Worldgolfer's Golf Course Reviews

Designer: Donald Ross (1924), Brian Silva (1980s, Renovation), Gil Hanse (2008, Restoration), Tyler Rae (2020s, Restoration)

Location: Pittsford, New York

History: Located in suburban Rochester, Monroe opened in 1924 with a design by famed architect Donald Ross. The course was renovated by Brian Silva in the 1980s, Gil Hanse in 2008, and most recently by Tyler Rae, but remains similar to how Ross built it a century ago. It is most famous for hosting the Monroe Amateur annually since 1937, one of the premier amateur golf tournaments with winners such as Dustin Johnson, Chris Dimarco, and Jeff Sluman. In 2014, it hosted the LPGA Championship won by Inbee Park. Accolades for Monroe include:

• #140 Best Classic Course in America – Golfweek (2025)
• #33 Best Course in New York – Golf Digest (2025)
• #29 Best Course in New York – Golf Magazine (2024)
• #20 Best Course in New York – Top100golfcourses.com (2024)

Conditions: 10/10, Monroe is in superb shape, with fast, sloping greens and thick rough.

Value: N/A, This is a private course.

Scorecard:

Tee                     Par         Yardage         Rating          Slope

Black                 70           6926               73.6               139

Blue                   72           6511                 71.7               132

Blue/Green     72           6207                69.6             129

Green                72           5965                69.0             126

Green/White  72           5662                73.3              130

White                72           5369                71.4              129

Hole Descriptions: Donald Ross wasn’t as active in Westchester and Long Island as some of his fellow golden age architects, but when it comes to Upstate New York, he’s the king. The vast majority of good golf is thanks to him and this is especially true in Rochester, where the top four clubs feature a Ross design. Oak Hill gets most of the national attention due to its prominence as a major championship venue, but the discerning golfer would be wise to seek out other courses in the area as well. Monroe sits just a few miles from Oak Hill and has a similar but more intimate feel. This is a lovely parkland design that’s always in phenomenal shape and features wonderful bunkering and greens which provide the defense of the course. By all accounts, the best amateurs in the country love coming here, and it is an ideal members’ course as well that you’d never tire playing.

The majority of Monroe’s front 9 is routed north-south, while the back 9 plays along a ridge in an east-west configuration. It opens with a 403 yard straightaway par 4 that’s all in front of you. OB and two crossbunkers at 200 and 275 yards line the right side of an otherwise generous and forgiving fairway. This large green is subtler than most but guarded by a false front and deep bunker short left.

The 2nd hole is the shortest par 4 at Monroe at 346 yards, and not dissimilar to Oak Hill East’s 2nd, playing straightaway with a progressively narrowing fairway. This is a tight, tree-lined hole with excellent crossbunkering down the left at 175 and 250 yards and right at 200 yards. A set of barrier bunkers lies just short of this green, while additional bunkers line either side of the putting surface, creating a beautiful and intimidating approach. This is one of the most severe greens on the course, with a steep back-to-front slope off a back plateau.

From the Tips, the 3rd is a monster par 4 but for members is a very reasonable 450 yard par 5 that turns back towards the clubhouse. A slight dogleg left lined by trees, this hole features an undulating fairway with few even lies. The approach runs a bit uphill towards a back-to-front sloped green lined by bunkers short on either side.

The 4th is one of the best holes on the course as a 396 yard dogleg right par 4. This is an attractive hole with an angled teeshot over early bunkers down the right to a diagonal fairway. A lone tree lines the left at 250 yards, and a set of crossbunkers down the left at 320 yards is a great aiming point for all but the longest hitters. This green mostly slopes back-to-front, defended by a false front and deep right bunker.

At 421 yards, the 5th hole is the longest par 4 on the course and another fantastic dogleg right. Running along the edge of the property, this hole features a semi-blind teeshot to a fairway that bends right at about 235 yards over a bunker and plateau. While initially generous, the fairway narrows the further you go, and slopes left-to-right towards trees down the right. Barrier bunkers defend short on either side of an otherwise inviting green defined by a horizontal ridge that runs through its center.

Monroe features an excellent set of par threes with the first coming at the 190 yard 6th. This is the longest one-shotter on the course and plays uphill towards a perched, back-to-front sloped green that sits in a natural amphitheater. Deep bunkers defend this green left, right, and long.

When I played Monroe, the course was undergoing a restoration from Tyler Rae and it seems one of the biggest improvements came at the 7th. This used to be a straightaway 382 yard par 4 with trees down the right and rough on the left. While the approach into this left-to-right sloped, narrow green was always fantastic, the hole lacked definition tee-to-green. This seems to no longer be the case, as Rae removed the trees down the right and added six fairway bunkers, enhancing strategy and aesthetics.

The 8th is the shortest hole at Monroe at 140 yards, but is a tricky little all-or-nothing par 3 with a small green that slopes towards its front left. Deep bunkers surround this tiny target on either side and short.

The front 9 closes with a marathon 515 yard par 5 that takes you back to the clubhouse. This hole begins with a slightly uphill teeshot to a generous fairway lined by trees down the right and several small bunkers down this side at 200 and 230 yards. Most golfers will be laying up here and need to account for a fairway that bends to the right on the second shot with two large crossbunkers down the right in the lay-up area. This green is one of the most severe on the course, sitting diagonal and elevated between deep bunkers. The putting surface is functionally half of its actual size, with a severe false front for the first third and steep slopes along its edges.

Monroe’s back 9 begins with a straightforward but moderately challenging 414 yard par 4. This fairway features trees down both sides and a left crossbunker at 285 yards. This subtle green is open up front but defended on either side by deep bunkers.

The 11th is one of the more memorable holes on the course as a dogleg right par 4 at 404 yards. With trees down the right, this fairway begins to turn right at only about 200 yards, with a deep bunker through the fairway at about 240 yards. The coolest part of this hole is the square, punchbowl-like green that sits in a natural hollow. A bunker defends this green long, but the toughest up-and-down is from the right, where tight, steep lies await.

At 482 yards, the 12th hole is a shorter par 5 but an excellent risk/reward design that begins from an elevated teebox. Off the tee, this fairway bends to the left with an initial short crossbunker on the left and bunkers further up on the right at 200 and 240 yards. Thick rough and moguls line the left, while trees run down the right. The second half of this hole bends back to the right with additional sequential bunkers in the lay-up zone. It seems Tyler Rae restored this green to its original dimensions; The green I played was small and defended by a deep bunker up front.

Arguably Monroe’s most beautiful hole, the 13th is another superb par 3 playing slightly uphill at 172 yards. This is a somewhat intimidating hole playing over bunkers to a green perched into the hillside. The green slopes both back-to-front and right-to-left off the hill, with severe penalties for missed GIR with bunkers on either side and long, and a severe false front short that will zip you back about 30 yards.

The 14th is another converted par 5 for members and a great birdie opportunity at just 469 yards. Running slightly uphill the entire way, this generous fairway is lined by sporadic trees down either side and crossbunkers down the left at 210 and right at 230 yards. The fairway progressively narrows and those laying up will need to avoid a left crossbunker about 75 yards short of the green. This putting surface slopes both back-to-front and left-to-right with a steep false front and left bunker.

The 15th hole plays along the ridge on the edge of the property as an interesting 351 yard par 4. This is a hole that gives the golfer options, with a left-to-right sloped fairway containing numerous crossbunkers – down the left at 135 and 255 yards and right at 170 and 230 yards. Golfers who can successfully avoid these hazards will face an aerial approach into a tiny green defended by bunkers on either side and a false front. This is a fun hole and one you can play several different ways.

The 16th hole continues along this ridge in the same direction as an 176 yard par 3. This one-shotter features perhaps the quickest, most severe back-to-front sloped green on the course with a bunker defending its right side.

At 384 yards, the 17th hole takes you down from the ridge as a standout downhill par 4. This is an exhilarating teeshot, playing over early bunkers and a plateau to a tree-lined fairway with a speed slot. This back-to-front sloped green sits perched on another hill with steep bunkers on either side.

Monroe closes with a difficult 416 yard par 4 that runs uphill and usually into the wind. A straight teeshot is required, with a generous tree-lined fairway defended by numerous bunkers down the right between 200 and 240 yards. While this hole is a tough GIR for most, the most difficult aspect might be the green, which features two tiers and a diagonal swale running through its right half. Par is an admirable score here and I imagine many Monroe Invitationals come down to this hole.

General Comments: Monroe is a low-key, family oriented Club with numerous amenities including a pool, tennis, pickleball, and gym. Practice facilities include a range by the 1st tee and 4-hole short course designed by Gil Hanse. There are a few hills to navigate but it is a very pleasant walk.

Verdict: A classic Donald Ross parkland design, Monroe is a wonderful course highlighted by excellent conditioning and standout greens and bunkering. This is an excellent members’ course that continues to improve and is absolutely worth a play if in the area.