USGA/Fred Vuich
Plainfield Country Club
Plainfield Country Club
1591 Woodland Ave
Edison, NJ 08820-1074
United States
Overview
In the late 1990s, Gil Hanse and his team gradually began restoring all of Plainfield’s Donald Ross features, including many that had become covered by trees or lost over the years. During the early 2000s, every green, fairway, teeing ground, chipping area and bunker was restored, and excessive trees were removed. The result is an exceptional restoration/renovation of one of Donald Ross’ very best designs, and it could not be more fun to play every day. The tree removal also opened up strategic playing angles, optionality and stunning views across the property. The course remains a great venue for competitions as well with USGA and PGA Tour events producing an impressive list of champions including John Cook, Laura Davies, Dustin Johnson and Jason Day. Plainfield has committed to three future USGA Championships including the 2025 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball, 2031 U.S. Senior Women’s Open and the 2037 U.S. Senior Open.
About
Awards
Ranking history:
100 Greatest: Ranked since 1967.
Highest ranking: 34th, 1985-1986.
Previous ranking: 82nd.
2025-'26 ranking: 90th.
Best in State: Ranked in Top 5 in New Jersey since 1977.
2025-'26 ranking: 5th since 2017.
Panelists
Ratings from our panel of 1,900 course-ranking panelists
100 GREATEST/BEST IN STATE SCORES
Shot Options
Character
Challenge
Layout Variety
Fun
Aesthetics
Conditioning
Reviews
Review
“The rolling terrain of this golf course combined with some of the most challenging green complexes make this a must play course if offered the opportunity."
Read More2024
Review
“Lots of rolling hills, kickpoints, and backstops. There is a good variation of small and large greens, so every hole plays differently. Miss in the wrong position and find yourself with challenging short-sided shots. The green complexes are incredibly fun and exciting."
Read More2024
Review
“Easy to overlook Plainfield when thinking of New Jersey Golf, but that shouldn't be the case. A true Donald Ross gem that sits tucked away between two main roads, and you'd never know. Great land movement, with a strong routing, and some incredible green complexes."
Read More2024
Review
“A fair but can turn very difficult course, everything is in such wonderful condition. Rough is really a brute throughout the course. Greens are absolutely top-notch, Remely great rolling surfaces. Bunkering is in the top echelon. Course flows really well through the property, holes play very direct, but angles into these greens become very apparent quickly. A great mix of distances throughout the course. They have done a great job in tree removal, and the course plays very open, but also the trees still play a factor."
Read More2024
Review
“Classic Donald Ross design on a very undulating piece of property. Not many flat lies on this big golf course. Avoid the thick rough and stay below the hole if you want any chance to score well. A private club that is definitely worth a visit if invited."
Read More2024
Review
“Great character and caddie program with the First Tee program. Challenging + good variety par 3's and the 150yd hole #11 with a huge false front presenting some tricky pin options. Rough was very playable and greens were not too fast but if this changed the course could quickly play very difficult."
Read More2024
Review
“A very private course which is always in very good condition and a collective group of holes that are both challenging and fun to play."
Read More2023
Review
“The course was a lot of fun to play. Every hole looks and feels different, with sloping fairways and changing directions. Subtle contouring and very fast speeds makes putting an adventure, requiring creativity and touch on and around the greens. The 360 views from the middle of the course give you an appreciation of the full golf experience. A great walk and even greater golf experience."
Read More2023
Review
“Plainfield CC is a charming Donald Ross design located in Northern NJ. A parkland design routed over gentle hills, this course features a good challenge and extremely strong conditions with firm and fast fairways, thick rough, and perfect greens. There's strong variety here in terms of uphill and downhill shots as well as doglegs and bunker placement. Notable holes include the strong par 4 7th, playing long over a plateau to an excellent front-to-back sloped green and short par 3 11th with it's terrifying false front and beautiful bunkering. The course has undergone many changes over the years to improve and recent tree removal has opened up playing corridors beautifully. This is a great member's course and is certainly one of the better courses in New Jersey."
Read More2022
Review
“One of the best conditioned courses I have ever played. Great green complexes. Possesses a collection of many decent to good holes, with the exception of 11, which may be one of the best short 3's in the country. The finish is a bit of let down. Overall a solid course by Ross, but certainly not his best work."
Read More2022
