Golf in New York
Overview
Golf in New York
What golf looks like for retirement in New York: where to do it, what the state costs, and the towns that fit.
Golf in New York
NYC Parks operates 11 public golf courses across the five boroughs with a senior rate of $33 to $34 per round for city residents 62 and older, covering courses like Clearview Park, Van Cortlandt, and Pelham/Split Rock. Upstate, the Town of Colonie and comparable municipal systems offer senior resident permits (typically $50 annually) with substantially reduced green fees.
Published local price
Bethpage State Park Green Course (NYS resident), 18 holes weekday; rates vary by season and tee time
Published range: $38 to $43.
Bethpage State Park Golf Fees PDF - NYS Parks · as of 2026-04Where to go
What New York costs
Cost of living
108
BEA index, U.S. = 100
State income tax
~5.5% state income-tax planning rate
Social Security
Not taxed
How people start
- 1
Map the public and municipal courses nearby
Most metros list city-run courses with published fee schedules. Those set the affordable floor before any private club enters the picture.
- 2
Ask about senior and resident rates
Many courses post a reduced weekday senior rate and a season pass. The difference between pay-per-round and a pass is the number that usually drives the yearly cost.
- 3
Price the season, not the round
In warm states the season runs most of the year; in cold ones it is a few months. The yearly cost is rounds-per-year times rate, plus cart and equipment.
Towns in New York
Where to do it, town by town.
NYC Parks operates 13 public golf courses across all five boroughs; senior green fees are listed at $34.00 per round with a $6 reservation fee, compared to $50 or more for regular adult rates at the same courses. Van Cortlandt Park Golf Course in the Bronx, the oldest public golf course in the United States (opened 1895), is accessible by subway on the 1 train.
NYC Parks - Golf Courses and Driving RangesCommon questions
Is New York a good place to retire for golf?
NYC Parks operates 11 public golf courses across the five boroughs with a senior rate of $33 to $34 per round for city residents 62 and older, covering courses like Clearview Park, Van Cortlandt, and Pelham/Split Rock. Upstate, the Town of Colonie and comparable municipal systems offer senior resident permits (typically $50 annually) with substantially reduced green fees. Towns like New York have their own local options.
What does it cost to retire in New York?
New York has a cost-of-living index near 108 (U.S. = 100), about a 5.5% state income-tax planning rate, and does not tax Social Security. The full state guide breaks down property tax, sales tax, and long-term-care costs, each sourced.
Sources
The life your money is for