Seven of The Best Public Golf Courses in the Northeast
One of the best parts of golf is going out onto the course with friends or family and enjoying the game together, but the cost of playing a round can be sky-high, busting your budget, or keeping you off the greens altogether.
Public golf courses let you do that without the exclusivity and high membership prices of private golf courses. If you live in the Northeast or plan a vacation there, here’s my curated list of public golf courses, including the icon hosting the 2025 Ryder Cup.
How Was This List Made?
These golf courses were all featured on Golf Digest’s list of 100 best public golf courses. Some of the golf courses on the list are openly accessible, and some are traditionally private courses that you’ll need to do workarounds like purchasing a stay-and-play hotel package. However, none require a hefty membership fee or acceptance process.
Bethpage State Park (Black), New York
- Location: Farmingdale, New York
- Yardage: 7,468 Yards
- Par: 71
Though Bethpage State Park Black (or Bethpage Black as it’s commonly referred to) is a public golf course, it is almost sure to challenge golfers of any skill level. First opened for public play in 1936, it was designed by legendary architect A.W. Tillinghast, who was part of an exploratory meeting in New York City to create The PGA of America in January 1916.
Having hosted the U.S. Open and the PGA Championship, the course is no longer the patchy track it was before. While it will host the 2025 Ryder Cup in September, it will remain the ‘The People’s Country Club.’
The Greenbrier (The Old White), West Virginia
- Location: White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia
- Yardage: 7,246 Yards
- Par: 70
Designed by Charles Blair Macdonald, the Greenbrier is a golf course that will give you as close a feel as possible to European golf. Several of the holes are inspired by and modeled after some of the most famous ones in Europe. After Lester George restored The Greenbrier, it became even more esteemed and found itself ranking for Golf Digest’s Best New Remodel of 2007.
With the addition of a direct American Airlines flight, getting to the Greenbrier is now easier for those living near Charlotte Douglas International Airport.
Golden Horseshoe (Gold), Virginia
- Location: Williamsburg, Virginia
- Yardage: 6,817 Yards
- Par: 71
Designed by the father-son duo Robert Trent Jones and Rees Jones, Golden Horseshoe Gold gives golfers a taste of classic golf while featuring the latest in course design, including modern turf, new grass, and even upgraded bunkers.
In the 60s, Golden Horseshoe was ranked as one of the most challenging golf courses in the country, but today it has made it onto the list of America’s 50 Most Fun Public Courses.
Nemacolin (Mystic Rock), Pennsylvania
Location: Farmington, Pennsylvania
Yardage: 7,550 Yards
Par: 72
Designed by Pete Dye and dreamed of by Joseph Hardy, Nemacolin’s Mystic Rock golf course is one of the best in the country.
On top of Pennsylvania’s Allegheny Mountains, Mystic Rock stretches across acres and acres of land, offering players spectacular golf and incredible views. There’s really no other course that can top Mystic Rock when it comes to enjoyable mountain courses in the States.
New Kingsmill Resort (River), Virginia
- Location: Williamsburg, Virginia
- Yardage: 6,831 Yards
- Par: 71
Bordering the calm James River, The River Course at Kingsmill Resort in Williamsburg is one of Pete Dye’s lesser-known courses. Don’t let its lack of fame fool you, though. The River Course has been home to the PGA Tour’s Michelob Championship from 1981 through 2002 and currently hosts an LPGA event.
It offers golfers a course that isn’t hard on architectural features and instead feels like it was built from the natural movements of the land. You usually must be a member of Kingsmill Resort to play, but you can also be an overnight guest and gain access to the course. Not too far from Williamsburg attractions and Yorktown Beach, the course is an easy day trip for vacationers.
Bulle Rock, Maryland
- Location: Havre de Grace, Maryland
- Yardage: 7,375 Yards
- Par: 72
Home of the LPGA Championship from 2005 to 2009, Bulle Rock spreads over 275 acres and offers no amenities other than pure golf. With a challenging yet fair layout, Bulle Rock is truly Maryland’s best public golf course and offers players a little slice of golf heaven.
Bulle Rock is open to the public daily and has an affordable rate structure so golfers can enjoy their greens.
The Yale Golf Course, Connecticut
- Location: New Haven, Connecticut
- Yardage: 6,409 Yards
- Par: 70
While currently closed, there’s a reason the top college course in America remains on my list. Currently undergoing a $25 million renovation, Gil Hanse promises to deliver a course that mirrors what architect Raynor originally envisioned in 1926, plus additional length. Save a date on your 2026 calendar to experience this re-buffed diamond.
You’ll find massive rolling greens, deep and wide bunkers, as well as tricky fairways that will constantly keep you on your toes.
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