Worldgolfer's Golf Course Reviews

Designer: Jack Nicklaus (1999)

Location: Monroe, New York

History: The semi-private Golf Club at Mansion Ridge was designed in 1999 by Jack Nicklaus and is currently owned by Troon Golf. Considered one of the better New York City public options, Mansion Ridge owns the following award:

• #95 Best Course in New York – Top100golfcourses.com (2020)

Conditions: 9/10, Despite playing early in the season, Mansion Ridge was in very strong shape and I suspect it usually is given the pricepoint.

Value: 3/10, I believe I paid less when I played, but recently prices have been routinely over $150, which is far too much for this course.

Scorecard:

Tee                          Par         Yardage         Rating           Slope

Tour                       72            6889              74.9                145

Championship  72            6462              72.7                139

Players                  72            6134               71.0                138

Resort                    72           5697               68.9               132

Mansion               72            4785               67.7                118

Hole Descriptions: The public golf scene surrounding New York City is much-maligned, but there are some courses worth playing if you’re willing to drive a bit and Mansion Ridge is one of these courses. Located about an hour northwest of Manhattan at the base of the Catskills, Mansion Ridge is a modern Jack Nicklaus design over hilly, rugged terrain. While Jack is not my favorite architect, Mansion Ridge does have some things going for it including gorgeous scenery, very good conditions, and a strong challenge that is especially present on the latter stages of the course. All in all, it is a course worth playing if you’re looking for a good public access course near New York and have access to a car.

Although Nicklaus courses are typically very difficult, he usually gives the golfer a few breathers at the beginning and Mansion Ridge is no different, as some of the easiest holes come at the start of your round. The opening hole is a 344 yard dogleg left par 4 playing shorter downhill the entire way. This fairway turns left around a bunker at 230 yards with OB left the entire way and mounds of rough down the right that yield awkward lies. This approach continues downhill to a bunkerless green that generally slopes towards the front left.

The 2nd is Mansion Ridge’s shortest hole as an 136 yard par 3. This hole runs slightly uphill towards a back-to-front sloped green defended by a bunker short left. Make your par and move on.

The 3rd hole is a semi-blind dogleg left par 4 at 382 yards playing uphill. This hole borders the 1st and features similar but more impressive mounds of rough down either side. This green generally slopes back-to-front and is defended by a bunker short right.

Running the opposite direction, the 4th hole is the shortest par 4 on the course at just 338 yards. With OB and houses down the right the entire way, this straightaway hole features another semi-blind teeshot to a fairway that plateaus at only 210 yards with bunkers on either side. After this point, the fairway dips steadily downhill leaving some tough pitches for those that wind up here. This green is defended by two bunkers short and runs towards the back left.

At 162 yards, the 5th hole is the last of the easy holes for a bit as a medium-length par 3. Playing level, this hole features a right-to-left sloped green well-defended by bunkers left, right, and long. The rock wall behind this green is a nice touch and gives the course an older feel.

The 6th hole brings you to more exciting terrain and is a good representation of how the rest of your round will be. This 395 yard par 4 is an intimidating hole with a 200 yard forced carry over a hazard and OB left the entire way. The right side of the hole is lined by a bunker at 280 yards and a steep slope of rough. This approach runs slightly uphill towards an extremely narrow (just 2 yards wide at points) green lined by a bunker left. Par is a strong score here.

The 7th hole is the shortest par 5 at Mansion Ridge and is readily reachable at just 499 yards. This interesting hole features another mild forced carry to a generous tree-lined fairway defended by a bunker left at 250 yards. At about 300 yards, this fairway ends and your second shot will have to carry a “Great Hazard” to reach a second slab of fairway that slopes steadily downhill. This green is also small and diagonal and features a back right tier defended by a bunker right.

The 8th hole is the most dramatic on the course and feels very similar to what you find at nearby Patriot Hills. At 340 yards, this pretty par 4 features an exhilarating downhill teeshot over 180 yards of hazard to a fairway that cants right. Several bunkers line this fairway down the right at 220 and 260 yards and on the left at 270 yards. Despite appearing relatively flat, this elevated green slopes strongly left-to-right with the land and is defended by two bunkers right.

I’m not always a huge fan of par fives being the number 1 handicap, but the 9th hole at Mansion Ridge is a real beast at 514 yards and perhaps deserving of it. This eventful hole begins with a downhill teeshot to a right-to-left sloped fairway lined by thick forest down the left. After turning slightly left, this initial fairway ends at 375 yards with a large ditch that will certainly need to be in your mind on the second shot. An elevated second slab of fairway sits on the other side of this ditch before ending just 70 yards later with another deep ditch. A perched, undulating green sits just on the other side of this ditch and is lined by bunkers left and short. It would take a heroic effort to get home in two here and this is a very difficult, three-shot hole for most.

The back nine is almost 250 yards longer and a real test, but like the front begins with some easier holes. The 10th hole is the shortest par 4 on this side at 342 yards and plays straightaway and uphill. With another short forced carry, this hole features a generous left-to-right sloped fairway with a small creek bisecting it at just 230 yards. I am not a fan of this creek nor am I a fan of a short tree that partially obscures some of the left fairway. This approach continues uphill towards a left-to-right sloped green lined by two bunkers right.

The 11th hole is a 510 yard slight dogleg left par 5 that plays similarly to the opening few holes with tall mounds of rough down either side. A pair of bunkers down the right at 260 and 290 yards is the only other danger on this teeshot. This green slopes right-to-left and is lined by bunkers on either side.

At 142 yards, the 12th hole is a short but very scenic par 3 that will be many people’s favorite hole at Mansion Ridge. This pretty one-shotter plays over a pond the entire way towards a two-tiered, left-to-right sloping green lined by bunkers on either side. Putting from the wrong tier makes for a difficult two-putt.

The closing stretch at Mansion Ridge is quite difficult beginning with the 418 yard par 4 13th. This hole requires an 150 yard forced carry to an angled fairway with thick trees down either side and OB left. This green slopes back-to-front and is lined by a bunker left.

The 14th is probably my favorite hole on the course as a 404 yard big sweeping dogleg right par 4. This intimidating hole requires an immediate forced carry of nearly 200 yards to a tree-lined fairway that bends right at around 280 yards. A large rock outcropping dominates your view from the teebox but is even more apparent on your approach. This green is on the flatter side and is guarded by a bunker right.

The 15th is the final par 5 on the course at 508 yards and is another difficult hole. While not overly long, this teeshot plays uphill over 180 yards of hazard to a narrower, tree-lined fairway. There are no bunkers on this hole until about 50 yards short of the green, but more than likely your second shot will be blind here. This green is two-tiered, back-to-front sloped, and surrounded by three bunkers.

The 373 yard 16th is the shortest hole on the tough closing stretch but features perhaps the most daunting teeshot on the course with another 190 yard forced carry uphill to a very tight fairway lined by a right bunker at 210 yards. This hole continues considerably uphill on its approach to an elevated green with a front left portion sloping back-to-front and back right portion sloping left-to-right. Deep, challenging bunkers defend this green short and long.

At 202 yards, the 17th hole is by far the longest of Mansion Ridge’s par threes and also its most difficult. This hole plays level to a shallow, back-to-front sloped green guarded by large bunkers short and long.

Mansion Ridge closes with its longest par 4 at 453 yards. Although it plays shorter and downhill the entire way, this is still a challenging hole beginning with a semi-blind teeshot to a skinny fairway lined by bunkers on either side for much of the landing area. This approach is arguably the most difficult on the course, playing severely downhill towards a multi-tiered green lined by a pond short left. Par is a great score on this tough finisher.

General Comments: Practice facilities include a small practice green near the 1st tee and driving range which I didn’t use. Cart is pretty much a requirement on this very hilly terrain and pace of play was average when I played.

Verdict: Characterized by small greens, uneven lies, and forced carries, Mansion Ridge is a scenic and challenging Jack Nicklaus design located about an hour northwest of New York City. This is one of the better public courses in the area but might be too penal and expensive to warrant multiple plays.