Westchester County, New York is home to some of the best golf courses in the Northeast. From private club offerings to public courses and everything in between, there’s a wide variety of challenging layouts for players of all skill levels. Whether you’re looking for a leisurely round with friends or an intense competitive experience, Westchester has it all. Read on to learn more about some of the top golf courses in Westchester County.
Wykagyl Country Club
Wykagyl Country Club is a private golf course that offers some of the most challenging and rewarding holes in Westchester County, New York. Named as one of the underappreciated gems in the area, the course was originally laid out in 1905 by Lawrence Van Etten and has since been improved by some of the best American golf course architects, such as Donald Ross, A.W. Tillinghast, Robert Trent Jones Sr., Arthur Hills, and the dynamic duo of Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore. Their recent renovation added 30 bunkers, removed numerous trees, and softened the sloping approach to the 18th hole.
Among the most demanding holes are #8 and #15. Both dogleg left from elevated tees, and #8 presents an uphill challenge at 446 yards with bunkers and high fescue protecting the left side of the fairway. Although only 341 yards, #15 can be a birdie opportunity with a good tee shot. Played from the private course, Wykagyl Country Club is a true gem in Westchester County that any golf enthusiast should experience.
Address: 1195 North Ave, New Rochelle, NY 10804
Mohansic Golf Course
Mohansic Golf Course, established in 1926, holds a special place in the hearts of local golfers. Partially renovated over the years, this classic challenge is known to be the toughest among the six courses in the area. The parkland setting, free of any course-side housing, creates an idyllic atmosphere for golfing.
The layout offers a mix of straight and dogleg holes, elevation changes and only one water hazard (on the 7th hole). With a par of 70 and three teeing options, Mohansic is not for the faint-hearted. Playing long, the course features only two par 5s that are back to back. The 9th, at a whopping 592 yards from the tips, is by far the longest test, while the 10th presents some solid scoring opportunities at 495 yards. The toughest hole on the course, without a doubt, is the long dog-leg left par-4 4th hole with a well-bunkered elevated green.
Address: 1500 Baldwin Rd, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598
Winged Foot Golf Club
Winged Foot Golf Club boasts two courses designed by the legendary A.W. Tillinghast – the East and the West.
The West Course
Of the two, the West is widely regarded as Tilly’s finest creation and the centerpiece of the club. With its longer, tighter, and more dramatic layout, the West Course presents a comprehensive test of every aspect of golfing ability. From long, skinny par fours to exacting par threes, and tempting par fives, this course is not for the faint of heart. The back nine features undulating holes in the western section, with standout holes such as the 14th and 15th, and a par three 10th with a broad green and some torturous putting contours. In tournament play, the narrow 16th is converted into a par four and the final two greens are rock-hard and fast, adding to the challenge of finishing strong. It’s no wonder that Winged Foot Golf Club’s West Course is held in such high esteem by golfers around the world.
The East Course
The East Course may be slightly less intense than its West Course counterpart, but it is by no means lacking in challenge. The shorter, more open course offers a different set of obstacles, ranging from intricately shaped target areas to abruptly angled holes built atop small plateaus or steep knolls. Despite some softening of original green slopes over the years, the course remains impressively diverse, with a particularly striking finishing stretch and early holes that showcase the site’s varied territory.
While the presentation may have changed, an aerial view from 1925 reveals the structural preservation of both courses, aside from a few back tees and shifted bunkers.
Address: 851 Fenimore Rd, Mamaroneck, NY 10543
Fenway Golf Club
Fenway Golf Club, also known fondly as “Little Winged Foot”, is a top-ranked golf club in New York. Built in 1924, the course was designed by A.W. Tillinghast, and features complex greens, deep bunkers, and challenging landing areas. Known to be Tillinghast’s finest design, Fenway is situated on 240 acres of diverse terrain that surpasses its neighboring courses.
On the front nine, the third hole is especially noteworthy, with its tricky two-tier green. Meanwhile, the eleventh is a highlight on the back nine, with its elevated par three. However, the most talked-about hole is the 15th- a short par four with one of the narrowest greens in all of Westchester County. The complexities of this hole are intensified by a subtle rise, severe front-to-back leaning of the green, and trees that make accessing the hole tricky, particularly from the back tees. Without a doubt, Fenway Golf Club is a course that challenges even the most seasoned golfers.
Address: 384 Old Mamaroneck Rd, Scarsdale, NY 10583
Sleepy Hollow Country Club
Sleepy Hollow Country Club, established in 1911, has a rich history that spans over a century. Originally golfing on an 18-hole template course created by C.B. Macdonald, the club engaged the prolific A.W. Tillinghast in the late 1920s to extend Sleepy Hollow to 27 holes. Tillinghast’s extensive work on the course included designing holes 8 through 11 on the main course, re-routing the 1st and 18th, and altering several holes on the club’s impressive short layout.
The club has undergone significant renovations since the early 2000s, with improvements that are as dramatic as at any course in the American Northeast. While the nasty blind drive on the short par-five 6th may disappoint, the second half of the hole is exceptional, and the fact that it gets you to Macdonald’s reverse Redan 7th excuses the tee shot entirely. Sleepy Hollow remains an exceptional golfing experience, offering a majestic environment that challenges enthusiasts of all skill levels.
Address: 777 Albany Post Rd, Briarcliff Manor, NY 10510
Quaker Ridge Golf Club
Quaker Ridge Golf Club has an illustrious history, beginning with its creation in 1915 as the Metropolitan Golf Links. Despite its modest origins, the course proved to be an inspiration to a group of businessmen who founded the Quaker Ridge Golf Club in 1916. They enlisted the services of famed golf course designer A.W. Tillinghast to revamp the course, who went on to completely redesign seven holes while building a further eleven. The result was a stunning new course for the club, affectionately known as “Tilly’s Treasure”.
The course is laid out across two loops, with the first eight holes running clockwise around the perimeter of the club, while the final ten holes cut through the interior. The 1st hole is a particular highlight, with its tree-lined fairway and steeply sloping green, offering golfers a taste of the challenges to come. Quaker Ridge Golf Club is located directly across the road from another esteemed course, Winged Foot.
Address: 146 Griffen Ave, Scarsdale, NY 10583
Metropolis Country Club
The Metropolis Country Club course has a rich history of being touched by several prominent architects. Originally designed by Herbert Strong, it was then remodeled by A.W. Tillinghast, reconfigured by Joe Finger, and finally, lengthened by Ken Dye in the late 1990s. Strong’s expertise in routing golf courses shines through in the exceptional job he did with Metropolis.
Notably different from other architects of his time, Strong made use of every golfing advantage the land offered, creating an outstanding course. With subtle but well-designed greens, Metropolis offers a tremendous variety of settings and contouring that are worthy of careful observation. At a length of 6795 yards and with a par of 71, the Metropolis Country Club course is an excellent choice for avid golfers looking for a challenge on a well-designed course.
Address: 289 Dobbs Ferry Rd, White Plains, NY 10607
Westchester Country Club
Walter Travis’s vision for the Westchester Country Club resulted in two incredible courses. The West layout was specifically designed for tournament play, complete with cleverly constructed additional greens and bunkers that allow for reversible play. The South course serves a more recreational purpose, perfect for players looking to enjoy the game without the added pressure of tournament play.
The hilly terrain provided the perfect setting for Travis to create a unique and challenging playing experience. One noteworthy feature of the West course is that different combinations of nines can be used to create a stipulated round of 18 holes, making it a rarity in the world of golf. The back nine starts with a challenging par three, where the tee shot must find the front of a two-tiered green to make a par. But it’s the signature 17th hole, a dogleg left par four that requires a daunting approach shot over water, that stands out as the crown jewel of the Westchester Country Club.
Address: 99 Biltmore Ave, Rye, NY 10580
Sunningdale Country Club
Founded in 1913, Sunningdale Country Club was named after its English namesake of 1901. Designed by Seth Raynor, the course was initially met with mixed reviews.
Members grew tired of the blind shots and sought the expertise of Walter Travis to make changes. In 1929, A.W. Tillinghast was commissioned to create a new drop-shot, par three 12th and combine the par three 17th and par five 18th holes to make room for a swimming pool.
After almost eighty years of inactivity, a renovation master plan was created by Mike DeVries in 2006, finally completed a decade later in autumn 2016. The course flows naturally across the land’s features and provides a variety of challenges for golfers of all skill levels. The greens are magnificent, and the scenery is breathtaking. Sunningdale Country Club is a marvel of golf course design and serves as a testament to the history of the sport.
Address: 300 Underhill Rd, Scarsdale, NY 10583
Dunwoodie Golf Course
Dunwoodie Golf Course boasts a storied history dating back to the early 1900s and situated within a sprawling and picturesque 126-acre property, unencumbered by any residential surroundings. The course’s standout feature is its hilly profile, affording players an array of narrow and open holes that translate to a par-70 layout spanning up to 5,830 yards. Distinct markers provide further challenges from 5,441 yards and 4,722 yards, promising a uniquely tailored golfing experience to each player.
The course’s front nine presents an initial series of five par 4 holes preceding the sole par 5 and par 3 on that half of the field. The back nine, on the other hand, offers an assortment of three par 3 holes and two par 5 holes. Despite none of the first three holes reaching a maximum distance of 330 yards, they offer narrow yet demanding playing fields, with curious shapes and the only water hazard in the course, a creek, cutting across some fairways.
Address: 1 Wasylenko Ln, Yonkers, NY 10701
Sprain Lake Golf Course
Sprain Lake Golf Course is a par-70 course that was designed by Tom Winton in 1928. With four sets of tee markers available, the course can be played at varying distances ranging from 4,688 to 6,010 yards.
However, due to the rolling terrain and frequent elevation changes, the course often plays longer than the scorecard might suggest. To accommodate the topology of the land, Winton arranged stretches of holes out in one direction and back in another. For instance, the first three holes head straight down to the south. Then, following an angled par-3 that runs beside Sprain Lake, the next three holes run back beside the lake at the far end of the course.
There is more variety to be found on the par-36 back nine, including the sole two par-5’s of the round. The doglegs on the back nine, especially the sharp-angled par-4 12th hole, add another layer of excitement and skill to the game. Four of the holes also feature a stream bed that intersects the fairways, adding a pleasant and challenging feature to this scenic and historic course.
Address: 290 E Grassy Sprain Rd, Yonkers, NY 10710
Hudson National Golf Club
Hudson National Golf Club presents a fascinating blend of history and modernity. The land, which was home to the Kitchawan Indians when Henry Hudson first sailed downriver, now houses a remarkable Tom Fazio signature course that opened for play in 1996. The course stretches out to almost 7,000 yards and offers stunning river views from most holes.
Fazio’s eye for detail and skillful design is evident in the landscaping and layout. He went to extreme lengths to create Hudson National, including blasting out 130,000 cubic yards of rock before routing the holes through the second highest elevation point in Westchester County. One of the most intriguing features is the 4th hole, which Fazio routed alongside the ruins of the Hessian Hills Golf Club clubhouse from the 1930s to provide a “historical reminder” of the days of The Depression. The par 70 course spans 7,151 yards and is exclusively available for private play.
Address: 40 Arrowcrest Dr, Croton-On-Hudson, NY 10520
Pound Ridge Golf Club
Westchester County boasts a notable array of private golf courses designed by Golden Age architects, but a shining jewel of the region is an upscale public option crafted by the esteemed modern architect, Pete Dye. Although this course is situated on the opposite side of the county from the Hudson River valley, golfers will be awestruck by the remarkable views that can be had from the course, which sits atop some of the highest terrain in the region.
With an abundance of rocky formations incorporated into the design, Dye uses the stone to create some of his most distinctive and recognizable signature statements. A significant highlight of the course is the tee shot at the par five No. 13, which is played over a massive boulder that blocks views of a significant portion of the fairway. The intensity peaks at No. 15, also known as the “Headstone” par three, where golfers must navigate a forced carry over a marsh while repeatedly avoiding the huge mass of rock that sits just beyond the long green.
Address: 18 High Ridge Rd, Pound Ridge, NY 10576
Whippoorwill Club
Named after the elusive nightjar bird that roams the golf course, Whippoorwill Club is a historic golf course located in Armonk, New York that dates back to the early 1920s. Originally designed by the legendary Donald Ross, the course underwent a redesign by Seth Raynor protege Charles Banks only a few years later. Banks moved several holes to the other side of the road, creating a challenging layout that has been enjoyed by golfers for generations.
The course features undulating, wooded terrain and is considered one of the most difficult on the scorecard, with the five par fours at 5,7,9,12 and 14 being particularly challenging. The signature 226-yard 8th hole is one of four par threes and boasts a raised green site with a small waterfall behind it, as well as bunkers on either side. While a par is a reasonable goal on the tee, few will leave the hole with a three on their scorecard. Whippoorwill Club is a true gem of the game and a testament to the enduring legacy of classic golf course architecture.
Address: 150 Whippoorwill Rd, Armonk, NY 10504
Old Oaks Country Club
Old Oaks Country Club is a premier golf destination that boasts a challenging course. Designed by renowned architects A. W. Tillinghast in 1925 and updated by Finger Dye Spann in 2000, this course offers a true out-and-back routing. While only the opening and closing holes take place on the west side of Purchase Street, the other 16 holes are routed within a landlocked parcel on the east side.
Thanks to the expertise of Rees Jones, additional yardage was discovered in 2016, bringing the total distance from the back tees to 6,900 yards. The picturesque No. 7 hole, featuring a par three that plays slightly downhill, is the most photographed hole on the course. From the tee, players face a creek that flows down to the left of the green and into a larger collection pond.
Notably, the current 18 holes are the remnants of 27 original Tillinghast holes on the property; the others were lost to road construction long ago. With an impressive pedigree and iconic features, Old Oaks Country Club is a must-play for golf enthusiasts seeking a rich history and challenging round.
Address: 3100 Purchase St, Purchase, NY 10577
Conclusion
Westchester County offers a remarkable array of golf courses. From the private, members-only clubs to the public options designed by renowned architects, there is something for every type of golfer. Whether looking for an iconic Golden Age design or a modern masterpiece built in recent years, Westchester has it all. So if you’re planning a golf getaway to this beautiful part of New York, make sure to visit any one of these spectacular courses. You won’t be disappointed!
