The Mad Chimneys Legend
The stately clubhouse, known as 'The Mad Chimneys' for its remarkable 26 fireplaces and 13 chimneys, still greets members and guests today. It’s one of the rare clubhouses where the building’s lore predates the golf itself.
Golf Course Review & Scouting Report
The Muttontown Club
East Norwich, New York
Established
1962
Architect
Alfred H. Tull
Access
Private – members & guests
Par
Par 71
Length
5,067 – 6,561 yds
The verdict
Solid Long Island Club Experience
The Muttontown Club delivers a classic, tree-lined test with deceptive greens and strategic shot-making. Its estate setting and historical clubhouse charm distinguish it locally, making it a worthy play for those with access in the New York metro area.
Course DNA
Difficulty
74
Scenery78
Conditioning76
Shot Variety72
Walkability66
Green Complexity75
Wow Factor70
Design Quality72
Don't miss
Take a stroll upstairs in the clubhouse to spot some of The Mad Chimneys' 26 fireplaces and picture the era when the mansion hosted Long Island socialites.
At a glance
Quick facts
Clubhouse nickname
The Mad Chimneys (26 fireplaces, 13 chimneys)
Estate clubhouse built
1919
Major local event host
2025 Ricciardi Net Four-Ball
Notable par 3s
Four in the routing, each distinct
Par 5 scoring holes
8, 12, 17 offer birdie opportunities
Course style
Tree-lined, tight fairways, subtle greens
Mansion history
Former Winthrop Estate
The design
The architecture
Alfred H. Tull’s routing at The Muttontown Club is classic Long Island private-club golf—tree-lined corridors, tight landing areas, and just enough movement in the fairways to keep shot values honest. Greens are nuanced and often perched, rewarding crisp approaches and creativity around the edges. The estate’s mature landscape and historical mansion provide an atmospheric setting rarely matched by modern clubs.
Alfred H. Tull’s Long Island legacy is evident in Muttontown’s routing and strategic subtleties, even if his name isn’t as instantly legendary as some Golden Age designers.
Defining features
- Tight, tree-lined driving corridors
- Strategic fairway bunkering
- A quartet of varied par 3s
- Multiple reachable par 5s for scoring
- Subtle but testing greens with slopes and tiers
- Classic estate vistas framing several holes
Hole by hole
Signature holes
Hole 3
The Long Test
PAR
4
YARDAGE
429
A brawny, uphill par 4 stretching to 429 yards from the tips, this hole is the card’s sternest challenge early in the round. Drives need both length and precision to set up a long iron or hybrid approach to a sloped, well-defended green.
Play it smart
Favor the right side off the tee for a better angle into the green, but missing left is trouble. Approach must clear a well-placed front bunker and a roll-off along the green’s left edge.
Where it bites
Anything off the fairway brings bogey or worse into play fast—trees pinch left and demand accuracy on every shot.
Course management
Shots to think about
Opening drive on Hole 1
Aim for controlled accuracy—avoid the fairway bunker about 230 yards out to start the round steady.
Long par 4s such as 3 and 6
Resist chasing distance; prioritize fairway over extra yards with your drive, since approaches are lengthy no matter what.
Short par 4s like 5 and 15
Be strategic—sometimes a layup for wedge control beats aggressive drives into tight corners.
Par 3s with varied yardage
Club up on longer 3s (like 4); commit to full shots on the sub-150-yard tests to hold tricky greens.
Going for par 5s in two
Check wind and lie before risking the green—bailout short leaves a makeable up-and-down, but wide misses are punished.
Approaching small greens
Favor the center; pins on the edges often lure disaster.
On the day
What to expect
Conditions
Expect solid, well-kept private-club turf with nuanced, quick greens and tidy bunkers; recent reports are positive but not newly renovated.
Pace
Normal private-club member pace—efficient, rarely rushed but not slow; no public booking means largely unhurried rounds.
Vibe
Traditional, understated private-club atmosphere centered around the grand estate clubhouse and a long-standing local membership.
Before you tee off
Your game plan
01
Brush Up on Tight Drives
Practice your tee ball accuracy—narrow corridors and strategic fairway bunkers make placement crucial throughout the round.
02
Refine Short Iron Distances
Short par 3s and pivotal wedge approaches on short par 4s demand confident swings and precise yardages.
03
Warm Up Your Lag Putting
The course’s intricate greens will punish approach putts left too far from the hole—focus on speed control in your warmup.
04
Pack for a Clubhouse Tour
A collared shirt and smart casual attire ensure you fit in if you’re invited to explore the mansion’s rich social lore.
The lore
How it came to be
- 1919
Estate clubhouse built as a Georgian mansion
- 1931
Frances Ford Seymour and George T. Brokaw married at mansion
- 1962
Golf course opened, designed by Alfred H. Tull
- 2025
Hosted MGA Ricciardi Net Four-Ball Championship
Stories & legends
What makes it special
A Society Wedding for the Ages
Frances Ford Seymour, later the mother of Jane Fonda, married George T. Brokaw in the mansion in 1931—sealing the site's reputation as a playground of Long Island high society.
Major Charity Outings Tradition
The club regularly hosts marquee charity events, including annual outings for organizations like Big Brothers Big Sisters of Long Island, making it a charitable anchor in the Nassau golf community.
For the group chat
Fun facts
1
The mansion clubhouse, nicknamed 'The Mad Chimneys,' boasts 26 fireplaces and 13 chimneys.
2
Frances Ford Seymour was married here before becoming Henry Fonda’s wife and Jane Fonda’s mother.
3
The estate landscape predates the golf course by over 40 years.
4
Multiple regional and high-profile charity events are staged here each year.
5
Old-growth trees from the original estate define most holes’ corridors.
Build the trip
If you're making a Long Island golf trip out of it
CourseAccessWhy it's on the listTrip
Bethpage Black
Public
World-renowned public championship test with storied history and major pedigree—an essential stop for any serious golfer, about 35-50 minutes away.
Pine Hollow Country Club
Private – members & guests
Neighboring private club in East Norwich with a historic course and refined atmosphere; perfect if you can secure an invite.
Glen Head Country Club
Private – members & guests
Revered local private club noted for its classic golden-age design and North Shore ambiance, roughly 15 minutes drive.
Harbor Links Golf Course
Public
Port Washington public course offering fun variety and strong amenities, just half an hour away—well-suited for a casual second round.
Mill River Club
Private – members & guests
Another North Shore mainstay with a compelling layout and excellent reputation in local circles.
East Norwich or Oyster Bay area for maximum convenience and Long Island golf immersion.
Course DNA
If You Like The Muttontown Club
Courses with the most similar DNA profile — matched by deviation shape across all eight playing characteristics.
Strong DNA Match8.3
Ekwanok Country Club
Manchester, VermontWhy it matches: There is real overlap here. Ekwanok Country Club a comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character, making it a compelling counterpart to The Muttontown Club.
Strong DNA Match7.4
Hot Springs Country Club
Hot Springs, ArkansasWhy it matches: If The Muttontown Club is your kind of course, Hot Springs Country Club is worth a look because it a comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character.
Strong DNA Match8.9
Ocean Forest Golf Club
St. Simons Island, GeorgiaWhy it matches: If The Muttontown Club is your kind of course, Ocean Forest Golf Club is worth a look because it a comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character.
Community Sentiment
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