If you’ve been searching for a golf course that combines a serious challenge with jaw-dropping views of the Hudson Valley, Hudson Hills Golf Course deserves a spot on your list. Widely regarded as the crown jewel of Westchester County’s municipal golf system, this Ossining, New York course is known for its dramatic elevation changes, narrow tree-lined fairways, and a layout that rewards precision over power.
This guide covers everything you need to know before booking a tee time — course details, ratings, green fees, history, amenities, and honest insight from golfers who’ve played it.
Quick Facts About Hudson Hills Golf Course
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 400 Croton Dam Rd, Ossining, NY 10562, United States |
| Phone | +19148643000 |
| Website | golf.westchestergov.com |
| Course Type | Public (Westchester County municipal course) |
| Architect | Mark A. Mungeam, ASGCA |
| Year Opened | 2004 |
| Holes | 18 |
| Par | 71 |
| Total Yardage | Up to 7,000 yards (Black tees) |
| Course Rating / Slope (Black tees) | 73.7 / 139 |
| Dress Code | Proper golf attire required |
| Amenities | Pro shop, golf studio/lessons, Woods Tavern restaurant, locker rooms |
Hudson Hills Golf Course Timing & Hours
| Day | Hours |
|---|---|
| Saturday(Independence Day) | 6 am–6 pmHours might differ |
| Sunday | 6 am–6 pm |
| Monday | 6:30 am–6 pm |
| Tuesday | 6:30 am–6 pm |
| Wednesday | 6:30 am–6 pm |
| Thursday | 6:30 am–6 pm |
| Friday | 6:30 am–6 pm |
Where Is Hudson Hills Golf Course Located?
Hudson Hills sits just off Route 9A and the Taconic State Parkway in Ossining, New York, roughly four miles from the Hudson River. Its position within Westchester County makes it an easy day trip for golfers coming from New York City, Westchester, or the lower Hudson Valley.
Course Overview: What Makes Hudson Hills Unique
Hudson Hills is often described by regulars as the most demanding and most upscale of Westchester County’s six public golf courses. Designed by architect Mark Mungeam and opened in 2004, the course is carved into a hillside surrounded by dense woodlands, with no houses lining the fairways — just trees, fescue, and rolling terrain.
A few defining characteristics stand out:
- Elevation changes on nearly every hole. Expect uphill, downhill, and sidehill lies throughout the round.
- Elevated tees and greens. Many holes require you to hit to or from raised targets, adding an extra layer of difficulty.
- Four sets of tees. Yardages range from around 5,100 yards up to nearly 7,000 yards, so the course can flex to different skill levels, even though it plays tough from any tee.
- Signature holes. The first tee offers a sweeping view of almost a third of the course. The par-4 13th showcases a vista of the Lower Hudson Valley, and the par-3 14th features a thrilling tee shot over a pond.
- Limited practice facilities. There’s no driving range, though the putting green is large enough for chipping practice.
Because of the hilly terrain, this is not considered a walker-friendly course — most golfers use a cart, and carts are GPS-restricted to marked paths in certain areas.
Course Layout and Design
The course stretches across rolling hills and heavily wooded terrain.
Instead of relying solely on length, Hudson Hills challenges players through:
Elevated Tee Shots
Several holes begin from elevated tees, providing spectacular panoramic views while demanding precise club selection.
Strategic Fairways
Fairways are relatively narrow compared to many municipal courses, rewarding accuracy over raw distance.
Challenging Greens
Large, sloping greens require careful approach shots and confident putting.
Missing the correct section of the green often results in difficult two-putts—or worse.
Natural Hazards
Golfers encounter:
- Mature hardwood forests
- Deep bunkers
- Native fescue areas
- Wetlands
- Water hazards
- Significant elevation changes
Every hole feels unique, preventing the round from becoming repetitive.
Course Ratings and Tee Details
Hudson Hills plays to a par of 71 across 18 holes, with total yardage reaching close to 7,000 yards from the back tees. Here’s a breakdown of the official ratings for each tee box:
Men’s Tees
| Tee | Course Rating | Slope Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Black | 73.7 | 139 |
| Green | 70.9 | 129 |
| Blue | 68.1 | 125 |
| Gold | 64.3 | 115 |
Women’s Tees
| Tee | Course Rating | Slope Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Green | 76.2 | 142 |
| Blue | 72.7 | 132 |
| Gold | 68.6 | 117 |
A slope rating in the high 130s puts Hudson Hills among the more challenging public courses in the region, so it’s a great test for low-handicap and scratch golfers, while the forward tees keep it playable for beginners and higher handicappers.
Green Fees and Tee Times
As a Westchester County-owned facility, Hudson Hills uses a tiered pricing structure based on Park Pass status, day of the week, and season. Rates are notably higher than the county’s other five municipal courses, reflecting its status as the premium option.
Peak season (April 25 – September 25), 18 holes:
- Weekends/Holidays: $94 with Park Pass / $129 without
- Weekdays: $68 with Park Pass / $98 without
- Seniors (60+, weekdays only): $54 with Park Pass / $74 without
- Juniors (17 and under, weekdays only): $39 with Park Pass / $49 without
Shoulder season (March 25 – April 24, and September 26 – end of season):
- Weekends/Holidays: $74 with Park Pass / $99 without
- Weekdays: $58 with Park Pass / $78 without
Twilight rates are available in every season and offer meaningful savings — a smart option if you’re flexible on tee time.
A motorized cart adds $22 per player for 18 holes. Because rates change with the season and are subject to updates, it’s worth confirming current pricing directly with the course at (914) 864-3000 or through the official Westchester County golf site before booking.
Tee times can be booked online through Westchester County’s E-Z Reserve system or GolfNow for non-Park Pass holders, and it’s advisable to reserve in advance, especially for weekend rounds.
Dining and Amenities
The clubhouse at Hudson Hills is home to Woods Tavern, a full-service restaurant with a varied menu and a large outdoor deck overlooking the course — a popular spot for golfers and non-golfers alike, especially after a long, hilly round. The facility also includes:
- A full-service pro shop
- A golf studio near the clubhouse offering year-round lessons, complete with a launch monitor for club fitting and swing analysis
- Locker rooms and showers
- A putting green suitable for light chipping practice
The History Behind Hudson Hills
Hudson Hills Golf Course occupies a site with a genuinely significant place in American golf history. The land was originally home to Sunset Hills Golf Course, which opened in 1926. During the Great Depression, a group of prominent Black businessmen purchased the struggling club and reopened it in 1936 as the Rising Sun Golf & Country Club — recognized as the first Black-owned and operated golf destination in the Tri-State Area, offering the same first-class amenities found at whites-only clubs of the era.
Despite financial hardship and a brief attempt to revive the property as the Beaumont Golf and Country Club, the course changed ownership multiple times over the following decades before closing entirely in 1982. IBM later acquired the land and eventually sold it to Westchester County in 2004, paving the way for the modern Hudson Hills Golf Course that exists today. A plaque on the grounds honors the Rising Sun’s legacy.
Hudson Hills Golf Course Scorecard
Here’s a snapshot of the official scorecard data by tee, straight from Westchester County’s golf department. This is the information you’ll want on hand before your round to pick the right tees for your game.
| Tee | Yardage | Par | Course Rating (Men) | Slope Rating (Men) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black | ~6,935–7,000 | 71 | 73.7 | 139 |
| Green | — | 71 | 70.9 | 129 |
| Blue | — | 71 | 68.1 | 125 |
| Gold | ~5,100 | 71 | 64.3 | 115 |
| Tee | Course Rating (Women) | Slope Rating (Women) |
|---|---|---|
| Green | 76.2 | 142 |
| Blue | 72.7 | 132 |
| Gold | 68.6 | 117 |
A few scorecard notes worth knowing before you tee off:
- The course plays to a par of 71 across all four tee boxes, so it doesn’t get easier just by moving up a tee — only shorter.
- The Black tees are the most demanding, with a slope of 139, putting them among the tougher tee setups in the region.
- Several holes stand out on the card: the 1st hole opens with a view of nearly a third of the course, the 13th is a long par 4 with Lower Hudson Valley views, and the 14th is a par 3 with a tee shot carrying over a pond.
- For a full hole-by-hole yardage book, flyover view, and printable scorecard, Westchester County’s official site and GolfNow both offer an interactive layout tool — handy for planning club selection hole by hole before you arrive.
Best Time to Play
Every season offers something different.
Spring
- Excellent turf conditions
- Comfortable temperatures
- Moderate crowds
Summer
- Peak playing season
- Longer daylight
- Busy weekends
Fall
Many golfers consider autumn the best time to visit due to:
- Colorful foliage
- Crisp temperatures
- Outstanding course conditions
Hudson Hills Golf Course Reviews: What Golfers Are Saying?
Player feedback on Hudson Hills is consistent on a few key points:
- Course conditions are generally praised, particularly the greens, though some reviewers note that bunker maintenance and aeration recovery can be inconsistent at times.
- Difficulty is a recurring theme — narrow fairways, blind shots, and penal rough mean higher-handicap players may find it demanding, while stronger players tend to enjoy the challenge.
- Staff and service get frequent praise for being friendly and accommodating.
- Value is a mixed bag. As the most expensive of Westchester’s municipal courses, some golfers feel the price is justified by the conditions and views, while others feel it’s steep for a public course, especially compared to similarly priced options elsewhere.
- Pace of play can slow down on busy weekends, so booking early tee times or twilight slots is a common tip from regulars.
Tips for Playing Hudson Hills
- Book a cart. Given the steep terrain, most golfers — even fit ones — prefer riding over walking.
- Play twilight for savings. Twilight rates offer a noticeably lower price without sacrificing much daylight, depending on the season.
- Bring extra balls. Penal rough and environmentally protected areas can eat golf balls, especially off-line tee shots.
- Check the wind. Elevated holes can be affected by wind more than you’d expect, so club up or down accordingly on exposed holes.
- Arrive early to warm up. Since there’s no full driving range, use the putting green and give yourself extra time before your tee time.
Final Thoughts
Hudson Hills Golf Course earns its reputation as one of the toughest and most scenic public tracks in Westchester County. Between the elevation changes, strategic bunkering, and Hudson Valley views, it’s a course that rewards golfers who can think their way around it. Whether you’re chasing a new personal challenge or simply want a memorable round with a view, Hudson Hills is worth the trip — just be sure to book ahead, bring your best game, and stick around for a bite at Woods Tavern afterward.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hudson Hills Golf Course open to the public?
Yes, it’s a public course owned and operated by Westchester County.
How long is Hudson Hills Golf Course?
It plays up to nearly 7,000 yards from the back (Black) tees, with a par of 71.
Who designed Hudson Hills?
The course was designed by architect Mark A. Mungeam and opened in 2004.
Is Hudson Hills walkable?
Technically yes, but due to the hilly terrain most golfers choose to ride in a cart.
Does Hudson Hills have a driving range?
No, practice facilities are limited to a large putting green suitable for chipping.
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