Hay Harbor occupies the western end of Fishers Island, a seven-mile barrier island situated in Long Island Sound between Connecticut and New York. The course was designed by Seth Raynor and opened in 1926, making it one of several Raynor layouts in the region and a companion to Fishers Island Club on the eastern portion of the same island. Raynor, a protégé of C.B. Macdonald, brought his characteristic template approach to the design, incorporating versions of famous holes from British links courses adapted to the coastal New England landscape. The routing takes advantage of the island's modest elevation changes and coastal exposure, with several holes playing along or near the water. The property features the windswept character typical of barrier island golf, with fescue grasses and naturalized areas framing the playing corridors. Raynor's design principles are evident in the bold, geometric bunkering and strategic green complexes that reward thoughtful positioning and precise approach play. Hay Harbour Club operates as a private club with a membership drawn largely from seasonal residents of Fishers Island and families with longstanding connections to the community. The club maintains a relatively informal atmosphere compared to some other private island clubs, reflecting the casual summer resort character of Fishers Island itself. Access to the island is primarily by ferry from New London, Connecticut, which contributes to the secluded nature of both the club and the course.

Hay Harbor occupies the western end of Fishers Island, a seven-mile barrier island situated in Long Island Sound between Connecticut and New York. The course was designed by Seth Raynor and opened in 1926, making it one of several Raynor layouts in the region and a companion to Fishers Island Club on the eastern portion of the same island. Raynor, a protégé of C.B. Macdonald, brought his characteristic template approach to the design, incorporating versions of famous holes from British links courses adapted to the coastal New England landscape. The routing takes advantage of the island's modest elevation changes and coastal exposure, with several holes playing along or near the water. The property features the windswept character typical of barrier island golf, with fescue grasses and naturalized areas framing the playing corridors. Raynor's design principles are evident in the bold, geometric bunkering and strategic green complexes that reward thoughtful positioning and precise approach play. Hay Harbour Club operates as a private club with a membership drawn largely from seasonal residents of Fishers Island and families with longstanding connections to the community. The club maintains a relatively informal atmosphere compared to some other private island clubs, reflecting the casual summer resort character of Fishers Island itself. Access to the island is primarily by ferry from New London, Connecticut, which contributes to the secluded nature of both the club and the course.