Croton-On-Hudson, New York
Hudson National delivers a championship-caliber experience with severe elevation, cunning design, and breathtaking river views. While access is exclusive and it flies under the national radar, regionally it’s a must-play for those with connections—Fazio’s best metropolitan test north of Manhattan.
Tom Fazio sculped Hudson National out of untamable, rocky heights above the Hudson River, blending Golden Age design cues—classic doglegs, strategic bunkering, dramatic elevation change—with modern shaping and tour-grade conditioning. The routing is an architectural tour de force: holes climb to breathtaking viewpoints, dive into valleys, and constantly ask for thoughtful positioning. Every tee box teases risk-reward and every green, perched or sloped, demands exacting control. The 2023 Fazio-led renovation further sharpened its best features, affirming the course’s standing as a modern classic for serious players.
Tom Fazio, a modern master with a flair for site transformation, leveraged extreme terrain to craft Hudson National’s bold, playable challenge—renewed and refined with his team’s 2023 renovation.
This long par 4 launches you straight into championship golf: framed by bunkers, with tight landing zones and penalty for drifting offline. It demands nerves and precision before your round has even begun.
Favor control over aggression—pick a target that keeps bunkers out of play, leaving a manageable approach.
Wayward drives invite immediate trouble left or right, setting a tough tone for the day.
Tour-level conditioning with fast, true greens and tightly mown surrounds.
Deliberate private-club pace; well-managed but unrushed.
Exclusive, quiet, and scenic—a serious club for serious golf.
Standard private-club attire (collared shirts, no denim).
Expect to hit plenty of uphill and downhill shots—practice trajectory control beforehand.
Severe elevation changes and long holes demand stamina, even with a cart.
Study the routing and note safe misses—aggressive lines punish careless play here.
Several exposed holes play differently depending on wind direction; bring your shot-shaping A-game.
Site occupied by Kitchawank Indians as Henry Hudson sails upriver
Hudson National Golf Club opens for play, designed by Tom Fazio
Stone manor clubhouse is renovated
Major Fazio-led renovation and course enhancement
Building Hudson National required moving 130,000 cubic yards of rock to carve out playable fairways atop one of the highest points in Westchester. Fazio’s team bent the land to golf’s will, turning a rugged, historic vantage into a strategic playground.
On the 4th hole, golfers pass the haunting stone shell of the former Hessian Hills Country Club, a living echo of Westchester golf lore. Fazio made sure these ruins were woven into the routing—history and play colliding in memorable fashion.
Legend has it that George Washington used the property’s commanding heights to keep tabs on enemy ships marauding up the Hudson during the Revolutionary War. Now, golfers are the sentinels—scanning for birdies, not redcoats.
From its beginnings, Hudson National earned a reputation as a 'favorite of better players' in an ultra-competitive market, its tests trusted for qualifying rounds and high-level area tournaments.
Site sits at one of the highest points in Westchester County with sweeping Hudson River views.
Course construction involved removing over 130,000 cubic yards of rock.
The 4th hole plays past ruins from the old Hessian Hills Country Club clubhouse, lost to a 1930s fire.
Legend says George Washington used the site as a lookout during the Revolutionary War.
In 2023, Tom Fazio and team led a major renovation, sharpening its championship pedigree.
Classic C.B. Macdonald design, renaissance by Gil Hanse; region's most revered private club if you can get on.
Legendary major championship venue with two U.S. Open courses.
Elite, strategy-driven Tillinghast design—a perennial top-100 club.
Prestigious, beautifully conditioned and a past tour venue.
Historic and ultra-accessible public play option for all travelers.
White Plains or Tarrytown for best access and amenities.
Courses with the most similar DNA profile — matched by deviation shape across all eight playing characteristics.
Why it matches: What links these two? Makes the landscape part of the experience — a familiar feeling, expressed in Pebble Beach Golf Links's own setting.
Why it matches: Victoria National Golf Club is a natural next stop after Hudson National Golf Club: it asks for the same disciplined decision-making.
Why it matches: What links these two? Puts the same premium on presentation — a familiar feeling, expressed in Firestone Country Club (North Course)'s own setting.
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