Sure, you may have a soft spot for the ninth hole at Little Mill because that’s where you hit the shot of your life—but that’s just subjective. We sought a more scientific approach, surveying 40 local golfers—both seasoned amateurs and respected PGA professionals—to find out what really is the best hole in the area. We also learned which club restaurant outshines the rest, which “19th hole” is the most appealing post-golf retreat, and which course is the most accessible for juniors. For the definitive answer to all South Jersey golf debates, read on.
Private Clubs
Best Views
1. Trump National Golf Club-Philadelphia, Pine Hill
Once the home of Ski Mountain, Trump National Golf Club-Philadelphia is planted atop the highest point in the area. The elevation allows for panoramas of the lush surrounding landscape and extraordinary views of the Philadelphia skyline, especially from the par-3 13th hole. Sprawling waste areas and massive bunkers add to the enticement.
2. Laurel Creek Country Club, Mount Laurel
3. Woodcrest Country Club, Cherry Hill
Most Challenging Course
1. Laurel Creek Country Club, Mount Laurel
2. Trump National Golf Club-Philadelphia, Pine Hill
3. Medford Village Country Club, Medford
Original owner Jim “Dutch” Himmelein offered $1,000 to anyone who could break par when Medford Village Country Club opened in 1964. No player was able to tame “the magnificent monster of Medford,” designed by William F. Gordon at the request of Himmelein to rival the challenge of Pine Valley. Although scaled down in the early ’70s, Medford Village remains a stern test due to its twisting, tree-lined layout.
Best Greens
1. Laurel Creek Country Club, Mount Laurel
2. Woodcrest Country Club, Cherry Hill
3. Riverton Country Club, Cinnaminson
The finely preened greens at Riverton Country Club come loaded with treachery and intrigue. Many slope significantly from back to front, making a well-calculated club selection a must. And several—most notably the 197-yard, par-3 sixth—are difficult to read, even for longtime members.
Best Practice Facilities
1. Laurel Creek Country Club, Mount Laurel
2. Burlington Country Club, Mount Holly
Burlington Country Club’s expansive practice facilities provide the ideal place both to warm up prior to a round or to work on your game for an extended period of time. The all-grass upper teeing area features a full-length range dotted with target pins, while the two lower practice greens perfectly simulate Burlington’s on-course conditions. Both include a greenside bunker, and one features a long fairway approach.
3. Trump National Golf Club-Philadelphia, Pine Hill
Best Golf Shop
1. Tavistock Country Club, Haddonfield
2. Laurel Creek Country Club, Mount Laurel
Laurel Creek’s well-stocked golf shop is a mandatory stop for those looking to load up on the club’s handsome logo apparel for both men and women, from brands like Adidas, Polo, Ashworth, Cutter & Buck, Zero Restriction and Tehama. A fine selection of the latest equipment is available from TaylorMade, Callaway, Titleist and Ping as well.
3. Trump National Golf Club-Philadelphia, Pine Hill
Best Classic Course
1. Tavistock Country Club, Haddonfield
Tavistock Country Club has always sought to provide one of the finest classic golf courses in the area. Never was this more evident than when the club’s leaders decided to undertake a major restoration in 2006-2007, selecting Frontier Golf and Forse Design to take the golf course back to the original 1921 Alexander Findlay design. The members have been gushing ever since.
2. Woodcrest Country Club, Cherry Hill
3. Riverton Country Club, Cinnaminson
Best Modern Course
1. Trump National Golf Club-Philadelphia, Pine Hill
Daily-fee golfers throughout South Jersey mourned when Donald Trump swooped in, purchased Pine Hill Golf Club in December 2009, and announced his plans to transform the club into an ultra-exclusive private facility. Now, members and their guests have a dramatic, engaging Tom Fazio design to enjoy all to themselves.
2. Laurel Creek Country Club, Mount Laurel
3. Medford Village Country Club, Medford
Best Women-Friendly Course
1. Merchantville Country Club, Cherry Hill
Although regarded as one of the most difficult courses in South Jersey when playing from the back tees, Merchantville Country Club’s finely-manicured nine-hole course, which dates way back to 1892, is more manageable from the forward tees thanks to seven par-4s at 302 yards or less when playing 18 holes. Although accuracy is essential, few forced carries and a playable cut of rough make Merchantville an attractive option for female golfers.
2. Medford Lakes Country Club, Medford Lakes
3. Woodcrest Country Club, Cherry Hill
Best Junior-Friendly Course
1. Burlington Country Club, Mount Holly
2. Little Mill Country Club, Marlton
South Jersey’s only 27-hole private facility, Little Mill Country Club provides junior golfers with excellent places to practice both on and off the course. The three nines offer juniors ample playing experience without disturbing regular play, while the club’s full-length driving range, including a large grass tee and a chipping green complete with a practice bunker, enable PGA professional George Frake II and his staff to offer optimal instruction.
3. Medford Village Country Club, Medford
Best Snack Bar at the Turn
1. Tavistock Country Club, Haddonfield
2. Medford Village Country Club, Medford
Members and their guests at mighty Medford Village Country Club can refuel at the turn with a Dietz & Watson jumbo special hot dog on a soft Italian roll or a sandwich such as chicken with roasted peppers and balsamic vinaigrette on French bread. Standard items like French fries and chicken fingers are also available, along with a range of beverages.
3. Burlington Country Club, Mount Holly
Best Clubhouse & Locker Rooms
1. Woodcrest Country Club, Cherry Hill
With a well-equipped, modern clubhouse chockfull of topnotch amenities, including an Olympic-size swimming pool, lavish locker room facilities and multiple dining options overlooking the picturesque 18th hole, it’s easy to understand why Woodcrest Country Club members call the club a second home
2. Laurel Creek Country Club, Mount Laurel
3. Trump National Golf Club-Philadelphia, Pine Hill
Best 19th Hole
1. Links Golf Club, Marlton
The 40 seats surrounding the unique brass-top bar at Links Golf Club all have unobstructed views of at least one of the four flat-screen TVs. Additional tables are located throughout the lively room adorned with historic golf photos on the walls and the golf bags of local South Jersey PGA professionals on the ceiling. The nightlife often spills out onto the putting green opposite the bar’s glass walls, where fun, games (and the occasional friendly wager) are had.
2. Burlington Country Club, Mount Holly
3. Little Mill Country Club, Marlton
Best Outdoor Bar
1. Woodcrest Country Club, Cherry Hill
2. Trump National Golf Club-Philadelphia, Pine Hill
Whether before or after a well-played round—or, even a round they’d just as soon forget—golfers can step out onto the expansive deck of the 43,000-square-foot clubhouse at Trump National Golf Club-Philadelphia and soak in mesmerizing views of the full Philadelphia skyline. This unforgettable vista is a must-see for South Jersey golfers.
3. Laurel Creek Country Club, Mount Laurel
Best Restaurant: Breakfast
1. Burlington Country Club, Mount Holly
2. Medford Village Country Club, Medford
3. Medford Lakes Country Club, Medford Lakes
Medford Lakes Country Club’s refreshingly affordable menu boasts a full range of classic breakfast options as well as specials like the peppers-and-egg sandwich with cheese on a kaiser roll. Other dishes include the Hole in One: two pancakes, two eggs, two sausage links, two slices of bacon, home fries, toast and a drink.
Best Restaurant: Lunch
1. Tavistock Country Club, Haddonfield
2. Burlington Country Club, Mount Holly
Burlington Country Club’s lunch menu is bursting with appetizing items such as the mandarin orange salad with red onions, Craisins, mandarin oranges, caramelized almonds and an orange vinaigrette—add shrimp or chicken for a tasty entree. Other favorites include chicken pot pie and barbecued pulled-pork sandwich on a kaiser roll.
3. Laurel Creek Country Club, Mount Laurel
Best Restaurant: Dinner
1. Tavistock Country Club, Haddonfield
2. Trump National Golf Club-Philadelphia, Pine Hill
3. Laurel Creek Country Club, Mount Laurel
Featuring both a formal dining room and a family-friendly grill, Laurel Creek Country Club serves up a dinner menu including the signature jumbo lump crab cakes, a cranberry turkey melt, and a seafood pot pie that features crab, shrimp and lobster sautéed with vegetables in a lobster beurre blanc sauce, beneath a crisp pastry shell.
Best Signature Cocktails
1. Links Golf Club, Marlton
2. Burlington Country Club, Mount Holly
Veteran bartender Alfie DiFilippo has been serving golfers at Burlington Country Club for more than 40 years. His specialties include a killer Old Fashioned—bourbon and club soda with muddled sugar, bitters, orange peel and cherries—or a Stinger, loaded with brandy and crème de menthe. The drink of choice in the summer is a Transfusion, a refreshing cocktail of vodka, grape juice and ginger ale.
3. Laurel Creek Country Club, Mount Laurel
Best Wine List
1. Trump National Golf Club-Philadelphia, Pine Hill
Trump’s sophisticated 2011 wine list spans the globe, including a Llai Lai Pinot Noir from the Bio Bio Valley in Chile, and the JAQK Cellars High Roller Cabernet Sauvignon, loaded with black cherry, currant, sage and mint flavors, with notes of toasted oak.
2. Tavistock Country Club, Haddonfield
3. Riverton Country Club, Cinnaminson
Best Beer Selection
1. Links Golf Club, Marlton
2. Trump National Golf Club-Philadelphia, Pine Hill
3. Little Mill Country Club, Marlton
Whether drowning your sorrows after a day spent searching for your golf ball among the pines or celebrating a well-played round, the bar at Little Mill Country Club is certain to have your elixir. An assortment of 30 ice-cold beers awaits.
Best Par 3
1. Laurel Creek Country Club, Mount Laurel, Hole No. 17
One of the most awe-inspiring holes of any kind in all of South Jersey, the jarring 194-yard par-3 17th at Laurel Creek Country Club punishes puny tee shots with a wetlands area 40 acres deep and a greenside bunker left—and an awesome canyon wall and another greenside bunker right. The unforgiving green is located at the bottom of the canyon and surrenders nary a birdie.
2. Burlington Country Club, Mount Holly, Hole No. 12
3. Medford Village Country Club, Medford, Hole No. 4
Best Par 4
1. Woodcrest Country Club, Cherry Hill, Hole No. 12
2. Trump National Golf Club-Philadelphia, Pine Hill, Hole No. 10
The back nine at Trump National Golf Club-Philadelphia begins with a behemoth. This par-4 plays a formidable 430 yards from the white tees and a torturous 477 from the blacks. The rolling fairway that slopes from left to right yields few level lies and forces many to lay up rather than risk a wayward approach into a guileful green guarded by brutal bunkers and an unforgiving swale in front.
3. Tavistock Country Club, Haddonfield, Hole No. 14
Best Par 5
1. Woodcrest Country Club, Cherry Hill, Hole No. 18
2. Medford Village Country Club, Medford, Hole No. 10
Stretching to a gnarly 590 yards from the longest set of tees, the 10th hole at Medford Village Country Club still plays a sizeable 510 yards from the whites. Trouble traps the landing area off the tee with pines planted on both sides of the fairway and a creek resting in the right rough. Likewise, for the second shot, a cross bunker lurks, along with the aforementioned creek, which continues up the right side before bisecting the fairway. The smart move is to play short of these hazards and hope for a two-putt par.
3. Laurel Creek Country Club, Mount Laurel, Hole No. 9
Toughest Hole
1. Woodcrest Country Club, Cherry Hill, Hole No. 12
Woodcrest Country Club’s 434-yard signature hole may appear unassuming from the tee, but turn the dogleg and stare down what’s left for your second shot, and you’ll be overwhelmed with intimidation. It plays uphill and typically into the wind, a creek slices across the fairway, a beastly bunker guards the green to the right and a towering oak tree looms left.
2. Laurel Creek Country Club, Mount Laurel, Hole No. 16
3. Tavistock Country Club, Haddonfield, Hole No. 14
Best Finishing Hole
1. Laurel Creek Country Club, Mount Laurel
2. Woodcrest Country Club, Cherry Hill
Also ranked as one of South Jersey’s best par 5s, Woodcrest Country Club’s 538-yard (white tees) finishing hole provides one fantastic final test of will. Three well-placed shots are a must to navigate the dogleg-left both off the tee and on the inevitable layup that proceeds a mid- to short-iron approach over the wide creek fronting the sinister putting surface.
3. Tavistock Country Club, Haddonfield
Public Courses
Best Greens
1. Scotland Run Golf Club, Williamstown
2. Wedgwood Country Club, Turnersville
3. Deerwood Country Club, Mount Holly
Deerwood Country Club’s quick, undulating greens are as pristine as they are penal, rewarding a pure stroke but also punishing the unsteady putter, while rolling true throughout the golf season. Adding to the difficulty is the fact that players may be weary when reaching the putting surface due to the course’s lush rough and prominent wetland areas coming into play.
Most Challenging course
1. Scotland Run Golf Club, Williamstown
2. Wedgwood Country Club, Turnersville
Wedgwood Country Club beautifully blends two uniquely challenging nines. Although the front nine is mostly open and thus provides room for error away from the fairway, well-sloped greens and sharp doglegs penalize the imprecise. Your hope is to score well here before making the turn to the tree-lined back nine where the unnerving 13th (see Best Par 4s) and the 435-yard uphill par-4 18th hole await. 3. RiverWinds Golf Club, West Deptford
Best Views
1. Scotland Run Golf Club, Williamstown
2. RiverWinds Golf Club, West Deptford
Hugging the Delaware River, holes 14 through 17 at RiverWinds Golf Club boast uniquely breathtaking views of the Philadelphia skyline. The best of the bunch are from the elevated 17th and 18th tees, where you’ll often see planes touching down at the airport on the other side of the river and ships chugging along.
3. Deerwood Country Club, Mount Holly
Best Practice Facilities
1. Scotland Run Golf Club, Williamstown
Bent-grass tees, a full-length driving range dotted with six target greens, and an 8,000-square-foot putting green highlight the 15-acre practice facility at Scotland Run Golf Club. Be sure to pencil in plenty of time to practice here before attempting to grapple with the golf course’s abundant bunkers, waste areas and water hazards.
2. Valleybrook Country Club, Blackwood
3. Rancocas Golf Club, Willingboro
Best Golf Shop
1. Scotland Run Golf Club, Williamstown
2. Deerwood Country Club, Mount Holly
3. Valleybrook Country Club, Blackwood
Whether you’re in need of gloves, balls or tees before your starting time or you’re stopping by to shop for new clubs or duds, the golf shop at Valleybrook Country Club has got you covered. Equipment for men, ladies and juniors is also available from the biggest brand names in golf.
Best Classic Course
1. Indian Spring Country Club, Marlton
2. Pitman Golf Course, Sewell
3. Pennsauken Country Club, Pennsauken
Although the majority of the courses in South Jersey built prior to 1960 are found at private clubs, several classic layouts remain open to the public. These include longtime local favorite Pennsauken Country Club, which dates back to 1931 when it was known as Iron Rock.
Best Modern Course
1. Scotland Run Golf Club, Williamstown
2. RiverWinds Golf Club, West Deptford
RiverWinds Golf Club’s ever-improving links-style design by local architect Ed Shearon overcame an unfortunate period of neglect from previous owners thanks to the commitment of Ron Jaworski Golf Management. The several holes flanking the banks of the Delaware River have received plenty of fanfare since the course opened in 2002, but the inland holes, such as the devilish 441-yard, par-4 ninth, are more than noteworthy.
3. Deerwood Country Club, Mount Holly
Best Women-Friendly Course
1. Indian Spring Country Club, Marlton
With six par-4s of less than 300 yards, only a pair of par-5s—both under 440 yards—and an overall length of 5,043 yards from the forward tees, Indian Spring Country Club presents a pleasant option for female golfers in South Jersey. A fun array of engaging but passable holes and a walker-friendly layout make for splendid exercise as well.
2. Pennsauken Country Club, Pennsauken
3. Willow Brook Country Club, Moorestown
Best Junior-Friendly Course
1. Pitman Golf Course, Sewell
2. Freeway Golf Course, Sicklerville
As arguably the easiest course to walk in South Jersey, Freeway Golf Course is an excellent option for your junior to gain invaluable on-course experience. At 6,151 yards from the white tees and 5,395 yards from the red tees, junior golfers have two ideal lengths to choose from. A good mix of short par-4s, manageable par-3s and -5s throughout also help juniors keep an appropriate pace of play.
3. Valleybrook Country Club, Blackwood
Best Snack Bar at the Turn
1. Scotland Run Golf Club, Williamstown
2. Valleybrook Country Club, Blackwood
Options abound when players make the turn at Valleybrook Country Club. Stop in for a quarter-pound hot dog that’s grilled and served on a fresh Italian roll inside Riley’s Pub. You’ll be tempted to pull up a seat and stay awhile in this Irish bar decked out with flat-panel HD TVs and plenty of sports memorabilia courtesy of owner Ron Jaworski. As well, the elaborate food and beverage cart appears often.
3. Pennsauken Country Club, Pennsauken
Best Clubhouses & Locker Rooms
1. Scotland Run Golf Club, Williamstown
2. Deerwood Country Club, Mount Holly
Deerwood Country Club delights local golfers with upscale private club-quality amenities including a spacious clubhouse decorated with two formal dining rooms, a homey pub and grill, and a covered terrace offering views of the 18th hole. First-class men’s and women’s locker room facilities are additional features that make Deerwood worthy of a full-day affair.
3. Indian Spring Country Club, Marlton
Best Food & Drinks
1. Scotland Run Golf Club, Williamstown
Scotland Run Golf Club’s Highlander Pub & Grill continues to please patrons—both those who stop by before or after a round or those simply dining out—with its Scottish pub-style atmosphere and aptly titled “casual fare with flair.” The versatile menu contains Scottish items such as shepherd’s pie and fish and chips; classic American options like burgers, crab cakes and a Turkey club; and more sophisticated items like pork osso buco. Diners can choose from the 100-seat restaurant or the patio overlooking the golf course.
2. Deerwood Country Club, Mount Holly
3. Pennsauken Country Club, Pennsauken
Best Par 3
1. Scotland Run Golf Club, Williamstown, Hole No. 13
2. Pennsauken Country Club, Pennsauken, Hole No. 7
The par-3 7th hole at Pennsauken Country Club is already plenty long at 220 yards from the white tees. But brave souls can step back to the blues and attempt to tackle the shot from a ferocious 248 yards. Despite playing downhill, it still demands a well-executed long iron, hybrid or fairway wood to a green protected by bunkers.
3. Wedgwood Country Club, Turnersville, Hole No. 12
Best Par 4
1. Wedgwood Country Club, Turnersville, Hole No. 13
If you play golf in South Jersey, chances are you’ve made a big number at the 435-yard (411 from the white tees) par-4 13th at Wedgwood Country Club. Wayward tee shots wind up in the lake that narrows the landing area off the tee, while well-placed drives down the right side leave you weighing your options: play short and left of the green and hope to get up and down for par, or take aim at a shallow green guarded by a lake in front, out of bounds in back, and bunkers all around.
2. Scotland Run Golf Club, Williamstown, Hole No. 12
3. Deerwood Country Club, Mount Holly, Hole No. 5
Best Par 5
1. Scotland Run Golf Club, Williamstown, Hole No. 18
2. Rancocas Golf Club, Willingboro, Hole No. 13
The signature hole at the Robert Trent Jones Sr.-designed Rancocas Golf Club is a doozy. By virtue of its length (568 yards from the back tees) and the double dogleg, it’s virtually unreachable in two. Trees frame the hole, so stray in either direction on any of your first three shots and a par may be out of the picture.
3. Wedgwood Country Club, Turnersville, Hole No. 11
Toughest Hole
1. Wedgwood Country Club, Turnersville, Hole No. 13
2. Scotland Run Golf Club, Williamstown, Hole No. 17
While the par-4 16th and par-5 18th are the two most highly acclaimed holes at Scotland Run Golf Club, sandwiched in between is the demanding 17th, a par-4 that plays to a ridiculous 486 yards from the back tees. The rolling fairway and the undulating green are accompanied by bunkers and water hazards, affirming this hole’s high handicap rating.
3. Rancocas Golf Club, Willingboro, Hole No. 13
Best Finishing Holes
1. Scotland Run Golf Club, Williamstown
2. RiverWinds Golf Club, West Deptford
The 429-yard 18th is the last in a terrific four-hole finishing stretch at RiverWinds Golf Club. The elevated tee borders the Delaware River and provides striking views of the Philadelphia skyline. The view down the fairway is memorable as well, while an environmentally protected area sits to the left and runs up the right side. The approach includes a menacing bunker complex to the right of the green.
3. Deerwood Country Club, Mount Holly
Turf Wars
During the off-season, local grounds crews battle the elements to ensure manicured perfection come spring.
What should you expect come opening day at your favorite local golf course?
While diehard South Jersey golfers spent the dormant winter months counting down to opening day, grounds crews have been plenty busy making sure the courses remain up to par. Although the grounds crews at many clubs shrink during the off-season, those who do stay on work tirelessly to heal a season’s worth of hacker-induced wounds.
“The amount of work we do over the winter depends more on the weather than anything,” says Doug Davis, superintendent at Riverton Country Club in Cinnaminson. “People have no idea how much cleaning needs to be done on a golf course from a winter’s worth of tree branches, acorns and debris flying around.”
On-course items such as tee markers, ball washers, benches, ropes and stakes, hazard markers and divot caddies are all brought in, cleaned and repainted by hand as well.
Any on-course construction projects are usually tackled in the late fall and early winter when the ground isn’t frozen yet. “If weather is conducive you do whatever you can on the course,” says Joel Collura, superintendent at Deerwood Country Club in Westampton. “Bunker renovation, any kind of construction, if it’s an open winter, you do that.”
With snow shrouding the turf for much of this winter, Collura and his staff had to scratch plans to do some bunker work on the course. “There was some bunker renovation that we were going to do that we didn’t get to do because of the snow cover,” says Collura. “But on the other hand, that did allow us to do a fair amount of tree maintenance work,” they might not have gotten to otherwise.
A winter’s worth of snow cover allowed Riverton Country Club to continue its tree removal as well. “A lot of the golf courses were over-planted with trees during the ’50s and ’60s,” Davis says, “so for the last 10 years or so we have been doing a lot of tree removal during the winter.”
Photo: Woodcrest Country Club
Published (and copyrighted) in South Jersey Magazine, Volume 7, Issue 12 (March, 2011).
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