5 Best Golf Courses in New York (2026)

Van Cortlandt Park Golf Course, known locally as Vanny, opened in 1895 in the North Bronx and is widely cited as the oldest public golf course in the United States. It's an 18-hole public course with a clubhouse, practice area, and equipment rental, and it's the easiest NYC course to reach without a car, the 1 train stops a short walk away. Reviewers mention a roughly $1.5 million renovation under new management, including new greens, tee boxes, and improved drainage, and note the course's history with players from Babe Ruth to Willie Mays.

Dyker Beach Golf Course in Brooklyn combines an 18-hole public golf course with a clubhouse that doubles as a wedding and event venue, set against views of the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge. Beyond the golf itself, reviewers repeatedly describe using the venue for birthdays and weddings, with dedicated event staff separate from the golf operation. The course includes a driving range and golf instruction alongside standard public tee times.

Marine Park Golf Course is an 18-hole public course in Brooklyn designed in 1964 by Robert Trent Jones Sr., laid out in a links style with panoramic water views and a driving range. Reviewers who've played courses across the city consistently name it among the better-conditioned public options in New York, citing well-kept fairways and greens alongside fair public pricing. It's also open extremely early, from 5am, which regular players mention as a real advantage for beating weekend crowds.

Liberty National Golf Club is a private course in Jersey City that has hosted the Presidents Cup and the Northern Trust, set directly across the water from Manhattan with skyline views from nearly every hole. As a private club, access is by member invitation, and reviewers describe a fuller experience beyond the golf itself, valet service, a dedicated caddy, and in some cases arrival by boat for special events. It's the only course on this list you can't simply book a public tee time for.

Skyway Golf Course is a 9-hole public course in Jersey City's Lincoln Park West, laid out with fescue grass and dunes beneath the Pulaski Skyway, and it advertises itself as Hudson County's finest public golf option. It's a shorter round than the 18-hole courses on this list, which reviewers note makes it a practical after-work or weekend-morning option, and it offers outing packages for groups up to 72 players. Manhattan skyline views feature throughout, similar to Liberty National but on a public-access budget.