
Valley Brook Course
Valley Brook Golf Club
About this course
Valley Brook Golf Club sits in River Vale, a residential community in Bergen County in northeastern New Jersey, roughly twenty miles from Manhattan. The course was designed by John Handwerg Jr., a regional architect active in the mid-twentieth century who worked primarily in the New York metropolitan area. Handwerg's designs typically reflect the practical constraints and opportunities of suburban development-era golf, fitting layouts into rolling terrain with attention to playability for a range of skill levels. The property occupies land characteristic of the region's glacially shaped topography, with moderate elevation changes and natural drainage corridors that likely influenced the routing. Courses in this part of Bergen County often feature tree-lined fairways, small to mid-sized greens, and a parkland aesthetic shaped by mature hardwoods and seasonal color. Valley Brook serves as a private club, providing a traditional member-focused experience common to established clubs in the densely populated northern New Jersey corridor. The club operates within a landscape where golf has long been woven into the social fabric of suburban life, with many courses dating to the postwar expansion of the game. While Valley Brook does not appear in national rankings or major championship records, it represents the type of community-centered private club that forms the backbone of regional golf culture in the New York metropolitan area.
Rankings
Ranked by CV ratings from golfers who've played this course. Positions are shown worldwide, by country, and by state; the Public column compares courses anyone can play.
Best in World
Best in USA
Best in NJ
Quick facts
- Location
- River Vale, NJ, USA
- Access
- Public
- Year built
- 1943
- Holes
- 18
- Designer
- John Handwerg Jr.
- Par
- 70
- Length
- 6,211 yards
- Difficulty
- 73.8/129
- Course Vaults score
- 5.3
Getting there
Valley Brook Golf Club is reached via Newark Liberty International (EWR) or Teterboro Airport (TEB) for private arrivals, both positioned within a half-hour of the club's secluded River Vale setting. The drive north from Newark traces the Garden State Parkway before peeling west into Bergen County's leafy residential enclaves, where the suburban hum gradually softens into quiet, tree-canopied lanes. The final approach along Rivervale Road feels deliberately understated - no grand gates or sweeping vistas, just a discreet turn into wooded seclusion that has sheltered this members' sanctuary since 1926.

FAQ
Common questions about Valley Brook
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
Valley Brook has a Course Vaults score of 5.3 out of 10 based on 25 logged golfers.
Valley Brook was designed by John Handwerg Jr..
Yes. Valley Brook is listed as welcoming public or guest play on Course Vaults.
Par at Valley Brook is 70.
Valley Brook plays 6,211 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at Valley Brook is 129.



