Thinking you can’t play a proper round of golf in New York City is a common mistake. You absolutely can, and this guide is designed to a show you how. We’ll cover the accessible public courses across the five boroughs, the logistics of booking tee times and getting there, and the awesome alternatives like high-tech driving ranges and simulators that make NYC a surprisingly vibrant golf town.
While Manhattan itself lacks an 18-hole course, the other four boroughs are home to a collection of historic, challenging, and remarkably accessible public courses. Each offers a unique flavor of urban golf. Booking is typically done online through the course's website or an app like GolfNow, usually 7-10 days in advance. Weekend morning times fill up fast, so plan ahead!
The Bronx is arguably the epicenter of NYC public golf, offering three distinct and historic facilities.
Brooklyn offers two fantastic options that are both well-loved by the locals who play them week in and week out.
Queens has more public golf options than any other borough, from championship layouts to pitch-and-putts.
Taking the ferry over to Staten Island opens up three more excellent courses that feel more suburban than urban.
Sometimes you don't have five hours for a full round. NYC's golf culture extends well beyond the 18-hole courses with world-class practice facilities and a booming indoor golf scene.
These are more than just places to hit a bucket of balls, they are social destinations.The Golf Club at Chelsea Piers is an iconic, multi-tiered waterfront range where you hit balls out over the Hudson River. It features state-of-the-art ball tracking and climate-controlled hitting bays.Randalls Island Golf Center is another premier facility with grass tees, a large putting green, and a dedicated short-game area with sand bunkers. It's an ideal spot for serious practice.
Rain, snow, or a packed schedule can’t stop you from playing golf in NYC. Indoor simulator bars and centers have exploded in popularity. These spots use technology like TrackMan or Golfzon to let you play virtual rounds at famous courses like Pebble Beach or St Andrews. It’s a fantastic way to socialize with friends, take a lesson, or keep an eye on your swing data. It’s a part of the modern NYC golf experience and a wonderful way to keep your game sharp year-round.
Knowing where to play is only half the battle. Here's how to handle the practical side of being a city golfer.
You don't need a car, but it certainly helps. Most of the outer-borough courses have parking lots, though they can fill up. If you don't own a car, services like Zipcar can be a great option for a golf outing.
Public transportation is a viable, albeit slower, method. The subway can get you close, but you will often need a short bus or rideshare trip to get to the clubhouse. For example, the aforementioned trip on the 1 train gets you almost to the entrance of Van Cortlandt Park. Planning your route on Citymapper or Google Maps is a must.
Playing golf in New York City is an adventure. From the historic turf of Van Cortlandt Park to the windswept fairways of Marine Park, the experience is authentic, diverse, and deeply rewarding. With a bit of smart planning for tee times and transportation, you can unlock a whole world of urban golf you might not have known existed.
As you navigate these diverse courses, from the hilly lies at Silver Lake to tricky doglegs at Pelham Bay, an expert opinion can make all the difference. That's where we developed Caddie AI. When you’re unsure how to play a new hole or need the right club for a difficult shot, you can get instant, simple advice on your phone. Snap a photo of a tough lie in the Vanny rough, and it'll give you a smart way to play it, helping you make confident swings and enjoy the amazing experience of city golf even more.
Thinking about hosting a golf tournament fundraiser is the first swing, executing it successfully is what gets the ball in the hole. This guide will walk you through the entire process, step-by-step, from laying the initial groundwork months in advance to watching your happy golfers tee off. We’ll cover everything from securing sponsors and setting your budget to planning the on-course fun that makes an event unforgettable.
A golf handicap does more than just give you bragging rights (or a reason to demand strokes from your friends) - it’s the game’s great equalizer and the single best way to track your improvement. This guide breaks down what a handicap is, how the supportive math behind a handicap index a is, and exactly how you can get one for yourself. We’ll look at everything from Course Rating to Adjusted Gross Score, helping you feel confident both on the course and in the clubhouse.
The compression of a Pinnacle Rush golf ball is one of its most defining features, engineered specifically to help a huge swath of golfers get more distance and enjoyment from their game. We'll break down exactly what its low compression means, who it's for, and how you can use that knowledge to shoot lower scores.
Figuring out which spikes go into your new (or old) pair of Puma golf shoes can feel like a puzzle, but it’s much simpler than you think. The key isn't the brand of the shoe, but the type of receptacle system they use. This guide will walk you through exactly how to identify your Puma's spike system, choose the perfect replacements for your game, and change them out like a pro.
The Golf Genius app is one of the best tools for managing and participating in competitive golf events, but figuring it out for the first time can feel like reading a new set of greens. This guide cuts through the confusion and shows you exactly how to use the app as a player. We’ll cover everything from logging into your tournament and entering scores to checking the live leaderboard so you can enjoy the competition without any tech headaches.
Walking onto the first tee with sweaty palms, worried you’ll be a good partner to paly wtih...or even asked back again ...We’ve all been there - trust me! The real trick of feeling confortable... is about how you handle you’re ready to plsy. THIS guide explains the simple rules of the rode to show you hnow t play golf while staying calm relaxed and focused... an having much morse fun while you,',re aat it? You'll also play with confidence a dn make fiendsa while you're at i
Just ask a question or share a photo and Caddie gives personalized guidance for every shot - anytime, anywhere.
