Oldest Clubhouse in America
Golfers walk the creaky floors of a clubhouse built in the 1750s, still in daily use—the oldest clubhouse building in use in the United States. Its stone walls and fireplaces set a tone few other clubs can match.
The verdict
Pure Pennsylvania Private Golf
Lookaway blends championship Rees Jones design, polished conditioning, and the nation’s oldest clubhouse for a members-first experience. While you won’t find major tournament crowds, every round here feels quietly special, with history and challenge at every turn.
Course DNA
Difficulty
81
Scenery75
Conditioning90
Shot Variety76
Walkability74
Green Complexity80
Wow Factor77
Design Quality77
Don't miss
Step into the 1750s stone clubhouse after your round—it's the oldest in continuous use in the country and feels like golf’s version of time travel.
At a glance
Quick facts
Clubhouse Age
Built around 1752, the oldest in US golf
Course Architect
Rees Jones
Historic Land Grant
Deeded by William Penn in 1713
Bentgrass Greens
Known for fast, smooth putting
Championship Host
2020 Pennsylvania Amateur
Membership Culture
Invitation and member-owned club
Recent Upgrades
Bunker tweaks, junior tees, practice enhancements
Club Logo Origin
Retains historic Lookaway farm logo
The design
The architecture
Lookaway is a modern Rees Jones composition woven through historic Bucks County farmland, polished for members but never losing its subtle bite. The course rewards precise driving and well-planned approaches: wide fairways beckon, but the best angles always favor confident placement. Greens are complex without intimidation—sloping, well-defended, and bentgrass quick—demanding focus from the opening hole to the storied home finish. Bunker tweaks and tree clearing in recent years have subtly sharpened playability, but every round still feels like a thinking player’s game on land that exudes centuries of quiet gravitas.
Designed by Rees Jones to be a home club with championship pedigree, mixing bold challenge and daily playability.
Defining features
- Strategic bentgrass green complexes
- Walkable routing across historic farmland
- Forced carries balanced by open run-on options
- Bunker work for modern play and visuals
- Quiet but sophisticated hazards scheme
Hole by hole
Signature holes
Hole 13
Long Test on the Ridge
PAR
5
YARDAGE
585
The 13th is the course’s longest and most strategic par 5, stretching 585 yards from the blacks and offering a rare chance to unleash everything off the tee. It doglegs and undulates enough to force smart decisions after each shot, with a contoured green that never gives up birdie easily.
Play it smart
Stay in play on the first two shots—lay back if you must—before attacking the green only if you’re in perfect position and can handle a tough approach angle.
Where it bites
Fescue rough and well-placed bunkers punish flared shots and greedy second attempts, with the green shielded against reckless aggression.
Course management
Shots to think about
Approach to a bentgrass green sloping away
Take one less club and land it short; chase it on for better control.
Tee shot on 14
Hit driver confidently—laying back sacrifices too much on this long par 4.
Second shot on either par 5 (8 or 13)
Only go for the green in two if your lie is clean and angle favorable; lay up smartly otherwise.
Windy par 3 (2 or 6)
Club up and trust your carry; swirling breezes often play tricks on club selection.
Short par 4 temptation (9 or 10)
Consider leaving the driver in the bag for position—wedge approach from the fairway beats trouble left and right.
Putting from above the hole
Stay below the cup whenever possible; downhill putts run quick even for members.
On the day
What to expect
Conditions
Fast bentgrass greens, laser-straight fairways, and crisp bunkers daily; conditions are consistently top tier for members.
Pace
Member-managed tee times mean rounds move at a steady, unhurried pace—no public-course bottlenecks.
Vibe
Serious, understated, and focused on the golf—expect more camaraderie than spectacle in a historic, private setting.
Dress code
Standard private-club attire (collared shirts, no denim, soft spikes required); visitors should confirm policy with host.
Before you tee off
Your game plan
01
Ball Striking Accuracy
Work on shaping both tee shots and approaches—the course heavily rewards those who play to preferred angles.
02
Short Game Sharpness
Practice chipping from tight lies and rough—the subtle run-offs and speedy bentgrass require deft touch.
03
Par-3 Iron Control
Expect four par 3s demanding precise, committed iron play—test your yardages before you arrive.
The lore
How it came to be
- 1713
Land deeded by William Penn to Thomas Watson
- 1752
Historic farmhouse built (now the clubhouse)
- 1923
Property renamed 'Lookaway' by T.W. Sterling
- 1997
Founders and Sterling family handshake to form golf club
- 1999
Lookaway Golf Club officially opens
- 2020
Host of the 107th Pennsylvania Amateur
Stories & legends
What makes it special
The Handshake That Built Lookaway
The club’s founding was more than a contract—it was sealed with a handshake between the partners and the Sterling family, launching decades of close-to-home community golf.
A Modern Classic for Members
Rees Jones’ design keeps members returning with walkable holes and thoughtful course tweaks, tailoring championship golf to Bucks County’s landscape and history.
Turning Farm Into Fairways
What was once Paxon Farm is now sculpted into a strategic 18, preserving open vistas and rural charm—even as championship golf is the main event.
For the group chat
Fun facts
1
The club’s logo dates back to the original Lookaway farm in the 1920s.
2
Played host to the 107th Pennsylvania Amateur in 2020—a top state title.
3
The 18th green finishes just steps from a 250-year-old stone clubhouse.
4
Tree removal and bunker upgrades keep the views and playability fresh.
5
Every club founder signed a penny and set it into the barn as a tradition.
Build the trip
If you're making a Bucks County & Philly Area golf trip out of it
CourseAccessWhy it's on the listTrip
Aronimink Golf Club
Private
A Donald Ross classic and major host with pedigree
Merion Golf Club
Private
Historic U.S. Open venue—if access is possible, it's a must
Philadelphia Cricket Club – Wissahickon
Private
Major-event tradition on a tight, strategic course
Golden Oaks Golf Club
Public
Best public-access blend in the region with quality reputation
The Bucks Club
Public
Local public course for a coda round on your trip
Doylestown or New Hope, for access, charm, and Bucks County relaxation
Course DNA
If You Like Lookaway Golf Club
Courses with the most similar DNA profile — matched by deviation shape across all eight playing characteristics.
Strong DNA Match7.4
Guyan Golf & Country Club
Huntington, West VirginiaConditioning
Why it matches: If Lookaway Golf Club is your kind of course, Guyan Golf & Country Club is worth a look because it puts the same premium on presentation.
Strong DNA Match8.4
The Harvester Club
Rhodes, IowaWhy it matches: There is real overlap here. The Harvester Club a comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character, making it a compelling counterpart to Lookaway Golf Club.
Strong DNA Match8.1
Poppy Hills Golf Course
Pebble Beach, CaliforniaConditioning
Why it matches: Poppy Hills Golf Course is a natural next stop after Lookaway Golf Club: it offers similarly polished playing surfaces.
Community Sentiment
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