Three Ponds Farm Estate
The second property on the list is a golfer's dream come true.
by Camilla McLaughlin
The new paradigm for luxury, it's been suggested, is location and lifestyle. Using this measure, Three Ponds Farm, a 60-acre, waterfront estate in Bridgehampton, N.Y., that includes ponds stocked with bass, perch and pickerel; a 70-par Rees Jones golf course; grass tennis courts; pool and dock, might be the ultimate in luxury.
Like the best enterprises, this estate is a personal vision, that of the late real estate mogul Edward S. Gordon, brought to fruition by a collaborative team. Landscape architect Edmund D.
Location: Bridgehampton, New York
Price: $75 million
Square Footage: 20,000 to 24,000 square feet
Acreage: 60 acres
Special Features: U.S.G.A.-rated golf course, a guest house, 14 gardens, an infinity pool, a grass tennis court, stocked ponds and barns.
Additional Comments: A unique property that cannot be reproduced.
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Hollander used his magic to transform acres of farmland into a well-orchestrated ramble that includes 14 very distinct gardens. Strolling the grounds along the lily walk or crab tree alee, one moves from a French-inspired potager, past butterfly and hydrangea gardens to a traditional English cottage garden. L'Orangerie bridges the rose garden, a replica of one at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, with the estate's centerpiece, a United States Golf Association-rated 18-hole course on 25 acres.
Equally impressive is the stocked pro shop and a mini clubhouse appointed with cherry paneling, game tables and an antique bar. When the U.S. Open was held at the nearby Atlantic Golf Club-also designed by Jones-many players warmed up with him at Three Ponds. Still, even novices can enjoy the course, says Susan Breitenbach, the listing agent with Allan Schneider Associates.
Allan Greenberg, whose pedigree includes work at the White House and Princeton University, designed the main residence. The great room with its 28-foot-high domed ceiling and arched windows might be a dramatic focal point, but every space is equally well- executed, even the wood-paneled elevator. The master bedroom includes a gym, library and dual baths. Equally stunning are the loggia with fireplace; a 75-foot, flush-edge pool with separate pavilion; and a guest cottage on 4 acres. This estate is versatile enough to be a cozy refuge for two or a gala retreat for a gang. A golf tournament followed by a fishing derby followed by tennis matches often were standard weekend fare. "Yet," observes Breitenbach, "the house itself is so beautifully done that it doesn't overwhelm. It isn't a cavernous space," and contrary to assumptions, the entire property can be managed with only a small full-time staff of two.
"Irreplaceable" is Breitenbach's assessment. "It cannot be reproduced in the Hamptons. New zoning and regulations prohibit a home of this size, and gaining approval for a golf course would be difficult, if not impossible." The entire project, which took five years to complete, was "a labor of love" for Gordon, according to builder Stephen Breitenbach. "He just wanted the very best of everything. There were no price ranges, no limits."
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