Updated on November 10, 2026
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Around New York, the most famous clubs (Winged Foot, Shinnecock Hills, Liberty National) are private. Our selection includes only courses open to the public for a green fee in New York and northern New Jersey, led by Bethpage Black, the public course on Long Island that hosted the 2002 and 2009 U.S. Open and the 2025 Ryder Cup.
A Quick Look at the Rankings of Golf Courses Around New York
9 courses shown.
| Rank | Golf | Town | Distance | Access | Green fee | Golf Digest | Golfweek |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bethpage State Park – Black Course | Farmingdale (Long Island) | 47.4 km | Open | — | 7 | 1 |
| 2 | Bally's Golf Links at Ferry Point | Bronx | 18.7 km | Open | — | 39 | 4 |
| 3 | Pound Ridge Golf Club | Pound Ridge (Westchester) | 63.2 km | Open | — | 58 | 11 |
| 4 | Ballyowen Golf Club (Crystal Springs Resort) | Hamburg | 67.8 km | Open | — | — | 1 |
| 5 | Neshanic Valley Golf Course | Branchburg | 63.5 km | Open | — | — | 3 |
| 6 | Rock Spring Golf Club at West Orange | West Orange | 22.9 km | Open | — | — | 5 |
| 7 | Knoll Country Club – West | Parsippany | 37.6 km | Restricted | — | — | 6 |
| 8 | Bethpage State Park – Red Course | Farmingdale (Long Island) | 46.7 km | Open | — | — | 8 |
| 9 | Francis A. Byrne Golf Course | West Orange | 23.7 km | Open | — | — | 14 |
Distance as the crow flies from downtown New York. Green fee: published 18-hole public rate (varies by season or day), as of November 10, 2026; “—” = not published. Ranking columns: the course’s ranking in each list; “—” = not listed.
Where are the golf courses around New York?
Click on a number to view the golf course, then click on its name to read its profile. Base map © OpenStreetMap.
Our Method
We’ve selected 18-hole courses located within 80 km as the crow flies from downtown New York: courses accessible for a green fee (private clubs, such as Winged Foot or Liberty National, are excluded). The ranking is the average of their positions in two national rankings: Golf Digest (2025–26 “Best in State” for New York and New Jersey, public courses) and Golfweek (2026 “Best Courses You Can Play,” New York and New Jersey); a course missing from a ranking is assigned the last place plus ten. Distances calculated using OpenStreetMap coordinates. Green fees are listed only if they are published on the course’s official website (as of November 10, 2026). The radius has been expanded to 80 km, as only six ranked courses are located within 60 km. Since Golf Digest does not rank any public courses in New Jersey, courses in that state are ranked based on their Golfweek ranking.
Golf Courses in Detail
Architects, dates, access and green fees: official golf course websites and the rankings cited, checked on November 10, 2026; nothing is shown when the source does not say. Photos under free licenses via Wikimedia Commons.
1. Bethpage State Park – Black Course
Rankings: Golf Digest 7 · Golfweek 1
⛳ Course: Parkland
📍 Distance: 47.4 km (29.5 mi) from downtown New York
🔑 Access: Bethpage State Park's public course; online reservation slots fill up in seconds (Golf Digest).
✈️ Airport: A car is essential; it is about 30 km as the crow flies from John F. Kennedy (JFK) Airport.
Designed in the mid-1930s to be “the public course of Pine Valley,” it hosted the 2002 and 2009 U.S. Open. It then hosted the 2019 USPGA Championship, won by Brooks Koepka, and the 2025 Ryder Cup, which was won by Europe.
2. Bally's Golf Links at Ferry Point
Rankings: Golf Digest 39 · Golfweek 4
⛳ Course: designed by Jack Nicklaus, John Stanford and Jim Lipe, opened in 2014, Links
📍 Distance: 18.7 km (11.6 mi) from downtown New York
🔑 Access: Public course owned by New York City (official website).
✈️ Airport: A car is essential; it is about 20 km as the crow flies from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK).
Formerly known as Trump Ferry Point, this links course—which opened in 2014—is built on a former landfill in New York. The course offers views of the East River and the bridges of Manhattan.
3. Pound Ridge Golf Club
Rankings: Golf Digest 58 · Golfweek 11
⛳ Course: designed by Pete Dye, parkland (rocks and woods)
📍 Distance: 63.2 km (39.3 mi) from downtown New York
🔑 Access: Public course (official website).
✈️ Airport: A car is essential; it is approximately 62 km as the crow flies from John F. Kennedy (JFK) Airport.
Golf Digest describes it as “Pete Dye at his best and toughest,” with numerous blind tees. The club is considered one of the best public courses in the United States, located one hour north of New York City.
4. Ballyowen Golf Club (Crystal Springs Resort)
Rankings: Golf Digest — · Golfweek 1
⛳ Course: designed by Roger Rulewich, opened in 1998, links-style (tree-free)
📍 Distance: 67.8 km (42.1 mi) from downtown New York
🔑 Access: Open to the public and resort guests (official website).
✈️ Airport: A car is essential; it is approximately 87 km as the crow flies from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK).
Opened in June 1998, this tree-free links-style course is modeled after the moorland landscapes of Ireland and Scotland. It is one of the few public courses in New Jersey that offers caddies.
5. Neshanic Valley Golf Course
Rankings: Golf Digest — · Golfweek 3
⛳ Course: Parkland
📍 Distance: 63.5 km (39.5 mi) from downtown New York
🔑 Access: Public course (“public-access” according to Golfweek).
✈️ Airport: A car is essential; it is about 80 km as the crow flies from John F. Kennedy (JFK) Airport.
6. Rock Spring Golf Club at West Orange
Rankings: Golf Digest — · Golfweek 5
⛳ Course: designed by Seth Raynor, opened in 1925, Parkland (wooded)
📍 Distance: 22.9 km (14.2 mi) from downtown New York
🔑 Access: Open to the public since 2019, owned by the town of West Orange, and managed by KemperSports (official website).
✈️ Airport: A car is essential; it is approximately 44 km as the crow flies from John F. Kennedy (JFK) Airport.
It is one of only two public courses in the United States designed by Seth Raynor; the club was founded in 1925. In 2019, the town of West Orange purchased it from the Montclair Golf Club and opened it to the public.
7. Knoll Country Club – West
Rankings: Golf Digest — · Golfweek 6
⛳ Course: designed by Charles H. Banks, opened in 1929, Parkland
📍 Distance: 37.6 km (23.4 mi) from downtown New York
🔑 Access: Semi-private: Departures open to the public by reservation (official website).
✈️ Airport: A car is essential; it is approximately 58 km as the crow flies from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK).
Founded in 1929, this par-70 course was designed by Charles H. Banks.
8. Bethpage State Park – Red Course
Rankings: Golf Digest — · Golfweek 8
⛳ Course: Parkland
📍 Distance: 46.7 km (29.0 mi) from downtown New York
🔑 Access: Bethpage State Park Public Trail.
✈️ Airport: A car is essential; it is about 30 km as the crow flies from John F. Kennedy (JFK) Airport.
9. Francis A. Byrne Golf Course
Rankings: Golf Digest — · Golfweek 14
⛳ Course: Parkland
📍 Distance: 23.7 km (14.7 mi) from downtown New York
🔑 Access: Essex County public course (“public-access” according to Golfweek).
✈️ Airport: A car is essential; it is approximately 44 km as the crow flies from John F. Kennedy (JFK) Airport.
Just missed the cut
- Crystal Springs Golf Club (Crystal Springs Resort): Average 39 (would have been tied with Bethpage Red), but OSM coordinates for the course could not be found; same complex as Ballyowen, around 65–68 km. To be added after verification
- Wild Turkey Golf Club (Crystal Springs Resort): Average 41; OSM coordinates for the route not found (Wild Turkey Way at approximately 67 km)
- Mansion Ridge Golf Club: Average 42 (tied with Francis Byrne, further along, around 67 km); route coordinates not found in OSM
- Winged Foot Golf Club: Rated "PRIVATE" by Golf Digest (No. 4 and No. 8): members only
- Liberty National Golf Club: Ranked PRIVATE by Golf Digest New Jersey (No. 10). The same applies to Baltusrol (Nos. 2 and 4)
- Shinnecock Hills Golf Club: Private (No. 1 in New York according to Golf Digest) and more than 130 km away: does not meet the criteria
See also
The Best Public Golf Courses in the United States
The Best Golf Courses Near Scottsdale (Phoenix)
The Best Golf Courses Near San Diego
The Best Golf Courses Near London
The Best Golf Courses Near Paris
The 20 Best Golf Hotels in EuropeFrequently Asked Questions
What's the best golf course around New York?
Bethpage State Park – Black Course (Farmingdale, Long Island, 47.4 km from downtown) tops our rankings, based on Golf Digest (New York and New Jersey’s “Best in State” 2025–26, public courses) and Golfweek (Best Courses You Can Play 2026, New York and New Jersey). Access: Public course at Bethpage State Park; online reservation slots fill up in seconds (Golf Digest).
Which golf courses around New York are open to visitors?
No special requirements: Bethpage State Park – Black Course, Bally's Golf Links at Ferry Point, Pound Ridge Golf Club, Ballyowen Golf Club (Crystal Springs Resort), Neshanic Valley Golf Course, Rock Spring Golf Club at West Orange, Bethpage State Park – Red Course, Francis A. Byrne Golf Course. The others (Knoll Country Club – West) only accept visitors on certain days, subject to handicap requirements or by invitation: see the details for each course.
What is the closest golf course to downtown New York?
Bally's Golf Links at Ferry Point, 18.7 km as the crow flies from downtown (Bronx).
Which airport is best for a golf trip in the New York area?
Most convenient airports: John F. Kennedy (JFK), Newark Liberty (EWR), LaGuardia (LGA).