Evan Schiller
Evan Schiller
Friar's Head Golf Club
Riverhead, NY • Private
Friar's Head Golf Club
3000 Sound Ave
Riverhead, NY 11901-1113
United States
Overview
The challenge for architects Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw at Friar’s Head was to design some holes in breathtaking sand dunes perched 200 feet above Long Island Sound, and other holes on an ordinary potato field to the south. Said Crenshaw, “Our job was to marry the two distinct elements. We didn’t want one nine up in the dunes and the other down on the flat.” The solution was to move the routing back and forth and to artfully reshape the farm fields into gentle links-like land. They pulled it off so impressively that Friar’s Head has moved up the rankings each survey period since its debut at 34th in 2011 to 14th this year.
About
Awards
Ranking history:
100 Greatest: Ranked since 2011.
Previous ranking: 15th.
2025-'26 ranking: 14th (its highest ranking).
Best in State: Ranked Top 5 in New York since 2017; Top 10 from 2011-2016; Top 15 from 2005-2009.
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
“Friar’s Head is a masterclass in variety and design, offering golfers a notable range of shot options on most holes, from strategic angles off the tee to creative approaches into well-contoured greens. The classic Coore Crenshaw naturalistic finish is evident throughout the routing which includes holes that move fluidly between the striking sand dunes and pleasant inland farmlands. The course seamlessly blends dramatic natural features with thoughtful architecture, creating an aesthetic that feels rugged yet very refined. Overall, Friar’s Head delivers a balance of challenge, beauty, and fun leading to quite a memorable walk along the north side of Long Island."
Read More2025
Review
“Fantastic use of the land."
Read More2025
Review
“The last four holes are some of the best of any golf course in the world. There is not a single unfair hole out here, and arguably the only slightly weak or out of place hole is the par 3 12th. Otherwise a set of holes that one could play everyday and never grow bored. Challenges every part of one's game, and I hit every single club in my bag multiple times during the round."
Read More2025
Review
“Coore & Crenshaw did some of their best work at Friar’s Head. The excellent property has 2 distinct areas: high dunes adjacent to Long Island Sound and flatter former farmland. The design makes great use of both, leading to a very high score for Layout Variety. Each hole is different and several are rather unique in the golf world. The course is forgiving off the tee, but well placed drives make approaches easier. It is a challenging course which rewards well struck shots."
Read More2025
Review
“Great variety and land use. Amazing to create a course on the long island sound that only has one or two holes on the water."
Read More2024
Review
“One of the finest courses on Long Island - rivaling Shinnecock and National for top honors. The distinctive 9s create an increasing thrill of the round, rather than a disjoint experience. The finishing 5 holes are challenging, exciting and fun!"
Read More2024
Review
“Uniquely memorable golf experience Bunkering and waste areas spectacularly mixed in with hole contours Tremendous variety of shots and hole layouts"
Read More2024
Review
“Friars Head is such a cool place and awesome course. It’s the best Coore/Crenshaw I’ve played so far. Holes 1, 7, 9 and on the back 9 holes 14-18 are why Friars Head is ranked so high. The walk an across the bridge from the 15th green to the 16th tee box is always so beautiful. The showers at Friars Head definitely lived up to the hype too."
Read More2023
Review
“One of the best modern courses built in the last 20 years. This course ages like a fine wine. Wonderful routing makes this course a gem. You would never know some of the course used to be a potato field ! If any Coore/Crenshaw course can outdo Sand Hills, this might be the one to do it."
Read More2023
Review
“The only reason I did not give Friar's Head a five-star rating is that I don't give them. Bill Coore routed this course over land that had been waiting to have a golf course built on it. The course is simply stunning and the golf is second to none. If you get an invitation drop everything and go."
Read More2022
