Lunchball
The Creek is what happens when C.B. Macdonald and Seth Raynor get handed a piece of land that is equal parts awkward and spectacular, colloquially known as the ‘Million Dollar Mile.’ Founded in 1923, this Locust Valley gem has always been an enclave for the ultra-elite, but thanks to a transformative restoration by Gil Hanse, the architecture now matches the social pedigree. Hanse aggressively cleared trees and widened fairways, restoring the grand scale of the original templates that had been suffocated by overgrowth, allowing the strategic angles and bold contouring to shine once again.
The routing is a tale of two topographies: the inland, rolling terrain of the front nine and the dramatic plunge to the Long Island Sound on the back. The stretch from the 10th to the 14th takes you right down to the beach, offering some of the most scenic template holes in America, including a breathtaking Biarritz and a Redan that feels like it’s floating on the marsh. It is eccentric, windy, and undeniably fun—a ‘Millionaire’s Picnic’ where the ground game reigns supreme and the views are worth the price of admission alone.
Comparison: 11th (Biarritz)
11th (Biarritz)
The American Biarritz
Yale Golf Course
Architectural Analysis
While Yale's 9th is often considered the deepest and most dramatic inland example of the Biarritz, The Creek's 11th rivals it by adding the unpredictable element of coastal wind and a visually stunning ocean backdrop.