Fishers Island Club
On a slender island off the Connecticut coast, Fishers Island Club is widely regarded as Seth Raynor's masterpiece and one of the greatest courses in the United States. Opened in 1926 and completed by Charles Banks after Raynor's death, it is a par 72 of 6,616 yards of template holes set above Long Island Sound, intensely private and rarely seen, yet revered by everyone who studies golf design.
Photo: Laurence Lambrecht via Google.
The verdict
Fishers Island sits at the very top of American golf, a course that architecture students and well travelled players speak of in hushed tones. Seth Raynor routed it across a rugged peninsula at the island's east end, using the natural ridges, coves and ocean edges to frame a set of his celebrated template holes, and it opened in 1926 shortly after his death, with his associate Charles Banks completing the work. The result is a clinic in strategic design on one of the finest pieces of seaside land anywhere.
It is regularly ranked among the top handful of courses in the country, prized for the way the holes use the Sound, the wind and the bold Raynor green complexes. It is also one of the most private clubs in the game, with no public access, which only deepens its mystique. We profile it for the traveller who reveres great design and may one day play it as the guest of a member; the verdict is unequivocal, this is a masterpiece.
Fishers Island at a glance
- Opened
- 1926
- Designer
- Seth Raynor
- Type
- Links
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- 6,616 yds
- Access
- Private, members and guests
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from the club and leading course databases. Fishers Island Club opened in 1926, designed by Seth Raynor and completed by Charles Banks after Raynor's death that year, a par 72 of 6,616 yards. It is a strictly private members club with no public green fee; access is by member invitation only, so there is nothing to book directly.
The holes worth the trip
Fishers Island is a procession of Raynor template holes routed across dramatic seaside land, where ridges, ponds and the edge of Long Island Sound dictate the play. The famous short holes include a superb Redan and a long, fearsome Biarritz, and the bold, geometric green complexes and deep bunkering are pure Raynor, asking for precise lines and brave commitment to the right side of the hole.
The middle of the round climbs to the island's high ground with wide ocean views, the wind a constant factor that can change a club or two between rounds. Width off the tee invites the player to choose an aggressive line, but the angles into the firm, tilted greens reward only the shot played to the correct side, the essence of strategic golden age design.
It is the variety, the use of the natural land and the quality of every green that lift Fishers Island into the highest company. For the student of architecture it is close to a perfect course, and for the fortunate few who get to play it, a day here is among the great experiences in the game.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | A strictly private members club; play is by member invitation only, with no public access or visitor tee times |
| Green fee | No public green fee; the club does not sell visitor rounds, so access comes only as the guest of a member |
| Booking | There is nothing to book directly; arrangements are made privately by a member on a guest's behalf |
| On the day | Walking with caddies is the tradition; classic private club etiquette and smart attire expected |
| Getting there | On Fishers Island, reached by ferry from New London, Connecticut, or by private boat or air |
| Best months | Late spring through early autumn, when the season is open and the seaside turf is at its firmest and best |
Access verified June 2026 from the club and leading databases; Fishers Island is private with no public play, so the only way on is as the guest of a member. We do not sell access; this profile is editorial. Confirm any private arrangement directly with your host. Plan a great courses trip.
Where to stay nearby
Fishers Island itself is small and residential, so most visitors connect by ferry from New London, Connecticut, where there is a choice of hotels, or stay along the Connecticut and Rhode Island coast within easy reach of the ferry.
The wider region is rich in great golf, from the storied clubs of Long Island a little further west to the courses of coastal New England, so a trip built around the area can take in some of the finest design in the country alongside the New England coast.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts around the Connecticut coast and New London.
Build a great courses trip
Fishers Island is private, but we build trips around the great public and resort courses of the northeast and help you make the most of any private invitation. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge plans it, with no obligation.
Fishers Island questions
Who designed Fishers Island Club and when did it open?
Fishers Island Club was designed by Seth Raynor and opened in 1926. Raynor died early that year, and his associate Charles Banks completed the course, which is widely regarded as Raynor's masterpiece.
What is the par and length of Fishers Island?
Fishers Island is a par 72 of 6,616 yards, a seaside links of celebrated Raynor template holes, including a renowned Redan and Biarritz, set across dramatic land above Long Island Sound.
Where is Fishers Island Club ranked?
Fishers Island is consistently rated among the very best courses in the United States, placing in the top ten of major national rankings, and is revered as one of the finest examples of strategic golden age design.
Can the public play Fishers Island Club?
No. Fishers Island is a strictly private members club with no public access and no visitor green fee. The only way to play is as the guest of a member, arranged privately on a guest's behalf.
Related
The Tee Sheet
Tee time windows, course access changes and the trips worth taking. Every other week.
Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and length verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.