Courtesy of Jon Cavalier
Courtesy of Jon Cavalier
Courtesy of Jon Cavalier
Courtesy of Jon Cavalier
Courtesy of Jon Cavalier
Courtesy of Jon Cavalier
Overview
C.B. Macdonald designed Piping Rock right after he completed National Golf Links, and just as he did there, Macdonald peppered Piping Rock with versions of his favorite design concepts, including a canted Redan green and a Road Hole based on the 17th at St. Andrews. But it was at Piping Rock, not National, where Macdonald first introduced what has become his most imitated hole, the Biarritz. It’s the ninth hole at Piping Rock, with a green 60 yards deep, bisected two-thirds of the way back by a six-foot-deep trench. Designer Bruce Hepner recently enhanced the course by removing trees, reinstating old cross-bunkers, recapturing green sizes and adding tightly mown areas green surrounds to some holes. But he didn’t change the design. Piping Rock had great bones to begin with.
About
Awards
Ranking history:
100 Greatest: Ranked since 2023.
2023-'24 Ranking: 97th.
Previous ranking: 109th.
Highest Ranking: 97th.
Second 100 Greatest: Ranked 2019-'22.
Best in State: Ranked Top 10 in New York from 2011-2012; Top 15 from 1995-2009, 2013-2014, & since 2017; Top 20 from 2015-2016.
Current Ranking: 15th since 2019.
Panelists
Ratings from our panel of 1,900 course-ranking panelists
100 GREATEST/BEST IN STATE SCORES
Shot Options
Character
Challenge
Layout Variety
Fun
Aesthetics
Conditioning
Reviews
Review
“The firm and fast conditions provide a plethora of shot options, while also maintaining decent challenge despite not extensive length. The contouring of the land seems to increase throughout the round with the back 9 showing off more than the relatively flatter front, but the front offers incredible vistas of the scale of the land. The template holes are excellent and clear standouts in the routing, especially the Redan, Biarritz, and Eden renditions. Overall a very fun place to play with excellent architecture, on a beautiful and expansive Long Island property."
Read More2024
Review
“Piping Rock is pure fun mixed with strategy and difficulty. The course plays perfectly for the era in which it was built in that the turf is firm and the greens are fast. Piping Rock’s template holes are visually striking and the remaining holes are unique and exemplify C.B. MacDonald and Seth Raynor’s creativity and ability to maximize intrigue with the given land. The environment takes players out of the Long Island locale and transports them to a vast open expanse reminiscent of the midwest. Truly a must-see."
Read More2024
Review
“Golden age C.B. Macdonald design near New York City on Long Island. Large piece of property that offers amazing vistas. Template holes fit seamlessly on the property. The course is easy to walk, and the staff was very welcoming. If invited, this offer should definitely be accepted."
Read More2023
Review
“Beautiful use of some fairly flat land. Scored very high on the layout variety given some really good holes that all stand out quite well on their own. In particular, the Redan 3rd, Home hole 18, and 11th Eden hole are all really great and unique holes. Playing the course feels like you are playing 18 very distinct holes that all fit together akin to a difficult puzzle that comes together at the end. Conditioning was OK...some greens had a few bumps. 12 is the one whole I didn't get...layup leaves incredibly long blind shot, and hitting driver doesn't really offer a particularly great reward, but brings a bunch of bunkers into play that hitting into would lead to mid iron shot that's blind and uphill."
Read More2023
Review
“Great layout, offering the traditional CB McDonald and his template holes, which presents a challenging but fair test of golf in a beautiful setting."
Read More2023
Review
“Pictures don't do Piping Rock any justice. You really need to play the course to appreciate the architecture. The superb firm and fast conditions provide so many options into and around the greens. Such an enjoyable experience. If you have the chance to get out there, don't pass it up!"
Read More2022
Review
“These are the fastest greens I have ever played. I swear some of my uphill putts sped up."
Read More2022
Review
“A historic club with a fine golf course. Many of the holes individually are fine holes, but only a few holes provide truly exciting golf shots."
Read More2022
Review
“A real treat to play. Some of the best, and fastest, conditioning I have ever seen. Really fabulous green complexes, with lots of interesting template holes."
Read More2022
Review
“Staff was very friendly and inviting. They allowed a guest and only asked for us to pay for the caddie."
Read More2022
Readers
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