Plainfield Country Club isn't just another private patch of grass in New Jersey. Honestly, if you’re a golf nerd, it’s closer to a holy site. Tucked away in Edison—despite the name—it sits on a ridge that used to be the edge of a glacier. That topography is everything. It’s what allowed Donald Ross, the legendary architect, to carve out a masterpiece in 1916 that still gives modern pros nightmares.
You’ve probably seen it on TV during The Barclays. Maybe you noticed the way the land rolls like a rumpled blanket. Or perhaps you saw the massive, "Great Hill" that dominates the back nine. But there is a lot more to Plainfield Country Club than just a tournament venue. It is a lesson in how a classic design can evolve without losing its soul.
The Donald Ross Legacy and the Gil Hanse Revival
Ross was a genius of the "natural" school. He didn't have bulldozers. He had shovels and horses. He followed the land. At Plainfield, he found a site that was basically a massive sandbox of glacial till, which means the drainage is elite.
But over the decades, the course got "tired." Trees grew where they shouldn't. The bunkers lost their sharp, jagged Scottish character.
Enter Gil Hanse.
Before he was building Olympic courses in Rio, Hanse spent years at Plainfield starting in the late 90s. He didn't just "fix" things. He performed surgery. He looked at old black-and-white photos from the 1920s and realized that the scale of the course had shrunk. He ripped out over 1,200 trees. That sounds like a lot. It was. But it opened up the vistas and, more importantly, the wind. If you play Plainfield on a breezy October afternoon, you're not playing New Jersey golf anymore; you're playing something that feels suspiciously like a British links.
The Greens Are the Star
The greens here are wicked. No other word for it. They don't just slope; they have "intersections." If you are on the wrong side of the hole on the 12th, you aren't just looking at a three-putt. You are looking at a ball that might roll off the green entirely.
Ross was known for his "upturned saucer" greens, but Plainfield’s are more complex. They have subtle humps and hollows that Hanse and his team painstakingly restored by hand. They used old sketches to find the "lost" corners of the putting surfaces. Because of this, the pin positions available today are far more diverse than they were twenty years ago.
Why the "Country Club" Part Matters
It isn't just about golf. The clubhouse sits atop that aforementioned ridge, looking down over the property. It’s a classic, white-shingle building that feels exactly like 1921, even though it’s been modernized.
The membership is known for being "golf-first." This isn't a place where people come primarily to show off their cars or sit in the sauna. They come to play. The practice facility is world-class, often cited as one of the best in the Metropolitan Golf Association.
- The West Course: Most people forget Plainfield has a second course. It’s a 9-hole layout that is much more relaxed. It’s where the kids learn. It’s where you go for a quick loop when you don’t have five hours to battle the main track.
- Tennis and Paddle: The racquet sports scene is massive here. In the winter, the paddle tennis courts are the social hub of the club.
- The Junior Program: Plainfield has a storied history of producing great amateur golfers. The caddie program is one of the strongest in the state, frequently sending kids to college on Evans Scholarships.
The Major Championship Pedigree
The PGA Tour loves this place. When The Barclays (now the St. Jude Championship) came here in 2011 and 2015, the players were obsessed. Dustin Johnson won in 2011 in a tournament shortened by Hurricane Irene. In 2015, Jason Day put on a clinic.
What’s interesting is how the pros play it versus how you or I would. For them, it’s a game of angles. They aren't afraid of the length; they are terrified of the rough. The fescue at Plainfield is legendary. It’s that tall, golden grass that looks beautiful in photos but eats golf balls for breakfast.
If you're hitting out of the fescue on the par-5 16th, you've basically conceded par.
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A Quick Note on the "Plainfield" Name
People always ask: "Why is it called Plainfield if it's in Edison?"
Geography is funny. When the club moved to its current site in 1916, the area was part of Raritan Township. Later, that section became Edison. But the club kept the name of the city where it was founded in 1890. It’s a bit of a local quirk that confuses GPS systems to this day.
How to Actually Play It (The Reality Check)
Look, Plainfield is a private club. You can't just book a tee time on an app. You generally need to be the guest of a member. However, they do host several high-profile amateur tournaments and charity outings throughout the year.
If you get the chance to step onto the first tee, here is what you need to know:
- Don't bring a big ego. The course is "only" about 7,000 yards from the tips, which sounds short by modern standards. It isn't. The elevation changes make it play closer to 7,300.
- Aim for the fat part of the green. Seriously. Going for the pin at Plainfield is a recipe for a 85.
- Watch the bunkers. The bunkers were restored to have "rugged" edges. They look cool, but the sand is deep and the lips are high.
- The 5th hole is the "Hidden Gem." It’s a par 4 that requires a blind tee shot over a hill. It’s polarizing. Some members hate it; architects love it. It’s pure Ross.
The Future of the Club
The club recently underwent more renovations to keep up with the "distance era." They added some new back tees and refined the drainage even further. But the core mission remains: preservation.
They understand that they are stewards of a historical monument. You don't "improve" a Donald Ross course; you just polish it.
Actionable Insights for the Aspiring Guest
If you are looking to experience a piece of this history, don't just cold-call the pro shop. Instead:
- Check the MGA Calendar: The Metropolitan Golf Association often holds qualifiers or mid-amateur championships at Plainfield. If you have a low enough handicap, you can play your way in.
- Charity Outings: Keep an eye on local New Jersey non-profit calendars. Organizations like the First Tee often hold events here. It’ll cost you a few hundred dollars in a donation, but it’s the easiest way for a non-member to get through the gates.
- The Caddie Path: If you're a younger golfer in the area, the caddie program is the ultimate "backdoor" to the club. Many of the best players in the state started by carrying bags at PCC.
Plainfield Country Club represents the best of New Jersey golf. It's sophisticated but rugged. It's historical but relevant. If you ever find yourself standing on the 18th fairway with the sun setting behind the clubhouse, you'll realize why people have been obsessed with this ridge for over a century. It's just special. There is no other way to put it.
To prepare for a round here, focus your practice on 40-to-60 yard wedge shots and lag putting. You will face more 50-foot putts with three feet of break than you ever have in your life. Master the speed of the greens early in your warm-up, or the course will eat you alive by the fourth hole. Ground your game in discipline, stay out of the fescue, and respect the "Great Hill."