Ridgewood Country Club
A.W. Tillinghast's great 27-hole club, with three equal nines and a famous "Five and Dime" par 4, Ridgewood hosted the 1935 Ryder Cup and remains a regular PGA Tour venue. A composite par 71, opened in 1929, twenty miles from Manhattan.
Photo: Donovan Maguigan via Google.
The verdict
Ridgewood Country Club is one of the finest 27-hole golf facilities in the world and one of A.W. Tillinghast's most complete designs. Opened in 1929 in Paramus, New Jersey, about twenty miles from New York City, it is built as three genuinely equal nines, East, Center and West, that combine in any pairing to make an eighteen hole composite of par 71. The Clifford Wendehack clubhouse is among the most admired in American golf.
Its championship pedigree is exceptional. Ridgewood hosted the 1935 Ryder Cup, with Walter Hagen as the United States captain, and in the modern era has welcomed the PGA Tour repeatedly for FedEx Cup playoff events, The Barclays and The Northern Trust, as well as USGA championships. For a traveling golfer it is a private club of true historic importance within easy reach of Manhattan, reached through a member.
Ridgewood at a glance
- Opened
- 1929
- Designer
- A.W. Tillinghast
- Type
- Parkland
- Holes
- 27 (three nines)
- Par
- 71 composite
- Green fee
- Members and guests
Designer, opening year, configuration and par verified June 2026 from the club, the USGA and leading databases. A.W. Tillinghast designed the three nines, which opened in 1929; the composite eighteen plays to a par of 71 in Paramus, New Jersey, and the club hosted the 1935 Ryder Cup. It is a private club; access is generally only through a member, so always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
What sets Ridgewood apart is the consistency of three nines that are each worthy of championship play, with no weak loop and no clear best. Tillinghast routed them through gently rolling, heavily wooded land, framing his greens with deep, hand built bunkering and asking for precise iron play into firm, subtly contoured putting surfaces. The variety of par 3s across the property is a highlight of the design.
The most celebrated single hole is the short par 4 sixth on the Center nine, the famous "Five and Dime," a drivable two shotter that tempts the bold and punishes the greedy, long regarded as one of the best short fours in the country. When the Tour visits, a composite course is assembled from the strongest holes across the three nines, which is part of what makes Ridgewood such a fascinating, flexible test.
What stays with players is the completeness of it all: a clubhouse, a routing and a set of greens that together feel like the high water mark of golden age American club golf. Ridgewood is a destination in its own right.
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 | Paramus, in northern New Jersey about 30 minutes northwest of Manhattan; Newark Liberty International Airport is roughly 35 minutes away |
| Best months | May through June and September through October, when the parkland is firm and fast |
Access arrangements verified June 2026; Ridgewood 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
Northern New Jersey offers a wide range of hotels close to the club, while Manhattan, about thirty minutes southeast, provides the fullest choice of luxury lodging and dining for travelers building a wider trip. Newark Liberty International Airport is the nearest major gateway, with the New York airports also within reach.
Ridgewood anchors a strong 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 northern New Jersey.
Build a New Jersey golf trip
We help arrange access where we can, plan the visit to Ridgewood 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.
Ridgewood Country Club questions
Who designed Ridgewood Country Club and when did it open?
Ridgewood's three nines were designed by A.W. Tillinghast and opened in 1929 in Paramus, New Jersey, about 20 miles from New York City. The clubhouse was designed by Clifford Wendehack.
How many holes does Ridgewood Country Club have?
Ridgewood is a 27-hole club with three equal nines named East, Center and West. Any two are combined to form an 18-hole composite course, which plays to a par of 71.
What championships has Ridgewood Country Club hosted?
Ridgewood hosted the 1935 Ryder Cup and has staged several PGA Tour FedEx Cup playoff events, including The Barclays and The Northern Trust, along with USGA championships.
Can visitors play Ridgewood Country Club?
Ridgewood 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, configuration and par verified June 2026; the 1935 Ryder Cup and PGA Tour playoff history verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.