Although New Jersey remains renowned for its farms and gardens, there is another important aspect of New Jersey living that supports its botanical nickname — the state’s many amazing golf courses.
According to Kevin Purcell, executive director of the New Jersey State Golf Association (NJSGA), the Garden State is dotted with over 250 golf courses. From High Point to Cape May, New Jersey boasts an impressive assortment of golf facilities.
“The NJSGA works with 212 golf courses across the state,” Purcell explained. “There are probably another 50 or 60 small, privately owned courses with which we are not associated. The caliber of our beautiful golf courses alone could easily justify calling New Jersey the Garden State. New Jersey’s grounds superintendents do a wonderful job of keeping our beautiful courses in top condition and ready for all levels of play.”
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Fans of verdant fairways and meticulously manicured greens will find some of the nation’s most prestigious golf courses in New Jersey. Camden County’s Pine Valley Golf Course is ranked first on Golf.com’s 2020 list of America’s Top 100 Courses. Designed in 1918 by George Crump and A.W. Tillinghast, this national treasure has been refined over the years with the input of such notable golf course architects as George C. Thomas Jr., Walter Travis, Hugh Wilson and Alan Wilson. Pine Valley is a private club only open to members and their guests.
In its survey, Golf.com credits New Jersey with eight Top 100 courses. While the Garden State is the USA’s fifth-smallest state in land area, New Jersey ranks third, behind only New York and California, in the number of courses on the on Top 100 list. In addition to Pine Valley, Somerset Hills in Bernardsville, The Plainfield Golf Course, Baltusrol (lower and upper courses) in Springfield, Ridgewood (W/E) in Paramus, the Hollywood course in Deal and Mountain Ridge in West Caldwell all garnered top honors.
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New Jersey’s magnificent golf facilities have attracted both the LPGA and PGA Tour events. The LPGA has scheduled four New Jersey events for 2023. The Cognizant Founders Cup was held May 10-14 at Upper Montclair Country Club in Clifton; The Mizuho Americas Open was scheduled for May 30 — June 4 at Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City. The Garden State also was scheduled to host the ShopRite LPGA Classic presented by Acer from June 7-11 at Seaview in Galloway Township and the Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield will host one of the LPGA’s five major championships, the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, from June 21-25.
Baltusrol is well known to fans of PGA major championships. The Springfield landmark has hosted seven US Open Championships as well as both the 2005 and 2016 PGA Championships. The PGA Championship returns to the Baltusrol Lower Course in 2029.
While championship golf courses and posh country clubs abound in New Jersey, Purcell noted that the excellent public courses and county golf programs make golf a sport that can be enjoyed by men and women of any age and income. Some towns, such as Summit and Millburn, maintain municipal golf courses. Old Bridge is expected to open a municipal golf course, the Old Bridge Golf Club at Rose and Lambertson, later this year.
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New Jersey’s county golf courses offer a Player’s Card system that affords special benefits to county residents for a flat fee. Some counties also extend benefits to out-of-county residents for a slightly higher fee. Benefits can include such perks as the ability to book tee times farther in advance, discounts on greens fees, reduced range ball fees and a free handicap service, among others. Golfers can call or visit any of the New Jersey county courses for the specifics in their area.
One of the best ways to get the most out of golfing in New Jersey is to join the NJSGA. According to Purcell, the NJSGA offers numerous member benefits such as Member Golf Days that feature tournaments and events at some of the state’s best courses. GHIN (Golf Handicap Information Network) Handicap Services, which allow players of different abilities to compete on a level playing field, also are available. In addition, NJSGA membership includes the GHIN mobile app, which enables players to post scores, look up their USGA Handicap Index, review scoring records, sign up for tournaments and check in on NJSGA news.
The NJSGA conducts 24 state championships and multiple USGA qualifiers for men and women of all ages. The NJSGA also sponsors the Caddie Scholarship Foundation and Youth Foundation as well as initiatives such as First Tee chapters, start-up junior programs and high school golf.
[https://cdn.magzter.com/1390939488/1685990646/articles/G5B1rUBMl1686832431418/867677...
According to Kevin Purcell, executive director of the New Jersey State Golf Association (NJSGA), the Garden State is dotted with over 250 golf courses. From High Point to Cape May, New Jersey boasts an impressive assortment of golf facilities.
“The NJSGA works with 212 golf courses across the state,” Purcell explained. “There are probably another 50 or 60 small, privately owned courses with which we are not associated. The caliber of our beautiful golf courses alone could easily justify calling New Jersey the Garden State. New Jersey’s grounds superintendents do a wonderful job of keeping our beautiful courses in top condition and ready for all levels of play.”
[https://cdn.magzter.com/1390939488/1685990646/articles/G5B1rUBMl1686832431418/SfYcFlqxk1686832615556.jpg]
Fans of verdant fairways and meticulously manicured greens will find some of the nation’s most prestigious golf courses in New Jersey. Camden County’s Pine Valley Golf Course is ranked first on Golf.com’s 2020 list of America’s Top 100 Courses. Designed in 1918 by George Crump and A.W. Tillinghast, this national treasure has been refined over the years with the input of such notable golf course architects as George C. Thomas Jr., Walter Travis, Hugh Wilson and Alan Wilson. Pine Valley is a private club only open to members and their guests.
In its survey, Golf.com credits New Jersey with eight Top 100 courses. While the Garden State is the USA’s fifth-smallest state in land area, New Jersey ranks third, behind only New York and California, in the number of courses on the on Top 100 list. In addition to Pine Valley, Somerset Hills in Bernardsville, The Plainfield Golf Course, Baltusrol (lower and upper courses) in Springfield, Ridgewood (W/E) in Paramus, the Hollywood course in Deal and Mountain Ridge in West Caldwell all garnered top honors.
[https://cdn.magzter.com/1390939488/1685990646/articles/G5B1rUBMl1686832431418/6367766878.jpg]
New Jersey’s magnificent golf facilities have attracted both the LPGA and PGA Tour events. The LPGA has scheduled four New Jersey events for 2023. The Cognizant Founders Cup was held May 10-14 at Upper Montclair Country Club in Clifton; The Mizuho Americas Open was scheduled for May 30 — June 4 at Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City. The Garden State also was scheduled to host the ShopRite LPGA Classic presented by Acer from June 7-11 at Seaview in Galloway Township and the Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield will host one of the LPGA’s five major championships, the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, from June 21-25.
Baltusrol is well known to fans of PGA major championships. The Springfield landmark has hosted seven US Open Championships as well as both the 2005 and 2016 PGA Championships. The PGA Championship returns to the Baltusrol Lower Course in 2029.
While championship golf courses and posh country clubs abound in New Jersey, Purcell noted that the excellent public courses and county golf programs make golf a sport that can be enjoyed by men and women of any age and income. Some towns, such as Summit and Millburn, maintain municipal golf courses. Old Bridge is expected to open a municipal golf course, the Old Bridge Golf Club at Rose and Lambertson, later this year.
[https://cdn.magzter.com/1390939488/1685990646/articles/G5B1rUBMl1686832431418/6686683638.jpg]
New Jersey’s county golf courses offer a Player’s Card system that affords special benefits to county residents for a flat fee. Some counties also extend benefits to out-of-county residents for a slightly higher fee. Benefits can include such perks as the ability to book tee times farther in advance, discounts on greens fees, reduced range ball fees and a free handicap service, among others. Golfers can call or visit any of the New Jersey county courses for the specifics in their area.
One of the best ways to get the most out of golfing in New Jersey is to join the NJSGA. According to Purcell, the NJSGA offers numerous member benefits such as Member Golf Days that feature tournaments and events at some of the state’s best courses. GHIN (Golf Handicap Information Network) Handicap Services, which allow players of different abilities to compete on a level playing field, also are available. In addition, NJSGA membership includes the GHIN mobile app, which enables players to post scores, look up their USGA Handicap Index, review scoring records, sign up for tournaments and check in on NJSGA news.
The NJSGA conducts 24 state championships and multiple USGA qualifiers for men and women of all ages. The NJSGA also sponsors the Caddie Scholarship Foundation and Youth Foundation as well as initiatives such as First Tee chapters, start-up junior programs and high school golf.
[https://cdn.magzter.com/1390939488/1685990646/articles/G5B1rUBMl1686832431418/867677...
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Jersey's Best (Digital) - 1 Issue, Summer 2023