One of the most welcomed benefits for golfers in New York is the resident discount. With a New York City or New York State license, you can enjoy rounds at much lower prices than non-residents. This greatly reduces the financial burden for golfers who frequent the courses every weekend.

New York has many famous public courses, but I've highlighted a few that are consistently loved by local golfers and worth visiting.

A Premium Course Designed by Jack Nicklaus, Ferry Point

Located in the Bronx, Ferry Point is a representative public golf course in New York that opened in 2015. Designed by Jack Nicklaus, it offers stunning views of both Long Island Sound and the Manhattan skyline, making it well worth a visit. However, be careful not to get too distracted by the scenery, as it might affect your score.

The fairways are maintained with Pencross Bentgrass, providing excellent shot feel, and the greens are relatively fast. However, if you stray from the fairway into the deep Fescue rough, managing your score can become quite challenging.

Residents of New York City can play for about $150–170 on weekdays and $200–220 on weekends, while non-residents must pay over $250–300. Although it's on the pricier side for a public course, the satisfaction level is also high.

In winter, the strong sea winds significantly increase the difficulty of play, and the course often closes from December to early March for protection, so it's advisable to check operational status before visiting. Even on rainy days, the drainage facilities are excellent, allowing for normal operations, but if the wind picks up, the playing conditions can become quite harsh.

The History of Public Golf in America, Van Cortlandt

Famous for being the first public golf course in America, it opened in 1895. It's a great place to enjoy a round while feeling the history and tradition rather than the latest facilities.

With a typical course featuring a mix of Poa Annua and Kentucky Bluegrass, the greens can bounce irregularly, but this can actually help with practical practice.

The resident green fees are very reasonable, around $40–50 on weekdays and $60–70 on weekends.

Unless there's heavy snowfall, it often remains open in winter, making it popular among golfers who enjoy winter golf. However, its drainage performance is somewhat inferior to Ferry Point, so the course may become muddy the day after heavy rain.

A Favorite Course for Korean Golfers in Queens, Kissena and Forest Park

These are considered the most frequented public golf courses by Korean golfers in the Queens area. On weekends, it's common to see groups carpooling to enjoy rounds together.

Kissena is a relatively short course, making it suitable for practicing short games, and you can play on weekends for about $40–50 without much financial strain.

Forest Park is surrounded by dense trees, making accuracy crucial. A slight mishap with the driver can often lead to out-of-bounds, so precision is required. While the grass quality isn't top-notch, it's satisfactory considering the price.

Both golf courses generally operate in winter unless there's heavy snowfall, and they have a well-established Rain Check system, allowing for relatively easy compensation if play is interrupted due to rain.

If You Want the Ultimate Challenge, Bethpage Black

No discussion of New York's prestigious public courses would be complete without mentioning Bethpage Black. Known for hosting the US Open, it boasts a world-class level of difficulty.

There's even a famous warning sign at the first tee box advising that it's recommended only for advanced players. If you lack confidence in your skills, managing your mental game may be more challenging than your score.

Residents of New York can play for about $75–150 on weekends, but the biggest hurdle is securing a tee time. The competition for reservations is fierce, and many people log onto the official reservation site at dawn to secure their desired time.

New York has a wealth of high-quality public golf courses. By taking advantage of resident discounts, you can enjoy some of the best courses in the country at relatively reasonable prices.

Isn't it the romance of golfers to head to the field even on rainy days, wearing a cap? I hope this weekend brings you more pars than double bogeys. To all the Korean golfers in New York, let's enjoy our rounds without losing too many balls when we meet on the course.