Jersey Golfers

[NJgolfer11]

I have played it many times. It has been in good shape the last few years.

They have 27 holes, Ridge, Pines and Links. The Ridge and Pines is the original 18.

They used to charge close to $100 with a cart for a weekend round. I think it’s a little pricey, but give it a shot.

[golfer07840]

I played there last year for a work outing.

My initial response after walking off the course? Eh.

Thinking about it a year later.. better than Eh.

There were some decent holes, but other than the elevation changes, nothing really stands out. Though I did like the driveable par 4 (don't know the hole number, playing shotgun, you lose sense of the hole numbers).

[Twism86]

That would be #17 with the fairway bunker right in front of the green.

[NJgolfer11]

How did you like the courses?

I have had a county card for almost 4 years. Hominy Hill is my favorite, although the Charleston courses are as good and maybe even more fun to play than Hominy.

Shark River has been getting better over the years. The greenskeeper came over from Mansquan River, I believe and you can argue, there greens are the best in the Monmouth County Park System.

As much as I love Howell, my #1 issue there is the tee boxes. A good number of them are either not level or they set you up into the trees and screws up your stance. The greens are in great shape but they really need to fix the tee boxes.

[philsRHman]

As another Monmouth newbie, I just love the variety so much. CS North you can rip away and even by changing tee boxes you get a whole different experience. I’m the most so-so on CS South, can’t decide if I love it or if it’s mundane. I think the parallel par 5 and a couple other holes leave something to be desired. I think it’s significantly more difficult than North, however and less entertaining, fewer birdie holes maybe.

At Howell I had such low expectations having never heard much about it. But 2 rounds and I’d say it’s very solid, head and shoulders above other daily fee places in the area, like Old Orchard, Pebble Creek, suneagles. Didn’t notice the tee boxes. It feels like a very good accessible course of the era, which is saying something given all the troubled courses I’d guess were built around then without big budgets (thinking places like Miry Run, Cream Ridge, painful places like Cranbury, Tamarack).

To me I see why Hominy is the cream of the crop, it’s got such great bones. It feels unlike any other county course, because it wasn’t built as one. Understood that they can’t maintain it like the premier exclusive club it once once but you can feel the greatness. I am being a bit hyperbolic but I really really have enjoyed it, especially the green complex’s that offer a variety of shots you don’t get playing public golf.

 

[Chappie]

Played Twisted Dune in Egg Harbor a few days ago. Excellent condition and really enjoyed the track, save for the sand. It was rocky and hard and just not in anyway well kept. Since it is such a big part of the courses design I was decently disappointed, but not so much so that it spoiled the round. Would definitely like to play again.

[borogolfer12]

Anyone playing in the NJSGA Pub Links qualifiers?

[fastswinger]

River Vale yesterday - greens were fast and true, which was nice. I didn't make any birdies, but no 3 putts either. Just was not my day- played the par 5's poorly and one of the par 3's. Just just missed making it to Rock Springs....will play better next time. Played with some cool dudes and had fun trying. I qualified two years ago through galloping hill and got to play 36 holes at heron glen...wasn't able to play in it last year.

How about you? good luck

[borogolfer12]

I'm playing at Mercer Oaks next week. Bummer that you just missed.

[LeoLeo99]

I'm at Mercer Oaks almost every week. If you haven't been lately, they want you to go in the front double doors and exit out the door by the pro shop and grill. They put the black tee markers back last week if you're a tips player.

[borogolfer12]

Cool thanks for the info. Gonna try to get a round in there before next week. How are conditions there?

[LeoLeo99]

Conditions are good. Not great but not bad. Greens have been a little slow but smooth. The bunkers are tough. I'm not the best bunker player and hard firm sand is my weakness. And the sand there is hard and firm.

[borogolfer12]

Thanks. Yeah, bunkers I know can be hit or miss. Gonna try to get out there before next week to get a round in.

[golfer07840]

Playing Great Gorge later today. Anyone played there since they re-opened a couple of years ago?

[fastswinger]

On 8/8/2020 at 11:51 AM, golfer07840 said:

Playing Great Gorge later today. Anyone played there since they re-opened a couple of years ago?

Haven't been there in years.  Remember one of the 9's opening tee shot was like off a cliff.  What were conditions like?  Good greens?

[golfer07840]

On 8/30/2020 at 12:35 PM, fastswinger said:

Haven't been there in years.  Remember one of the 9's opening tee shot was like off a cliff.  What were conditions like?  Good greens?

 

Played there twice in the last couple of weeks. Greens are in fantastic shape. Fairways appear to have been re-sodded since I last had played there 6 years ago.Were in really good shape as well. 

 

And with mid day greens fees being under 40$ it's a freaking steal. 

 

Also, electric golf carts, which threw me at first. Wasn't expecting it when I hit the 'gas' pedal. 

[BogeytoBirdies]

Has anyone played Ballyowen recently? Have a tee time for this upcoming Thursday. It will be my groups first time playing there. 

[Twism86]

On 9/6/2020 at 1:04 AM, BogeytoBirdies said:

Has anyone played Ballyowen recently? Have a tee time for this upcoming Thursday. It will be my groups first time playing there. 

Recently as in 3 weeks ago for me. Conditions were great then. Greens were my favorite parts, they were fast-ish and actually broke the way you would expect. Generous fairways and rough and fescue wasn't too punishing. 

[Twism86]

Im playing Beaver Brook CC in Annandale today at 1:10. Never been there before, from google maps it doesnt look too complicated, a few holes are mirror images of one another. A few other holes look interesting with a layup par-4 or two (love those). It also seems like they have a bunch of par-3s (5?). Any tips or advice? How has the course been lately? I still see two open slots on the tee time booking site if anyone wants to play last minute. 

[Twism86]

23 hours ago, Twism86 said:

Im playing Beaver Brook CC in Annandale today at 1:10. Never been there before, from google maps it doesnt look too complicated, a few holes are mirror images of one another. A few other holes look interesting with a layup par-4 or two (love those). It also seems like they have a bunch of par-3s (5?). Any tips or advice? How has the course been lately? I still see two open slots on the tee time booking site if anyone wants to play last minute. 

Might as well report back. For my first time there I enjoyed it, great price as well. Seems to be in good condition and the greens were fast! A few tough pin positions too that made me think I was in some tournament and not a Tuesday afternoon round. A worked even stopped by my group to ask "how about those pins on 4 and 8?" I think he was bragging.... I had a 20' uphill put on #4 that came up short by inches that then rolled back to 10 feet!!!! I will be back for sure. 

[ani5009]

4 hours ago, Twism86 said:

Might as well report back. For my first time there I enjoyed it, great price as well. Seems to be in good condition and the greens were fast! A few tough pin positions too that made me think I was in some tournament and not a Tuesday afternoon round. A worked even stopped by my group to ask "how about those pins on 4 and 8?" I think he was bragging.... I had a 20' uphill put on #4 that came up short by inches that then rolled back to 10 feet!!!! I will be back for sure. 

 

That is good to know that they finally got it in decent shape. I live 10 minutes away and stopped playing it because it was in such bad shape. I had heard there was a new owner and they were doing some renovations, so it sounds like they had a positive impact. 

[nsxguy]

5 hours ago, Twism86 said:

Might as well report back. For my first time there I enjoyed it, great price as well. Seems to be in good condition and the greens were fast! A few tough pin positions too that made me think I was in some tournament and not a Tuesday afternoon round. A worked even stopped by my group to ask "how about those pins on 4 and 8?" I think he was bragging.... I had a 20' uphill put on #4 that came up short by inches that then rolled back to 10 feet!!!! I will be back for sure. 

 

You should have mentioned that to the Pro Shop.

 

I forget how it's worded but IIRC the USGA recommends about 3 feet around the hole to be fairly level, certainly level enough so that a ball inches short of the hole not roll back 10 feet.

 

I've run into that in SE Asia a few times. One course in particular had about 6 greens where that kind of thing could easily happen. Be above those pins and if you don't hit the hole you're off the front of the green. Literally impossible to stop the ball from above. Ridiculous.

[skujan57]

Looking forward to playing Great Gorge.

[Twism86]

1 hour ago, ani5009 said:

 

That is good to know that they finally got it in decent shape. I live 10 minutes away and stopped playing it because it was in such bad shape. I had heard there was a new owner and they were doing some renovations, so it sounds like they had a positive impact. 

Some of the bunkers I saw were in pretty bad shape. Missing sand and liners exposed. Most of the greens, while fast, rolled true. No huge dead spots on the fairway. 

[skujan57]

Just discovered the "chronogolf by Lightspeed" online booking site. Seems to be a great way to book tee times for NJ courses I'm not familiar with or haven't played.

[Jersey golfer]

On 9/23/2020 at 3:26 PM, Twism86 said:

Some of the bunkers I saw were in pretty bad shape. Missing sand and liners exposed. Most of the greens, while fast, rolled true. No huge dead spots on the fairway. 

I was under the impression that their plan was to let grass grow to fill in the bunkers. Any indication of that?

[Max21]

Barely any tee times already before 3:30 this weekend up in north jersey....madness

[Twism86]

On 9/26/2020 at 7:13 PM, Jersey golfer said:

I was under the impression that their plan was to let grass grow to fill in the bunkers. Any indication of that?

Yes, it looked like the back 2' of some bunkers was dirt mixed with wild grasses growing. Most bunkers were maintained. 

[Twism86]

16 hours ago, Max21 said:

Barely any tee times already before 3:30 this weekend up in north jersey....madness

Glad I dont play on the weekend! his year has been terrible for tee times. If there is dry weather in the forecast, good luck! 

[Bonneville85308]

On 9/28/2020 at 1:37 PM, Max21 said:

Barely any tee times already before 3:30 this weekend up in north jersey....madness

 

Reminds me of how it was back in the late 1990s/early 2000s. Getting a weekend time somewhere like Sunset Valley back then was darn near impossible unless you were cool with going off after 3pm.