Friar's Head Golf Club

Riverhead, NY, United States • Private

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Evan Schiller

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Evan Schiller

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 linkslike land. They pulled it off so impressively that Friar’s Head has moved steadily up the rankings each survey period until this year, from No. 34 in its 2011 debut to No. 15 in 2023-2024.

About

Holes 18

Length 7071

Slope 138

Facility Type Private

Year Opened 2002

Designer Ben Crenshaw/Bill Coore, ASGCA

Awards

Ranking history:

100 Greatest: Ranked since 2011.
2023-'24 ranking: 15th (highest, along with 2019-2020)
Previous ranking: 16th.

Best in State: Ranked Top 5 in New York since 2017; Top 10 from 2011-2016; Top 15 from 2005-2009.
Current ranking: 5th since 2017.

Panelists

Ratings from our panel of 1,900 course-ranking panelists

4.8

100 GREATEST/BEST IN STATE SCORES

Shot Options

8.1185

Character

8.2185

Challenge

7.9295

Layout Variety

8.2236

Fun

8.0372

Aesthetics

8.249

Conditioning

8.1282

Reviews

1 / 10

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!"

2024

2 / 10

Review

“Uniquely memorable golf experience Bunkering and waste areas spectacularly mixed in with hole contours Tremendous variety of shots and hole layouts"

2024

3 / 10

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."

2023

4 / 10

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."

2022

5 / 10

Review

“Outstanding course and a great walk with caddies with extraordinary landscape/views. Top golfers will appreciate the challenge navigating around the greens, as many are elevated and with false fronts. More average players will enjoy the wide fairways and the ability to run the ball up onto many greens. Scenery fabulous with dunes everywhere and views of Long Island Sound on several holes. Practice facility also an A+. Definitely say "yes" if presented an invite!"

2022

6 / 10

Review

“ONE OF THE GREAT COURSES IN THE WORLD. AS IT IS FULLY MATURE IN IT’S 20TH YEAR, I’M NOT SURE THERE IS A BETTER COURSE IN THE NORTHEAST. YES THERE IS SHINNECOCK, BUT FRIAR’S HEAD IS JUST SO MUCH MORE FUN TO PLAY. FH SITS RIGHT ON THE TOP 10 IN THE COUNTRY FOR ME. NOT SURE THERE IS BETTER GOLF, CONDITIONING AND EXPERIENCE ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE USA."

2022

7 / 10

Review

“Arguably the best conditioned golf course in America this panelist has played....very well manicured fairways, tees, "

2022

8 / 10

Review

“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."

2022

9 / 10

Review

“One of the best courses in the country. Very memorable and you see a few holes not on other courses. Clubhouse and practice area are outstanding."

2018

10 / 10

Review

“Unique and spectacular Coore/Crenshaw course. Sandy waste areas surround most holes but the fairways are wide with well placed bunkers. The greens are usually huge and there are no straight putts. The final four holes are especially challenging and scenic. The clubhouse is also spectacular. The club is very exclusive with some unusual restrictions...no yardages on the scorecards, no rakes, no lasers , but the staff and caddies are friendly and very knowledgeable. I'd rate it higher if it was a littler less stuffy."

2018