Tournament: The Northern Trust – Glen Oaks Club, Old Westbury, NY
Hole: 11th – Par 4, 323 Yards
Architect: Joe Finger – 1971
McDonald Design Group (renovation) – 2014

Architectural Summary:

The risk-reward 11th hole at Glen Oaks is a drivable par four that meanders around a large lake. Measuring 323 yards, the hole will present competitors a number of options from the tee, where two prominent water hazards command the view and influence decision making. To drive the green, competitors will have to land the ball on an approach measuring 25 yards wide from water hazard to water hazard. Successful navigation of these hazards could set up an eagle try, but those that bail out left will be penalized with a difficult downhill chip or bunker shot back towards the water. For those who choose not to take this risk, placement in the fairway will be critical to avoid tree trouble and leave a preferable distance to the shallow green. The left-center portion of the fairway provides the best angle into the green, but right-center will be the common line, as water is taken out of play and delays any real danger until the approach. Club selection will vary, but most competitors will look to play a long iron or wood should they opt not to go for the green. The fairway measures a generous 40 yards wide at the landing area and necks down closer to the green. Numerous hazards must been avoided from the tee as the fairway is guarded on the left by the large lake, while two mature trees flank either side of the landing area short of 250 yards. The approach will require precision to find the correct quadrant of the shallow green, measuring 37 yards wide by 18 yards deep, and avoid the two greenside bunkers to the left and rear. The green is angled from left-to-right and slopes strongly from back-to-front towards the pond that protects the front portion of the putting surface.

Statistical Analysis:

Glen Oaks Club hosts the club’s first PGA Tour event this week. Due to the drivable nature of the 11th hole, we expect the par four to play to a scoring average a couple tenths under par for the tournament.

Fun Facts:

• For daily member play, the 11th hole plays as a short par five. A new tee box was built in order to make it a risk-reward par four for tournament play.
• The 11th hole at Glen Oaks in the only par four on the composite tournament courses measuring under 400 yards. The average yardage of par fours on the course measures over 475 yards.
• Glen Oaks was founded in 1924 on land purchased from William Vanderbilt’s Deepdale Estate south of Lake Success. The course later moved to its current site in Old Westbury that was opened in 1971.