.
Early Marines’ esprit de corps originated in harsh shipboard conditions and shared dangers.
Tun Tavern is a symbol; exact historic recruiting records are sparse but the legend persists.
The Marine Corps’ birthday, November 10, is celebrated annually with a cake-cutting ceremony.
The Corps’ creation helped shape early American naval strategy and amphibious capability.

Hole 2 — “Revolution Ready”

Year(s):
1775–1783

Key Historic Moment:
The Continental Congress establishes the Marine Corps on November 10, 1775, at Tun Tavern, Philadelphia.

On-Course Activation:
Replica Tun Tavern tent with colonial-style refreshments; QR code to read the original founding resolution.

Facts (1–18)

Marines served aboard Continental Navy ships defending commerce and disrupting British supply lines.
Early amphibious raids tested concepts of ship-to-shore force employment.
Marines performed security and boarding actions against British vessels.
The Corps’ small size demanded close coordination with naval officers.
Marines helped protect American privateers and merchant convoys.
Revolutionary Marines participated in the raid on Nassau (planning seeds for later amphibious ops).
Marine detachments guarded key ports and naval yards from sabotage.
Marines sometimes acted as marines-of-the-line in fleet engagements.
The Revolution forged the Marine tradition of loyalty to the nation’s navy.
Sea service experience gained during the Revolution informed later expeditionary doctrine.
Officers learned combined-arms lessons integrating small infantry with ship maneuver.
Marines maintained discipline and order aboard ships where prize money caused friction.
The hardships of naval life produced the Corps’ early resilience and toughness.
Revolutionary service established the precedent of Marines supporting diplomatic missions.
Marines’ boarding actions required close-quarters combat skills that became hallmark traits.
The Corps’ performance helped justify its continued existence post-war (though it faced disbandment debates).
Revolutionary veterans carried Marine traditions into peacetime militia and naval roles.
The conflict solidified the identity of Marines as both sailors and infantry.

Hole 3 — “Tripoli Bound”

Year(s):
1801–1815

Key Historic Moment:
First Barbary War—Marines march “to the shores of Tripoli” to secure U.S. interests against piracy.

On-Course Activation:
Interactive sand map of the North African coast; Marine Corps hymn audio station.

Facts (1–18)

Early 19th-century Barbary Wars were fought against North African corsair states preying on U.S. shipping.
Marines served ashore in Tripoli and Derna, demonstrating expeditionary reach.
The 1805 Derna campaign showcased early amphibious assault planning.
Corporal John – (name varies by account) — early Marine sharpshooters provided key marksman support.
The phrase “to the shores of Tripoli” later became part of the Marines’ hymn, celebrating these actions.
The Derna operation required a land march after ship-to-shore insertion—an early projection of power.
Marines helped secure peace treaties that protected American commerce.
Successful operations boosted U.S. naval credibility abroad.
Marine small-unit leadership was highlighted in urban and coastal assaults.
The Barbary Wars reinforced need for trained, deployable naval infantry.
Marines operated from frigates and gunboats along the Mediterranean coast.
The campaign helped establish early U.S. expeditionary doctrine.
Marines’ role in these conflicts strengthened ties with the Navy’s strategic planning.
Their actions contributed to early U.S. diplomatic leverage in the region.
The experience of joint ship–land operations informed future amphibious doctrine.
Veterans of the Barbary Wars brought back lessons on logistics and foreign operations.
The Derna victory became a symbol of Marine tenacity and adaptability.
These engagements helped cement the Marine Corps hymn’s historical allusions.