A Great Day at Scotland Run Golf Club

Scotland Run Golf Club
Route 322 and Fries Mill Road, Williamstown, New Jersey 08094
Yards: 6138, Par 71 (White Tees)
Course Architect: Stephen Kay
Built/Open: 1999
Website: www.scotlandrun.com

Course Information provided by Ryan of PA
Score: 107 (56 out, 51 In)
Date: July 30, 2008

I arrived at the course around 7:30 for 8:10 tee time only to discover that I was entered in the system for the previous Wednesday at 8:10, not sure how that happened since I made the tee time at 12:30 p.m. last wed afternoon. Ok, so they fit us in at 7:50. Great, nothing like having to rush to the first tee box, thankfully not more than a foursome or two were waiting to begin their round shortly behind us.

Once the round began, it was a tale of two cities, the front nine was a mess between not getting off the tee box consistently and finding every bunker on the course to avoiding the constant (and I mean constant) flow of tracking from the on-course staff. I swear there was more traffic on the front nine then the Schuylkill Expressway on the ride into Jersey. The place is well staffed to maintain the beautiful grounds, but come on, for a midweek round of $95 (myself and my fellow golfer each paid $57.50 due to having the tee time golf pass). The on-course maintenance was nothing like you would expect, mowers, pesticide applications, etc.... you name it, it was going on. Nonetheless, I crankily ended the front 9 with a 56.

Second nine was much different, I began to get the ball off the tee and although the short game was tough throughout due to the layout of the links style course, it was much more enjoyable. Additionally, we were treated with the first and only appearance of a beverage cart on the 16th. The 9th hole, par 3 has one of the best views you can imagine with the clubhouse just off to the right. And although the 18th hole is ranked as the 5th most difficult on the course, I can't imagine a tougher hole. 500 + yards from the tee with a dramatic slope to the right, to make things worse along the entire fairway is a lake just waiting to swallow your ball one last time. It is a par 5 with a difficult elevated green and from my eyes it is by far the most difficult hole on the course.

Finally, we both went inside the pub for lunch and enjoyed a very good cheeseburgers along with a beer. The frosted mug was nice and the price was reasonable for the meal.

Overall, the staff wasn't the friendliest and the price of the round was steep, but the course itself outweighs all the negatives and leaves you with an enjoyable experience.

Thanks for the golf info Ryan!

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