Montauk Downs
At the very end of Long Island, where the land runs out and the wind never does, sits one of the great bargains in American golf. Robert Trent Jones Sr reworked Montauk Downs in 1968 into a rolling, muscular par 72 that plays nothing like a state park course and everything like a private gem, for a green fee that barely tops fifty dollars.
Photo: Montauk Downs State Park Golf Course via Google.
The verdict
Golf has been played at Montauk since the 1920s, but the course that earns the plaudits today is the Robert Trent Jones Sr redesign of 1968, worked on with his son Rees, a rolling par 72 of around 6,976 yards. New York State bought the property in 1980 and runs it as a state park course, which is why a layout that would command hundreds of dollars in private hands can be played for a fraction of that.
The setting does the rest. Perched at the eastern tip of Long Island, exposed to the wind off the Atlantic and Block Island Sound, the Downs rises and falls over far more dramatic terrain than the rest of Long Island's famous courses, with elevation, doglegs and slick, well defended greens. It is regularly named among the best public and municipal courses in the United States, and for the travelling golfer it is the value round to fold into a Hamptons or New York trip.
Montauk Downs at a glance
- Redesigned
- 1968
- Design
- Robert Trent Jones Sr
- Type
- Seaside parkland
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- 6,976 yds
- Green fee
- From $26
Designer, redesign year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from New York State Parks and course records. The present course is a 1968 Robert Trent Jones Sr redesign, a par 72 of around 6,976 yards. Green fees are indicative, with 2025 weekend rates around 58 dollars for non residents and under 30 dollars for New York State residents. Rates change by year, so always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
What sets Montauk Downs apart from the flatter, more famous Long Island courses is the land. Jones routed the holes over genuinely rolling ground, with real elevation change, blind crests and fairways that tilt and turn, and he defended the greens with deep bunkers and bold contours in his trademark style. Add the constant wind off the ocean and the bay, and the course can play several shots harder from one day to the next.
The strength is the par 4s, several of them long and uphill into the prevailing breeze, and a set of testing par 3s that demand precise iron play when the wind is up. The greens are quick and full of movement, so position off the tee and a sure short game matter more than raw length.
None of it carries an ounce of pretension. There is a modest clubhouse, a pool and tennis as part of the state park, and a welcome that is pure public golf. The reward is one of the most enjoyable and best value rounds anywhere in the Northeast, on a course with a genuine pedigree.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Public New York State Park course, open to all; New York State residents with a Golf ID card pay reduced rates |
| Green fee | Indicative 2025 weekend rates around 58 dollars for non residents and under 30 dollars for state residents; among the best value in the region |
| Booking | Reserve tee times through the state park system; summer weekends are busy, so book early |
| On the day | Walking or cart; a rolling, hilly walk; come dressed for wind off the ocean and bay |
| Getting there | At the tip of Long Island in Montauk, around 120 miles and roughly three hours east of Manhattan by road |
| Best months | May to October, with high summer the prime season at the eastern end of the island |
Access and indicative green fees verified June 2026 from New York State Parks and public listings; they change without notice, so always confirm directly before booking. Check tee time availability.
Where to stay nearby
Montauk itself is a relaxed beach town at the end of the line, with everything from classic surf motels to upscale boutique hotels a short drive from the course. Staying in town puts you minutes from the first tee and within reach of the beaches, the lighthouse and the seafood that make the village a summer destination in its own right.
The wider Hamptons spread back west along the South Fork for those who want a more polished base, and the Downs pairs naturally with the great public golf elsewhere on Long Island, from Bethpage to the rest, for a longer New York golf week.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts in Montauk and the Hamptons.
A New York golf trip
We build the Long Island golf trip around your group, pair Montauk Downs with Bethpage Black and the best public golf in New York, and arrange the hotel, tee times and transfers. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Montauk Downs questions
Who designed Montauk Downs?
The current course is a Robert Trent Jones Sr redesign from 1968, carried out with his son Rees Jones, on a site where golf had been played since the 1920s. It is a par 72 of around 6,976 yards.
How much does it cost to play Montauk Downs?
As a New York State Park course it is exceptional value. Indicative 2025 weekend green fees were around 58 dollars for non residents and under 30 dollars for New York State residents. Rates change by year, so always confirm directly before booking.
Is Montauk Downs open to the public?
Yes. Montauk Downs is a public New York State Park golf course, open to all, with discounted rates for New York State residents who hold a Golf ID card.
Where is Montauk Downs?
It sits at the eastern tip of Long Island in Montauk, around 120 miles east of Manhattan, exposed to the wind off the Atlantic and Block Island Sound.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, redesign year, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.