Scarecrow at Gamble Sands earns top new-course honors from Golf Digest, Sports Illustrated

BREWSTER — Scarecrow, the newest golf course at Gamble Sands Resort, has been named the Best New Public Course of 2025 by Golf Digest and the Best New Resort Course by Sports Illustrated.

The course, designed by golf architect David McLay Kidd, opened for public play Aug. 1, 2025. The recognition from Golf Digest comes 11 years after the publication named the resort’s original Gamble Sands Course its Best New Public Course of 2014.

Golf Digest said its annual rankings are based on evaluations submitted by members of its traveling course-ranking panel. Courses are assessed on criteria that include shot options, challenge, design variety, conditioning, aesthetics, character and fun. The rankings are scheduled to appear in the February print issue of the magazine and are currently published online.

Sports Illustrated announced its Best New Resort Course honor Dec. 31 in an online article by Joe Passov, who highlighted views along several holes overlooking the Columbia River and nearby orchards.

Scarecrow also debuted at No. 73 on Golfweek’s “Best 2026 Top 200 Resort Golf Courses in the U.S.” list. Golfweek Travel Editor Jason Lusk wrote that the course is expected to rise in future rankings.

McLay Kidd said the Scarecrow site had long been viewed as having significant potential within the resort property.

“In the past I have always shied away from sequels, but Scarecrow had a ‘script’ that was so strong I believed it could truly rival the OG. Seems the fans of Gamble Sands agree,” McLay Kidd said. “I knew that when I first visited Gamble Sands the best land was under what is now Scarecrow but for one reason or another we couldn’t build there first.”

The par-71 course plays to 6,900 yards and is built on rolling terrain overlooking the Columbia River Valley. It is turfed with fine fescue, designed to produce firm playing conditions. The layout includes reachable par 5s, five par 3s and a mix of short and long par 4s.

Scarecrow is the second 18-hole championship course at Gamble Sands. The resort also features a 14-hole short course, a large putting course, on-site lodging and dining. The original Gamble Sands Course is currently ranked among the top resort and public-access courses in national publications.

Gamble Sands is located in Brewster and is managed by Troon, a golf and hospitality management company based in Scottsdale, Ariz.