Representative image Photo: Phillip Capper from Wellington, New Zealand · CC BY 2.0
Garden City Golf Club
Garden City, New York, United States
18 Holes · Par 73 · Private club — no published green fee; play is by member invitation · Links
— About
About Garden City Golf Club
Garden City Golf Club is a private 18-hole, par 73 course in Garden City, on Long Island in New York. Devereux Emmet and Walter Travis share the design credit. Emmet built the first nine holes on the site, and Travis, an early member, later reworked the layout into the course that members still play. It sits on the Hempstead Plain, and the interest comes less from landforms than from hazards, with deep bunkers guarding the greens and punishing shots that miss them. The club is men-only and run in the traditional mold as a members' club, with play limited to members and their invited guests. There is no public tee sheet and no published green fee. Writers describe the layout as remarkably well preserved, a snapshot of early American golf architecture that has kept its character through the decades.
- Travis added about 50 bunkers and reshaped the green sites on all 18 holes, the work that still defines how the course is played.
- Laurie Auchterlonie won the 1902 U.S. Open here, and the U.S. Amateur has visited several times, including in 1908.
- Tom Doak began restoration work at the club in 1987, part of the effort to protect the preserved Travis character.
- The 18th is a par 3 played over water, modeled on the Eden hole at St Andrews.
History of Garden City Golf Club
Garden City Golf Club was founded in 1899 on land that already held a nine-hole course by Devereux Emmet. Within a few years it was hosting national championships, beginning with the 1902 U.S. Open. Walter Travis, an early member, then took charge of the changes that built the course's reputation for thoughtful, hazard-driven golf. Through the following decades the club kept its appearance and traditions largely intact, and the restoration that began in 1987 has been about protecting that inheritance rather than rewriting it. The club has stayed private and men-only throughout, keeping to its own traditions.
Signature holes at Garden City Golf Club
The opening hole is a short par 4 that offers a birdie chance, and the 2nd is a par 3 that comes early in the round. The 4th is a par 5, a true three-shot hole. The 10th is known for a tilted green that uses the natural slope of the ground. The round closes with the Eden-style par 3 over water.
When to play Garden City Golf Club
Garden City admits only members and their guests, so the best time to play is whenever a member invites you. The club publishes no visitor calendar or booking service, so ask your host about dates, dress and whether the course is open on the day you have in mind. A round here is an invitation, not a reservation.
Playing Garden City Golf Club: tips
There is no public access and no green fee to budget for. Garden City is a men-only club, so your host must be a member who can bring you as a guest. The club sits in Nassau County on Long Island, and it publishes no visitor guidance of its own. Ask your host in advance about arrival time, dress code and whether caddies or carts are expected.
— Weather at Garden City Golf Club
Approximate conditions · Observed · Open-Meteo
— FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions about Garden City Golf Club
Can the public play Garden City Golf Club?
No. It is a private club, and play is limited to members and their invited guests. There is no public tee-time booking and no published green fee.
Where is Garden City Golf Club?
It is in the village of Garden City in Nassau County, on Long Island, New York, on ground that was part of the Hempstead Plain.
Who designed Garden City Golf Club?
Devereux Emmet designed the original nine-hole course, and Walter Travis later reshaped the layout, adding bunkers and reworking the greens. Tom Doak began restoration work in 1987.