200 Golfview Drive
Blackwood, New Jersey
Yards: 6008, Par 72 (Middle Tees)
Website: www.valleybrookgolf.com
Score: 93 (48 out, 45 in)
Date: March 21, 2008
Played Valleybrook Country Club over the extended weekend, a public access, woodland style course. This course is very hilly (for south Jersey), has a few blind tee shots, and super fast greens due to the weather, bunkers guarding the greens on numerous holes, trees line about half of the holes.
Shot a round of 93 in the bitter cold wind, but the long 5 1/2+ hour round was exhausting, play was really slow considering the course was not that busy. For a nice change, I was hitting the ball fairly straight off the tee, chipping and putting was average, not a bad day out for the first time this year without any previous practice. Another odd thing, they re-routed the holes, you now start on the old 10th hole, but they didn't change the score card or hole indicators, very confusing.
From the web site: Ron Jaworski’s Valleybrook Country Club is an 18-hole Semi-Private golf club located in beautiful Blackwood, New Jersey. The championship golf course presents challenges to any level of golfer. The slightly rolling hills with wetlands and mature tree lines offer scenic panoramic views. Golfers will find water coming into play nine times throughout the round, as well as, some great elevation changes.
Considering the windy conditions, the course was in good playable shape for now, this course gets a lot of play and usually is pretty beat up by the end of the summer. Overall, the tee boxes, fairways and greens were in average condition. Complaints: they need to spend some (ESPN) money on upgrades, the new cups for the greens is just not enough. The two warnings I have to players (anytime of the year), playing conditions will change as the season goes on and the pace of play is slow, always!
We stopped by Riley's Pub after the round, the lunch was good, service was pleasant and friendly, lots of TV’s, cold beer and a good variety on the menu. Also spoke to Ron 'Jaws' Jaworski (Owner) in the Pub in a few minutes, nice and friendly guy!
