Bally's Golf Links at Ferry Point - links golf with a view of the Manhattan skyline

In the middle of the Bronx, close to La Guardia Airport and yet far away from the hustle and bustle of the big city, lies one of the most impressive public golf courses in the USA: Bally's Golf Links at Ferry Point. Originally founded as Trump Golf Links and financed with over 200 million dollars by future US President Donald Trump, the course has been operating under the name of the new operator, casino giant Bally's, since 2023. What has remained is what characterizes this course: spectacular design by Jack Nicklaus, a real links atmosphere and a backdrop that is second to none. Teeing off here gives you the feeling of playing somewhere between Scotland and Ireland - even though you are in the middle of New York. The wind is a constant factor, the layout is open, undulating and cleverly designed. Despite its location on the East River, water hardly comes into play, but many holes offer fantastic views of Manhattan. The crowning glory: hole 13, a long Par-4 with an impressive view of the metropolitan skyline - a photo motif that will not leave even experienced golfers indifferent.

Bally's Golf demands length and precision

With five tee boxes per hole, the course plays between 5,227 and 7,407 yards (4779 to 6772 meters) and is designed as a Par-71. The very first hole shows what players can expect: strategically placed bunkers, an undulating Fairway and an elevated green. Hole 2 - originally intended as a Par-5 - measures 518 yards and requires a powerful and clever start. And the first Par-3, hole 3, demands the highest precision with up to 243 yards and an undulating green. Well-placed fairway and green bunkers, moving fairways and cleverly designed doglegs continue to dominate the game. The 7th hole is particularly charming, a short Par-4 with a maximum length of 334 yards, which nestles around a pond in a wide left-hand bend. A real challenge despite its brevity - length is less important here than precision. The front nine ends with a Par-4, which is oriented towards Whitestone Bridge and already whets the appetite for the spectacular second part of the round.

Bally's Golf Links deserves top marks

The back nine starts with a dogleg left and then leads over a short but tricky Par-4 to one of the most beautiful panoramic views of the New York skyline. Hole 12, a Par-3, leads to the iconic hole 13 - a must for any golf fan with a camera. But even after that, the standard remains high. The longest hole, a par-5 measuring up to 596 yards, follows on the 15th. Finally, hole 16 runs close to the East River, with many strategic opportunities for the approach shot to the slightly offset green. The last par-3 measures 193 yards and plays slightly uphill before the round ends on a spectacular par-5: 574 yards, a double dogleg along the East River with a view of the Whitestone Bridge. Anyone who records a Birdie here at the end has not only played well, but also done everything right tactically.

The entire course is in excellent condition - both the course maintenance and the service in the catering and reception areas deserve top marks. By US standards, the green fee is very fair considering the quality and location. Bally's Golf Links at Ferry Point is not only a masterpiece of modern course design, but also living proof that world-class golf can be accessible to the public.