The best golf courses in Clifton, New Jersey

“Incredible course. If they named the 9’s it’d be Links & Forest. Greens are magnificent but deadly - without a caddy you are toast. Have to know where to miss on each approach”

Written by

@Dhanderson08

• ❗️Must play
• |✨Pristine
• |🚶🏻Walkable

“A take people won’t like….if the rough isn’t at your shins and you are a halfway decent putter, it’s not that hard. I’m a mid single digit and shot 79 with a soul shaking hozel rocket on 9.”

Written by

@JTC

• ❗️Must play
• |✨Pristine
• |👕Locker rooms

“Not a weak hole on the course. Tests the whole bag. Rewards great shots and punishes poor ones. Tillinghast at his best. Club vibe is relaxed and down to earth, and our host was delightful.”

Written by

@txmidam94

• ✨Pristine
• |😅Challenging
• |❗️Must play

“Elevated tees, rolling fairways, and firm, fast greens make every hole engaging. Conditions are immaculate, and recent restorations have enhanced its classic charm. Often overlooked next to the Lower, the Upper is equally enjoyable—strategic, scenic, and a true pleasure to play”

Written by

@tagliatelletodd

• ❗️Must play
• |✨Pristine
• |💨Fast greens

“The greens are almost as good as the West (which might be the best set of greens in America). I really wish the next time they held a USGA championship there, they would do a composite between the two courses. The land is also better than West.”

Written by

@Urannimal

• ❗️Must play
• |🚶🏻Walkable
• |✨Pristine

“I was lucky to grow up there and knew it then. It’s cast in the shadows of Winged Foot and Baltusrol but Ridgewood is so balanced, reflective of Tillinghast and offers so many good holes over the three 9’s.”

Written by

@Gdub201

• ❗️Must play
• |✨Pristine
• |🏌️‍♂️Driving range

“From tee to green, one cannot help being captured by the traditional and yet interesting design and routing, as well as the varied topography. The course is difficult and challenging, especially the greens, but not unfair.”

Written by

@DM4Golf

• ✨Pristine
• |💨Fast greens
• |❗️Must play

“Has the feel of a Scottish links with the hills and lack of trees. Some awesome views of NYC and the Hudson River. Fun to play once or twice.”

Written by

@BirdiesAvenue

• ✨Pristine
• |🏞️Views
• |🚶🏻Walkable

“A ball strikers paradise on a true par 70. The routing is an outside/inside, similar to HCEG, here, the front nine is counterclockwise. Centerline obstacles, trees, a meandering creek, and typical Westchester County terrain all factor into the routing.”

Written by

@joe3jax

• ✨Pristine
• |💨Fast greens
• |👕Locker rooms

“Essex County is a conglomeration of some of the game’s best designer. With Tillinghast, Raynor, and MacDonald all having a part to play in the design. Despite a wet spring, the course still played firm and fast in the July heat.”

Written by

@BirdiesAvenue

• ❗️Must play
• |✨Pristine
• |🤝Caddies

“Very tough opening stretch of holes, excellent par 5s, and generally thoughtful routing (loved the shared teebox on 16). Road hole reminded me of Merion.”

Written by

@uesgolf

• 🚶🏻Walkable
• |✨Pristine
• |💨Fast greens

“Great views of the Statue of Liberty and NYC. Certainly gets way more disrespect than it deserves. Not a natural look, but course is in great shape and still has a good variety of holes. Finishing stretch of 14-18 is awesome.”

Written by

@BirdiesAvenue

• ✨Pristine
• |👕Locker rooms
• |🤝Caddies

“A very cool Raynor design. A bit short for the modern game, but still a good mix of long and short holes. Middle of the golf course has some serious teeth.”

Written by

@BirdiesAvenue

• ✨Pristine
• |🏌️‍♂️Driving range
• |❗️Must play

“A very solid course in golf rich Westchester. Cool doglegs, some blind shots, some long, some short, interesting green complexes. Not the best course in the world but really good across the board.”

Written by

@BirdiesAvenue

• 💎Hidden gem
• |🤩Underrated
• |🏌️‍♂️Driving range

“Hundreds if not thousands of trees have been cleared to reveal the subtle rolling topography here a few miles outside NYC. The greens have always been known as some of the best in North Jersey, and the playing conditions have never been better.”

Written by

@shennessey

• ❗️Must play
• |💨Fast greens
• |💎Hidden gem