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Public Golf in the Hamptons: Courses Anyone Can Play

November 8, 2026 · 3 min read

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The Hamptons are famous for golf clubs most people will never set foot on. Shinnecock Hills, National Golf Links and Maidstone are invitation-only, and the newer clubs have been reported at close to $1 million to join. But you don't need a membership to play excellent golf on the East End. Here are the courses where anyone can book a round, from a championship 18 to quick nines you can squeeze in before the beach.

1. Montauk Downs State Park (Montauk)

Montauk Downs is the headline act. Robert Trent Jones Sr. redesigned it in 1968 with his son Rees, and the result is a par-72 that plays nothing like a typical municipal course: rolling terrain, wind off the ocean and the bay, and greens that punish loose approach shots. It is consistently named among the best municipal courses in the country.

Because it's a New York State Park course, rates are a bargain by Hamptons standards. New York residents who register for a state golf ID pay roughly half what non-residents pay. Tee times are booked through the NY State Parks reservation system, and prime summer weekend mornings disappear quickly, so book as soon as times open.

2. Poxabogue Golf Center (Sagaponack)

Poxabogue sits right on Montauk Highway, owned jointly by the Towns of Southampton and East Hampton. The nine-hole, par-30 course is short and friendly, and the driving range is one of the busiest in the Hamptons. It's the ideal spot for a quick warm-up, a lesson or a round with kids. Local town residents get discounted rates.

3. Sag Harbor State Golf Course (Sag Harbor)

Tucked into the woods on Barcelona Neck, the Sag Harbor State nine is surrounded by a nature preserve, bluffs and wetlands. It's quiet, scenic and inexpensive, and you can go around twice for 18. Plenty of private-club members play here for a relaxed loop.

4. Shelter Island Country Club, "Goat Hill" (Shelter Island)

Take the ferry from North Haven or Greenport for Goat Hill, a public nine of roughly 2,500 yards dating to 1901. The nickname comes from the steep, rocky terrain and several blind shots. The clubhouse deck has views over Dering Harbor, and the whole experience is unhurried and unpretentious.

5. Indian Island (Riverhead)

Suffolk County's Indian Island is an 18-hole, par-72 course on the Peconic River estuary. It's one of the best values within reach of the Hamptons, especially for county residents with a Green Key card.

6. Island's End (Greenport)

Island's End is semi-private but welcomes daily-fee players. Its signature par-3 16th plays from a bluff over Long Island Sound, and it's open year-round. Pair a round with a North Fork winery stop or dinner in Greenport.

7–9. Riverhead's daily-fee courses and par-3s

• Cherry Creek Golf Links: daily-fee 18 known for its 644-yard par-6 finishing hole.
• Long Island National: a links-style layout on former farmland.
• Sandy Pond (Riverhead) and Cedars (Cutchogue): par-3 nines, perfect for beginners and short-game practice.

Coming from the city? The Manorville courses, including Swan Lake and Rock Hill, are an easy stop just off the Long Island Expressway.

How to book

State-park courses book through New York State Parks; Indian Island through Suffolk County's system. For the daily-fee courses, compare open times on a marketplace like GolfNow or Supreme Golf. See our tee-time guide and the full public golf directory.

Summer rounds on the East End mean long stretches in the sun with little shade. A combined sunscreen and bug spray like Outdoors Friend Sun Repellent saves room in the bag.

FAQ

What is the best public golf course in the Hamptons?

Montauk Downs State Park. It's a championship-length Robert Trent Jones design and the only public 18 on the South Fork.

Are there public courses in Southampton?

Poxabogue in Sagaponack, on the Southampton–East Hampton town line, is the closest. For 18 holes, Montauk Downs or the Riverhead courses are the options.

Do I need to be a New York resident to play state-park courses?

No. Anyone can play; residents with a state golf ID simply pay lower rates.

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