Hidden Creek Golf Club

In the mid 1990s, Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw’s Sand Hills Golf Club stunned the golf world with its minimalism. With patience and creativity, the design duo found a way to show off the naturalness of the land and move as little dirt as possible while still creating what is now considered one of the best golf courses in the world. Just a few years later, they brought that mindset to the Jersey shore. 

While Coore & Crenshaw weren’t given nearly as much land to work with at Hidden Creek as they had at Sand Hills, the duo did have 750 acres at their disposal. It should come as no surprise that Bill Coore was able to use that land in an efficient way, taking full advantage of the property’s land movement and incorporating it evenly throughout the course. The course also shows remarkable restraint in its design. The final product uses less than 300 of the 750 acres they had to work with, creating a cohesive feeling to the round while still allowing the golfer to get lost in the process.

As you would expect with a C&C design, Hidden Creek feels as though it was just set upon the land. Very little dirt was moved during construction and many greens sit at grade. Creative uses of land movement — like the downhill Redan 4th, blind short par 4 8th, and uphill par-3 11th — allow for approach shots into greens that feel dramatic but are actually just sitting on the ground.

In addition to the design, a sense of naturalness can be found in the presentation of Hidden Creek. The bunker sand matches the native areas found off the fairway, pinestraw falls from the trees above to coat the forest floor, and the turf itself is kept in firm and dry condition, adding a muted hue of green to the overall aesthetic. 

Take Note

The Network - Hidden Creek was purchased by Dormie Network in 2019, one of the latest additions to the growing DN portfolio. Members pay a daily fee for golf, lodging, and food, and everything consumed while on site is included.

Solar - While not visible from the course, a massive solar panel field sits just north of the 10th hole at Hidden Creek. The panels were installed in 2011, helping reduce energy costs at the club by 77%.

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