LIBERTY NATIONAL GOLF CLUB

Course Architects: Tom Kite and Robert Cupp
Year Opened: 2006
Location: Jersey City, New Jersey
Slope: 155. Rating: 77.7
Par: 72
Yardage: 7,387
Hole-by-Hole: 1 - Par 4 398 Yds    10 - Par 5 513 Yds
                       2 - Par 3 219 Yds    11 - Par 3 250 Yds
                       3 - Par 4 395 Yds    12 - Par 4 431 Yds
                      4 - Par 3 193 Yds    13 - Par 5 563 Yds
                      5 - Par 4 427 Yds    14 - Par 3 150 Yds
                      6 - Par 5 538 Yds    15 - Par 4 481 Yds
                       7 - Par 4 484 Yds    16 - Par 4 325 Yds
                      8 - Par 5 611 Yds    17 - Par 4 445 Yds
                      9 - Par 4 474 Yds    18 - Par 4 490 Yds
                      Par 36  3,739 Yds     Par 36  3,648 Yds

Events Held: The Barclays/Northern Trust (2009, 2013, 2019, 2021), Presidents Cup (2017), Nexus Cup (2019, 2021-23), Mizuho Americas Open (2023-25), BMW Championship (2027).

Awards Won: Ranked in Top 10 in New Jersey by Golf Digest (2011-18), Top-15 in NJ (2019-present), Top-200 in America by Golf Digest (2019-present).

Website: libertynationalgc.com

HISTORY:  Let me  get this  straight. You  have a  contaminated piece  of land across  the  water from New  York City and  you want to  build, a what, a golf course on top of it and you want to host a major championship! Are you kidding me?

Well,  that's exactly  what Reebok CEO Paul  Fireman has in mind for the newly created Liberty National Golf Club.

Located  in  Jersey City,  New Jersey,  overlooking one  of this nation's most treasured  sites, the  Statue of  Liberty and  the Manhattan  skyline, Liberty National  has been in  the works since 1996. Fireman and his son Dan purchased the  160 acres of undesirable property and enlisted the services of World Golf Hall  of  Fame member Tom  Kite and  Bob Cupp to  weave some magic. And that's
exactly what they did.

Upon  his first visit to the property, Kite commented that he "hated the site, but loved the location." With only two feet of elevation and plenty of permits and limitations due to the environment, Liberty National was going to be tough task.

Start  with  a "plastic bag"  of sorts covering  the entire piece of property. Then,  add three to four feet of sand on top, that's three million cubic yards of  earth, with  no contours  and now  you can  start sculpting,  not digging. According  to Kite,  "There is nothing natural about Liberty National. This is what  you can do with a little bit of vision and a whole lot of money." Devoid of any form of vegetation, every tree and bush on the course was hand planted. Every cart path of brick was painstakingly laid by laborers. This was no small chore.  Since the late  '90s, Kite and Cupp had drafted more than 90 different routing  plans,  prior to the  beginning of construction  in 2003 and prior to joining forces with Fireman.

Fireman  spent  millions on  Liberty National, roughly  $150 million, the most expensive  golf  course ever built,  to create an  experience for the rich and famous.  The  exclusive club features  luxurious amenities, such as a private, high-speed  boat ride from Wall Street to the course across the Upper New York Bay in just 15 minutes. With all that in mind, this is quite a big ticket. How
large,  how  about a $500,000  initiation fee for  anyone who's got the dough. This will not be a restricted club, just one that's restricted to the wealthy.

Liberty National played host to the PGA Tour's best in 2009, as Heath Slocum outdueled Tiger Woods, Ernie Els, Padraig Harrington and Steve Stricker by one shot to capture The Barclays, the first event in the FedEx Cup series. Four shots behind heading into the final round, Slocum fired a four-under 67, including a 20-foot putt for par on the last hole to preserve the win. The low
round for the week was 65, turned in by Paul Goydos, Sergio Garcia, Steve Marino and Greg Owen.

Just four years later, the PGA Tour returned to Liberty National, as Adam Scott edged out four players, including Tiger Woods by one shot for the win. The course played to a par of 71, with the ninth hole proving to be the most difficult, playing over par at 4.305. Ten holes played over par for the week. Scott carded a bogey-free final round of 66. Woods’ final round of 69 included five birdies and three bogeys.

The Presidents Cup made its first visit to Liberty National in 2017, as captain Steve Stricker led the American squad to victory, 19-11. Team USA dominated every session, as they amassed a 8-1 advantage after the first two days. Day three saw more of the same, as the Americans led by 11 points heading into the Sunday’s singles play. The International team led by Nick Price closed the gap on the final day, winning 7.5 points. Dustin Johnson gained the most points for the U.S., posting a 4-0-1 mark, while five other players recorded at least three points. Louis Oosthuizen (2-2-1) was the only player for the Internationals with two or more points.

Nest up for Liberty National was the Northern Trust in 2019, as Patrick Reed posted a one-shot victory over Abraham Ancer. Jon Rahm and Harold Varner III finished tied for third, two shots back. Reed posted a two-under back-nine to claim the victory, as he shot four rounds in the 60s.

In 2021, Tony Finau defeated Cameron Smith in a playoff to win the Northern Trust at Liberty National. After a one-under front nine, Finau carded three birdies and an eagle for a six-under-par 65 to reach the playoff. Smith was equally impressive with four birdies on the closing nine to tie Finau. It should be noted that Smith shot a course-record 60 in the third round to take the lead. Finau parred the first extra hole for the win. Once again, Jon Rahm finished third, two shots back.

The LPGA Tour has enjoyed success at Liberty National, as the Mizuho Americas Open has been staged at the club for three years starting in 2023. Rose Zhang won for the first time on the LPGA Tour with a playoff victory over Jennifer Kupcho.

Nelly Korda was victorious in 2024, as she claimed the $450,000 first-place prize. Korda defeated Hannah Green by one shot, with Kupcho tying for third.

2025 saw Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand shoot a tournament-record 271 for a four shot win over Celine Boutier. Defending champion Korda tied for fifth. Thitikul carded a bogey-free final round 69 to preserve the victory.

REVIEW:  Liberty National  opens with a solid, dogleg right par four under 400 yards  in length. Playing slightly downhill, just a fairway metal or long iron is  needed to thread  the fairway that features a creek running down the right side  and in front  of the green. A short iron approach to a wide, but shallow green will remain. A great opening hole with Manhattan to your back.

Playing back toward the city, the second hole is awe-inspiring as you stand on the tee and view the Statue of Liberty in the foreground. You'll need to focus on this 200-yard plus par three from the tips. A long bunker guards the entire left  side  of the  green, while  one pot  bunker right  and another trap deep provide quite a difficult target. Let's not forget that the putting surface is 34 yards long.

The  third  is a  dynamite par four,  requiring a 230-yard  carry to reach the fairway.  The landing  area is  quite narrow  with deep  fescue flanking  both sides.  The  second shot  plays downhill  to a green  that features slopes and grass  hollows surrounding the entire putting surface. The two-tiered green is quite  slick  from back to  front and  any shot missing the bunkerless-guarded surface  will  slide  severely  away  from the  green.  Not  long,  but  quite difficult.

With  more views  of the city skyline  in the background, the par three fourth plays  slightly uphill over a lake to a long, diagonal green. Two deep bunkers front the putting surface with spectator-friendly mounding behind the green. A back-left  pin with  the wind in your  face could make this one of the hardest holes on the course.

One of the prettiest holes on the course, the fifth requires pinpoint accuracy off   the   elevated  tee.  Stretching  to   442  yards  from  the  tips,  the aforementioned  lake  guards the left side  of the fairway, while mounding and trees  protect the right. A small creek sprints toward the green down the left from the lake and runs right up against the putting surface. The rolling green is 32 yards deep with sand protecting the right. After four fairly easy holes, and I use the term loosely, this one is by far the hardest.

The  next  can play as a  par five or a  long par four in tournament play. The beauty  of  the  sixth  is its  risk-reward  opportunities.  Playing  slightly downhill,  the landing area is quite generous off the tee, setting up a chance to  get home in  two. The risk is that water ranges from 200 yards in down the right  side through the  green. The layup area, in contrast, is very tight but will  leave a  simple pitch to the very  long green. A bunker left and a small pot  bunker  right guard the putting  surface, which features a chipping area, behind  and  left. A  back-right flag  will make  this hole quite interesting, especially when going for the green in two.

To  reach the fairway  on the seventh, a blast of 230 yards is needed from the tournament  tees. Two  sets of bunkers, one  right with three traps and a pair left,  guard the fairly wide landing zone. A good tee ball will leave a medium iron  to a  very  long green  that  bends  to the  right.  A hand-shaped  trap encompasses  the  entire putting surface  on the  right, while two pot bunkers stand  back-left.  The green runs  from left  to right with spectator mounding around the back. Not only one of the longest par fours on the course, but also one of the most difficult.

Long  and lean  can best describe the  par five eighth, as it rambles over 600 yards  in length. The elevated tee box shows off the gentle bend to the right. A trio of bunkers down the left side must be avoided off the tee to set up any reasonable  chance of an easy layup. Your second shot must miss the traps left and  trees and mounding right for a simple third. The peanut-shaped surface is long  at  32 paces and  is protected  by traps left,  back and one deep bunker right.  The green  slopes from back to  front and is quite slick. Just because it's  a par  five, don't  expect  a birdie.  Sometimes  par is  a good  score, especially when it's on the number one handicap hole.

The closing hole on the front nine is target golf at its best. First off, your tee  shot must  split the lake left  and the mounding, rough and out of bounds right.  Not only that,  a creek crosses the fairway at the 150-yard marker, so club  selection is important off the tee. From the forward tees, you can cross the creek, however three bunkers left will most certainly come into play. Your approach  will be  slightly uphill to another long green, with two pot bunkers left and a chipping area right. After playing these two holes, you'll hope for a breather on the next.

OB right, deep fescue and sand left, 513 yards, water left and a dogleg right, this  is no  way to start the back  nine, especially when it's a par four! for tournament play. The 10th  is sensational  if your a masochist.  Even with a 265-yard tee shot from the  back buttons,  you're still left with  a poke of 250 yards, over a creek, avoiding  the  lake and  out-of-bounds and negotiating  the 48-yard long green with numerous humps and bumps along the way.

Another  unique aspect  of Liberty National is its wide variety of par threes. The  11th  is the  longest of the  quartet, stretching to  a robust 250 yards. Water  hugs the left side and around the back with a 50-yard bunker in between the  water and the green. The right side is most definitely the bail-out area, but not an easy up and down, as the green is long and undulating. With a back-left  flag and  the wind in your  face, you might find yourself hitting driver from the back tees.

Options,  that's what the 12th hole is all about. A split fairway with bunkers dotting  the center rough presents the player with a couple of scenarios. Play right  to  the wider fairway  and leave  a longer approach  or, go left to the tight landing area and have just a wedge to the green with an open shot at the putting surface. Personally, wide is OK by me and this will leave a short iron to  a heavily guarded  green that slopes from left to right and back to front. Although fairly short, this hole has quite a bite.

More  choices on the  13th, a waterloo of sorts. This devilish par five can be reached  in two, however, water stands in your way. With a solid blast off the tee,  avoiding numerous traps and out-of-bounds right, the player will have an option  of  going for  the green  or laying up.  A lake  featuring a rock wall fronts the putting surface from 200 yards in. A word of caution: any shot long
of  the  green is jail, as  deep fescue resides. The  smart play is out to the right  of the  green, leaving a simple  pitch to a very narrow green that runs north  and  south. The  putting surface  is very undulating  with a large rise toward  the back.  Any shot short and  right will slip back toward the fairway and the chipping areas.

One  of the prettiest  holes on the course, the 14th is a dandy of a par three jutting out on the peninsula with views of the statue. Just 150 yards, but all carry  over  fescue with sand  left and  short-right. The putting surface runs left  to right and  is very narrow, just 27 paces deep. Club selection is key, as any shot long or left could result in a lost ball. Be happy with three.

In  contrast, the 15th  is a bear of a par four, bending hard to the left with thick  rough, fescue  and trees to the  right. First of all, the hole measures 481  yards from the back tees and your opening shot must draw around a pair of traps  at the  corner of the dogleg. Next  up, the approach with a mid to long iron, must favor the right side, as a deep 40-yard trap protects the left side of  the putting  surface. The  green  itself is  38 yards  deep with  numerous undulations.

One  of the most entertaining and enjoyable holes, the 16th is a reachable par four  under  340 yards in length.  Bending ever-so slightly to the right, this beauty  features a lake,  a waterfall and a babbling brook down the right side and  an enormous trap left of the green. The fairway is wide, so laying up and leaving  yourself a little  wedge is certainly an option, but it's more fun to blast  for the  green and have a go  at eagle. The putting surface is long and slopes from back to front, so why not.

As you head for home, the 17th offers another sensational view of our liberty. The task at hand however is not so pretty, as this hole is long and lean. With the  wind  in your face, this  445-yarder features a tight fairway with fescue right  and left, not to mention sand. A medium to long iron will remain if you successfully  split the  landing area. The putting surface is fairly long with sand  short and  right. Any shot right and  long will be hard to find, so bail left into the chipping area and pray for a short game.

Running  along the  bay, the  final  hole is  another 400-yard  plus gem.  The landing  area is  wide, but trouble lurks off the fairway, with numerous traps and OB right and sand and fescue left. A medium to long iron will be needed to reach  the  putting surface that sports  sand right and left. A beautiful rock wall  runs  the entire hole  down the right side  through the green with final views of the Manhattan skyline and the Statue.

FINAL  WORD: What can I say, the views are breathtaking and the course is rock solid.  Having the  opportunity to  play Liberty  National was  and is  a real treat.  Views of  Lady Liberty  and Manhattan,  not to  mention the  Verrazano Narrows  Bridge, the largest suspension bridge in the United States, from just a short distance are spectacular. You know what they say, "Location, location, location."

The  golf course  has  it  all, from  rock-lined  streams, lakes,  waterfalls, gorgeous  landscaping, complete  with over 5,000 planted mature trees, flowing fescue,  splash-like  bunkering, conditioning that would make Augusta National and  Muirfield  Village jealous and a  track as tough as nails. The irrigation system alone features 5,200 sprinkler heads, twice the usual number.

What  caught  my eye, in  addition to  the views, were  the sand traps and the fescue. White splashy sand that washes right up to the fairway and fescue that waves like a flag in the wind.

An  outstanding practice  facility,  a course  conveniently  located near  the greatest  city in the world, easy access to the airports of New Jersey and New York  and amenities  above and beyond, what  more could one ask for. One might think  that  this course is  for only the bravest  of souls, however with tees ranging from 5,100 to 7,400 yards, all players are capable of enjoying LNGC.

When the clubhouse and nearby condominiums are complete, Liberty National Golf Club  will be  one of the most  exciting venues and destinations in the world. The clubhouse, which will be designed by Lindsay Newman Architecture and Design (www.lnarchitecture.com), comes with a $30 million price tag. "Liberty National is about more than just golf, it’s a lifestyle...from our world-class
service and amenities to the latest in technology," said Dan Fireman. "With that in mind, we look forward to working with Lindsay Newman Architecture and Design to set a new standard with this clubhouse."

Will  it  be good  enough to  host a  major event, like  a U.S.  Open or a PGA Championship?  Probably. Liberty National has already hosted a PGA Tour four times, the LPGA Tour and the Presidents Cup. If this course could be built  on waste area, then anything is possible. Don't underestimate the power of money and ingenuity.