Swing Into Spring at These Top-Rated NJ Golf Courses

Spring is finally here! With warm weather just around the corner, it's time for all golf lovers to break out your clubs and get back on the links!

If you're looking for a new public course to enjoy, we've compiled Golfweek's favorite NJ public-access courses for you to check out below:

1. Crystal Springs Resort (Hardyston Township, NJ)

"As the Northeast’s leading golf destination, the lush fairways and pristine greens of Crystal Springs Resort are an undeniable golfers’ paradise. Designed by such notable links luminaries as Robert von Hagge, Robert Trent Jones, George Fazio, and Roger Rulewich, the resort’s six impressive championship-caliber courses wind through the picturesque Appalachian scenery and provide a near-endless array of variety. Beginners and experienced players alike will discover much to love as they navigate pro-worthy grounds such as the crisply modern Cascades, Zagat-rated Black Bear, and award-winning, Celtic-links-style Ballyowen — rated the #1 public golf course in the state."

Link: https://www.crystalgolfresort.com

2. Neshanic Valley (Neshanic Station, NJ)

"Each of the championship (par 36) nine-hole courses, The Lake, The Ridge, and The Meadow, features five tees with the 18-hole layouts ranging from 5,050 yards to 7,108 yards. Rolling fairways, tees, and greens are creeping bentgrass with large bunkers guarding putting surfaces. An ample amount of fescue is found off the fairways and greens with environmentally sensitive wetland areas coming into play throughout the course. The greens have been designed with subtle undulations to increase the challenge of play. Electric carts will travel the 8.9 miles of paved cart paths."

Link: https://www.neshanicvalleygolf.com/

3. Twisted Dune (Egg Harbor Twp, NJ)

"Annually recognized as one of NJ’s best public golf courses you can play, Twisted Dune Golf Club is like no other golf course in the Garden State. True to its name, Twisted Dune is a links style course with twisting landscapes, dramatic elevations, and contoured fairways, offering a challenging, yet supremely playable, eighteen-hole design."

Link: https://www.twisteddune.com/ 

4. Seaview (Galloway, NJ)

"Set on 670 acres of Galloway, NJ, coast and woodlands, Seaview is home to two world class golf courses and a 296-room hotel."

Link: https://www.seaviewgolf.com/ 

5. Rock Spring (West Orange, NJ)

"Rock Spring Golf Club at West Orange features one of only two public golf courses in the United States designed by legendary architect Seth Raynor, whose highly-ranked work includes Fisher’s Island in New York, Shoreacres on Chicago’s North Shore and Mid Ocean Club in Bermuda. Twelve of Raynor’s courses are on GOLF Magazine’s list of the Top 100 in the U.S."

Link: https://www.rockspringgolf.com/ 

6. Scotland Run (Williamstown, NJ)

"Built in and around an old sand quarry, Scotland Run offers a distinctive blend of quarry and links-style holes. The most unique characteristics include expansive waste areas and an imposing display of cliffs.  Located 20 minutes from downtown Philadelphia and 45 minutes from Atlantic City, Scotland Run is open to the public year-round for daily fee play, group outings & banquets."

Link: https://scotlandrun.com/ 

7. Shore Gate (Ocean View, NJ)

"Shore Gate Golf Club opened in 2002 to rave reviews and has repeatedly ranked among the top 20 public golf courses in New Jersey by Golf Digest. Whether you’re vacationing at the Jersey shore or looking to join a premier NJ golf club, we invite you to come experience all that Shore Gate has to offer."

Link: https://www.shoregategolf.com/ 

8. Architects (Phillipsburg, NJ)

Set alongside Warren County’s luscious, rolling hills, The Architects Golf Club is known for its links-style golf play and beautiful panoramic landscape views and natural imagery. Architects pays tribute to the great golf course architects spanning a golden age of golf course design that spanned from 1885 to 1955. Esteemed golf course architect Stephen Kay, alongside Golf Digest architectural editor Ron Whitten, created the concept, which was then executed and completed by course builders and owners/operators, Larry and Dennis Turco."

Link: https://www.thearchitectsclub.com/ 

9. Ballamor (Egg Harbor Township, NJ)

"Carefully carved out of gently rolling land and dense woods, Ballamor is a golfer's sanctuary.  Peaceful and secluded surroundings can be found at every turn, capturing the immense beauty of this 350 acre property.  Designed by nationally renowned architects, Ault, Clark & Associates, the course features wide, easy to hit fairways and large greens for comfortable approach shots.  Ballamor boasts exceptional conditions, fast greens and impeccably manicured fairways and tees.  Once a private club, Ballamor retains much of that feel today to the delight of daily fee players looking to experience golf at its finest."

Link: https://ballamor.com/ 

10. Heron Glen (Ringoes, NJ)

"Arriving on the scene in 2002, Heron Glen Golf Course and Restaurant has quickly positioned itself as one of New Jersey ’s finest public golf facilities. The golf course, transformed from the famed Kuster Farm, is cut through the rolling hills of Hunterdon County and offers five sets of tee boxes that can accommodate all levels of play. You’ll enjoy beautiful bent grass from tee to green, surrounded by mature trees and rolling vistas."

Link: https://heronglen.com/

11. Blue Heron Pines (Galloway, NJ) 

"Blue Heron Pines opened in 1993 and has quickly been recognized as the best 18-hole course at the Jersey Shore. Designed by Stephen Kay, it takes full advantage of the natural beauty of the pinelands, with majestic tree lines framing breathtaking vistas."

Link: https://www.blueheronpines.com/ 

12. Knoll (Boonton, NJ)

"Situated on 360 beautiful wooded acres in the Township of Parsippany–Troy Hills, the Knoll Country Club consists of two 18 hole golf courses, the Knoll East and Knoll West."

Link: https://www.knollgolfclub.com/ 

We hope your Spring gets off to a great start at one of the many great public courses our Garden State has to offer! We'd love to see your photos if you get a chance to visit any of these great locations! Share them with us @zforzielinski on Instagram!

NOTE: Golf course descriptions provided by organization's website. Ratings (#1-12) provided by Golfweek article from 2021: https://golfweek.usatoday.com/lists/golfweeks-best-courses-you-can-play-new-jersey/