Golf in the State of New York
When most people think of golf in New York, they usually wonder if the five boroughs (Manhattan, the Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn, and Staten Island) contain any courses to play. Because these represent some of the densest populous areas in the country, there are just over a dozen, very busy municipal courses where you can usually pay an affordable green fee (especially if you're a resident) to play a round. However, outside the boroughs, golf in New York flourishes with the third highest number of golf courses in the country at 856 behind Florida (1,120) and California (966). Like California, New York boasts some of the highest-rated links in the world, usually scoring an impressive half dozen on the annual top-100 lists of reputable rankings including the National Golf Links of America and Sebonack Golf Course (both in Southampton).
As one of the original thirteen colonies, it is no wonder that golf in New York have a long history together. Not surprisingly, New York claims a few of the oldest golf courses in America. This includes one of the State's best rated, Shinnecock Hills Golf Club (also in Southampton), notable for its progressive history of allowing women to play since it opened in 1891 and for its clubhouse which was the first one built in the USA. And, Quogue Field Club on Long Island, built as a private course in 1887 and still in use today (although now only as a nine-hole instead of an original eighteen).
Other notable courses include Atunyote at Turning Stone Casino (host to multiple PGA tournaments), Seneca Hickory Stick, only minutes from Niagra Falls, and the gorgeous Sagamore Golf Course on Lake George.