Representative image Photo: ristok from Helsinki, Finland · CC BY-SA 2.0
Fishers Island Club
Fishers Island, New York, United States
18 Holes · Private club — no published green fee; play is by member invitation · Coastal
— About
About Fishers Island Club
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Fishers Island Club is a private 18-hole course on Fishers Island, an island off the southeastern coast of Connecticut that belongs to New York State. Seth Raynor laid it out, and after his death in January 1926 Charles Banks finished the work. The course opened in 1926. It was built alongside a residential community whose subdivision was planned by Frederick Law Olmsted Jr., and the layout features many classic Scottish holes along with several types developed at National Golf Links of America, among them the Alps, Biarritz and Redan. Most holes have water views, and the setting is coastal rather than inland. The 4th is a much-admired Alps hole, and the course ranks among the highest in the major lists published by Golf Digest and GOLF. The club is also a tennis and beach club. Getting there is part of the experience, since the island is reached by regular ferry service from New London, Connecticut, or by air. There are no public tee times, and play depends on being hosted by a member, so an invitation here is hard to come by.
- Seth Raynor designed the course, and Charles Banks completed it after Raynor died in January 1926, the year it opened.
- Frederick Law Olmsted Jr., the landscape architect, planned the residential subdivision that the course was built alongside.
- Most holes have views of the surrounding water, and the setting is coastal rather than inland.
- The 4th is built on the Alps template, and both GOLF.com and The Fried Egg single it out among the course's best holes.
- The island is reached by regular ferry service from New London, Connecticut, or by air to Elizabeth Field on the island.
History of Fishers Island Club
Fishers Island was developed in the 1920s as a residential community, and Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. was hired to plan the subdivision while Seth Raynor was hired to lay out an associated 18-hole course. Raynor had worked with Charles B. Macdonald as a surveyor at National Golf Links of America, and the Fishers Island layout combines classic Scottish holes with several types developed there. He died suddenly in January 1926, about six months before the course opened, and his associate Charles Banks carried out the plans and completed the construction. The course opened in 1926. The club describes itself as a private golf, tennis and beach club, and the golf course now ranks among the highest in the country in the lists published by Golf Digest and GOLF. It remains private, and the island can be reached only by ferry from New London or by air.
Signature holes at Fishers Island Club
The 4th is the hole most often singled out. It is a par 4 built on the Alps template, and both GOLF.com and The Fried Egg pick it as a favorite. Reviewers regard it as a standout on a course where most holes have water views. The routing includes other template ideas from Scotland and from National Golf Links of America, among them the Biarritz, the Redan and the Punchbowl, though published hole numbers for those vary between sources, so this profile does not give them. The mix of classic templates and coastal scenery is the reason the course draws so much attention from golf writers.
When to play Fishers Island Club
Fishers Island is a summer place, and golf here is seasonal because of the northeastern climate, so late spring to early autumn is the practical window. The club is private and has no published visitor policy, so the real question is when a member can host you. The island is served by regular ferry service from New London, and the crossing will shape the day as much as your tee time does, so plan the ferry before you plan the round.
Playing Fishers Island Club: tips
Fishers Island Club is private and publishes no green fee. The realistic way to play is as a member's guest, so start by asking your host about arrival arrangements. The island is reached by regular ferry service from New London, Connecticut, or by air into Elizabeth Field on the island. The ferry operator publishes its schedules online, so check the timetable for your travel dates before you agree a tee time, since the crossing shapes the day.
— Weather at Fishers Island Club
Approximate conditions · Observed · Open-Meteo
— FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions about Fishers Island Club
Can the public play Fishers Island Club?
No. It is a private club with no public tee times or published green fee. Visitors generally play only as guests of a member, and GOLF.com advises making friends with one.
How do you get to Fishers Island Club?
The island has regular ferry service from New London, Connecticut, and an airfield called Elizabeth Field for air travel. Check the ferry schedule for your dates before agreeing a tee time with your host.
Who designed Fishers Island Club?
Seth Raynor designed it, and Charles Banks completed the work after Raynor died in January 1926. Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. planned the surrounding subdivision. The course opened in 1926.
Which hole is the best known at Fishers Island?
The 4th, a par 4 on the Alps template, is the most praised. The Fried Egg names it a favorite, and GOLF.com counts it among the best examples of the template.