Ridgewood Country Club

The East Course at Ridgewood Country Club in Paramus, New Jersey, is one of three courses designed by A.W. Tillinghast for the club in the 1920s. Tillinghast routed twenty-seven holes across the property, which were later configured into three distinct nines. The East Course combines classic Tillinghast design elements with the rolling terrain characteristic of northern New Jersey's Bergen County landscape, situated roughly twenty miles from Manhattan. Tillinghast's work at Ridgewood reflects his signature style: strategic bunkering, greens with subtle contours and multiple pin positions, and holes that reward thoughtful play over pure power. The routing takes advantage of natural elevation changes and mature tree-lined corridors. The course presents a variety of hole lengths and angles, requiring players to work the ball both directions and manage different approach shot trajectories into greens that often feature false fronts or collection areas. Ridgewood Country Club has hosted significant championships across its three courses. The club held the 1935 Ryder Cup, one of the early matches in the competition's history, and the 1974 U.S. Amateur, which was won by Jerry Pate. The facility has also hosted multiple USGA championships, including the 1990 U.S. Senior Open. The club's tournament history reflects both the quality of Tillinghast's design work and the property's capacity to challenge elite competition. The East Course, as part of this broader complex, contributes to Ridgewood's standing among the notable multi-course clubs in the metropolitan New York area.