Maidstone Club

The Maidstone Club was founded in 1891 in East Hampton, New York, making it one of the oldest clubs in the United States. The club initially operated a modest 7-hole course before expanding. In 1922, Willie Park Jr., the two-time Open Championship winner turned celebrated golf architect, designed the 18-hole West Course on the Gardiner Peninsula along with his brother Jack. Park's design took advantage of the spectacular oceanfront dunes, Hook Pond, and Atlantic Ocean views.

The course occupies a remarkable stretch of land between the Atlantic Ocean and Hook Pond, creating a setting that feels more like the Scottish coastline than the fashionable Hamptons. Seth Raynor also contributed redesign plans in 1921, and elements of his work influenced the layout. Over the decades, the course has been sensitively maintained to preserve its raw, natural character.

Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw completed a restoration in 2012 that further refined the course while honoring Willie Park Jr.'s original vision. Maidstone is consistently ranked among the top 50 courses in America and is widely considered one of the finest oceanfront golf experiences in the world.

Maidstone offers one of the most spectacular golf settings in America. The front nine plays through rolling oceanfront dunes with Atlantic Ocean views and the constant sound of crashing waves, while the back nine moves through more sheltered terrain near Hook Pond. The course measures 6,621 yards from the back tees as a par 72.

The natural, raw character of the course is its greatest asset. The turf plays firm and fast, the bunkers are rugged and natural, and the wind is a constant companion. The stretch from holes 7 through 10 along the ocean is widely regarded as one of the finest four-hole sequences on Long Island.

Wind management is essential at Maidstone. The oceanfront holes on the front nine are fully exposed to Atlantic breezes, and club selection can vary by two or three clubs depending on conditions. The blind shots, particularly on the par-3 8th, require trust in your yardage and commitment to your target.

The ground game is rewarded here as on Scottish links courses. Running approach shots onto the firm greens is often a smarter play than flying the ball to the pin, especially in wind.