River Vale, New Jersey · Northern & Central New Jersey
River Vale Country Club
The only New Jersey course by Donald Ross protégé Orrin Smith, built with Ross himself. A par 72 of just 6,504 yards, now owned by the township.
- 18Holes
- 72Par
- 6,470Yards
- River ValeLocation
- 1931 (GolfPass)Opened
About River Vale Country Club
River Vale is a piece of golden-age architecture. Orrin Smith learned the trade as Willie Park Jr.'s construction superintendent and then as Donald Ross's protégé, and River Vale, done with Ross, is the only course Smith ever designed in New Jersey. GolfPass dates it to 1931. The Township of River Vale owns it now, and Long Ball Golf Management runs it.
Smith's reputation was for short courses that ask for strategic shots down narrow, tree-lined fairways, and for using the steam shovel to carve big rounded bunkers and plateau tees and greens. River Vale fits that: a par 72 of only 6,504 yards, where position matters more than power. It was on Golf Advisor's list of the Top 20 golf courses in New Jersey every year from 2019 through 2025, and 201 Magazine readers named it the best course in Bergen County in 2021, 2023 and 2024.
Off the course there's a Toptracer range, a chipping green and putting green, and GPS carts. There's a bar and restaurant, and no outside food or drink is allowed.
It's one of 2 courses in River Vale on Yoink, and the closest alternative is Old Tappan Golf Course, about 1 mile away — handy when your first choice is booked solid.
What it's like to play River Vale Country Club
There's real elevation change: some holes rise or fall about 44 feet from tee to green. Water comes into play on 5 of 9 holes, and you carry it on 3 of them. Keep the ball in front of you.
Course character from OpenStreetMap contributors' survey data (ODbL).
Booking a tee time at River Vale Country Club
It's semi-private, but the public is welcome. For 2026, members book 13 days ahead, registered River Vale residents 10 days, and the general public 7 days, online or through the pro shop at 201-391-2300. Tee times run 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. in season (Mondays start at 9). Residents need the $35 annual registration card, renewed each season, to get resident booking and rates.
How to get a tee time at River Vale Country Club
Yoink
Golfers across Northern & Central New Jersey know the drill: the good times at courses like River Vale Country Club are gone within minutes of release, and cancellations come back without warning.
Instead of refreshing the booking page, let Yoink do it. Pick River Vale Country Club, choose your day and time window, and Yoink alerts you when a tee time that fits opens up. You always book straight with the course.
- Pick River Vale Country Club in Yoink.
- Choose your day, time window and number of players.
- Get an alert when a matching tee time opens — then book it directly with the course.
Golf courses near River Vale Country Club
- Old Tappan Golf Course · Old Tappan · 1 mi
- Valley Brook Golf Course · River Vale · 2 mi
- Soldier Hill Golf Course · Emerson · 4 mi
- Rockleigh Golf Course · Rockleigh · 4 mi
- Orchard Hills Golf Course · Paramus · 7 mi
- Darlington Golf Course · Mahwah · 8 mi
- Overpeck Golf Course · Teaneck · 9 mi
- Preakness Valley Golf Course - East · Wayne · 13 mi
All 75 Northern & Central New Jersey courses in New Jersey · New Jersey golf courses
River Vale Country Club FAQ
Where is River Vale Country Club?
River Vale Country Club is in River Vale, New Jersey, in the Northern & Central New Jersey area — about 1 miles from Old Tappan Golf Course.
Who designed River Vale Country Club, and when did it open?
River Vale Country Club was designed by Orrin E. Smith, with Donald Ross; Smith's only NJ design and opened in 1931 (GolfPass).
Is River Vale Country Club open to the public?
River Vale Country Club is Semi-private; public daily-fee golfers welcome, run by Owned by the Township of River Vale; managed by Long Ball Golf Management.
How many holes is River Vale Country Club, and what's par?
River Vale Country Club is an 18-hole regulation course: 18 holes, par 72, 6,470 yards.
How do I get a tee time at River Vale Country Club when it's booked up?
Set a watch for River Vale Country Club in Yoink with your date, time window and group size. Yoink monitors the course's tee sheet and alerts you the moment a matching time opens, including cancellations. You book directly with the course.
What golf courses are near River Vale Country Club?
Nearby options include Old Tappan Golf Course, Valley Brook Golf Course and Soldier Hill Golf Course. Yoink watches 75 courses in the Northern & Central New Jersey area.
Sources
Facts on this page come from these pages, checked 2026-09-29. Rates and booking rules change, so confirm with the course.
- rivervalecc.com · official
- rivervalecc.com · official
- golfpass.com · directory
- rivervalecc.com · official
Never miss a tee time at River Vale Country Club
Yoink watches the tee sheet so you don't have to. When a time you want opens up, your phone buzzes — you book direct.