by On Monday the United States Golf Association announced local and final qualifying sites for the 2025 U.S. Open, June 12-15, at Oakmont Country Club. After scrolling through the list, a few courses stood out.
Essex County Country Club
One of the most underrated courses and one of the best back nines in the country. This course, which features architecture from A.W. Tillinghast, Seth Raynor, and Charles Banks, is fresh off a Gil Hanse renovation. If I was looking to fly somewhere to see a great course, this is where I would go, especially with Newark right there.
If you want to play ECCC outside of a USGA qualifier, we are also hosting an event with them on Monday, August 11 with the opportunity to play Watchung Valley and Mountain Ridge on the same trip. You can find full details in our event hub.
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The front nine at Essex County Country Club. (Photo: Fried Egg Golf)
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Nos. 7-9 and the back nine at Essex County Country Club. (Photo: Fried Egg Golf)
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The third at Essex County Country Club. (Photo: Fried Egg Golf)
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Nos. 3-6, 8, 9, and 18 at Essex County Country Club. (Photo: Fried Egg Golf)
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Essex County Country Club. (Photo: Fried Egg Golf)
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Nos. 7, 15, and 17 at Essex County Country Club. (Photo: Fried Egg Golf)
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Nos. 10-13 and 18 at Essex County Country Club. (Photo: Fried Egg Golf)
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The 14th with the New York skyline in the distance at Essex County Country Club. (Photo: Fried Egg Golf)
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The 15th green at Essex County Country Club. (Photo: Fried Egg Golf)
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High above Essex County Country Club. (Photo: Fried Egg Golf)
Brookville Country Club
Looking for an under-the-radar Raynor design? Here’s one that gets lost in the riches of Long Island. Brookville has been working with Dave Zinkand on restoring Raynor features that have been covered up through the years.
MEG’S PICKS: 2025 U.S. Women’s Open Qualifying Sites Worth Visiting
The Preserve Golf Club
Ever wonder what it would be like to play golf in a National Park? Go to The Preserve but don’t get lost on the 20-minute drive in from the gate. If you are into stunning landscapes, this is about as good as it gets. I would pay to go hiking in The Preserve. The golf course is decent, too.
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The Preserve GC. (Photo: Fried Egg Golf)
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The Preserve GC. (Photo: Fried Egg Golf)
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The Preserve GC. (Photo: Fried Egg Golf)
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The Preserve GC. (Photo: Fried Egg Golf)
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The Preserve GC. (Photo: Fried Egg Golf)
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The Preserve GC. (Photo: Fried Egg Golf)
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The Preserve GC. (Photo: Fried Egg Golf)
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The Preserve GC. (Photo: Fried Egg Golf)
Omaha Country Club
This course hosted a Senior Open a few years ago! Keith Foster brushed up this Perry Maxwell design which navigates a heaving piece of topography filled with dramatic shots.
Cedar Rapids Country Club
If I were a Chicago resident looking at the prospects of taking on the goofy architecture at Stonewall Orchard (maybe a future Design Disaster candidate), I would hop in my car and opt for one of the best golf courses within three hours of Chicago. If Cedar Rapids was in Chicagoland, it would be revered as one of the finest courses in the metro area. Instead, it flies under the radar and is one of the sneaky best National Member values for a Chicagoan.
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Third third at Cedar Rapids (Iowa) Country Club. (Photo: Fried Egg Golf)
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The sixth at Cedar Rapids (Iowa) Country Club. (Photo: Fried Egg Golf)
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Behind the 12th at Cedar Rapids (Iowa) Country Club. (Photo: Fried Egg Golf)
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Nos. 13, 15, and 17 at Cedar Rapids (Iowa) Country Club. (Photo: Fried Egg Golf)
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The 14th at Cedar Rapids (Iowa) Country Club. (Photo: Fried Egg Golf)
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Nos. 12 and 14 at Cedar Rapids (Iowa) Country Club. (Photo: Fried Egg Golf)
Lakeside Country Club
I have not seen this course but the photos look very interesting from the recent Jay Blasi Renovation. Houston is not a hotbed for exciting and thought-provoking golf architecture but Lakeside looks to fit that bill.
Maketewah Country Club
This is traditionally one of the biggest qualifiers which yields double the spots. I played here in a qualifier years ago and really liked the course, which has since undergone a renovation that has received high marks. This is a great qualifier that mixes chances to get out and a good golf course.
Knickerbocker Country Club
One of the few Herbert Strong designs in America, an underrated golf architect. In recent years, Jaeger Kovich has been doing some restoration work. This golf course is an example of the embarrassment of riches the Met Golf Section has at its disposal. The run-of-the-mill NYC area club would be top-tier in almost any other major city.
Panther National
I have heard from multiple PGA Tour players that Panther National may have the best range in the world. That being said, nobody should go down to South Florida to try and qualify for a U.S. Open. That’s like walking into a Bears Den. But you do have a good chance of getting paired up with a current, past, or future Tour pro.
