Best Public Golf Courses in New York

New York, New York · A.W. Tillinghast (1936) · 18 holes · Par 71 · 7,468 yards

The most famous public course in America, Bethpage Black is a brute of a Tillinghast design that has hosted two U.S. Opens and a PGA Championship. The first tee famously warns: "The Black Course is an extremely difficult course which we recommend only for highly skilled golfers."

New York, New York · Jack Nicklaus (2015) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 7,400 yards

A Jack Nicklaus links-style design in the Bronx with sweeping views of the Manhattan skyline, Whitestone Bridge, and Long Island Sound, Ferry Point is one of the most dramatic settings for a public golf course in the world.

New York, New York · Roger Rulewich (1998) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 7,094 yards

Set in the rolling hills of northern New Jersey (an easy drive from NYC), Ballyowen brings Scottish links-style golf to the Tri-State area. The treeless, windswept layout at Crystal Springs Resort is a unique experience for metro New York golfers.

New York, New York · A.W. Tillinghast (1935) · 18 holes · Par 68 · 6,776 yards

Often overshadowed by its famous Black sibling, Bethpage Red is a fine A.W. Tillinghast design in its own right. The par-68 layout offers a challenging test with excellent conditioning at state-park pricing, making it one of the best value rounds in the New York metropolitan area.