The Origin of ‘Friar’s Head’
The club’s name comes from a nearby sand formation on the coast that sailors believed resembled a friar’s head, forever tying the course’s identity to its dramatic landscape and maritime roots.
Modern classic riding dunes and farmland magic
Friar's Head Golf Club
Riverhead, New York
Amp Score
9.0
Established
2003
Architect
Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw
Access
Private
Par
Par 71
Length
6,774–7,071 yds
The verdict
A minimalist marvel with soaring ambitions
Friar's Head is an inspiring, dramatic, and highly strategic test nestled between wild sand dunes and sculpted farmland. With its seamless routing and natural beauty, it’s a modern classic that thrills architecture aficionados and rewards creative golf.
Course DNA
Difficulty88
Scenery95
Conditioning92
Shot Variety96
Walkability80
Green Complexity89
Architectural Interest98
At a glance
Quick facts
Location
3000 Sound Avenue, Riverhead, NY
Architects
Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw
Opened for play
2003
Par
71
Yardage
6,774–7,071 yards
Members
Invitation only; highly exclusive
Setting
Sand dunes and former farmland atop Long Island Sound
Notable distinction
Consistently US Top 20, State Top 5
The lore
How it came to be
- 1997
Ken Bakst engages Coore & Crenshaw to tour and envision a course on dramatic Riverhead dunes and farmland.
- 1997–2002
Multiple site visits, years spent solving routing and design without heavy earthmoving.
- 2002
Club established and initial membership begins; construction nears completion.
- 2003
Friar’s Head officially opens for play.
- 2005–2009
Rises quickly into national rankings, Top 15 in Golf Digest’s U.S. list.
- 2011–2017
Recognized as Top 5 in New York and reaches Top 20 national standing.
- 2021–2022
Ranks #16 in Golf Digest and GOLF Magazine’s US Top 100, cementing modern-classic status.
Stories & legends
What makes it special
Routing, Reimagined
Bill Coore struggled for over a year to find a natural routing between the site’s two wildly different landscapes, determined to minimize earthmoving. The eventual solution became the club’s great architectural achievement.
Crenshaw’s Challenge
Ben Crenshaw famously said, 'Our job was to marry the two distinct elements,' describing the task of weaving dune and farmland holes into one coherent, continuous experience — a mantra still quoted by golf architecture buffs.
Rapid Rise to Modern Classic
Despite being a newcomer, Friar’s Head soared into the national Top 20 within a decade, hailed for its routing, creativity, and natural beauty. It’s now a must-play pilgrimage for architecture connoisseurs lucky enough for access.
The design
The architecture
Friar’s Head stands as a summit of minimalist, modern golf, weaving between wind-carved dunes, tumbling bluffs, and reshaped farmland overlooking Long Island Sound. Coore & Crenshaw’s routing is the real hero; it flows back and forth between sandy escarpments and subtly contoured fields, so that every transition feels inevitable. Strategic options abound: fairways tilt and pinch, elevated tees offer breathtaking vistas, and the green complexes, while rarely flashy, defend par through cunning contours and set-up intrigue. It’s an experience of creativity and restraint—a modern palate cleanser after an era of overbuilt golf.
Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw’s vision at Friar’s Head was to let the land dictate the design, marrying wild dunes to cultivated field without brute force. The genius lies in the artful blend—no two holes feel alike, yet every step feels part of a natural progression.
Defining features
- Routing seamlessly traverses dunes and former potato field
- Multiple playing angles and lines on nearly every hole
- Subtle, challenging green complexes with natural contours
- Wind and terrain integral to changing shot values
- Breathtaking Sound views, especially on the back nine
The architect's other work
More from Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw
Sand Hills Golf Club
Mullen, NebraskaOften ranked #1 modern U.S. course
Streamsong (Red)
Bowling Green, FloridaAcclaimed minimalist resort design
Old Sandwich Golf Club
Plymouth, MassachusettsElite New England modern club
Lost Farm at Barnbougle
Tasmania, AustraliaInternational Coore & Crenshaw standout
Bandon Trails
Bandon, OregonPraised as Bandon’s most natural routing
Hole by hole
Signature holes
Hole 4
PAR
3
YARDAGE
254 yds
This lengthy par 3 is a brute, playing over native scrub to a well-defended green perched atop the dunes. With wind in play, it asks for both power and precision.
Play it smart
Choose a club based on the wind and trust your swing—long or short leaves challenging recoveries.
Where it bites
Misses right or left bring deep sand and awkward lies into play.
Course management
Shots to think about
Elevated tee into wind
Flight it lower and chase it, as exposed dunes amplify any spin.
Approach from sloped fairway
Adjust your aim and trust bounce—the ball rarely sits level here.
Pin cut near bunker
Play for the fat of the green; par is a good score.
Dogleg with bluff left
Favor the safer side—even a level angle is better than risking the hazard.
Intermediate rough just off fairway
Don’t be greedy; take your medicine and position for your next shot.
Downwind on a par 5
Plan backward from the green—run-out and fescue loom beyond your landing zones.
On the day
What to expect
Conditions
World-class surfaces, perfectly presented fast and firm.
Pace
Leisurely member pace; enjoy the walk and take it in.
Vibe
Calm, understated, deeply private and respectful of golf’s traditions.
Dress code
Traditional golf attire—collared shirt, slacks/shorts, and soft spikes required.
Build the trip
If you're making a Long Island golf adventure out of it
CourseAccessWhy it's on the listTrip
Shinnecock Hills Golf Club
Private
World top-10 and US Open icon—a historic counterpoint to Friar’s Head.
National Golf Links of America
Private
Architectural pilgrimage; C.B. Macdonald’s enduring classic.
Montauk Downs State Park
Public
Public-access gem with classic Rees Jones design and windy challenge.
Bethpage Black
Public
Bucket-list major venue—infamous for its teeth and pedigree.
Riverhead or Southampton for access to both public and private classics.
Before you tee off
Your game plan
01
Bring your creativity
Expect to use every club—this is not a pure driver-wedge venue.
02
Work on your trajectory control
Wind and elevation are constants, and controlling ball flight is crucial.
03
Prepare to walk
Take in the experience on foot—the routing rewards a walking round, but some undulation awaits.
04
Arrive early
Soak up the practice grounds and panoramic views before diving into one of America’s finest modern routings.
Watch
See it before you play it
For the group chat
Fun facts
1
The routing took more than a year of exploration, with no heavy earthmoving allowed.
2
Its name derives from a sand formation sailors likened to a friar’s head.
3
Founder Ken Bakst was the 1997 U.S. Mid-Amateur champion.
4
The course climbs from farmland to dunes with some holes 200 feet above Long Island Sound.
5
Consistently ranked in the US Top 20 despite being less than 25 years old.
The clubhouse
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