Plainfield Country Club
One of Donald Ross's finest works in the Northeast, Plainfield is a rolling, boldly contoured parkland that twice hosted The Barclays on the PGA Tour. A par 72 of about 7,100 yards, opened in 1921 and restored to Ross's intent in the 2000s.
Photo: Michelle Carmona via Google.
The verdict
Plainfield Country Club is widely regarded as one of Donald Ross's best designs in the New York metropolitan area. After the club acquired rolling farmland on the southeastern edge of its property, it engaged Ross to build a complete new course, which opened in 1921 in what is today Edison, New Jersey. The result is a classic parkland of about 7,100 yards, par 72 for members, set across some of the most naturally heaving ground of any Ross course in the region.
It earned its modern reputation when a careful restoration recovered Ross's lost fairway width, his tilted greens and his crisp bunkering, and the PGA Tour brought The Barclays, a FedEx Cup playoff event, here in 2011 and again in 2015, setting the course up as a stern par 70. For a traveling golfer it is a quietly grand private club of genuine architectural pedigree within easy reach of New York City, reached through a member.
Plainfield at a glance
- Opened
- 1921
- Designer
- Donald Ross
- Type
- Parkland
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- About 7,100 yds
- Green fee
- Members and guests
Designer, opening year, par and length verified June 2026 from the club, the PGA Tour and leading databases. Donald Ross designed the course, which opened in 1921; it plays as a par 72 of about 7,100 yards in Edison, New Jersey, and was set up as a par 70 for The Barclays in 2011 and 2015. It is a private club; access is generally only through a member, so always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
Plainfield's character comes from its land. Ross routed the holes across steep, rumpled terrain, so few lies are dead flat and almost every approach is played from a stance that must be read. The greens are the defining feature, tilted and pitched to reward an approach from the correct angle and to punish anything above the hole, exactly the sort of subtle, strategic test that the restoration was designed to restore.
The closing holes earned the most attention during The Barclays, a strong, uphill finish that demands two committed long shots under pressure. Throughout, the bunkering frames the line of play and the fairways flow with the contours rather than fighting them. It is a course that rewards local knowledge and a deft short game more than raw power.
What stays with players is the quality of the ground and the greens. Plainfield is a reminder of how good Ross was at draping a course over difficult land, and why the best players in the world enjoyed the challenge when the Tour came to town.
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 available and walking encouraged; a collared shirt and traditional dress code expected |
| Getting there | Edison, in central New Jersey about 45 minutes southwest of Manhattan; Newark Liberty International Airport is roughly 25 minutes away |
| Best months | May through June and September through October, when the parkland is firm and fast |
Access arrangements verified June 2026; Plainfield 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
Central and northern New Jersey offer a wide range of hotels close to the club, while Manhattan, about forty five minutes northeast, provides the fullest choice of luxury lodging and dining for travelers building a wider trip. Newark Liberty International Airport is the nearest major gateway.
Plainfield anchors a strong metropolitan New York golf itinerary and pairs naturally with the great Tillinghast and Ross courses of New Jersey. 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 central New Jersey.
Build a New Jersey golf trip
We help arrange access where we can, plan the visit to Plainfield 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.
Plainfield Country Club questions
Who designed Plainfield Country Club and when did it open?
The championship course at Plainfield Country Club was designed by Donald Ross and opened in 1921, built on rolling farmland on the southeastern edge of the club's property in Edison, New Jersey.
What is the par and length of Plainfield Country Club?
Plainfield plays as a par 72 of about 7,100 yards for members, and was set up as a demanding par 70 for The Barclays, a FedEx Cup playoff event.
What tournaments has Plainfield Country Club hosted?
Plainfield hosted The Barclays, a FedEx Cup playoff event on the PGA Tour, in 2011 and again in 2015, along with a long history of amateur and professional championships.
Can visitors play Plainfield Country Club?
Plainfield 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 Barclays in 2011 and 2015 verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.