There are certain courses that resonate deeply with a player, etching themselves into memory long after the final putt drops. It’s not always about the flashy PGA Tour stop or the ultra-exclusive retreat; sometimes, it’s the quiet brilliance of a Golden Age design, where the land and the architect’s vision converge in perfect harmony. Brent Rooker, the Athletics All-Star outfielder, recently shed light on his own architectural affections, and his picks speak volumes about a keen eye for classic design.
A Mountainous Masterpiece: Lookout Mountain Country Club
Rooker’s declared favorite, Lookout Mountain Country Club, sits nestled just outside Chattanooga, a testament to the enduring power of Seth Raynor and Charles Banks’s architectural prowess. Built in 1927, this 6,613-yard gem is more than just a golf course; it’s a journey through a landscape carved by time and designed with strategic genius. Having studied countless Raynor and Banks designs, I can tell you that their work is instantly recognizable – bold features, geometric precision, and an unwavering commitment to strategic options on every shot.
The club has recently seen a respectful touch-up by Tyler Rae in 2023, ensuring that its classic features are preserved for modern play without sacrificing the original spirit. GOLF recognized its brilliance, ranking it as the No. 5 course in Georgia for 2024-2025, a distinction well-deserved for a course that demands both thought and execution.
“Favorite course I’ve ever played is Lookout Mountain Country Club in Chattanooga,” Rooker told co-hosts Drew Stoltz and Colt Knost. “I love that course. I’ve played it four or five times. It’s my favorite.”
What makes a Raynor/Banks design so special? It’s often the intelligent use of land, the incorporation of template holes – like the Biarritz, Redan, or Punchbowl – adapted seamlessly to the natural contours. Imagine standing on a tee box, the course unfurling before you, revealing strategic choices at every turn. You might face a deep, trench-like bunker cutting across a fairway, or a green with exaggerated contours demanding a precise approach. It’s not about brute force; it’s about understanding angles, judging distances, and embracing the architectural challenge.
For those who appreciate the Golden Age, playing a Raynor course is like stepping back in time, experiencing golf as it was intended to be played – a cerebral game as much as a physical one. The elevation changes at Lookout Mountain, combined with the classic design elements, would undoubtedly create a compelling and endlessly replayable round.
The Allure of “The Thumbprint”: Sleepy Hollow Country Club
While Lookout Mountain holds the top spot in Rooker’s heart, his desired course to play speaks to another architectural titan: Charles Blair Macdonald, the father of American golf course architecture, whose protégé, A.W. Tillinghast, refined and built upon his mentor’s principles at Sleepy Hollow. And the particular hole that captures Rooker’s imagination? The iconic 16th par-3.
“I think the one that I want to play, I want to play Sleepy Hollow in New York,” Rooker said. “That’s the one I see pictures of, and the one specific par 3 (No. 16) with the thumbprint, I want to play that hole really bad.”
Ah, the “thumbprint” green. This descriptive moniker often refers to a Punchbowl green, a Macdonald/Tillinghast staple where the putting surface is recessed, like a thumbprint pressed into dough, creating an amphitheater effect. These greens are notorious for feeding shots towards a central depression, offering opportunities for dramatic putts but penalizing anything short, wide, or long with a wicked side-hill lie or a journey up/down a steep slope.
Sleepy Hollow, a Top 100 course, holds a special place in golf lore, not just for its stunning architecture but also for its connection to PGA Tour star Cameron Young, whose father, David, is the long-time pro there. Imagine a course on the Hudson River, artfully traversing undulating terrain, where every turn reveals a vista more breathtaking than the last. Tillinghast, a master of strategic bunkering and routing, ensured that Sleepy Hollow integrated seamlessly with its dramatic landscape.
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The 16th at Sleepy Hollow is often considered one of golf’s great template holes. It’s a testament to Tillinghast’s ability to take a natural feature – perhaps a dip or hollow in the landscape – and elevate it into a challenging and memorable par-3. The “thumbprint,” or Punchbowl, design adds an incredible layer of strategy. A tee shot that finds the center might give you a reasonable putt, but stray even slightly, and you’re left with a putt that requires a keen eye and delicate touch to navigate the slopes and breaks.
Both Lookout Mountain and Sleepy Hollow showcase the timeless appeal of Golden Age golf architecture. They are courses that invite repeated play, revealing new subtleties and strategic options with each round. They demand thoughtfulness, reward precision, and, above all, offer an utterly captivating experience. Rooker’s enthusiasm for these clubs is a shared sentiment among those of us who appreciate golf for its intellectual and aesthetic pleasures as much as its athletic challenge. His picks illustrate that he’s not just a golfer, but a golf lover with a discerning eye for the truly special.
