While there are a great many fantastic public golf courses in New York, membership at a private club puts you at the top of the food chain for a quality golf experience. The limited play at a private club pretty much guarantees that course conditions will always be great, and you can also say goodbye to the 5-hour round.
The state of New York boasts 38 private clubs receiving a GolfDay rating of 90 or higher, by far the highest of any state in the country (North Carolina and New Jersey are second and third with 29 and 27 respectively).
New York also includes over 100 clubs with a GolfDay rating above 80 (high quality), again the most of any state, so you won’t have to look at only the top echelon to find a great place to call home.
We’ve included our Top 25 below, or you can spin through all of the private courses in New York-listed by GolfDay Rating.
Clubs are listed on the basis of GolfDay Rating, and listings include the year a club was founded, course architect(s), current USGA course and slope ratings, a link for course description, as well as current local and national rankings by Golf Digest. A link to the Club website is also provided, as well as a link to Google Maps for each location.
The elite private clubs in New York include designs by the towering figures in golf course architecture, including C. B. Macdonald (4), Seth Raynor (2), A. W. Tillinghast (2), Donald Ross (3), H. S. Colt/ C. H. Alison (3) and William Flynn’s masterpiece at Shinnecock Hills.
Nine of the Top 25 include updates by the great Robert Trent Jones, Sr., and eight have been updated most recently by Gil Hanse—one of the most highly regarded architects of our time.
The GolfDay private club rating is based on a variety of criteria, including the stature of the architect(s) who did the original design(s), updates that have been done on the course(s), the variety of courses located at the property, USGA Course and Slope Ratings, current local and national rankings by Golf Digest, as well as club longevity and prestige.
- Winged Foot Golf Club/Mamaroneck
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- Founded: 1923
- Holes: 36 (2 Eighteen Hole Courses: East/West)
- Course Architects: A. W. Tillinghast/Robert Trent Jones, Sr./Dick Wilson/George Fazio/Tom Fazio/Gil Hanse
- USGA Course/Slope Rating:
- East: 73.6 Rating/140 Slope
- West: 76.4 Rating/140 Slope
- Description
- Rankings: Golf Digest Top 100 (West-12/East-41), Golf Digest New York Top 40 (West-4/East-9)
- GolfDay Rating: 100
- Location
- Oak Hill Country Club/Rochester
-
- Founded:1901
- Holes: 36 (2 Eighteen Hole Courses: East/West)
- Course Architects: Donald Ross/John R. Williams/Robert Trent Jones, Sr./George Fazio/Tom Fazio/Craig Schreiner
- USGA Course/Slope Rating:
- East: 77.3 Rating/153 Slope
- West: 73.3 Rating/135 Slope
- Description
- Rankings: Golf Digest Top 100 (East-20), Golf Digest New York Top 40 (East-6/West-27)
- GolfDay Rating: 100
- Location
- Maidstone Golf Club/East Hampton
-
- Founded: 1891
- Holes: 27 (Eighteen Hole Course (West) and Nine Hole Course (East)
- Course Architects: William H. Tucker, Sr./Willie Park, Jr./John A. Park/C. Wheaton Vaughan/Seth Raynor/Perry Maxwell/Bill Coore/Ben Crenshaw
- USGA Course/Slope Rating:
- West: 74.0 Rating/140 Slope
- East: 33.3 Rating/ 114 Slope
- Description
- Rankings: Golf Digest Top 100 (64), Golf Digest New York Top 40 (12)
- GolfDay Rating: 100
- Location
- Sleepy Hollow Country Club/Scarborough
-
- Founded: 1911
- Holes: 27 (Eighteen Hole Championship Course (Upper) and nine Hole Executive Course (Lower)
- Course Architects: C. B. Macdonald/Seth Raynor/A. W. Tillinghast/Tom Winton/Robert Trent Jones, Sr./Rees Jones/Gil Hanse
- USGA Course/Slope Rating:
- Upper: 74.6 Rating/141 Slope
- Lower: 30.5 Rating/110 Slope
- Description
- Rankings: Golf Digest Top 100 (62), Golf Digest New York Top 40 (11)
- GolfDay Rating: 100
- Location
- Shinnecock Hills Golf Club/Southampton
-
- Founded: 1891
- Holes: 18
- Course Architects: William Flynn/Howard Toomey/William Mitchell/Allan MacCurrach
- USGA Course/Slope Rating: 74.4 Rating/140 Slope
- Description
- Rankings: Golf Digest Top 100 (4), Golf Digest New York Top 40 (1)
- GolfDay Rating: 100
- Location
- National Golf Links of America/Southampton
-
- Founded: 1908
- Holes: 18
- Course Architects: C. B. Macdonald/Seth Raynor/Perry Maxwell/Robert Trent Jones, Sr.
- USGA Course/Slope Rating: 73.9 Rating/140 Slope
- Rankings: Golf Digest Top 100 (7), Golf Digest New York Top 40 (2)
- GolfDay Rating: 99.6
- Location
- Fishers Island Club/Fishers Island
-
- Founded: 1926
- Holes: 18
- Course Architects: Seth Raynor/Gil Hanse
- USGA Course/Slope Rating: 72.8 Rating/144 Slope
- Description
- Rankings: Golf Digest Top 100 (9), Golf Digest New York Top 40 (3)
- GolfDay Rating: 98.6
- Location
- Sebonack Golf Club/Southampton
-
- Founded: 2006
- Holes: 18
- Course Architects: Jack Nicklaus/Tom Doak/Jim Urbina
- USGA Course/Slope Rating: 77.5 Rating/151 Slope
- Photos
- Rankings: Golf Digest Top 100 (38), Golf Digest New York Top 40 (7)
- GolfDay Rating: 97.8
- Location
- Quaker Ridge Golf Club/Scarsdale
-
- Founded: 1915
- Holes: 18
- Course Architects: John Duncan Dunn/A. W. Tillinghast/Robert Trent Jones, Sr./Francis Duane/Rees Jones/Gil Hanse
- USGA Course/Slope Rating: 74.8 Rating/143 Slope
- Description
- Rankings: Golf Digest Top 100 (76), Golf Digest New York Top 40 (13)
- GolfDay Rating: 97.6
- Location
- Friar’s Head/Riverhead
-
- Founded: 2002
- Holes: 18
- Course Architects: Bill Coore/Ben Crenshaw
- USGA Course/Slope Rating: 74.6 Rating/138 Slope
- Rankings: Golf Digest Top 100 (16), Golf Digest New York Top 40 (5)
- GolfDay Rating: 97.1
- Location
- Hudson National Golf Club/Croton-on-Hudson
-
- Founded: 1996
- Holes: 18
- Course Architects: Tom Fazio
- USGA Course/Slope Rating: 75.4 Rating/143 Slope
- Description
- Rankings: Golf Digest Top 100 (89), Golf Digest New York Top 40 (14)
- GolfDay Rating: 96.5
- Location
- Garden City Golf Club/Garden City
-
- Founded: 1899
- Holes: 18
- Course Architects: Devereux Emmet/Walter Travis/Robert Trent Jones, Sr./Tom Doak/Jim Urbina
- USGA Course/Slope Rating: 74.0 Rating/141 Slope
- Rankings: Golf Digest Top 100 (61), Golf Digest New York Top 40 (10)
- GolfDay Rating: 96.4
- Location
- Piping Rock Club/Locust Valley
-
- Founded: 1911
- Holes: 18
- Course Architects: C. B. Macdonald/Seth Raynor/Pete Dye/Bruce Hepner
- USGA Course/Slope Rating: 73.8 Rating/134 Slope
- Rankings: Golf Digest Top 200 (109), Golf Digest New York Top 40 (15)
- GolfDay Rating: 96.2
- Location
- The Creek/Locust Valley
-
- Founded: 1923
- Holes:
- Course Architects: C. B. Macdonald/Seth Raynor/William Flynn/Gil Hanse
- USGA Course/Slope Rating: 71.9 Rating/134 Slope
- Rankings: Golf Digest Top 200 (133), Golf Digest New York Top 40 (16)
- GolfDay Rating: 95.4
- Location
-
- Founded: 1922
- Holes: 36
- Course Architects: Walter Travis/William Flynn/Alfred Tull/Joe Finger/Rees Jones/Perry Maxwell/Tom Winton/Stephen Kay
- USGA Course/Slope Rating:
- West: 74.4 Rating/145 Slope
- South: 72.5 Rating/132 Slope
- Description
- Rankings: Golf Digest New York Top 40 (19-West)
- GolfDay Rating: 95.2
- Location
- Wykagyl Country Club/New Rochelle
-
- Founded: 1898
- Holes: 18
- Course Architects: Lawrence Van Etten/Robert White/Donald Ross/A. W. Tillinghast/Hal Purdy/Stephen Kay/Bill Coore/Ben Crenshaw
- USGA Course/Slope Rating: 73.0 Rating/141 Slope
- Description
- Rankings: Golf Digest New York Top 40 (18)
- GolfDay Rating: 94.2
- Location
- Monroe Golf Club/Pittsford
-
- Founded: 1923
- Holes: 18
- Course Architects: Donald Ross/Geoffrey Cornish/Bill Robinson/Arthur Hills/Brian Silva/Tyler Rae
- USGA Course/Slope Rating: 74.8 Rating/148 Slope
- Description
- Rankings: Golf Digest New York Top 40 (38)
- GolfDay Rating: 94.0
- Location
- Fresh Meadow Country Club/Lake Success
-
- Founded: 1921
- Holes: 18
- Course Architects: H. S. Colt/C. H. Alison/Orrin Smith/Stephen Kay/Keith
- USGA Course/Slope Rating: 73.1 Rating/137 Slope
- Description
- GolfDay Rating: 93.4
- Location
- Whippoorwill Club/Armonk
-
- Founded: 1928
- Holes: 18
- Course Architects: Charles Banks/Geoffrey Cornish/Brian Silva/Tripp Davis
- USGA Course/Slope Rating: 73.0 Rating/143 Slope
- Description
- Rankings: Golf Digest New York Top 40 (29)
- GolfDay Rating: 93.2
- Location
- Country Club of Rochester/Rochester
-
- Founded: 1895
- Holes: 18
- Course Architects: Donald Ross/Robert Trent Jones, Sr./Arthur Hills/Gil Hanse
- USGA Course/Slope Rating: 73.8 Rating/138 Slope
- Description
- Rankings: Golf Digest New York Top 40 (37)
- GolfDay Rating: 93.0
- Location
- Century Country Club/Purchase
-
- Founded: 1898
- Holes: 18
- Course Architects: H. S. Colt/C. H. Alison/Robert Trent Jones, Sr./Keith Foster/Kevin Hargrave
- USGA Course/Slope Rating: 74.5 Rating/135 Slope
- Description
- Rankings: Golf Digest New York Top 40 (32)
- GolfDay Rating: 92.9
- Location
- Westhampton Country Club/Westhampton Beach
-
- Founded: 1890
- Holes: 18
- Course Architects: Seth Raynor/Gil Hanse
- USGA Course/Slope Rating: 72.5 Rating/137 Slope
- Rankings: Golf Digest New York Top 40 (23)
- GolfDay Rating: 92.7
- Location
-
- Founded: 1890
- Holes: 18
- Course Architects: Willie Dunn/Maturin Ballou/Tom Winton/Peter Lees/Tom Bendelow/Donald Ross/Alfred Tull/George Fazio/Tom Fazio/Gil Hanse/Tom Marzolf/Keith Foster
- USGA Course/Slope Rating: 73.4 Rating/147 Slope
- Description
- GolfDay Rating: 92.6
- Location
- Siwanoy Country Club/Bronxville
-
- Founded: 1901
- Holes: 18
- Course Architects: Donald Ross/Tom Winton/Robert Trent Jones, Sr./Geoffrey Cornish/Bill Robinson/Arthur Hills/Stephen Kay/Mike DeVries
- USGA Course/Slope Rating: 72.5 Rating/137 Slope
- Description
- GolfDay Rating: 92.0
- Location
- Old Oaks Country Club/Purchase
-
- Founded: 1925
- Holes: 18
- Course Architects: A. W. Tillinghast/H. S. Colt/C. H. Alison/William Mitchell/Francis Duane/Rees Jones
- USGA Course/Slope Rating: 74.0 Rating/143 Slope
- Description
- Rankings: Golf Digest New York Top 40 (40)
- GolfDay Rating: 91.8
- Location