East Hampton, New York
East Hampton Golf Club captures Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw's signature ability to blend strategic play with a sublime setting. The club is a Hamptons retreat, with the first seven holes evoking crisp, fescue-lined ground-game demands before weaving into a wooded back nine. It's a must for architecture buffs lucky enough to receive an invitation.
The subtle stone markers and unbranded tee signs—true to Coore & Crenshaw’s minimalist tradition—are a quiet insider’s delight.
East Hampton Golf Club merges the minimalist beauty of Coore & Crenshaw’s design with the varied moods of Long Island’s East End. The opening sequence unfolds across open, linksy, fescue-laced ground demanding thoughtful shot placement and creative ground play. As the round progresses, the routing ventures into mature woodland and rolling hillocks, introducing elevation changes and tighter playing corridors. Small, well-defended greens and strategic bunkering keep every approach honest, demanding both precision and imagination. The overall result is a rare private course where restraint, angles, and terrain-driven variety take center stage.
Coore & Crenshaw’s approach gently amplifies the land’s existing contrasts, resulting in two equally distinct yet coherent nines.
A true three-shotter at first glance, the fifth dogleg par 5 seduces bold hitters looking to attack in two but punishes any approach not perfectly situated. Deep bunkering and a green angled slyly away put club and angle selection at a premium.
Smart players lay up for a favorite wedge, but the aggressive line brings eagle into play for risk-takers who hug the correct angle off the tee.
Deep front bunkers and a green slanting away mercilessly punish any short-side miss.
Meticulously maintained fescue, fairways, and greens with firm, fast playing surfaces in high season.
Private-club calm and steady; rounds are generally quick and unhurried.
Reserved, understated Hamptons exclusivity; all golf, little show.
Traditional golf attire—collared shirts and tailored shorts or pants required.
Approach play is decisive: small, well-protected greens mean up-and-downs from short grass are a constant test.
The exposed front seven can get gusty—practice low, controlled ball flights for crosswinds.
The routing is beautifully suited to a walking round; bring comfortable shoes to savor every twist of the property.
Original 9-hole Bistrian family course constructed
Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw commissioned to design 18-hole course
Clubhouse amenity construction and enhancements completed
Ranked #37 in New York by Golf Digest for 2025-26 cycle
The land that now hosts East Hampton Golf Club was once a humble potato farm, transformed over decades by the Bistrian family’s vision for golf on the East End. Their persistence led to a rare farm-to-fairway origin among elite American clubs.
Players often remark on the course’s split personality, as the front seven holes mimic classic links with firm, fescue-lined fairways, while the closing eleven wind through shaded woodlands and rolling hills. This duality keeps shot demands fresh and engaging from start to finish.
Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw’s renovation replaced the homegrown nine with strategic intrigue and minimalistic shaping, earning the admiration of architecture connoisseurs and a coveted Platinum Club designation.
The club’s origins trace to a family potato farm and a homemade 9-hole course.
No two nines play alike: the front is open and links-like, the back deeply wooded.
Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw did not move much earth, favoring nature-driven shapes and features.
There are no on-course yardage markers—pace and judgment are integral to the round.
East Hampton GC’s Platinum Club status means it ranks among the fifty most elite private clubs in the country.
Classic links-influenced test with Atlantic views—iconic, if you have an in.
Seminal American golf architecture; the origin of strategic design in the U.S.
A true U.S. Open host and one of America's greatest courses.
Locally loved short course for public access, practice, and fun.
Accessible, windswept public layout with strong conditions and solid value.
East Hampton Village for shortest commutes, or Montauk for a fuller Hamptons experience.
Courses with the most similar DNA profile — matched by deviation shape across all eight playing characteristics.
Why it matches: What links these two? A comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character — a familiar feeling, expressed in Oakland Hills Country Club (North Course)'s own setting.
Why it matches: There is real overlap here. White Mountain Country Club a comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character, making it a compelling counterpart to East Hampton Golf Club.
Why it matches: Abenaqui Country Club is a natural next stop after East Hampton Golf Club: it a comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character.
Community Sentiment
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