Liberty National
A bold modern course on the Hudson with the Statue of Liberty and the Manhattan skyline in full view, Liberty National hosted the 2017 Presidents Cup. A Tom Kite and Bob Cupp design, par 71 of about 7,350 yards, opened in 2006.
Photo: Tongtong Wu via Google.
The verdict
Liberty National is one of the most ambitious golf projects ever built in a major city. Designed by Tom Kite and Bob Cupp and opened in 2006, it sits on a reclaimed industrial site on the Hudson River waterfront in Jersey City, New Jersey, directly across the water from Lower Manhattan. It plays as a par 71 of about 7,350 yards, and almost every hole frames a view of the city skyline, the Statue of Liberty or Ellis Island.
The land was an environmental cleanup of extraordinary scale, capped and reshaped into a rolling golf course where none had existed, and the result is a dramatic, modern parkland with water in play and the most famous backdrop in American golf. It has hosted the game's biggest events, including the 2017 Presidents Cup and multiple PGA Tour FedEx Cup playoff tournaments. For the traveling golfer it is a private club of true championship stature, reached through a member.
Liberty National at a glance
- Opened
- 2006
- Designer
- Tom Kite and Bob Cupp
- Type
- Modern waterfront
- Par
- 71
- Yardage
- About 7,350 yds
- Green fee
- Members and guests
Designer, opening year, par and length verified June 2026 from the club, the PGA Tour and leading databases. Tom Kite and Bob Cupp designed the course, which opened in 2006; it plays as a par 71 of about 7,350 yards in Jersey City, New Jersey, and hosted the 2017 Presidents Cup. It is a private club; access is generally only through a member, so always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The setting is the headline at Liberty National, and the designers leaned into it: the closing holes run along the river so that putts are holed with the Statue of Liberty and the Manhattan towers directly behind the green, a backdrop no other course in the world can offer. The par 3 fourteenth and the riverfront finish are the most photographed moments, and when the Tour visits they produce some of the most striking television in golf.
The golf itself is muscular and modern, with elevation changes engineered into a once flat industrial flat, generous landing areas off the tee and large, undulating greens defended by water and bold bunkering. Wind off the harbor is a constant factor and can make the exposed riverside holes a serious examination of ball flight and patience. It is a course that rewards length and nerve in equal measure.
What stays with players is the spectacle. Few rounds anywhere combine championship golf with such an iconic urban panorama; Liberty National is as much an event as a course, and unforgettable for it.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Private members club; not generally open to public play, with access usually through a member |
| Green fee | No published public fee; any guest play is hosted by a member (indicative, 2026) |
| Booking | An introduction through a member, arranged well in advance, is essential |
| On the day | Caddies and carts available; a collared shirt and traditional dress code expected |
| Getting there | Jersey City, on the Hudson directly across from Lower Manhattan; Newark Liberty International Airport is roughly 20 minutes away and the club is reachable by ferry |
| Best months | May through June and September through October, when conditions are firm and the harbor wind manageable |
Access arrangements verified June 2026; Liberty National is a private club and policies change, so always confirm directly before planning a visit with the club or your trip planner.
Where to stay nearby
Jersey City's waterfront and Lower Manhattan, a short ferry or drive away, offer the fullest choice of luxury lodging and dining in the region, making Liberty National one of the easiest great courses to reach from a city base. Newark Liberty International Airport is the nearest major gateway.
Liberty National anchors a standout metropolitan New York golf itinerary and pairs naturally with the great Tillinghast courses of New Jersey and Westchester. We can arrange the introductions where possible and handle the lodging and transfers around your round.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts around New York and the Hudson waterfront.
Build a New Jersey golf trip
We help arrange access where we can, plan the visit to Liberty National and book the lodging and transfers around your round. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Liberty National questions
Who designed Liberty National Golf Club and when did it open?
Liberty National was designed by Tom Kite and Bob Cupp and opened in 2006 in Jersey City, New Jersey, built on a remediated industrial site along the Hudson River.
What is the par and length of Liberty National?
Liberty National plays as a par 71 of about 7,350 yards from the championship tees, set along the Hudson with views of Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty.
What championships has Liberty National hosted?
Liberty National hosted the 2017 Presidents Cup and multiple PGA Tour FedEx Cup playoff events, including The Barclays and The Northern Trust, along with LPGA Tour events.
Can visitors play Liberty National?
Liberty National is a private members club and is not generally open to public play. Access is usually only through a member, so arranging a visit well in advance is essential.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026; the 2017 Presidents Cup and PGA Tour playoff history verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.