River Vale CC
A view of hole #6 at River Vale Country Club
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Rating Index Rating
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4.6
1022 Reviews (1022)
5 Stars
552
4 Stars
359
3 Stars
65
2 Stars
28
1 Stars
18
Conditions
4.6
Value
4.2
Layout
4.6
Friendliness
4.6
Pace
4.1
Amenities
4.4
93.8%
Recommend this course
932 out of 1022 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.7
32 Reviews (32)
5 Stars
26
4 Stars
4
3 Stars
1
2 Stars
1
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.7
Value
4.4
Layout
4.6
Pace
4.2
Amenities
4.6
StaffFriendliness
4.6
93.8%
Recommend this course
30 out of 32 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.7
96 Reviews (96)
5 Stars
73
4 Stars
19
3 Stars
2
2 Stars
1
1 Stars
1
Conditions
4.7
Value
4.3
Layout
4.6
Pace
4.1
Amenities
4.5
StaffFriendliness
4.6
94.8%
Recommend this course
91 out of 96 reviews
Read Reviews
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AI summaries based on real golfer reviews
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Course Highlights
River Vale Country Club consistently delivers lush fairways, pristine bunkers, and fast, challenging greens that reward accurate play. Friendly staff and a well-designed layout featuring elevation changes and tight fairways make every round genuinely engaging.

About

Holes 18
Type Semi-Private
Par 72
Length 6504 yards
Slope 131
Rating 71.3

River Vale Country Club (formerly known as Bergen Hills Country Club.) sprawls across the gently rolling hills of northeast New Jersey. It has been ranked on Golf Digest's list of "Best Places to Play," but it still manages to remain one of Bergen County's most well kept secrets. You'll hardly ever run into crowds on this golf course. The layout has a classic design that incorporates a variety of elevation changes. Tricky uphill and downhill lies will be your biggest challenge on this layout. Strategically placed bunkers lurk beside the greensides and there are several holes where water hazards come into play, including the par-5 fifth, which has a lake on either side of the green. River Vale a tight golf course that demands accuracy and while it's not overly formidable, your skills will definitely be put to the test.

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Course Details

Year Built 1931
Golf Season Year round
Architect Orrin E. Smith (1931) Ron Cutlip

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes - included in green fees
GPS Yes
Clubs Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Bunker Yes
Teaching Pro Yes
Pitching/Chipping Area Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

Credit Cards Accepted VISA, MasterCard, Amex Welcomed
Metal Spikes Allowed No
Fivesomes Allowed No
Single Allowed No
Dress code Proper golf attire at all times. No jeans, torn clothing or jogging shorts. Shirts must have collars and sleeves

Food & Beverage

Bar, Restaurant

Accolades

The Best Way To Book Is With GolfPass+ Annual
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12 rounds of waived fees
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Reviews

4.6
1022 Reviews (1022)

What Golfers Are Saying

The 19th Hole is Great For:
Drinks 17
Dinner 9
Brunch 8
Course Challenges Include:
Bunkers 27
Elevation Changes 23
Thick Rough 16
This course/club is great for:
Locals 24
Advanced Golfers 21
A Weekend Splurge 11
This Course's Location is:
In the 'Burbs 23
Convenient to the City 21
Worth the Drive 16

Numbers based on reviews tagged with attribute.

Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 7
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Fair weather
Used cart

Great layout

Fairways and greens were clean and leaf free. Greens were a bit bumpy but expected for this time of year. Bunkers were a bit muddy but crews are out working on new traps throughout course. The layout is awesome and staff was great, as usual. We will be back in the spring to play again.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Fair weather
Used cart

great deal due to golf now

Played in Dec. 55 degrees and the course was in good shape considering time of year. Definitely will play again

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 90
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 500 Contributor
First Time Playing
Good weather
Used cart

A muni course with country club price tag

My friend lived closed by always wants to play here. I am extremely disappointment to see the fairway and green condition. Although a good price from golfnow, it is not worth the money. In particular, several roads were closed getting into the club house parking. It took me 30 minute to drive around 2 miles before getting in.

Conditions Average
Value Fair
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a month
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Good weather
Used cart

SLOOOOWWWWW

Walked off the course on a Tuesday because I was 4 hrs and 15 minutes in on the 15th tee. Waited on almost every shot. Course conditions were generally good, though the greens were very slow.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Poor
Amenities Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 13
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Poor weather
Used cart

Can't wait to play again

Fantasic day of golf. Great staff real nice practice facilty for public golf.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 11
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great Golf At River Vail

Evey time I play this beautiful old course, I cant wait to come back!! It's a Treasure! !

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 13
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Good weather
Used cart

Play there

Nice condition. Good pace of play. enjoyable for the money.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 46
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Average weather
Used cart

I love woodchucks

The course was in great shape but the thing that made my day was the almost tame woodchucks all over the course. You can walk up almost right to them while they Stand on their hind legs munching an apple.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

wonderful course

The people are friendly and the course was spectacular!

Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap Don't know
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Excellent weather
Used cart

Great Course

River vale is kept in excellent condition. It is a challenging course with tight fairways, tough greens, and many hills throughout. Staff was friendly and got everyone out on time. We did take almost 5 hours to complete our round so maybe this isn't the best place if you are in a hurry(We were not and it did not bother us waiting).

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Fair
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
ljl
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Excellent weather
Used cart

Great Course

I really enjoy this course. Its interesting and challenging, but not too difficult for an average golfer (16 hdcp). The course is in very good shape for this late in the season, though the greens played noticeably slower that usual. The only disappointment is that the sand is really just dirt, which is strange because the rest of the groundskeeping is top notch

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great Round

Played Rivervale about 15 years and the course was just in average condition. This time around was much differentt. The course is in great shape. Greens and fairways were very well maintained. We has a great time.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Good weather
Used cart

This course has great features, Hazards will help you make choice of club to hit off the tees

Overall a course with lot's of challenging holes, placement off the tee is critical on certain holes. Driving the ball in fairway and long on par fives a must to avoid laying up... I went as a single and played a good round with three down to earth guy's., had a great time...

Conditions Good
Value Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
3.0
Previously Played
Excellent weather
Used cart

Very Average

The course is a very nice layout with many short but tricky 4 pars and a couple long legit par 4's and 5's. I've played here a fair share of times over the past 20 years but the course condition is not as good as it's been over the past few years. The greens were inconsistent with some being very fast and other like fly paper so it was hard to get a groove going. The sand traps were also inconsistent with a couple being almost like soft billows of sand and others normal lightly packed sand. Many of the the tee boxes were uneven and it was hard to find a level lie. Not worth the $80 mid day fee.

Conditions Fair
Value Fair
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Difficulty Fairly Easy
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 25+
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Good weather
Used cart

Solid course

Solid course, GREAT value for the money but not always available at that price.

Strange we booked it through GolfNow and my partner checked 15 minutes later and GolfNow had the same course, our time slot for about 8 less per person, so GolfNow, please explain

Conditions Good
Value Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Way too long!

We played a 5 1/2 hour round because the group two in front of us was dragging. We grabbed a staff member at 9 to give them a heads up, and he did nothing but drive away!

Overall course was nice and the hot deal made it an okay value. Definitely not worth an $80 midday round though-

Conditions Good
Value Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Poor
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 18
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Excellent weather
Used cart

Mid week escape

Just too beautiful of a day to work inside, also got a great price of 39$ on Golf Now, pace was a little slow,course is in great condition, a great bargin at that price. Very enjoyable round.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Reduced rate

It's not worth the &99 but at $50 it was a great deal

Conditions Good
Value Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 77
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 1000 Contributor
Previously Played
Used cart

River Vale

Golfers are welcomed by a friendly staff followed by a facility has a nice dining facility and a well stocked pro shop.
A driving range and putting green are available for warming up. The course on this beautiful day played long due to the evenings rain and soft ground. Tee boxes and greens are in great conditions while the fairways were ok. The course has a good layout and will challenge golfers of all types. The rangers keep groups moving so there was little to no delay for our day of play.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 3
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing
Excellent weather
Used cart

Step above bergen county courses (condition and price)

When I played there the course was in great condition, however pace of play was a bit slow. I think it had more to do with the particular foursome in front of us as there was a two-some in front of them that we didn't see after they teed off on the first. However, the rangers didn't push the foursome to move quicker or let us play through (we were a three-some but we play ready golf). Besides the pace, the course played great and is definitely in much nicer shape than the county courses (although you do pay a premium for that).

Overall I would play this course again and would recommend it if you don't mind paying a little extra for a better maintained course.

Conditions Excellent
Value Fair
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Amenities Good
Difficulty Moderate
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