The best private courses in Bernardsville, 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

“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

“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

“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

“THE most challenging Par 3 course you will ever come across. So much so, that his greatness, Tiger Woods himself, once played Hickory and shot OVER PAR and was so pissed that he had to turn around and play it again so he could get the better of this monster of a Par 3 track.”

Written by

@TylerTerens

• 😅Challenging
• |🏌️‍♂️Driving range
• |❗️Must play

“Very cool course that starts in the trees for 3 holes before opening up the rest of the way. Very hilly course with some very cool views. Par 5 9th and Par 3 17th are the best holes in my opinion.”

Written by

@BirdiesAvenue

• 👕Locker rooms
• |🤝Caddies
• |😅Challenging

“Great course. Open layout and semi-hilly makes it challenging. Not too many flat lies and no holes that are given birdies, so you have to fight for your score. The greens aren’t fast sometimes, but easy to read and flat-ish. Also had a career back nine here so maybe I’m biased”

Written by

@Slamminsam

• 🤝Caddies
• |🍔Restaurant
• |🌭Halfway house

“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

“Ridge is a really fun and unique course in the middle of nowhere. It’s a modern layout with plenty of room in the landing areas. Some of the greens are a bit extreme, but still fair if not above the hole. Some great views on the top of the mountain on the back 9.”

Written by

@BirdiesAvenue

• 🎟️Tourist trap
• |🏌️‍♂️Driving range
• |✨Pristine

“Canoe Brook South is admittedly little brother to the Championship North, but still provides a great experience to the shotmaker. With 5 Par 5’s and 5 Par 3’s. The South provides a unique array of shots.”

Written by

@BirdiesAvenue

• ✨Pristine
• |🌭Halfway house
• |🤝Caddies

“Played in the fall and the course was in absolutely perfect shape, save for the bunkers. Greens were rock hard and rolling perfectly. Tee boxes and fairways were pristine. Course is really difficult.”

Written by

@ryhibb

• ✨Pristine
• |🌭Halfway house
• |🤝Caddies

“They removed a ton of trees which really allows for better views and firmer conditions. A solid Raynor that will keep improving with time. Drainage is a real issue here, every time it rains the course struggles mightily.”

Written by

@BirdiesAvenue

• 🏌️‍♂️Driving range
• |💎Hidden gem
• |🚶🏻Walkable

“A really cool modern golf course that is always kept it good shape. Can play really long from back tees. Very hard to walk due to the layout being around the Old.”

Written by

@BirdiesAvenue

• 👕Locker rooms
• |😅Challenging
• |🏞️Views

“Rockaway is a real old school course that is usually kept in pretty good shape. Layout isn’t the best, a bit repeatable and a really crammed back 9. It’s a solid course, but definitely has had the modern game pass it by a bit.”

Written by

@BirdiesAvenue

• 😅Challenging
• |🏌️‍♂️Driving range
• |❗️Must play

“Fun track, tons of variation with long par 3s and par 5 with some drivable par 4s. Lots of elevation, well maintained, impossible to walk.”

Written by

@RichardDBagg

• 💎Hidden gem
• |🍔Restaurant
• |🍺Bar

“Black Oak is a tough mountain style course. Usually kept in decent shape. Layout is very unique. Targets are pretty small which makes hitting it straight a must. Holes 13-18 are different from the rest of the course and the best stretch.”

Written by

@BirdiesAvenue

• 🏌️‍♂️Driving range
• |🌭Halfway house
• |🟦Mat range

“A Ross design that is usually kept in good shape, just not my favorite. Need to hit the ball right to left. A super long Back 9 that measures about 3,800 yards from the tips.”

Written by

@BirdiesAvenue

• 💨Fast greens
• |🟢Putting area
• |🏌️‍♂️Driving range

“Great course that makes you really play the course and not just mindlessly hit your shots. The rough and bunkers are real obstacles: if you want to score then you’ll have to keep it in the fairway.”

Written by

@Andres

• 😅Challenging
• |🏌️‍♂️Driving range
• |💨Fast greens