A Glacial Namesake
Split Rock’s moniker comes from a real-life glacial erratic, a massive boulder with a deep visible crevice just north of the course. This storied landmark is a reminder that even amid city chaos, the land holds quiet drama.
Golf Course Review & Scouting Report
Split Rock Golf Course
Bronx, New York
Established
1935
Architect
John Van Kleek
Access
Municipal
Par
Par 70
Length
5,419 – 6,682 yds
Green Fees
$$
The verdict
A Lively NYC Public Classic
Split Rock offers a true city golf experience—a course with WPA-era history, quirky greens, and challenging par fours. You'll find memorable stretches and strategic options amid blue-collar parkland, though conditions and pace are hit-or-miss depending on the day. It’s a case study in characterful, big-city municipal golf that rewards a creative game and a patient mindset.
Course DNA
Difficulty
71
Scenery56
Conditioning48
Shot Variety74
Walkability76
Green Complexity67
Wow Factor63
Design Quality63
Don't miss
Between holes, check out the Art Deco WPA-era clubhouse—a piece of NYC history as impressive as the golf itself.
At a glance
Quick facts
Location
Pelham Bay Park, Bronx, NY
Architect
John Van Kleek (1935)
Clubhouse
Art Deco WPA-era
Course Type
Urban parkland municipal
Mosquito Warning
Heavy in summer months
Fairways
Rye & bluegrass blend
Greens
Poa annua
Longest Hole
Par-5 13th, 492 yards
The design
The architecture
Split Rock delivers a flavor of classic city-park championship design with corridors lined by mature trees, artfully angled doglegs, and small, sneaky greens that reward thought over firepower. John Van Kleek's routing exploits the modest Bronx terrain, weaving a fun municipal test through both tighter and more expansive stretches. Expect a strategic front nine with long par 4s and a scoring window at the short par 3s, while the back nine demands steady nerves and position off the tee. Tree encroachment and varied conditioning don’t hide the bones of a clever, playable parkland, where ground-game options crop up and unexpected challenge lurks.
Van Kleek was a municipal specialist whose 1930s New Deal work brought accessible but strategic championship golf to the NYC public.
Defining features
- Mix of par-3 lengths, including a 220-yard test
- Long par-4s that play tougher than the card
- Distinctive New Deal-era Art Deco clubhouse
- Small, sloped, Poa annua greens
- Urban parkland setting in Pelham Bay Park
Hole by hole
Signature holes
Hole 5
Risk-and-Reward Peninsula
PAR
5
YARDAGE
515
The par-5 fifth is a true birdie opportunity, with angles making for a fascinating second-shot decision near a tucked green complex. While reachable for longer hitters, smarter play often prevails over brute force.
Play it smart
Lay up to a comfortable wedge yardage if the tee shot leaves you short of an ideal angle—gunning it in two requires precise control.
Where it bites
Trouble left and deep can turn eagle dreams into a scrappy bogey.
Course management
Shots to think about
Opening tee shot on 1
Favor accuracy over length—start the day with a fairway finder, not a hero move.
Second shot on 5
Only go for the green in two if you have a perfect angle; otherwise, lay back for a controlled wedge.
Tee shot on 6
Resist the urge to chase the pin—play to the heart of the green and take your medicine if short.
Approach into 8 and 17
Don’t go at sucker pins—center-green is your friend on these long par-4s.
Approach to slippery greens
Play for the best leave below the hole, as Poa annua can exaggerate late-day breaks.
Layup on par-5 13th
Position your layup to avoid tree trouble and set up your preferred wedge distance.
Summer play with mosquitoes
Bring repellent—it genuinely matters on humid afternoons.
On the day
What to expect
Conditions
Variable: classic greens, spotty fairways, and rough that’s all municipal character.
Pace
Moderate to slow, especially on weekends; patience is essential.
Vibe
Genuine New York muni—bustling, unpretentious, and full of local color.
Dress code
Casual golf attire; no stringent club standards.
Before you tee off
Your game plan
01
Book early
Weekends fill quickly; secure your tee time at least two weeks ahead.
02
Pack mosquito repellent
Summer afternoons can be relentless—prepare for comfort.
03
Walk if able
The course is best appreciated on foot despite some busy pathways.
04
Scout parking
Arrive early, as the main lot can fill and street overflow is limited.
The lore
How it came to be
- 1935
Split Rock Golf Course officially opens to the public.
- 1935
Pelham Bay course rebuilt and the two courses share an Art Deco clubhouse.
- 1935
Bobby Jones visits and praises Split Rock as exceedingly gratifying.
- 2023
NYC Parks announces future course/clubhouse renovation plans for Pelham/Split Rock.
Stories & legends
What makes it special
Bobby Jones’s Endorsement
Golf legend Bobby Jones played Split Rock in the year it opened and called it 'exceedingly gratifying and entirely worth the visit.' That early seal of approval still resonates decades later.
WPA Legacy, NYC Style
Split Rock exists thanks to the sweeping public works vision of Depression-era New York, with WPA and Robert Moses creating affordable championship golf for city residents. The Art Deco clubhouse and the very land shout NYC legacy.
For the group chat
Fun facts
1
Named after a famous glacial boulder cleaved in two near the course.
2
Both Pelham Bay and Split Rock opened the same year under Robert Moses’s watch.
3
The Art Deco clubhouse is a WPA original, not a modern rebuild.
4
Bobby Jones praised the course after playing it in 1935.
5
Mosquito season is notorious—locals treat it as a yearly rite.
Build the trip
If you're doing a NYC muni swing
CourseAccessWhy it's on the listTrip
Bethpage Black
Public
Major-championship pedigree and one of America’s great public tests.
Bally’s Golf Links at Ferry Point
Public
Manhattan skyline views and modern links flavor in the Bronx.
Pelham Bay Golf Course
Municipal
Accessible, friendlier sister to Split Rock, perfect for a 36-hole day.
Van Cortlandt Park Golf Course
Municipal
Oldest public course in the US, brimming with NYC history.
Bronx or Throgs Neck area for quick access to Split Rock, Pelham Bay, and Ferry Point.
Course DNA
If You Like Split Rock Golf Course
Courses with the most similar DNA profile — matched by deviation shape across all eight playing characteristics.
Very Similar DNA8.2
Old Sawmill Golf Club
Ridgeville, South CarolinaWhy it matches: Old Sawmill Golf Club is a natural next stop after Split Rock Golf Course: it a comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character.
Very Similar DNA6.7
Back Creek Golf Club
Middletown, DelawareDifficulty
Why it matches: If Split Rock Golf Course is your kind of course, Back Creek Golf Club is worth a look because it a comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character.
Very Similar DNA7.3
Wellshire Golf Course
Denver, ColoradoGreen Complexity
Why it matches: There is real overlap here. Wellshire Golf Course a comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character, making it a compelling counterpart to Split Rock Golf Course.
Community Sentiment
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