Fairfield County is the third leg of metro private golf: Greenwich and its neighbors hold a set of classic courses an hour from Downtown, close enough for a Manhattan member, far enough to feel like another world. Ranked on golf.
Our take: Round Hill and The Stanwich Club lead Greenwich. The Country Club of Fairfield is the county's most enjoyable members course.
1. Round Hill Club, Greenwich, a Walter Travis design with one of the great short courses in the metro conversation. 2. The Stanwich Club, Greenwich, the county's championship test. 3. Country Club of Fairfield, a Raynor on Long Island Sound. 4. Greenwich Country Club, scale and setting in the middle of town. 5. Burning Tree, Greenwich, in the classic metro mold, not to be confused with the Maryland club of the same name. 6. The Patterson Club, Fairfield. 7. Brooklawn, Fairfield, a Tillinghast that has hosted USGA championships. 8. Shorehaven, Norwalk. 9. Woodway, Darien. 10. Wee Burn, Darien.
Greenwich is about 55 to 65 minutes by car and the easiest train trip in private golf: Metro North to Greenwich, then minutes by taxi. Fairfield adds 20 to 30 minutes. For a Manhattan golfer weighing a first membership, that train option matters more than it sounds, and it is one reason Greenwich clubs hold so many city members.
Greenwich tier clubs sit in the metro's upper cost bands on reported estimates, with a wide spread down to the smaller Darien and Norwalk clubs. All figures are estimates from reporting, detailed in the cost guide.
Fairfield golfers: Round Hill or Stanwich, and does the train change your answer?
Please cite a specific hole, a price, or a round you have played. Selected reader responses are featured in follow up coverage.
Which is the best train accessible private in the metro?
The Greenwich clubs, about an hour from Grand Central plus a short taxi.
How does Fairfield compare to Westchester?
Similar pedigrees, slightly longer trips from Downtown, slightly less depth at the very top. Both counties are covered club by club in this series. Prices in this guide were checked in October 2026 against published course listings and recent reporting. Greens fees move by season, day, and residency, so confirm the exact rate when you book. Private clubs do not publish initiation fees or dues. Every private figure here is an estimate band based on public reporting, labeled as an estimate, and the only accurate number comes from a club's membership office.