| Liberty National | |
| Pushpin Map: | USA#New Jersey |
| Pushpin Relief: | 1 |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in the United States |
| Coordinates: | 40.697°N -74.068°W |
| Establishment: | 2006 |
| Type: | Private non-equity |
| Holes: | 18 |
| Tournaments: | The Northern Trust (2009, 2013, 2019, 2021) Mizuho Americas Open (2023, 2024) The Presidents Cup (2017) |
| Owner: | Paul Fireman |
| Designer1: | Lindsay Newman Architecture & Design, Robert Cupp & Tom Kite |
| Greens: | Bentgrass - A4 |
| Fairways: | Bentgrass - L93[1] [2] [3] |
| Par1: | 72 |
| Record1: | 60 Cameron Smith (2021) |
| Rating1: | 77.7 |
| Slope1: | 155[4] |
Liberty National is a country club in Jersey City, New Jersey adjacent to Liberty State Park on the Upper New York Bay. Its clubhouse, guest villas, teaching center, and "Cafe 12" halfway house were designed by Lindsay Newman Architecture and Design and the course was designed by Robert E. Cupp and Tom Kite.[5]
The club cost over $250 million to build, making it one of the most expensive golf courses in history.[6] Club designers added amenities such as an on-site helistop, direct ferry service to and from Manhattan, a spa, and a restaurant.[6] [7]
Liberty National hosted The Northern Trust (formerly The Barclays and the Westchester Classic), in 2009, 2013, 2019, and 2021. In 2009, Heath Slocum won with a score of one stroke ahead of four In August 2013,[8] Australian Adam Scott won by one stroke over four runners-up.[9] Due to negative feedback from many players in 2009, the course underwent many changes prior to the 2013 playing.[10]
In 2019, The Northern Trust – the first of three events of the PGA TOUR's FedEx Cup Playoffs – was played at Liberty National from August 8–11. It was won by Patrick Reed, with a score of 268 (–16). In 2021, it was again the first event of the FedEx Cup Playoffs and was won by Tony Finau with a score of 264 (–20).
On June 1-4, 2023, it hosted its first LPGA event, the Mizuho Americas Open, overlooking the Statue of Liberty and the Manhattan skyline.[11] Former amateur golfer Rose Zhang won the tournament in her professional debut on her final round in a sudden-death playoff with Jennifer Kupcho.[12]
On May 16-19, 2024, the course again hosted the Mizuho Americas Open with Nelly Korda winning the tournament by one stroke.[13]
From September 28 to October 1, 2017, Liberty National hosted the Presidents Cup and saw the United States team, led by captain Steve Stricker, defeat the International team by a score of 19–11 for their seventh straight victory.[14]
Caven Point is a 22acres bird sanctuary in Liberty State Park along the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway adjacent to the golf course. The owners of the course would like to lease the land to expand the course with additional holes.[15] The proposal would require privatization of publicly-owned land and disruption of the fragile ecosystem.[16] Proposals to protect the land have been made in the New Jersey Legislature to specifically protect the park from commercial development without a severe vetting process and public scrutiny.[17] [18]
Liberty National has notable members such as: