Just as important was restoring the original Macdonald/Raynor holes. This included the addition of “Leven,” “Eden,” “Road,” and “Knoll” holes, which while all technically Hanse originals feel as if they were always part of the original design-exactly as intended. “On the non-Macdonald/Raynor holes, we renovated them to create the missing template holes, and without changing the routing make them feel as if they were always part of the original Macdonald and Raynor design,” Hanse says. Sleepy Hollow already possessed a number of the “template” holes common to Macdonald/Raynor courses, but the Hanse team took it upon themselves to add more. The holes at the far end of the property (many of which were attributed to Tillinghast) were completed in the winter of 2016–2017 those closer to the clubhouse were redone the following winter. Hanse and his team-including design associate Ben Hillard, course superintendent Tom Leahy, and contractor Geoff Porteous-attacked the project in two phases of nine holes each. “The combination of this factor and the prominent history of the original design and affiliation with the club by Macdonald allowed us to get to where we are today.”ġ8th Hole and Clubhouse, Sleepy Hollow Country Club (Photo by Ben Hillard) “Our strongest argument was that there are a number of wonderful and significant Tillinghast courses in Westchester County, but there is only one course designed by Macdonald and Raynor,” Hanse says.
Their proposal was to change the Tillinghast holes and restore the Macdonald/Raynor holes to their original designs.Ĭonvincing the membership wasn’t easy, but Hanse-with the help of the late George Bahto, an expert on Macdonald/Raynor-presented a compelling case. To unify them, Hanse and his team had to make a difficult choice: either convert the Tillinghast holes to a Macdonald/Raynor feel or vice versa. Before Hanse’s work, the main course was a mix of holes from both designers that fit together but didn’t share a common style. The original Sleepy Hollow 18 was designed by Charles Blair Macdonald in 1911, with an additional nine holes contributed by A.W. While Sleepy Hollow Country Club north of New York City may not be as well known, the work that he and his team have done there over the past two years may be some of his boldest-and best. With a resume that includes restorations at Winged Foot, Merion, Fishers Island, and dozens of others, Gil Hanse is no stranger to giving new life to classic courses.
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