Long Island is so densely packed with world class golf clubs that even some of the finest courses manage to get ignored. At places like Inwood Country Club, this feels almost criminal. However, I don’t think the membership minds all that much. They know what they have out there and they are completely content to fly under the radar. At Inwood, staying below the radar is actually a legal requirement with the flight path of Runway 1 at JFK airport extending directly over the historic club.
Most famously, Inwood hosted the PGA Championship in 1921 and the US Open in 1923. While the course is now considered short by today’s standards, both the fun factor and the charm level have more than doubled. Inwood is one of the most fun golf courses on Long Island and it was even more fun to photograph. Please enjoy this inside look at Inwood Country Club.
Hole #1 - Par 4 - 345 yards
The opening hole at Inwood sets the tone for the round of golf, short, scenic and downright joyous. This gorgeous little opener starts right next to the golf shop and heads directly towards Manhattan. A well placed tee shot will leave a wedge and a good look at birdie. Be sure to enjoy the roar of the planes as you start off in style.
Hole #2 - Par 4 - 362 yards
The second hole at Inwood gives off similar vibes to the 1st hole but provides a little more dogleg and a little more length. I like to peel a 3 wood off of the fairway bunker and slap a wedge in there nice and tight. The green is protected beautifully by bunkers to the right and left. New York City still looms on the right. Just a glorious and fantastically fun first 2 holes at Inwood.
Hole #3 - Par 5 - 514 yards
The third hole represents the first of three par 5’s in a row. The third might be the toughest of the bunch, but there are some real chances to get a handful of birdies in the first 5 holes. If you are looking to go low, this is where you get aggressive. You’ve had plenty of time to gawk at the skyline and its time to drain some putts.
Hole #4 - Par 5 - 539 yards
The 4th hole at Inwood is my favorite par 5 on the golf course. This is mostly due to the fantastic mounding around the green. The fantastic humps and bumps not only look great but provide for some glorious short game options for those that miss the green.
Hole #5 - Par 5 - 512 yards
This is perhaps the best birdie opportunity at Inwood. If you manage to avoid the bunkers from the tee, the third base coach is likely to wave you home for a good look at eagle. Be sure to stop and pay attention to the glorious clubhouse on your left hand side.
Hole #6 - Par 3 - 171 yards
After going par 5, par 5, par 5, it is time to go par 3, par 3. The 6th hole is the shorter of the two and its a fun short shot to a well bunkered green.
Hole #7 - Par 3 - 219 yards
If you are playing this golf hole into the wind, prepare for a stern test of your shot making skills. Even without the wind, bunkers all around the green will make sure that no sub par tee shot manages to find the putting surface. This is easily Inwood’s most difficult one-shotter and a 3 here is an excellent score.
Hole #8 - Par 4 - 415 yards
It took us 7 holes before we found a par 4 greater than 400 yards. The 8th hole is the first straightforward and demanding par 4 at Inwood. Some creative bunkering and a tiered green keep things interesting.
Hole #9 - Par 4 - 419 yards
The 9th hole plays in the opposite direction of the 8th hole. Which means on windy days one of these is likely to play much more difficult than the other. Objectively, the 9th is very similar to the 8th as it straightaway and demands two decent shots.
Hole #10 - Par 3 - 106 yards
Just after you thought things might go back to normal, Inwood throws a super short par 3 at you that plays directly over the inroad to the club. The wise golfer makes sure to look both ways before playing a wedge across the road and over a small pond to a double tiered green. This should be a short and fun golf hole but I managed to dump 2 balls in the drink and the 10th hole refused to pose for pictures.
Hole #11 - Par 4 - 433 yards
If you have managed to arrive on the 11th hole a few strokes below par, this is where you need to hang on. This dogleg left requires a strong tee shot down the left hand side if you are looking to avoid the stress of a long approach shot to a difficult green. Finding a 4 here should give you a smile.
Hole #12 - Par 4 - 456 yards
The most demanding tee shot at Inwood leaves little room for error on this par 5 turned par 4. With houses to the right and a grove of trees to the left, the fairway bunkers are simply a secondary concern. The green has some more of that glorious mounding that makes short game options on the 12th a lot of fun to navigate.
Hole #13 - Par 4 - 341 yards
The 13th is my favorite hole at Inwood. With bunkers everywhere, driver is often a foolish club selection from the tee. The wise golfer avoids the sand with a long iron down the middle and leaves an approach of about 100-120 yards. This hole is fun to play no matter what route you choose. Beyond the green you will find a buoy that washed ashore years ago. In a stroke of genius, Ryan Mosher, the Director of Golf, jumped out there and tagged it with the Inwood logo. Which makes it officially part of the golf course.
Hole #14 - Par 3 - 155 yards
This short par 3 provides the golf course’s most intimate interaction with Jamaica Bay. The views provide only a portion of the excitement on this well bunkered green. Beyond the green there is an osprey nest that oversees the action. Birdies here are surprisingly rare and must seek osprey approval.
Hole #15 - Par 4 - 463 yards
The longest par 4 on the golf course also just happens to be the best golf hole at Inwood. With a tee box that edges right up to the water and a green that is terrifically bunkered, you need to bring your A-game if you want to sniff a look at birdie. The planes flying over JFK at sunset make this a spectacular place to experience the game of golf.
Hole #16 - Par 4 - 376 yards
After the excitement of 13-15, the 16th brings things back a little with a short dogleg around the marsh. Use your butter cut fade down the right hand side of the fairway to leave an ideal approach into this subtle green.
Hole #17 - Par 4 - 405 yards
A straightaway golf hole with the majority of the challenge coming for those that miss the green into one of the many green side surrounding bunkers.
Hole #18 - Par 4 - 408 yards
Like most great golf courses, Inwood ends on a banger. The fairway is wide and the approach plays over a small burn that will make you feel like you are in Scotland for a moment… that is until another 737 flies over your head. The 18th hole is most noted for the “Shot of the Century” where Bobby Jones clinched his first major championship by hitting a 2 iron to 6 feet from the right rough in a playoff for the 1923 US Open.
Personally, I also managed to hit it to 6 feet, but there would be no US Open trophy for me. Instead, my golf soul was filled to the brim with the joy of following in history’s footsteps.
