Nestled in Salem, New York, just minutes from the Connecticut border, Salem Golf Club has been a fixture in the community for generations. The original house on the property dates back to 1903, when it served as a dairy farm owned by the Lawrence family.
Over time, the Lawrences transformed the land into a golf course before eventually selling it to four original owners. In 1966, the 18-hole course was developed under the direction of local golf course architect, Edward Ryder. He preserved the natural beauty of the property and helped establish Salem Golf Club as it exists today.
“Salem is a golf club without pretense,” says Harry Smith, a member since 2008. “Even when my game stinks, which is most of the time, I always have a big smile when I roll up the driveway.”
From the moment visitors step onto the property, there’s a palpable sense of old-world elegance mixed with welcoming informality. The course itself features rolling fairways, pristine greens, and scenic vistas that appeal to golfers of every skill level.
But Salem Golf Club has always been about more than the game—it’s about family dinners on the patio at sunset, summer afternoons at the pool, and gatherings that become cherished memories.
In 2016, the club broke ground on one of its most significant additions: a pool house that opened two years later. The project brought new energy to the club, particularly for young families who can now play a round of golf in the morning and relax poolside in the afternoon.
The heated pool is open from Memorial Day through Labor Day, Tuesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Full food and beverage service is available on the pool deck and at the café, which doubles as the course’s halfway house. Members also have year-round access to a fitness center and a golf simulator that can be reserved online.
One of Salem's most distinctive features is its no-tee-time policy. Members simply show up, check in with the starter at the first tee, and head out. Wait times rarely exceed 20 minutes.
“The members appreciate the challenge of the course,” Smith adds. “They also appreciate the welcome and the camaraderie that have long been synonymous with Salem.”
Practice facilities include a driving range, short game area for bunker and chipping work, and a putting green. The course operates eight months a year, from April through November, closing the Sunday after Thanksgiving and reopening in early April, weather permitting.
The clubhouse and dining areas remain open year-round, offering members a place to gather for lunch, post-round drinks, or simply to enjoy the atmosphere that has made Salem a cornerstone of the community for decades.
Salem Golf Club is located at 18 Bloomer Road in North Salem. For membership information, visit call 914-669-5485, or email info@salemgolfclub.org. To learn more visit salemgolfclub.org
“Salem is a golf club without pretense. Even when my game stinks, which is most of the time, I always have a big smile when I roll up the driveway.”—Harry Smith, Member Since 2008