Ryder Cup Buzz: Exploring Public Golf Across New York State

Attention from golf fans and travelers alike is turning to the 2025 Ryder Cup, professional golf’s premier international competition between the United States and Europe, set for the end of September at Bethpage State Park on Long Island.

As summer winds down, the early fall makes for a great time for players to find their new favorite course or revisit some classic spots for the game across the state. New York’s stunning collection of golf courses integrate the natural landscape into each hole, with rolling green hills and distant mountain peaks that tower over winding rivers and streams, creating breathtaking scenery to keep visitors coming back for more.

For a golf getaway in New York State, players should consider the following options:

Long Island

• The Black Course at Bethpage State Park

  : Arguably New York’s most famous course, The Black Course will join just one other in the state to have hosted the Ryder Cup, welcoming the event for the first time this September. A national mecca for public golf, this legendary course is known for its difficulty and is situated in
  Bethpage State Park in Farmingdale. 

• Montauk Downs State Park Golf Course

  : Sprawling across the picturesque Montauk Downs State Park is one of America’s most highly regarded public golf courses, originally developed in 1927. The 18-hole course sports Robert Trent Jones-style renovations and flexible tee times.  

• Indian Island Country Club

  : This stunning course in Riverhead features over 6,500 yards of terrain and a wide variety of private and public instruction classes and programs, helping everyone perfect their game, from junior golfers learning their putting grip to senior players refining their swing. 

Hudson Valley

• Hudson Hills Golf Course

  : A pinnacle of the Hudson Valley golf experience, this 7,000-yard course in Ossining treats players to stunning vista views from the first tee. Designed by Mark Mungeam, the rolling Hudson Hills course is regarded as Westchester county’s most upscale municipal golf course. 

• Pound Ridge Golf Club

  : The only public Pete Dye design in New York, this unique, demanding course features dramatic rock walls, volcanic bunkers, streams, wetlands and rugged terrain. The course was was crafted from 172 acres in Pound Ridge and is recognized as the #7 toughest public course in the U.S. by Golf Advisor. 

• Phillip J. Rotella Memorial Golf Course:

  A lush par  72 course of about 6,500 yards in Pomona, the course’s magnificent landscape is widely recognized for having the best greens in Rockland County and is known for its competitive value and memorable holes. 

Central New York

• Turning Stone Resort Casino: Three award-winning courses; Shenendoah, Kaluhyat, and Atunyote; 7,000 square feet of short-game area; and 36 Trackman-enabled hitting stations are just the beginning of this sprawling resort and casino in Verona. Turning Stone has three hotels, a variety of dining options, a spa and five nightlife venues for the perfect New York getaway. 

• Seven Oaks Golf Club: On Colgate University’s exquisite campus in Hamilton, this public course is known as a Robert Trent Jones classic with plenty of water hazards, expansive greens, and multiple tee placements. It offers specialty memberships for Colgate students and hosts public and private tournaments, junior clinics, and more. 

• Leatherstocking Golf Course: Welcoming guests of The Otesaga Resort Hotel, visitors to the Village of Cooperstown and local residents alike; Leatherstocking Golf Course offers a scenic and memorable round for players of all levels. The course’s natural contours sweep along the western shoreline of Lake Otsego, revealing stunning views from multiple elevations. Designed in 1909 by renowned architect Devereux Emmet, Leatherstocking is celebrated for its dramatic finish. The par-3 17th challenges players with up to 195 yards over water, while the par-5 18th begins from an island tee and follows the lake’s edge to the green—two of the most iconic closing holes in New York State. Beyond its exceptional play, Leatherstocking is recognized for its dedication to environmental stewardship and wildlife habitat preservation. Audubon International has honored the course as a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary, a distinction supported by the United States Golf Association and awarded to courses that uphold the highest sustainability standards.

Catskills

• Monster Golf Club: This par-72, 7,327‑yard course with heavy bunkering, water hazards on seven holes, massive undulating greens, six tee options and GPS-enabled lithium-ion carts invites players to pull out all the stops at this resort style course located at Resorts World Catskills in Monticello. Perched atop gorgeous mountain greens, Resorts World is the complete golf experience with its hotel and casino, spa, entertainment venues and a selection of exquisite dining options. 

• The Swan Golf & Country Club: A refined club course in Saugerties complete with unique natural features, Alpine gardens, rock outcroppings, and sweeping Catskill Mountain views. Members can also enjoy an outdoor bar and a farm-to-table specialty restaurant for the perfect upscale ending to a long day on the green. 

• Windham Golf Club: Tucked away in the quaint and historic Windham, this classic 18-hole resort-style course at the Windham Mountain Club is open to the public but exudes a private-club atmosphere. Guests can enjoy picturesque mountain views on the rolling greens of this Catskills gem and full-service amenities to help perfect their play.

Finger Lakes

• Mill Creek Golf Club: Built on a glacial drumlin in Churchville, the fairways at Mill Creek offer panoramic views of Rochester and the Finger Lakes on rolling forested terrain. The course is known for top-tier care and instructors, with its own golf academy, practice facilities, and excellent maintenance. 

• Wild Wood Country Club: This community-oriented club in Rush is best known for its always-open indoor facility, including year-round simulator leagues, three Foresight Sports simulator bays with ball and club data, and a spacious 1,300-square-foot short-game studio alongside its dynamic 18-hole course. 

• The Links at Hiawatha Landing: This public-yet-polished 18-hole course styled after the original links course in Apalachin is ideal for day trippers from New York and Pennsylvania alike. It hosts the annual Hiawatha Invitational, a specialty tournament open to the public for recreational competitive play.