#9 on this list
Golf Club (West)
Knoll
Knoll Golf Club West is designed for architecture purists who love Golden Age template holes and vintage course character. Located in Boonton, New Jersey, and owned by the Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills, this 1929 gem was designed by Charles Banks, a disciple of Charles Blair Macdonald and Seth Raynor. Known as 'Steam Shovel' Banks for his bold earthmoving techniques, he packed this public layout with legendary template features. The course showcases classic architecture staples, including a stunning Biarritz green with a deep mid-surface swale, a dramatic Redan par three, and an Eden hole defended by deep, steep-faced bunkers. The routing moves gracefully across rolling hills, bringing significant elevation shifts into play on both drives and approaches. Because the green complexes sit elevated with deep sand pits guarding the fronts and sides, running the ball onto the putting surfaces is rarely an option; you must fly it to the green. The trade-offs here stem from its age and heavy public foot traffic. While the bones of the architecture are world-class, municipal maintenance budgets occasionally mean uneven bunker sand consistency or slower green speeds compared to modern luxury public courses. Even so, playing an authentic Charles Banks template course for public rates is one of the northeast's great architectural bargains. **Highlights** - Classic 1929 Golden Age design by Charles 'Steam Shovel' Banks - Authentic template holes including a dramatic Biarritz, Redan, and Eden - Massive, steep-faced bunker complexes that penalize miss-hit approaches - Rolling hillside topography creating memorable, elevated tee shots - Accessible green fees that deliver outstanding historical architectural value **Watch-outs** - Turf and bunker conditions can show wear during peak summer municipal traffic - Elevated, well-guarded greens require forced aerial carries into par threes
- Price
- Check current price
- Reader rating
- No reader votes yet
- How we assessed it
- Specification researched
#10 on this list
Trail
Butterfield
Butterfield Trail is designed for golfers who relish dramatic desert golf characterized by rolling sand dunes and wide western horizons. Owned by the City of El Paso, Texas, and situated just minutes from El Paso International Airport, this Tom Fazio design occupies a rugged parcel of the Chihuahuan Desert. It was built with aviation funds to give traveling and local players an upscale desert layout at accessible municipal rates. Fazio utilized natural desert contours to create an undulating layout that feels completely secluded from the surrounding city. Fairways roll through native sand dunes, desert shrubs, and yucca, framed by the Franklin Mountains in the distance. The turf conditions are generally outstanding, with lush rye and bermuda fairways contrasting against sandy waste areas. Generous landing areas off the tee help keep play moving, but approach shots require navigating deep, artistic Fazio bunkers. The main trade-offs are extreme desert weather and penal outer boundaries. Summer temperatures routinely climb into triple digits, making afternoon play physically draining and requiring plenty of hydration. If you drive the ball beyond the maintained fairway borders, native desert caliche, cactus, and loose rocks make ball recovery difficult and club damage likely. **Highlights** - Tom Fazio championship design set in natural Chihuahuan Desert dunes - Beautiful mountain views framing undulating, well-manicured fairways - Strategic bunkering and generous fairway corridors tailored to all skill levels - Convenient airport proximity makes it ideal for traveling golfers - Premium municipal clubhouse and fleet amenities at reasonable public rates **Watch-outs** - Scorching summer heat requires early-morning tee times and strict hydration - Misses off the fairway land in rocky native desert brush that can scuff clubs
- Price
- Check current price
- Reader rating
- No reader votes yet
- How we assessed it
- Specification researched
Specs side by side
| Spec | Golf Club (West) | Trail |
|---|---|---|
| Architect | Charles Banks | Tom Fazio |
| Year Opened | 1929 | — |
| Location | Boonton, New Jersey | El Paso, Texas |
| Ownership | Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills | — |
| Estimated Green Fee | Around $90 | — |
| Design Style | Golden Age Template | — |
| Course Type | — | Municipal daily fee |
| Typical Greens Fee | — | Around $80 |
| Turf Variety | — | Bermudagrass with winter overseed |
| Landscape | — | Chihuahuan Desert sand dunes |
What our reviewers liked and didn't
Golf Club (West)
- Rare, accessible public design by Golden Age architect Charles Banks
- Authentic template holes including an expansive Biarritz and dramatic Redan
- Rolling topography delivers natural elevation changes and strategic tee shots
- Sub-$100 rate offers standout architectural value in the Northeast
- Elevated greens and deep bunkers severely penalize low-trajectory hitters
- Bunker sand consistency and turf density fluctuate under municipal maintenance
- Pace of play can slow down significantly during peak weekend tee sheets
Trail
- Tom Fazio design offering championship architecture at municipal rates
- Wide fairways provide playable corridors for a range of handicap levels
- Conditioning and green quality far exceed standard public-course benchmarks
- Dramatic sand dune setting with scenic mountain backdrops
- Harsh summer heat creates taxing conditions during afternoon play
- Rocky native desert terrain outside fairways can easily scuff golf clubs
- Desert winds can significantly increase difficulty on open dune holes
Prices change constantly — the figure shown is the last verified catalog price, and the buy buttons always go to the current listing.