New York’s Historic Copake Country Club Celebrates Centennial Anniversary

Devereux Emmet Design a Hudson Valley Gem 

(Craryville, N.Y.) — Copake Country Club, a scenic public access course located in New York’s Upper Hudson Valley, is celebrating its 100th anniversary.  The Devereux Emmet 1921 design gem is known for its strategic holes, devilish greens, dramatic elevations and stunning vistas.  The 6,300 yard course presents a challenging test for the low handicapper while offering the recreational golfer a memorable round of golf.

Copake Country Club sits on the shores of Copake Lake and is at the foothills of the Berkshire Mountains.  Architect Mark Fine developed a Master Plan for the vintage course that included  significant restoration and renovation work.  “The long history of Copake demanded that respect be paid to this era of design,” said Fine.  The mission was to preserve, protect and promote the strategic Golden Age features that the original architect left behind. The superb result that has restored the course to prominence deserves recognition outside the local area in order to attract golfers who want to experience an authentic design by one of America’s greatest early architects.

Emmet, a New York native, is considered a giant of American golf design and one of the quintessential architects of the Golden Age.  He is credited with designing more than 150 golf courses worldwide.  Some of his most famous work in the U.S. is Garden City Golf Club, Congressional Country Club, Bethpage State Park (Green Course), as well as Pelham Country Club, The Powelton Club, Sewane Country Club and Wee Burn Country Club.

Copake is a shot maker’s paradise with its green complexes the strength of the course.   Most of the greens are crowned and severely canted in places and feature steep false fronts.  Holes also offer a myriad of short game options.  The par-5s are especially remarkable and are a formidable test.

Copake’s Devereux Emmet course was almost lost to a real estate developer who was planning to purchase the land for the construction of some 400 townhomes. In 2006, an initiative led by local resident Jon Urban saved the historic course from destruction and thus preserved its legacy. 

A golf course architecture writer in a review claims that Copake is exactly what golf needs more of:  an inexpensive course you can play quickly, that isn’t overly long and has fascinating green complexes and plenty of strategic options.  Copake Country Club has been called one of the best public course values in the country.  The weekday rate for 18 holes is $30, and weekends cost $59 until 2:00 p.m. when the rate drops to $25.  The club also offers “local specials” for first responders, firefighters, hospital workers, military and police.

The Greens restaurant at the club is noted for its excellent farm-to-table American cuisine and is a popular regional destination for diners.  In keeping with its year round public hospitality events, Copake also is planning a number of seasonal festivals and celebrations this year to mark its centennial.

For more information about Copake Country Club, visit www.copakecountryclub.com or call (518) 325-0019.