Whippoorwill - New York - USA

Whippoorwill is one of the most underrated courses I’ve played in my life. The Ross/Banks (mostly Banks today) layout is one of America’s biggest hidden gems, which is incredible given its location in the hotbed of Westchester County, NY. This is the golf course you go to when you want to learn more about world-class architecture and how you “fit” the holes onto the land. Westchester is renowned for dramatic/rock-based land formations, and “the Whip” takes full advantage.

Stimulating, challenging and truly beautifully crafted holes are in abundance here. I argue that it has the greatest Biarritz hole in all of America. The replicas of the Short, Redan and Alps (to name but a few templates on display) highlight how Banks leveraged the designs of MacDonald/Raynor to true perfection. The land is painfully dramatic in places (eg: 4 to 9), but it facilitated Bank’s vision to create the most memorable holes on the course across the street from the clubhouse. Moving to the back nine, while not as turbulent, it has the strongest set of par 4s, both short and long. This course is an adventure, a test, a visual delight and incredibly exciting to hit shots over and into the magical landforms.

What does a golf course need to achieve greatness? First, it needs good terrain to start with. Second, it needs skilled designers. How about Donald Ross and “Steamshovel” Banks as designers? Whippoorwill has all of the aforementioned, yet doesn’t get recognized as one of the world’s best golf courses. Why is Whippoorwill overlooked and under-rated? Perhaps because the course is only 6,636 yard from the back tees, or because it gets lost among so many other great courses in Westchester County. Perhaps, because it doesn't get much press or outside play given that it is a very private course in an affluent area. Whatever the reason, I believe the front nine alone is worthy of cult status. The course has superb renditions of prototype holes such as Short, Eden and Biarritz which are enhanced by the hilly nature of the property. Several holes are routed through isolated valleys and Banks used his steam shovel to create some standout holes. Whippoorwill at times reminds me of Merion. Partly, this has to do with similar terrain in some places and with the general overall short nature of the course. Like at Merion, the course is split in two by a road and you have to be able to hit the ball to the correct side of the fairway or the correct side of the green in order to shoot a good score. A strategy of playing to the middle of the green won't work here due to the green shapes, slopes and severity. You must be on the right quadrant of the green depending upon where the pin is to shoot a good score. Put Whippoorwill on your private bucket list but don’t tell anyone so it remains below the radar.

John Sabino is the author of How to Play the World’s Most Exclusive Golf Clubs

Played Whippoorwill last weekend. We were fortunate to have a warm fall day. Whippoorwill is a classic course in the strain of Yale, Forsgate, or Shoreacres. They have the usuals here, the Biarritz, the Short hole, the Redan. I truly enjoyed playing it. It is a true members club as on several holes you really need to know where to place every shot. It may be a bit short, but what it lacks in length is makes up for with bags of charm. If you get the chance play this underrated gem of westchester. Joey