What are he Worst Golf Courses in Each State (New York)?

Clearview

There are some spectacular golf courses in New York. Bethpage Black, Oak Hill, Winged Foot and countless others make the Empire State a bucket-list destination for golfers.

But not every New York golf course is earning rave reviews.

In fact, a handful of public courses are generating some brutally negative feedback from golfers, with complaints ranging from poor conditioning and neglected tee boxes to painfully slow play.

Here are three of the lowest-rated courses I found that are still open for play.

1. Clearview Park Golf Course — Bayside, Queens

If you've ever played golf in New York City, you know that convenience can come with a price.

Clearview Park Golf Course sits in Bayside, Queens, and its location is arguably its biggest selling point. The 18-hole municipal course sits near the Throgs Neck Bridge and provides some terrific views of the surrounding area.

The problem, according to a significant number of golfers, is the golf itself.

The course currently carries a 2.0-star rating from 34 reviews in the local business data I found.

Older Tripadvisor reviews have been particularly harsh, with complaints about poor fairway and green conditions, bird droppings and long waits. One reviewer described the waiting time as excruciating.

There are, however, signs that the course has been trying to improve. Current course information notes updated tees, a new 8,000-square-foot putting green and a remodeled clubhouse.

And that's an important distinction: a bad rating doesn't necessarily mean the course is permanently bad.

Clearview is open for play, with posted hours of 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on most days. Clearview Park Golf Course

The verdict: If you're looking for pristine conditions, Clearview probably isn't the place. If you're looking for convenient New York City golf and don't mind the occasional rough edge, it's still an option.

2. Pelham Bay & Split Rock Golf Courses — The Bronx

Pelham Bay/Split Rock

This one might surprise New York golfers.

Pelham Bay & Split Rock is actually a 36-hole public golf complex inside Pelham Bay Park in the Bronx. With two 18-hole courses and a huge amount of golf available, you'd expect the reviews to be better.

Instead, the facility currently carries a 2.5-star rating from 85 reviews in the business data.

That's enough reviews to make this one considerably more interesting than a course with only a handful of disgruntled golfers.

The complaints aren't necessarily about one catastrophic problem. Like many heavily played municipal facilities, the criticism tends to revolve around the overall experience, including pace of play and course conditions. At the same time, golfers also praise the value and the fact that you get 36 holes of golf relatively close to Manhattan. Pelham Bay and Split Rock Golf Courses

And there's another reason this course deserves some context.

You're playing in one of the largest urban parks in the country, not a private club tucked away in Westchester or the Hamptons. Expectations have to be adjusted accordingly.

The facility remains open for public play, with posted hours beginning at 6 a.m. most days. Pelham Bay and Split Rock Golf Courses

The verdict: The rating is ugly, but 36 holes, a convenient location and public-golf pricing make Pelham Bay/Split Rock more complicated than simply calling it "bad."

3. Sunken Meadow Golf Course — Fort Salonga

Sunken Meadow

Here's the most interesting entry on the list.

Sunken Meadow Golf Course is part of Sunken Meadow State Park on Long Island and offers 27 holes of public golf. It's a beautiful setting, with the course located near Long Island Sound.

On one review platform, however, the course's Green nine carries an Eden score of just 2.9 out of 10, with only 25% of reviewers indicating they liked it. Recent reviews have included complaints about slow greens and poorly maintained tee boxes and fairways.

One recent reviewer gave it just 1 out of 10.

Another gave it 2.2.

And yet another reviewer in August 2026 gave it an 8.3.

That tells you everything you need to know about online golf reviews: they can be wildly subjective.

In fact, another golf-review site gives Sunken Meadow a 4.2 rating from 164 reviews, describing it as a scenic, affordable and walkable public course.

So why include it?

Because when you're looking for the worst-rated courses, Sunken Meadow's extremely low recent user scores are impossible to ignore.

And the course is definitely still open. The current business listing shows the facility operating seven days a week, while the course offers 27 holes and remains a New York State Parks facility. Sunken Meadow Golf Course

The verdict: Sunken Meadow may be the best example of why golfers shouldn't blindly trust a single rating. Some golfers absolutely hate it. Others think it's a very good value.

So, Are These Really New York's Worst Golf Courses?

That's the tricky part.

There is no official "worst golf courses in New York" ranking, and different review platforms produce dramatically different results.

That's particularly obvious with Sunken Meadow. One platform rates it poorly, while another has it at 4.2 stars based on 164 reviews.

And that's why I wouldn't interpret this list as "never play these courses."

Instead, think of it as three New York courses where golfers have been most critical recently.

If you're planning a golf trip, I'd look beyond the star rating and check the most recent reviews, current course conditions and pace-of-play reports before booking.

Because sometimes the difference between a terrible golf course and a pretty good one is simply when you played it.

Shane Lowry Claims Dominant Home Soil Victory at Amgen Irish Open

(HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif.) – Srixon staffer Shane Lowry delivered a commanding performance at the Amgen Irish Open, capturing his first victory of the 2026 season and the seventh DP World Tour title of his career with a dominant 11-stroke victory on home soil in Dublin, Ireland.

The victory marks Lowry’s second Amgen Irish Open victory, his first coming 17 years prior in 2009 as an amateur. Lowry’s dominant performance included a course-record 8-under-par 62 in the second round to surge into contention and never let up. He carried a four-shot advantage into Sunday’s final round before pulling away from the field to secure the most decisive victory on the DPWT this season. He finished the tournament at 23-under-par.

Reflecting on the win, Lowry spoke about the significance of winning in front of his home fans after a challenging season.

This year has been quite difficult on the course for me. I’ve had a few chances to win and took some really tough times, but to come here and win is incredible. I can’t believe I’m standing here and looking at that leaderboard. This has been the most spectacular week.

From his precise iron play to his trademark touch around the greens, Lowry had every part of his game working at the Amgen Irish Open. Throughout the tournament, he showcased the shot-making and scrambling ability that have become synonymous with his success, turning potential mistakes into momentum-building saves and capitalizing on scoring opportunities throughout the week. The result was a dominant performance on home soil and a victory that left little doubt about who was the best player in the field.

Adding to the significance of the victory, Lowry had the new Srixon Driver in play this week and immediately found success. Throughout the tournament, he ranked first in Strokes Gained: Total, showcasing complete control of his game from tee to green.

Shane Lowry putting the new Srixon Driver in play at the Amgen Irish Open

Here’s a look at Lowry’s winning setup:
- New Srixon Driver 9.0°
- Srixon ZXi5 Irons (4i, 5i)
- Srixon ZXi7 Irons (6i-PW)
- Cleveland Golf RTZ 2 (50° MID, 56° MID)
- Cleveland Golf RTZ 60° LOW
- Srixon Z-STAR XV Golf Ball

The victory is expected to move Lowry to 17th in the DP World Tour Race to Dubai Rankings as he continues to build momentum heading into the closing stretch of the season.

To learn more about Lowry’s winning clubs, visit us.dunlopsports.com/srixon.  

How Financially Healthy Are Golf Courses?

The general improvement in U.S. golf facility health metrics over the past couple decades represents one of the industry’s most significant structural shifts.

In 2009, toward the end of the Great Recession (and a period in which participation levels dipped by about three million golfers), NGF researchers began surveying U.S. golf facilities regarding their financial health. We’ve continued this longitudinal study over the years to track how these self-reported measures have changed, and the contrast between the low point after the financial crisis and the recent peak is substantial.

In 2009 and again in 2016, approximately one quarter of public U.S. golf courses indicated they were in poor financial health. Over the past five years, this proportion of poor (or “very poor”) has dropped to 5% or less, and the early returns this year among hundreds of responding golf course operators suggest nearly three-quarters of public facilities would rate their financial footing as “good” or “excellent.”

A similar trajectory holds true with private clubs, with even fewer indicating they’re in dire financial health.

The past five years have seen heightened participation (+4.3 million on-course golfers) and play (record-setting rounds in 2021, 2023, 2024 and 2025), so the easy back-of-napkin math would suggest more revenue means better financial standing for golf courses and clubs. Operator surveys have supported this, with nearly 60% saying increased demand for rounds and memberships has been the leading factor behind their improved financial health, while other reasons included investments (in the golf course, infrastructure and amenities), better pricing power, and an added or renewed focus on the overall customer experience.

From a broader perspective, an underappreciated contributor to improved facility health was the supply correction that resulted in a net reduction of over 2,000 U.S. golf courses between 2006 and 2020.

Looking back, there has been predictive validity in the self-reported financial health measures – as approximately 20% of the public courses in the early samples that rated their health as poor or worse are now shut down. That closure rate is four times as high as facilities at the upper end of the financial health scale. Meanwhile, financially distressed private clubs closed or converted (to public) at eight times the rate of those in strong financial standing.

When we shared an update on facility financial health five years ago and noted fewer courses were “at risk,” we anticipated the rate of course closures would slow down as the marketplace moved closer to equilibrium. The findings were predictive, as the net U.S. supply change since 2020 is a reduction of fewer than 60 facilities.

The balancing of supply and demand may have been accelerated by the pandemic, but the result is the most robust market in decades from a facility health perspective, even as challenges remain such as sustaining momentum amid normalization and capacity constraints at golf courses. These early findings, and more to come, will be a part of NGF’s State of Industry and Graffis Report – set for release in early 2027.

The 10 Most Scenic Opening Holes in American Golf

Cypress Point

There are opening holes that ease you into a round, and then there are opening holes that make you stop and take a picture before you even put the tee in the ground.

The best opening holes in golf do more than begin a scorecard. They introduce a course's personality, establish a sense of place and, sometimes, provide a view you'll remember long after the round is over.

From the Pacific coastline to the sandhills of Nebraska and the rugged terrain of the Northeast, these 10 opening holes offer some of the most spectacular first-tee views in American golf.

1. Cypress Point Club – Pebble Beach, California

Few places in golf can match the beauty of the Monterey Peninsula, and Cypress Point wastes little time showing it off.

The first hole is a relatively gentle par 4, but the setting is anything but ordinary. Cypress trees, rolling terrain and the Pacific Ocean establish the visual character of the course immediately. It's an understated beginning to one of America's most spectacular golf experiences.

The real drama comes later at Cypress Point, but the first tee provides an elegant introduction to what's ahead.

2. Pebble Beach Golf Links – Pebble Beach, California

It seems almost unfair that a course with one of golf's most famous closing stretches also has such a spectacular beginning.

The first hole at Pebble Beach is a relatively straightforward par 4, but the surrounding Monterey Peninsula scenery immediately lets you know you're somewhere special. The Pacific Ocean is already part of the landscape, while the opening fairway begins the journey toward some of the most famous holes in golf.

For many golfers, simply standing on the first tee at Pebble Beach is an experience.

3. Sand Hills Golf Club – Mullen, Nebraska

Sand Hills

The first hole at Sand Hills is a wonderful example of how spectacular golf scenery doesn't require an ocean or mountain range.

Here, it's all about the Nebraska Sandhills.

The opening hole is a par 5 that winds through enormous grass-covered dunes. From the first tee, the golfer gets an immediate sense of the scale and isolation that make Sand Hills one of America's great golf courses.

There's something almost cinematic about looking across the rolling dunes and realizing there isn't a building, road or development in sight.

4. Bandon Dunes Golf Resort – Bandon, Oregon

The opening hole of Bandon Dunes provides an immediate introduction to the rugged beauty of the Oregon coast.

The wide fairway invites the golfer to get the round started, but it's difficult not to look beyond the golf and take in the dunes, native vegetation and Pacific coastline.

Bandon Dunes is one of those places where the landscape feels bigger than the golf course. The first tee makes that clear from the beginning.

5. Old Macdonald – Bandon, Oregon

If the first hole at Bandon Dunes introduces golfers to the Oregon coast, the opening hole at Old Macdonald introduces them to a very different kind of beauty.

The course occupies dramatic coastal terrain, with massive dunes and wide-open views creating an almost links-like environment.

The first hole doesn't overwhelm you with manufactured spectacle. Instead, it gives you room to appreciate the land. That's part of the genius of the Bandon experience.

6. Whistling Straits – Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Whistling Straits looks like it was dropped onto the Lake Michigan shoreline from somewhere across the Atlantic.

The opening hole immediately establishes that character. Rugged fescue, dramatic bunkering, expansive views and the presence of Lake Michigan create a memorable first impression.

The course's visual presentation can make the first tee feel more like the beginning of a championship than an ordinary round of golf.

And that's fitting. Whistling Straits has hosted major championships, including the PGA Championship and Ryder Cup.

7. The Honors Course – Ooltewah, Tennessee

The Honors Course offers a different kind of scenic opening.

Rather than ocean views or endless dunes, the course is tucked into the rolling hills of southeastern Tennessee. The first hole introduces golfers to a heavily wooded, natural setting with elevation changes that immediately establish the character of the course.

It's a reminder that some of America's most beautiful golf scenery is found away from the country's traditional golf destinations.

8. Streamsong Red – Bowling Green, Florida

Streamsong Red

Florida golf doesn't have to mean palm trees and flat terrain.

Streamsong Red is proof.

Built across a dramatic former phosphate-mining landscape, the course features enormous sandy expanses, rolling terrain and elevation changes that seem almost impossible for central Florida.

The opening hole provides an immediate glimpse of that unusual landscape. Instead of the stereotypical Florida golf experience, golfers encounter something closer to an inland links.

9. Kiawah Island Golf Resort – Kiawah Island, South Carolina

The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island is famous for its spectacular coastal setting, and the first hole provides an appropriate introduction.

The course sits directly along the Atlantic, with dunes, sea breezes and native coastal vegetation shaping the experience.

The scenery can be especially dramatic when the wind is blowing. That's when you realize you're not simply playing a course near the ocean. You're playing a course that feels completely connected to it.

10. TPC Sawgrass – Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida

The first hole at TPC Sawgrass isn't necessarily the most dramatic opening hole on this list, but it earns its place because of the experience it creates.

Golfers begin their rounds at one of America's most recognizable courses, surrounded by the distinctive landscape and water hazards of the Stadium Course.

And there's something psychologically appealing about standing on the first tee knowing that, eventually, you'll have to face the 17th hole.

The first tee isn't just the beginning of a round at TPC Sawgrass. It's the beginning of the journey toward one of golf's most famous holes.

The First Tee Is Part of the Experience

A great opening hole doesn't necessarily need to be difficult. It doesn't even need to be architecturally spectacular.

Sometimes, it simply needs to make you want to hit the first shot.

That's what these 10 holes have in common. Whether you're looking at the Pacific Ocean, rolling sandhills, Lake Michigan, coastal dunes or the hills of Tennessee, each provides something golfers can't get from a scorecard.

The best opening holes tell you something about the course before you've even hit your first shot.

And these might be the most beautiful introductions in American golf.

Heritage Golf Group Acquires Old Natchez Country Club in Franklin, Tennessee

(Franklin, TN) – Heritage Golf Group, one of the fastest-growing owners and operators of golf and country clubs in the United States, has announced the acquisition of Old Natchez Country Club in Franklin, Tennessee. The acquisition expands Heritage’s presence in Tennessee and establishes the company in the greater Nashville market.

Located in Williamson County between Franklin and Brentwood, Old Natchez Country Club has served the Middle Tennessee community for more than a century and is recognized as the area’s oldest country club in continual existence. The private club combines golf, racquet sports, aquatics, fitness, dining, and an active social calendar for its Members and families.

“We are excited to welcome Old Natchez Country Club to our family of clubs,” said Mark Burnett, CEO of Heritage Golf Group. “The greater Nashville area is a natural fit for Heritage and an important addition to our growing presence in Tennessee. Entering the market with a Club that brings together Old Natchez’s history, location, and welcoming membership is an honor. We look forward to investing in the Club and building on its long-standing role in the Franklin community.”

The Club’s 18-hole golf course plays through the rolling terrain of Middle Tennessee and is complemented by practice facilities and a full-service golf shop. Old Natchez also features six clay tennis courts, a junior Olympic swimming pool with a slide and covered pavilion, fitness facilities, and a 30,000-square-foot clubhouse.

The clubhouse serves as a central gathering place for Members, with casual and formal dining, banquet and event space, an event lawn, and a spacious veranda overlooking the Club grounds. A year-round calendar of social and family activities provides Members with opportunities to use the Club throughout the seasons.

Early capital improvement plans will be developed with input from Members and the Old Natchez team. Heritage will evaluate opportunities across the golf course, clubhouse, and lifestyle amenities, with investments focused on areas that have the greatest impact on the Member experience and the Club’s long-term position in the Franklin and greater Nashville market.

The acquisition continues Heritage Golf Group’s growth in Tennessee and across the Southeast. Old Natchez becomes Heritage’s 49th club nationwide and joins Colonial Country Club in Memphis and The Club at Gettysvue in Knoxville within the company’s Tennessee portfolio.

Heritage’s growing network also provides additional value to golf Members through the Heritage Plus Network, a reciprocal travel benefit providing access to participating Heritage clubs and an expanded network of private and daily-fee clubs across the country.

Fifteen of the Nation’s Best College Golf Programs to Play Beau Rivage's Fallen Oak in Mid-October

(BILOXI, Miss.) – With college back in session, golf programs are announcing their 2026-2027 schedules, and 15 of the nation’s top teams have made the field for
the prestigious Fallen Oak Collegiate Invitational, set for Oct. 16-19, 2026, on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

The Board of Directors of the Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic Foundation, Inc., are proud to present the Fallen Oak Collegiate Invitational for its fourth year. Mississippi’s three universities - Ole Miss, Mississippi State, and Southern Miss  - will once again host the NCAA event. Participating teams include Alabama, Arkansas, Florida State, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, LSU, Ohio State, South Carolina, Tennessee, Wake Forest, and Wisconsin.

“We are honored to host some of the top teams in the country,” said SEC Coach of the Year and Fallen Oak Collegiate Invitational Co-Host Chris Malloy. “This is just the beginning, and I can't wait to see what's ahead.”

Nine of the teams in the field are ranked in the Golf Channel’s Top 30 preseason ranking – six in the Top 20. In addition, Seven players were named preseason All-America and three others were named to the preseason All Freshmen team.

MGRCF Board Chairman, Billy Thornton, said, “We are pleased to showcase our Gulf Coast to visitors, while also bringing in some of America’s future golf pros to an extraordinary, free event that also gives back to our community. It’s a win for all!”

The competition will take place on the Tom Fazio-designed Fallen Oak, which hosted the world’s best golfers and a PGA TOUR Champions event for more than a decade, and now the next generation of champions will compete on what is consistently ranked by Golf Digest and The Fallen Oak Collegiate Invitational will offer a family-friendly College Game Day atmosphere with tailgating on the finishing hole. Spectators are encouraged to wear school colors and cheer on their favorite team. The event is free and open to the public. For more info, visit fallonoakinvitational.com.

Whistler Golf Club to Reopen in July 2027 After $10 Million Renovation

Whistler Golf Club is getting a major makeover.

The iconic Arnold Palmer-designed golf course in Whistler, British Columbia, has announced plans to reopen in July 2027 following a $10 million transformation designed to improve playability, safety, aesthetics and the overall guest experience.

Originally opened in 1983, Whistler Golf Club has welcomed golfers from around the world for more than four decades. The course sits in the heart of Whistler, one of Canada's premier mountain destinations, where golf and outdoor adventure have become major parts of the tourism experience.

The renovation is being led by golf course architect Thad Layton, formerly of Arnold Palmer Course Design.

Among the biggest changes will be redesigned tee complexes, giving golfers of different skill levels more enjoyable and engaging options from the tee. The course will also receive updated bunkers designed to improve both appearance and playability.

Two greens will receive particularly significant attention. The greens on holes 3 and 12 will be realigned to improve sightlines and player safety.

The renovation also includes resurfacing of the fairways and greens, along with updated cart paths designed to improve traffic flow and movement throughout the course.

“We want golfers to discover a course that feels distinctly Whistler while offering a more contemporary and welcoming experience,” said Alan Kristmanson, general manager of Whistler Golf Club.

But the changes won't stop at the golf course.

Palmers Restaurant will receive a complete renovation, while the clubhouse patio will also be upgraded. A new snack shack next to the first hole will provide golfers with convenient grab-and-go food and beverages.

Whistler Golf Club and Palmers Restaurant will remain closed during construction. However, golfers visiting the area will still be able to use the Whistler Driving Range and Whistler Golf Club Retail Shop, which will continue operating on their regular seasonal schedules.

The reopening is expected to be an important moment for golf tourism in Whistler.

“Whistler Golf Club remains a premium, playable course capable of attracting and inspiring golfers from around the world for decades to come,” said Barrett Fisher, president and CEO of Tourism Whistler.

And Whistler offers plenty of options for golfers planning a golf trip.

The destination features four championship courses: Whistler Golf Club, Fairmont Chateau Whistler Golf Club, Nicklaus North Golf Course and Big Sky Golf Club.

Add in Whistler's mountain scenery, accommodations, restaurants and extensive outdoor activities, and the destination has plenty to offer beyond the golf course.

For golfers who have played Whistler Golf Club before, the July 2027 reopening should provide a very different experience while maintaining the character of the Arnold Palmer original.

For golfers who haven't played it yet, the reopening could be a good reason to put Whistler on the golf-trip list.

Tee-time information and reopening updates will be available through Whistler Golf Club as the July 2027 opening approaches.