Sebonack Golf Club

Sebonack Golf Club opened its tees for play in May 2006 and is the result of a collaboration between Tom Doak and Jack Nicklaus. Sebonack is carved through 300 prime acres of ultra-exclusive terrain in the Hamptons area of Southampton, New York.

According to Bloomberg: “The newest golf course in the Hamptons may already be No. 1 in at least one category: price. Sebonack Golf Club costs what might be a world-highest $650,000 for a membership that ensures accommodations at one of 15 four-bedroom ‘cottages’ being built around the course. It's $500,000 just for golf. The new club sits between 95-year-old National Golf Links of America and four-time U.S. Open host Shinnecock Hills Golf Club at the eastern end of Long Island. Other neighbours include Atlantic Golf Club and The Bridge, both in Bridgehampton. Membership in those clubs – by invitation only – tops out at $575,000.”

Naturally, you’ll need to befriend one of Sebonack’s wealthy members to tee it up here where you’ll find holes with panoramic views of Long Island’s Great Peconic Bay and Cold Spring Pond. In classic Doak style, Sebonack fits the undulating land like a glove, where the fairways sweep past huge bunkers and waste dunes.

Jack Nicklaus and Tom Doak have vastly differing design styles and we wonder how these two great architects managed to produce such a natural and unique golf course.

The golf course, in true Jack Nicklaus fashion, is a par 72 that stretches to just over 7220 yards. The first par 5 comes on the 9th with three more on the back nine with three coming in the final six holes.

Those who have their finger on the pulse of both men's work would admit overall Seonack feels more Doak than Nicklaus but the aerial approach is the preferred approach to most greens which contrasts with Doak's MO.

It is widely held that Sebonack would be in the running for Jack Nicklaus' best golf course alongside Muirfield Village (with Desmond Muirhead) as reflected in our ranks. However, it is not the same praise that could heaped on Tom Doak who has countless others in the USA and worldwide.

In 2013, Sebonack Golf Club hosted the US Women's Open, the first time the Major was played on Long Island. It resulted in a South Korean one, two, three, with Inbee Park claiming her third Major of the 2013 season. I.K. Kim finished four shots behind with So Yeon Ryu three shots further adrift. Only these three Koreans managed to better the tournament par.