Van Cortlandt Golf Course ☆ Follow

Van Cortlandt Golf Course opened on July 6, 1895, as the first public municipal golf course in the United States. Located in the North Bronx, the course features 18 holes with a par of 70 and plays at approximately 6,002 yards. The course was designed by Tom Bendelow (1898), William F. Mitchell, and Stephen Kay (2008). The layout incorporates portions of the original nine-hole course constructed by T. McClure Peters, though it was expanded and redesigned in the early 20th century to accommodate growing demand.

The course is situated in a park-like setting within Van Cortlandt Park's 1,146 acres of natural landscape. The fields, tall grasses, and colorful wildflowers earned it the nickname "The Meadows." Notably, in 1896, the St. Andrews Golf Club hosted the country's first public golf tournament at Van Cortlandt, and the golf house built in 1902 has been a popular spot with visitors including Babe Ruth, Willie Mays, Jackie Robinson, and Joe Louis. The course remains accessible via public transportation and continues to serve golfers of all levels.