The 10 Most Exclusive Country Clubs in the Northeast in 2027
By Kory White · Updated Oct 2026 · 4 min read
Direct answer
Pine Valley Golf Club in New Jersey is the most exclusive country club in the Northeast, with Shinnecock Hills at #2 and National Golf Links of America at #3. Membership is by invitation, and none of these clubs publishes its initiation fee.
Major-championship golf outside the New York–Boston corridor
Pick by what you want
Most exclusive
Pine Valley Golf Club
Oldest in golf
The Country Club
Most U.S. Opens
Winged Foot Golf Club
Best for Hamptons society
Maidstone Club
Best mansion clubhouse
Sleepy Hollow Country Club
The ranking
1
Pine Valley Golf Club
Photo: Frjlove (talk) / Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictRanked number one by Golf Digest and Golf Magazine.
Founded: 1913Location: Pine Hill, New JerseyCourse: Designed by George Arthur Crump, his first and only designMembership: About 930 members, by invitation only from the board of directorsInitiation fee: Not published
Pine Valley in Pine Hill, New Jersey, was founded in 1913. Membership is by invitation only from the board of directors, and guests must be accompanied by a member.
Go ifThe hardest invitation in American golf
Skip ifYou want to walk on as a guest without a member
Why #1 over #2: Its invitation-only membership of about 930 is the hardest door on the list.
2
Shinnecock Hills Golf Club
Photo: Michael O'Connor / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictA charter USGA club with six U.S. Opens.
Founded: 1891Location: Southampton, New YorkCourse: William Flynn design (1931)U.S. Opens hosted: 6 (1896, 1986, 1995, 2004, 2018, 2026)Initiation fee: Not published
Shinnecock Hills in Southampton, New York, was founded in 1891 and has hosted 6 U.S. Opens on its William Flynn course.
Go ifGolf history on Long Island
Skip ifYou want a modern clubhouse
Why #2 over #3: Its six U.S. Opens and 1891 founding edge out National Golf Links.
3
National Golf Links of America
Photo: Americasroof at en.wikipedia / CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictNever a men’s major host, still a Hamptons elite.
Founded: 1911Location: Southampton, New YorkCourse: Designed by Charles B. MacdonaldChampionships: Walker Cup in 1922 and 2013Initiation fee: Not published
National Golf Links of America, opened in 1911, was designed by Charles B. Macdonald and hosted the Walker Cup in 1922 and 2013.
Go ifA links course built from the great British holes
Skip ifYou want to play a U.S. Open venue
Why #3 over #4: Its Macdonald design and Walker Cups edge out Maidstone.
4
Maidstone Club
Photo: Quintin Soloviev / CC BY 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictAn Atlantic-side club with a famously hard door.
Founded: 1894Location: East Hampton, New YorkCourse: 27-hole layout on the Atlantic OceanReputation: Named among the five most elite Hamptons clubs to joinInitiation fee: Not published
Maidstone Club in East Hampton, founded in 1894, has a 27-hole layout on the Atlantic and is named among the five most elite Hamptons clubs to join.
Go ifBeach, golf and old East Hampton society
Skip ifYou want a short waiting list
Why #4 over #5: Its Atlantic setting and reputation edge out The Country Club.
5
The Country Club
Photo: Carol M. Highsmith / CC0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictAmerica’s oldest golf-oriented country club.
Founded: 1882Location: Brookline, MassachusettsMembership: Approximately 1,300 membersChampionships: U.S. Opens in 1913, 1963, 1988 and 2022; Ryder Cup in 1999Initiation fee: Not published
The Country Club in Brookline, founded in 1882, has approximately 1,300 members and hosted the U.S. Open in 1913, 1963, 1988 and 2022 and the Ryder Cup in 1999.
Go ifBoston society and championship golf
Skip ifYou want a new club
Why #5 over #6: Its four U.S. Opens and Ryder Cup edge out Merion.
6
Merion Golf Club
Photo: Tegcontrib / CC0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictFive U.S. Opens on a compact East Course.
Founded: 1896Location: Haverford Township, PennsylvaniaCourse: East Course designed by Hugh Wilson, opened in 1912U.S. Opens hosted: 5, most recently in 2013Initiation fee: Not published
Merion Golf Club in Haverford Township, Pennsylvania, was founded in 1896; its East Course by Hugh Wilson opened in 1912 and has hosted 5 U.S. Opens.
Go ifMain Line tradition and the white-faced bunkers
Skip ifYou want lots of room for crowds
Why #6 over #7: Its East Course history edges out Winged Foot.
7
Winged Foot Golf Club
Photo: / CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictA National Historic Landmark since 2024.
Founded: 1921Location: Mamaroneck, New YorkCourse: West and East courses designed by A. W. TillinghastU.S. Opens hosted: 6 on the West CourseInitiation fee: Not published
Winged Foot in Mamaroneck, New York, was founded in 1921; its West Course has hosted 6 U.S. Opens.
Go ifChampionship golf near New York City
Skip ifYou want a links-style course
Why #7 over #8: Its six U.S. Opens beat Myopia’s four.
8
Myopia Hunt Club
Photo: Jay Burnham / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictEarly U.S. Open host with polo on its original field.
Founded: 1882Location: South Hamilton, MassachusettsCourse: Built by Herbert C. Leeds in 1894U.S. Opens hosted: 4 (1898, 1901, 1905, 1908)Initiation fee: Not published
Myopia Hunt Club in South Hamilton, Massachusetts, was founded in 1882 and hosted 4 U.S. Opens between 1898 and 1908.
Go ifGolf, polo and a drag hunt north of Boston
Skip ifYou want a golf-only club
Why #8 over #9: Its early U.S. Opens and polo field edge out Sleepy Hollow.
9
Sleepy Hollow Country Club
Photo: Ɱ / CC0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictA 570-member club in one of America’s largest private houses.
Founded: 1911Location: Scarborough-on-Hudson, New YorkClubhouse: Woodlea, a 140-room mansion by McKim, Mead & WhiteMembership: 570 membersInitiation fee: Not published
Sleepy Hollow Country Club in Scarborough-on-Hudson was founded in 1911; its clubhouse is the 140-room Woodlea mansion and it has 570 members.
Go ifA Vanderbilt mansion on the Hudson
Skip ifYou want a links course
Why #9 over #10: Its mansion clubhouse and small roll edge out Oak Hill.
10
Oak Hill Country Club
Photo: DanielPenfield / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictSeven men’s majors near Rochester.
Founded: 1901Location: Pittsford, New YorkCourse: East Course designed by Donald RossMajors hosted: 7 (3 U.S. Opens and 4 PGA Championships) plus the Ryder CupInitiation fee: Not published
Oak Hill Country Club in Pittsford, New York, was founded in 1901 and has hosted 7 men’s majors on its Donald Ross East Course.
Go ifMajor-championship golf outside the New York–Boston corridor
Skip ifYou want Hamptons or Boston society
How we ranked these
We ranked each club on how hard it is to join and how it is described: invitation-only or small memberships, reputation and history, using the clubs’ own sites and Wikipedia. Exclusivity is a judgment call, and no club publishes its initiation fee. Facts are taken from each maker's own published information; check the official site before you buy.
Questions people ask
What is the most exclusive country club in the Northeast?
Pine Valley Golf Club in Pine Hill, New Jersey: membership is by invitation only from the board of directors, with about 930 members.
How much does it cost to join these clubs?
None of these clubs publishes an initiation fee, so no figure is given here.
Which Northeast clubs have hosted the most U.S. Opens?
Winged Foot and Shinnecock Hills have each hosted 6 U.S. Opens, ahead of Merion with 5.
What is the oldest country club on the list?
The Country Club in Brookline is described as the oldest golf-oriented country club in the United States; it was founded in 1882, the same year as Myopia Hunt Club.
U.S. Opens hosted at a glance
Oak Hill Country Club3 Opens
Myopia Hunt Club4 Opens
The Country Club4 Opens
Merion Golf Club5 Opens
Winged Foot Golf Club6 Opens
Shinnecock Hills Golf Club6 Opens
U.S. Opens hosted, as published by each maker. Picks without a published figure are left off.
