Bonnie Briar Country Club

Bonnie Briar Country Club was established in 1921 during the golden age of Westchester County golf, with an original layout by Devereux Emmet and early contributions from A.W. Tillinghast that produced one of the region's most classic private courses. Set on 150 rolling acres winding through woods and natural rock formations on an old Revolutionary War encampment in Larchmont, the course rewards thoughtful shotmaking across its par-71 layout of 6,385 yards. Among the club's charter members was illustrator Norman Rockwell, whose connection to Bonnie Briar's family-oriented character became part of the club's founding story.

Bonnie Briar Country Club was founded in 1921, placing its origins squarely within the golden age of golf course development in Westchester County, New York. The club was established on land in Larchmont that had historical significance as an encampment during the American Revolutionary War, and the natural rock formations and rolling woodland terrain that defined the property provided Devereux Emmet with an outstanding canvas for a classic golf course design. Devereux Emmet, one of the pioneering American golf course architects of the early 20th century, designed the original layout. Emmet had already established himself as one of the country's most accomplished course designers, with work at Augusta Country Club, Congressional Country Club, and numerous other venues.

His design at Bonnie Briar followed his characteristic approach of routing holes to take full advantage of the natural topography, creating sequences of holes that flowed organically through the wooded terrain. In 1923, A.W. Tillinghast — one of the towering figures in the history of golf course architecture, responsible for designs including Winged Foot, Baltusrol, and Bethpage Black — made contributions to the course, adding his distinctive touch to certain holes. The combination of Emmet's foundational routing and Tillinghast's refinements produced a course of genuine architectural distinction.

Among Bonnie Briar's founding charter members was the American illustrator Norman Rockwell, whose presence underscored the club's self-described identity as a "family club." This reputation for welcoming families and nurturing a community atmosphere distinguished Bonnie Briar from some of its more private Westchester neighbors and defined the character of the membership for generations. In 1936, the course received significant renovation work from the firm of Thompson & Jones, with Robert Trent Jones Sr. — then a young architect in partnership with Stanley Thompson — contributing redesign work that updated the green complexes and course infrastructure. Jones would go on to become a prolific and influential golf course architect of the 20th century, and his early work at Bonnie Briar represented one of his first major commissions. Alfred H. Tull also contributed work in 1928, and more recently David Heatwole undertook renovation work in 2008, bringing modern drainage and playing surface improvements to the historic layout while preserving its traditional character. Today, Bonnie Briar Country Club offers approximately 500 golf members a par-71 course of 6,385 yards that retains the strategic integrity of its Golden Age origins. The course's combination of Emmet's foundational routing, Tillinghast's refinements, and subsequent careful stewardship makes it one of the more historically layered private clubs in Westchester County.