Split Rock at Pelham Bay Split Rock Golf Club

Split Rock occupies a distinctive corner of Pelham Bay Park in the northeastern Bronx, making it one of New York City's municipal golf facilities. Designed by John Van Kleek and opened in 1935, the course was built as part of the Depression-era public works programs that brought golf to a broader population. Van Kleek, who also designed the neighboring Pelham Bay Golf Course, routed Split Rock across more dramatic terrain, taking advantage of the natural rock outcroppings and elevation changes that give the course its name.

The layout moves through rolling, wooded parkland with exposed bedrock formations appearing throughout the property. These granite outcrops create both visual interest and strategic challenges, particularly on approach shots where players must account for uneven lies and bounces. The course measures over 6,700 yards from the back tees and features narrow, tree-lined fairways that demand accuracy off the tee. Several holes play along or across significant elevation changes, and the green complexes are often perched on higher ground or nestled into natural bowls.

Split Rock serves a diverse local membership and daily-fee players from across the metropolitan area. The course has undergone periodic renovations to maintain playing conditions and update infrastructure, though the essential character of Van Kleek's routing through the rocky, forested terrain remains intact. As a municipal facility within one of New York City's largest parks, it provides accessible golf in a setting that feels removed from the surrounding urban density.