In 1946, members of Willowbrook Country Club in Baldwin, N.Y., discovered that town officials had voted to revoke their lease to build a new high school on the 18th green. World War II had ended, returning troops were coming home, and the Baby Boom was beginning. Faced with the loss of their course, Willowbrook members urgently sought a new home and found Cold Spring Golf Club, which was struggling financially. The property was part of a larger estate that included Oheka Castle, the second-largest private residence ever built in the United States (the Biltmore in Asheville, N.C., is the largest).
Fortunately, the golf course and stables were offered for sale separately from the castle. In 1947, twelve former Willowbrook members purchased Cold Spring Golf Club and founded Cold Spring Country Club.
The course was designed by Seth Raynor, a noted architect whose portfolio includes Greenwich Country Club, The Greenbrier, Mid Ocean Club in Bermuda and Waialae Country Club in Hawaii. Raynor was an unusual figure in golf architecture: he did not play the game until he began designing courses and never became an avid golfer. His designs reward length and often require tee shots that move right to left. Those signature elements are evident at Cold Spring, where avoiding bunkers or executing skillful recoveries is essential — something I struggled with during my visit. I played as a guest of Rick Irwin of Clifford Paper and was joined by Tim Ogden of Brown Printing Co., GT’s printer.
One practical note: the club’s address can be confusing because more than one East Gate Drive exists locally. The club’s website provides directions and the best way to find the facility.
Hole 3 | 154 yards, par 3
This was Rick’s chance to shine on his home course. The green is framed by bunkers and grass, creating an island effect, and it slopes fast from left to right, away from Oheka Castle. Rick found the left side and chipped close to save par, demonstrating how the game is meant to be played at Cold Spring.
Hole 5 | 418 yards, par 4
Ranked as the No. 1 handicap hole, this long, uphill dogleg exemplifies Raynor’s emphasis on length and right-to-left shaping. My drive was decent but ended too far right, making the left dogleg tougher. I punched out for a clear approach and made sure to take enough club to carry the uphill shot. Tim hit a massive drive and converted for par. Rick used his member knowledge off the tee but came up short on his approach, finishing right of the green, which slopes right to left away from Oheka Castle.
Hole 1 with Oheka Castle © Francis X. Gallagher
Hole 6 | 368 yards, par 4
This hole isn’t overly difficult, but Tim’s recovery made it memorable. The hole drops downhill from an elevated tee beside Oheka Castle and bends slightly right about 130 yards short of the green. A bunker waits for drives that drift right. Tim’s tee shot ricocheted into a left embankment about 110 yards out, and we searched until I located the ball tucked low in the grass. After a chunked shot and a blocked recovery behind a tree, Tim took a bold stance—recalling the old golf adage “trees are 80 percent air”—and hit a pure 4-iron through the tree without touching a branch, landing off the green and keeping his round alive.
Hole 9 | 539 yards, par 5
The par-5 ninth is the fifth-most difficult hole on the course. Long par 5s demand three solid shots—two of them long—to score. Position your drive to allow a powerful second shot to the crest in front of the green. After a few forgettable holes, I settled down and carded a par here. My tee shot landed right but in play, and with a clear 3-wood I hit a strong second that left roughly 180 yards. My third shot found the green, which slopes from front to back, and I two-putted for par. Rick needed an extra stroke to hit the green and finished with a bogey.
Hole 13 | 175 yards, par 3
This scenic par 3 features a pond that must be carried and two bunkers that the course staff warn will “eat you up.” The hole played longer than its yardage suggested, with an elevated tee, a low fairway and an even more elevated green. We each carded bogeys and were treated to a calm red fox sunning itself near the green, unbothered by our presence.
Hole 15 | 424 yards, par 4
The second-most difficult hole on the course, No. 15 demands accuracy and distance. From the tee, aim toward the right fairway bunker and steer clear of a tall tree on the left that can block your second shot. Even with a good drive, you need a strong approach to clear a false front on the green. I managed a par here. Rick struggled and carded a double bogey, while Tim made a bogey.
Hole 18 | 402 yards, par 4
The closing hole sends you back toward the clubhouse and the 19th hole. Avoid the right side, where the rough drops off and balls can be lost; Tim flirted with that edge but stayed in play. The approach must clear a gully in front of the green; if you can’t, lay up to about 100 yards and play a precise short approach to avoid trouble.
Cold Spring Country Club
22 East Gate Drive
Huntington, NY 11743
tel 631 692 6550
coldspringcc.org