Representative image Photo: Stuart Logan · CC BY-SA 2.0
Plainfield Country Club
Edison, New Jersey, United States
18 Holes · Par 72 · Private club — no published green fee; play is by member invitation · Parkland
— About
About Plainfield Country Club
Plainfield Country Club is a private 18-hole, par-72 course in Edison, New Jersey, designed by Donald Ross. Ross drew the course in 1916, and it opened in 1921 after the First World War delayed construction. The club itself is older, founded in 1890. Gil Hanse restored the Ross design, with work beginning in 1999. Its greens are the course's defining feature, since they are varied and contoured, and several sit on elevated knolls or are built into hillsides. Play is limited to members and their invited guests, and the club publishes no green fee. The nearest major airport is Newark Liberty International.
- The club has hosted the 1978 U.S. Amateur, the 1987 U.S. Women's Open and the PGA Tour's Barclays in 2011.
- The modern handicap system was developed at Plainfield, credited to club member Leighton Calkins.
- The land is rolling and hilly, which gives Ross's holes their changes of level.
- The par-3 11th is under 150 yards and is often named among Ross's finest short holes.
History of Plainfield Country Club
Plainfield was founded in 1890 and commissioned Donald Ross in 1916 to design a championship course. The First World War delayed construction, and the new course opened in 1921. Around 1930 three holes, the 13th to the 15th, were added and cut through wooded ground. In recent decades the emphasis has been on recovering Ross's intent, beginning with Gil Hanse's restoration in 1999. The club's national profile came through USGA championships and a PGA Tour event, and through the handicap work of Leighton Calkins.
Signature holes at Plainfield Country Club
The 11th is the hole to know, a par 3 under 150 yards that writers rank among the best short holes Ross built. Holes 13 to 15, known as the tunnel holes, form a flatter, wooded stretch that was added after the original routing. They are a different kind of test from the hillier holes around them, so the round changes character there and then returns to the contoured ground.
When to play Plainfield Country Club
Because Plainfield is private, there is no booking season to plan around, and the practical answer is the date a member can host you. A club with a championship record like this one may close for preparation or events, so ask your host to confirm that the course is open on your dates before you commit to travel.
Playing Plainfield Country Club: tips
There is no public access. A round at Plainfield means playing as the guest of a member, and the club sells no tee times and publishes no green fee. The club is at 1591 Woodland Avenue in Edison, and Newark Liberty International is the nearest major airport. Ask your host about caddies, dress and arrival time, since the club publishes no visitor guidance that we could verify.
Visit Plainfield Country Club
1591 Woodland Ave, Edison, NJ 08820
Edison, New Jersey, United States
— FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions about Plainfield Country Club
Can the public play Plainfield Country Club?
No. Plainfield is a private club, played by members and their invited guests, with no public tee-time booking and no published green fee.
Who designed Plainfield Country Club?
Donald Ross designed the course in 1916, and it opened in 1921. Gil Hanse later restored it, with his work beginning in 1999.
How old is Plainfield Country Club?
The club dates to 1890, making it one of the older clubs in the country, although the Ross course opened only in 1921.