Legendary architect Rees Jones crafted a masterful layout that is a throwback to the golden era of golf course design. The variety of the natural setting combined with careful attention to the subtle details give each hole an individual identity and provide a unique experience. The rolling, 500-acre site is a mixture of open and wooded holes that wind around natural creeks, sweeping meadows, and ponds. From every hole, there are spectacular views of both the Berkshire and Catskill Mountains.
Rees Jones offers a classical approach to golf course architecture and decades of experience evident through his design and renovation of several of the world’s most memorable and historic layouts. Commonly known as “The Open Doctor”, his redesigns have hosted numerous professional golf tournaments including seven U.S. Opens, six PGA Championships, four Ryder Cups, two Walker Cups, and one Presidents Cup.
On the gentle rolling canvas of Olde Kinderhook, Rees Jones has painted a glorious picture. From the Championship tees, the Par 72 Championship layout stretches 7,249 yards, providing the low handicap golfer with a rigorous test of golf. However, with six sets of tees the course accomodates players of all abilities. The course design also lends itself to numerous shorter loops, great for the player looking for some variety or for a quick few holes in the evening. These short course loops are great for players who can not walk a full nine holes but still enjoy the ability to walk shorter distances or for junior golfers.
Hole #1
Par 4
400 yards
Olde Kinderhook’s first hole is a short par four that provides the golfer a gentle beginning to the round. The hole may be played with either a driver or fairway wood from the teeing area, leaving a short iron approach to the downhill green. Players should favor the left side of the fairway to avoid the two fairway bunkers on the right, affording the best angle to the green.
Hole #2
Par 4
458 yards
This medium length par four is protected on both sides by two sets of fairway bunkers. Although the bunkers may be carried on the left side, flirting with the bunker on the right presents the best angle for the approach shot. The green is open in the front and surrounded by a series of bunkers, with a deep bunker protecting the left-hand side of the complex.
Hole #3
Par 5
602 yards
The longest par five on the golf course is a true, three shot golf hole. The generous landing area for the tee shot allows for an aggressive play from the tee. Players should avoid the set of bunkers on the left-hand side and lay up to a comfortable distance between 100-120 yards; avoiding a cross-bunker on the right-hand side of the fairway, 80 yards from the green. This two-tiered green complex is well protected on the left and right by substantial bunkers making club selection critical to find the proper level of the putting surface.
Hole #4
Par 3
200 yards
This dramatic, downhill par three is guarded by an expansive Sahara bunker on the left-hand side and two bunkers on the right. The green complex has three distinct areas; the right, left, and rear, sloping from back to front. Golfers choosing the right club and finding the proper landing area will have a makeable birdie putt.
Hole #5
Par 4
365 yards
The shortest par four on the golf course will test a player’s course management and strategy. Golfers may play aggressively and attempt to reach the green with a long and accurate drive, or play conservatively placing the tee shot 150 yards from the green. The fairway narrows as it doglegs to the right around one of the courses large lakes with bunkers protecting the left-hand side. The two-tiered green has an opening in the front to allow for a run-up shot, but has bunkers on the left and right, sloping from the left to the right, requiring an approach shot that is placed to the right of the hole for the best chance at birdie.
Hole #6
Par 5
540 yards
The par five sixth hole allows a golfer to play conservatively from the teeing area to the open, left-hand side of the fairway, or take an aggressive line down the right-hand side to shorten the hole, allowing a chance to reach the green in two. Golfers laying back on their second shot have ample fairway on the left to play their approach. The approach from this area may be rolled onto the green because the approach is flush with the green surface. The aggressive golfer may play directly at this peninsula green. The player is faced with carrying the cluster of deep bunkers fronting the green and a cavernoue bunker on the left-hand side of the putting surface. This shot may be rolled onto the green as the approach area slopes from left to right.
Hole #7
Par 3
170 yards
The shortest hole at Olde Kinderhook is a seductive par three nestled amoung a forest of tall trees. The green on this hole is the shallowest on the golf course and runs perpendicular to the line of play. It is protected by two deep bunkers in the front, an expansive bunker on the left, and a bunker over the green. Club selection here requires the golfer accurately judge the often swirling winds.
Hole #8
Par 4
440 yards
This long par four provides the golfer plentiful space to drive the golf ball, as the hole requires a long tee ball that avoids the fairway bunker on the left. A creek that meanders its way around the green complex makes carrying the ball onto the green a necessity. The most expansive green complex on the golf course has one trecherous bunker on the right-hand side, and a closely mown collection area to the left and behind the green. The green itself is separated into four distinct areas; a bowl in the middle, and plateaus on the left, right, and in the rear. Golfers must find the proper plateau with their approach; otherwise a two putt will be a memorable challenge.
Hole #9
Par 4
462 yards
The ninth is a longish par four, cathedral hole that begins with an uphill tee shot that must be placed between the bunkers on the right and left-hand side of the fairway. A golfer is offered different options when approaching this green, as the front of the green is open with a ramp on the right-side that may be utilized to roll the ball onto the putting surface. This green’s length from the back to the front may mask the amount of slope, but don’t be fooled, as golf balls that are past the flag will gain speed as they roll to the front of the green.
Hole #10
Par 4
427 yards
This medium length par four places an emphasis on accuracy from the tee shot as the fairway narrows and is multi-tierd as the golfer approaches the green. Golfers are best to lay back to 180 yards from the green, the widest part of the fairway, favoring the right side as the hiilside will help golf balls find the fairway. The secon shot plays dramatically down hill to a green that is angled from the left to right. The green is protected by a bunker and a winding creek in front and a bunker to the left to catch any misjudged approach shots. The fairway in front offers ample room and allows for a simple pitch and putt for par.
Hole #11
Par 3
237 yards
The longest par three on the golf course plays shorter than the distance from the downhill teeing area. As golfers play deeper into the green, the putting surface narrows and has bunkers to the right and the left. The deepest green on the course has a small plateau in the rear and is best played from short of the hole. Golfers not wishing to challenge the flagstick will find the wide fairway short of the green an accomadating area to play a pitch shot and a putt. Making par here is a great score!
Hole #12
Par 4
405 yards
The twelfth hole is a medium lenth par four that requires a well placed drive, avoiding the fairway bunkers to the right, offering the best angle into this three-tierd green. Players choosing to favor the left side of the fairway will find added protection from the hillside that may help the golf ball find the fairway. Nevertheless, playing down the left will lengthen the hole. The green is open in the front and will accept a run up shot, however to access the right or left tier s of the green the golfer must play a high, soft shot that will stop quickly.
Hole #13
Par 5
560 yards
This unique par five offers an abundance of strategic options from the tee. Players hoping to reach the green in two must take an aggressive line down the right-hand side avoiding the fairway bunker and wetlands. The conservative golfer will play the tee shot at the fairway bunker through the fairway. Whether attempting the green or laying back on the second shot, players should take note of the hole location as this large, multi-leveled green requires the proper length approach for a chance at birdie or par. A collection area to the left of the green will provide for some challenging chip shots and a deep bowl in the middle right of the putting surface will test even the best putter.
Hole #14
Par 4
493 yards
The fourteenth hole is the longest par four on the golf course demanding the strightest drive of the day. The uphill tee shot will reach its crest at 225 yards and offers a downhill approach for the second shot. A series of fairways bunkers line the entire left-hand side of the golf hole. Golfers needing to lay back on their second shot will find the fairway narrows and continues down on the right along the wetland settling to 100 yards from the green. The green slopes gently from back to front to accept a long approach shot, and is open in the front to allow the golf ball to roll onto the putting surface.
Hole #15
Par 4
380 yards
The par four fifteenth forces the golfer to choose between precision or length from the tee, as the hole plays as a dog-leg to the right along a lake. Golfers challenging the hole with longer clubs from the tee will find the fairway draws in as it nears the green. The green is well protected on all sides with large bunkers on the left and short of the green, a collection area short, and the large lake sitting near the putting surface to the right. This large green is canted dramatically from back to front making it essential for golfers to keep the golf ball below the hole.
Hole #16
Par 3
180 yards
The sixteenth hole is a pictresqu par three that plays over a large lake with a rustic barn as a the backdrop. The green has three distinct levels and a golfer hoping to leave the hole with par is best to find the proper level. Choosing the proper club is often a challenging decision, as the open landscape of this hole makes judging the wind an additional obstacle.
Hole #17
Par 5
517 yards
This reachable par five plays uphill through the valley from the tee. The lengthy fairway bunker on the right ends at the crest of the hill where the left-hand side is protected by a set of bunkers. Approach shots may be rolled onto the green, however when playing into this green be sure to avoid the many bunkers that surround the surface. A back right hole location is best approached from the left side of the fairway to avoid carrying the vast set of bunkers on the right.
Hole #18
Par 4
456 yards
The penultimate par four at Olde Kinderhook is one of the sternest tests of the golf course. The uphill tee shot plays to a wide landing area, allowing a golfer the opportunity for the rquired long drive, as the bunkers on both sides of the fairway are reachable by only the longest of hitters. Drives at the apex of the fairway afford the player a view of the putting surface ahead and the breathtaking landscape of the surrounding countryside. The fairway runs into the putting surface, allowing a shot to roll onto the large putting surface that is also receptive to long second shots. The approach shot must avoid the sprawling Sahara bunker on the left and thick rough to the right of the putting surface.