Old Oaks - New York - USA
3100 Purchase Street,
Purchase,
New York (NY) 10577,
USA
+1 914 683 6000
3.5 miles E of White Plains
Members and their guests only
Iwona Sterk
Nick Maselli
Old Oaks Country Club features one of the more rare design / construction collaborations in golf course architecture. Certainly A.W. Tillinghast has many designs in New York, but very few were constructed by C.H. Alison (who, along with Harry Colt, was quite an in-demand team). It was a sensible decision, however, as Alison was already in the neighborhood, having designed Century Country Club, which is right across the highway in White Plains.
Old Oaks is a true out-and-back routing, as only the opening and closing holes take place on the west side of Purchase Street. The other 16 holes are routed within a plot on the east side; despite the relatively landlocked parcel, Rees Jones was able to find an additional 200 yards for the course during 2016, bringing the total distance from the back tees to 6,900 yards.
No. 7 is perhaps the most photographed hole on the course; the par three plays slightly downhill, with a creek that flows down from the tee to the left of the green, where it continues into a larger collection pond. Almost every bit of water on this property is connected to this pool in some way or another.
The current 18 holes are the remnants of 27 original Tillinghast holes on the property; the others were lost to road construction long ago.
Reviews for Old Oaks
M. James Ward
Old Oaks is known to locals for its thorough design and has served along with nearby Century GC as a U.S. Open sectional qualifying site which speaks to the kind of golf presented.
The club originally had 27 holes but when I-684 was being constructed the West Nine was left with a six-hole course and by the mid-70s that situation ended and the main 18 remains in place.
The thing you notice about Old Oaks is how the fairways slant. Getting the ball in the proper position is a must to have a successful round.
The two strongest holes are split between the two nines. The 8th goes uphill to a challenging two-tiered green. The penultimate hole is truly maddening and can wreak serious havoc on the scorecard.
The 17th commences from a chute and moves left off the tee. Then the hole moves slightly right with a green perched on a knoll behind a pair of bunkers The hole offers no reprieve -- you must stand and deliver, and success is only offered when the shotmaking is provided.
The club credits Charles Alison with the original design but the fingerprints from A.W. Tillinghast brought to life the details seen today.
The green contours are sophisticate in a number of holes and at no time can one short side yourself with approaches.
Plenty of attention focuses upon the stately William A. Reed estate which is now the clubhouse. The regal nature of the building still resonates its considerable stature.
Place Old Oaks in another area where the congestion of superior courses is not as competitive as Westchester is and the stature of the totality of the architecture would receive even more attention.
Twio
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