Golf courses are a true testament to the beauty of nature, and New York boasts some of the best golf courses in the world, as shown below:
Shinnecock Hills (Southampton)
Shinnecock Hills is a William Flynn’s design masterpiece, which probably explains why it has been the chosen venue for 5 US Opens. The course didn’t open until 1931, but the grace with which the holes flow across the property is a tribute to the hands-on, slow-build process.
National Golf Links of America (Southampton)
National Golf Links of America is a marvel. Designed by Seth Raynor and C.B. Macdonald, this course has built a name for itself due to its template holes, like the Alps 3rd, the Short 6th, and the Leven 17th, which are arguably superior to their namesake holes in the UK.
Fishers Island (Fishers Island)
This exclusive retreat situated off the Connecticut coast can only be accessed via ferry or air travel. The course was designed by Seth Raynor and tracks along the island’s northeast edge. It offers spectacular views of Long Island Sound as well as a delightful tumbling terrain. Fishers joined our World Top 100 at No. 73 in 1989 and has never looked back.
Friar’s Head (Baiting Hollow)
Friar’s Head, designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw has tree-dotted dunes, bluff-top views of Long Island Sound and open meadows. It’s no wonder why Phil Mickelson loves this course. Holes such as the par-5 14th call to mind an East Coast version of Cypress Point. Constant refinements have Friar’s Head as dialed-in as any course in the country.
Winged Foot – West Course (Mamaroneck)
Designed by A.W. Tillinghast, Winged Foot’s West Course is known for its frighteningly contoured greens that are shaped like pears, along with its cavernous bunkers, and a series of rugged par-4s. Jack Nicklaus once rated it a 12 on a “difficulty” scale of 1 to 10. But Gil Hanse’s impressive green expansion has given it an exciting creativity element with which few other courses can contend.
Garden City (Garden City)
Garden City is an old-school course in Long Island. The water is 10 miles on both sides (north and south), so expect constant sea breezes when you play. Garden City’s tilted greens, like the 10th and 15th, are lay-of-the-land architecture at its highest form.
Maidstone (Easthampton)
Maidstone was recently restored by no less than Coore & Crenshaw and this has brought out the course’s glorious location, maintaining coastal dunes that create just the right balance. Maidstone showcases Willie and John Park greens, many of which have dramatic false fronts.
Bethpage – Black Course (Farmingdale)
This is among the most challenging golf courses in New York. In fact on the 1st tee you’ll see a sign that recommends this course “only for highly skilled golfers.” Tiger Woods won the 2002 U.S. Open here.
Sleepy Hollow (Briarcliff Manor)
Sleepy Hollow is a Westchester County course that has always enjoyed spectacular views of the Hudson River, particularly at the 15th and 16th holes. Gil Hanse worked on a two-year project in 2016 to give the greens a C.B. Macdonald flair.
Oak Hill – East (Rochester)
Oak Hill – East is a Golden Age masterpiece designed by Donald Ross. The club recently recognized that Ross’s work should be brought back to the greatest extent possible. Andrew Green removed the incongruent water features and make it a more cohesive course.
Winged Foot – East Course (Mamaroneck)
Winged Foot – East Course is neither as long nor as tough as its illustrious West sibling. It enjoys its devoted fan base for its variety and the encouraging manner in which ground game options are now presented. Great attention has been paid to the mow lines, and the 13th and 17th are considered the property’s best par-3s.
Quaker Ridge (Scarsdale)
Quaker Ridge is a quiet club across the street from Winged Foot. Pete Dye and Jack Nicklaus are among its admirers. In 1926 the course was made by A.W. Tillinghast and just a few years ago, Gil Hanse’s restored it. The par-3 9th is one of the hidden gem one-shotters in the Northeast.
The Creek Club (Locust Valley)
The Creek Club is an epic combination of parkland and seaside golf. It is a McDonald-Raynor classic that serves up a greatest hits of the duo’s favorite design elements. Hole Nos. 10 through 14 wind through sand and water, an unforgettable trip to the beach highlighted by a massive island Biarritz green.
Check out The Creek Club here: