The best golf courses in New Jersey, USA

Pine Valley is like a golf course built from a dream—if your dream also had nightmares. Each hole is self-contained, cut off from the others, with massive sandy waste areas, scrub pines, and bunkers that seem to swallow anything short. Off the tee, there’s always space, but it’s the angle that matters—miss the spot and the green becomes nearly impossible. It’s demanding, yes, but every hole feels like a masterpiece, and when you pull off the right shot, it’s as rewarding as the game gets.

Baltusrol Golf Club’s Lower Course in Springfield, New Jersey, is a historic parkland layout designed by A.W. Tillinghast and opened in 1922. Known for its brawny par 4s and classic routing, the Lower Course is a regular major championship venue, famed for its elite conditioning and challenging yet fair setup, appealing to top professionals and passionate amateurs alike.

Somerset Hills Country Club, designed by A. W. Tillinghast in 1918, is a Golden Age parkland course nestled in Bernardsville, New Jersey. Widely admired for its classic architecture, the course features rolling terrain, strategic bunkering, and a thoughtful routing. Restoration by Renaissance Golf Design has revived the historic character, making it a favorite for architecture enthusiasts and club members.

Plainfield Country Club in Edison, New Jersey, is a historic Donald Ross design, known for its classic routing, rolling terrain, strategic bunkering, and challenging greens. Established in 1898, the club features a beautifully restored Ross course with updates by Gil Hanse. It offers a prestigious and exclusive setting that has hosted numerous elite championships, including PGA Tour events.

A distinguished 18-hole championship course designed by A.W. Tillinghast in 1922, the Upper Course at Baltusrol Golf Club blends historic legacy with strategic parkland routing and elite maintenance standards. Revered as a National Historic Landmark, it offers a classic test and exceptional amenities just outside New York City.

Ridgewood Country Club (East & West) is a classic 18-hole private course in Paramus, New Jersey, designed by A.W. Tillinghast in 1929 and recently restored by Gil Hanse. Renowned for its parkland style, rich tournament heritage, and immaculate conditions, the club blends original Tillinghast character with contemporary playability, making it a premier destination for Northeast golf.

Galloway National Golf Club, designed by Tom Fazio in 1995, offers an elite golfing experience along the bays of southern New Jersey. This private, 18-hole course features dramatic elevation changes, a tree-lined layout, and beautiful vistas over Reeds Bay. Renowned for immaculate conditioning and strategic design, it is consistently ranked among America’s top 100 golf courses.

Bayonne Golf Club, designed by Eric Bergstol, is a private links-style course on the Hudson River with sweeping views of Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty. Crafted from a brownfield site into dramatic dunes, it offers a unique seaside golfing experience, mimicking classic British and Irish links, with challenging holes and authentic links grass.

Trump National Golf Club (Old Course) in Bedminster, designed by Tom Fazio, offers championship-level golf in a serene, meticulously maintained setting. Noted for its sprawling bunkers, bold green contours, and challenging play, it has hosted major events including the 2017 U.S. Women's Open. The club stands out for exclusivity, exceptional service, and a tranquil countryside atmosphere.

Trump National Golf Club Philadelphia is an exclusive private course designed by Tom Fazio, set atop the highest point in southern New Jersey. Featuring panoramic views of the Philadelphia skyline, the 18-hole, par-71 layout stretches over 7,400 yards through rolling, wooded terrain. Known for its strategic design and excellent conditioning, it offers a challenging yet rewarding experience for members.

Mountain Ridge Country Club is a historic, private Donald Ross design in West Caldwell, New Jersey, renowned for classic parkland routing, undulating greens, and a storied history dating back to 1929. The course has hosted major amateur and professional events and features a stately Clifford C. Wendehack clubhouse, all just 20 miles from New York City.

Hidden Creek Golf Club in Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey, is a standout Coore & Crenshaw design opened in 2002. Known for its wide fairways, distinct holes set through ancient woodlands, and outstanding bentgrass conditioning, it's consistently ranked among the top 20 in New Jersey and top 150 modern courses nationally. Exclusivity and a tranquil woodland setting await Dormie Network members.

TPC Jasna Polana, designed by Gary Player, is an exclusive private club set on a former estate in Princeton, New Jersey. The course features a dramatic parkland layout known for meticulous conditioning, rolling fairways, water hazards, and a majestic neoclassical mansion as the clubhouse. As part of the PGA Tour’s TPC network, it offers elite service and championship-level play.

Forsgate Country Club’s Banks Course, designed by Charles Banks in 1931, is a renowned private, parkland-style layout in Monroe Township, New Jersey. The course features Banks’ signature bold bunkering and template holes modeled after classic Scottish and English designs. Highly ranked among New Jersey courses, it is known for challenging play, strategic interest, and meticulous conditioning for members and their guests.

Hollywood Golf Club in Deal, New Jersey is a private, member-owned course founded in 1898. It features a classic Walter J. Travis design, originally created in 1917 and restored by Tom Doak and Rees Jones. Known for its firm, fast greens and deep bunkering, the layout offers great variety and challenge just a mile from the Atlantic coast.

One of the oldest clubs in America, Essex County Country Club boasts a classic parkland design with origins in 1918 by A.W. Tillinghast, later refined by Seth Raynor, Charles Banks, and recent renovations by Gil Hanse. Known for its history, challenge, and impressive architectural pedigree, the course features tree-lined fairways, strategic bunkering, and diverse holes.

Trump National Golf Club Colts Neck is a private, championship-level course designed by Jerry Pate in 2005. Known for its immaculate Bentgrass surfaces, dramatic bunkering, and extensive practice facilities, it offers a demanding layout set within a tranquil Monmouth County locale. The club caters exclusively to members and boasts a prestigious reputation for luxury and service.

Shore Gate Golf Club in Ocean View, designed by David Dale and Ron Fream, is a top-ranked New Jersey public course opened in 2002. Stretching to 7,227 yards, it features undulating fairways, strategic bunkering, and a mix of parkland and links-style holes bordered by seven lakes. Noted for challenging play and beautiful coastal woodlands, Shore Gate offers an inclusive experience with five sets of tees.

Morris County Golf Club is a classic parkland course in Morristown, New Jersey, designed by Seth Raynor and Charles Blair Macdonald. Opened in 1894 and restored in 2001, the course features well-groomed bentgrass greens and fairways, memorable green complexes, and a challenging yet friendly layout. The club offers a full range of amenities including practice facilities, swimming, tennis, and dining.

Neshanic Valley Golf Course, designed by Dana Fry and Dr. Michael Hurdzan, is a 27-hole public municipal course located in Neshanic Station, New Jersey. Opened in 2004 and operated by Somerset County, it features three nines and a 9-hole short Academy Course, with superb practice facilities and a modern clubhouse overlooking scenic farmland and the Sourland Mountains.

Scotland Run Golf Club is a public 18-hole course in Williamstown, New Jersey, designed by Stephen Kay and Doug Smith in 1999. Built atop a former sand quarry, it offers a unique combination of wooded, quarry, and links-style holes. Renowned for its blend of striking natural features and playability, it’s consistently rated among the region’s top public tracks.

Heron Glen Golf Course, designed by Daniel J. Schlegel and opened in 2002, is a public 18-hole, par 72 championship layout in Ringoes, New Jersey. Featuring bentgrass tees, fairways, and greens, the course is set through the rolling hills of Hunterdon County, offering five sets of tees for all skill levels. Known for its excellent conditioning and scenic views.

A Golden Age public course in New Jersey designed by Charles Banks and influenced by Seth Raynor, Francis A. Byrne Golf Course features classic template holes such as the Road, Biarritz, and Eden. Deep bunkers, rolling greens, and hilly terrain create a challenging, scenic layout restored in 2023 by Stephen Kay.