Best public golf courses in the Northeast: GOLF’s 2021-22 ranking

By: Jessica Marksbury

May 3, 2021

Bethpage Black is the top-ranked public course in the Northeast.

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Empire State residents, rejoice! According to our latest Top 100 You Can Play list, not only do you live in the area with the most top-rated public courses in the Northeast, but you’re also within close proximity to plenty of others in nearby New Jersey, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania.

How many courses are in your local area? Check out our full ranking below.

CLICK HERE FOR THE COMPLETE 2021-22 TOP 100 COURSES YOU CAN PLAY RANKING

GOLF’s 2021-22 ranking of the best public courses in the Northeast

(With overall rank, course name, city, state, architect and year opened)

New York (3)

5. Bethpage (Black)
Farmingdale, NY
A.W. Tillinghast, 1935

66. Bethpage (Red)
Farmingdale, NY
A.W. Tillinghast, 1936

95. Trump Golf Links at Ferry Point
Bronx, NY
Jack Nicklaus, 2015

Massachusetts (2)

59. George Wright
Boston, MA
Donald Ross, 1936

62. Taconic
Williamstown, MA
Stiles and Van Kleek, 1928/Gil Hanse, 2009

Maine (1)

64. Cape Arundel
Kennebunkport, ME
Walter Travis, 1920

New Jersey (1)

87. Atlantic City CC
Atlantic City, NJ
Willie Park, 1915/William Flynn, 1925/Tom Doak, 2001

Pennsylvania (1)

80. Omni Bedford Springs Resort (Old Course)
Bedford, PA
Spencer Oldham, 1895/A.W. Tillinghast, 1912/Donald Ross, 1923/Ron Forse, 2007

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Golf.com Editor

As a four-year member of Columbia’s inaugural class of female varsity golfers, Jessica can out-birdie everyone on the masthead. She can out-hustle them in the office, too, where she’s primarily responsible for producing both print and online features, and overseeing major special projects, such as GOLF’s inaugural Style Issue, which debuted in February 2018. Her original interview series, “A Round With,” debuted in November of 2015, and appeared in both in the magazine and in video form on GOLF.com.