Leatherstocking Golf Course (Cooperstown, NY)

It’s hard to uncouple Leatherstocking from Cooperstown. Together, they make for an unique and amazing experience. 

Devereux Emmet designed the first nine holes at Leatherstocking in 1909. (1-7 16, 18) It was expanded to eighteen holes in 1919. (8-15, 17)  It’s a terrific routing. Golfers play up the hill, back down to the clubhouse, over to the sixth which shows off the shoreline and final three holes, then climbs the hill again. The golfer makes his way to the road and crosses it to play four holes occupying wild terrain. It’s back crossing the road again before  galloping towards the grand finale on the shore of Otsego Lake.

(The 340 yard par four opening hole may have modest length but the green demands only the best. With the left side higher than the right, the player will have to shape his ball to find the correct tier. The fronting bunkers look scary enough but be forewarned the rear and left are bunkered too. Par is good start.) 

(The 203 yard three third is one of my favorite holes. Like a true old fashion course, the green is set against a stone wall. The cross bunkering defends short where a well placed shot can access the green. With a subtle plateau in the rear, several challenging pin positions make this a well earned par.) 

(The 513 yard par five fourth plays downhill alongside the road. It is reachable in two shots but many hazards including OB right try to dissuade players from being aggressive. Note the false front and the swale short. It’s possible to spin the ball off the green and down the slope. For players bailing left, several pot bunkers make for a difficult up n down.) 

(The sixth hole teases the golfer with great views of Otsego Lake and the eighteenth hole. It’s a breathtaking moment, and considering one hasn’t even played a third of the holes, articulates the great routing Leatherstocking has.) 

(The 404 yard par four seventh plays uphill to a fortress green. The fairway short left is the proper line as a miss to the right will leave a nearly impossible up n down. The grass bunker short right is 25 feet(!) below the green. It should be noted that the longest par fours (2, 7, 10) all play uphill.) 

While Emmet is credited with the expansion, evidence points to course superintendent Len Rayner doing the work. Several articles point to this, and Rayner is also credited with building the island tee for the eighteenth hole. For architecture buffs, this is an interesting read. It’s not uncommon for superintendents to also be architects. Emil Loeffler would be a great example. Rayner, it should be pointed out, has several designs in upstate New York to his credit too. 

(This is the view before you cross the road to play 9-12.) 

(The 560 yard par five eleventh plays on terrain that slopes hard from right to left to a green perfectly placed at the far end of the hillside. A nice firm draw will take the slope and work it’s way toward the green. For many, a mid to long iron will be the club for their third shot.) 

(The 137 yard par three twelfth is played from atop the ledges down to a green ringed by bunkers. Look at the view!!  I feel as if the town is part of the course. It has an old world charm that is hard to describe. To me it’s every bit as stunning as the view by the water...
...looking back at the tee. Note that the green slopes front to back. Coming up short in the sand means the bunker shot is likely to get away. It’s a cunning little hole.) 

While the history of Leatherstocking maybe a bit complicated, there’s no denying the quality of the architecture. In fact, it is recognized as being one of the best sub 6500 courses in the United States. (6416)  As stated previously, it has a fantastic routing, but it also has old fashion features that make it a pleasure to play. There’s a stone wall boundary line, crossbunkers, false fronts, and even a punchbowl green. Last but not least, there’s the island tee! After you see it on six, it’ll cross your mind as you’re playing other holes. 

(The fun begins on eighteen at the bridge. There’s a game the locals play. They bowl a golf ball down the wood and whoever’s ball goes the furthest wins!....

...the tee post at the back of the island...
...the island tee was built atop junk automobiles and cinder blocks. The fairway is boomerang shaped and the player has to decide how much he is going to cut from the tee. Any type of tug or overzealous draw will find the bottom of the lake...
...the green is reachable after a good drive but it’s another carry over Otsego Lake. There’s plenty of room to flank the hole on the right. It’s a pronounced two tier green with a back to front pitch. The grand Otesaga Hotel backdrops to the right. Truly one of the great finishing holes in the United States!) 

I had a fantastic time at Leatherstocking. It’s a great course and it benefits a lot being in Cooperstown. For me personally, baseball was my first love and to be where the Baseball Hall of Fame is located made the visit extra special. Everything about Cooperstown is baseball, and it is a super cool place! Leatherstocking stands on its own just fine (#4 in New York by Golfweek) but toss in “the most perfect little town in America”, and it becomes even more of a destination.  I give Leatherstocking an 8 (excellent)(worth a weekend visit).

(The 375 yard par four eighth has a devilish bunker guarding the front right. One must take extra care not to find it. The author did just that and holed out a 6 iron for an eagle two!) 

(Who knew an apology could be worth so much ?  :)