SJ Golf Courses

Just got word that Valleybrook Country Club, Blue Heron Pines Golf Club, Running Deer Golf Club and Riverwinds Golf Club are all hoping to be re-opening by the weekend.

Kresson Golf Course before work...

Kresson Golf Course
Kresson-Gibbsboro Road
Kresson (Voorhees), New Jersey
Yards: 4800, Par 68 (Out 2705, In 2095 – Men’s Tees)
Course Architect:
Built/Open:
Website: None
Score: 82 (41 out, 41 in)
Date: July 2, 2010

I played Kresson Golf Club early (6:00 AM) before going to work while they were cutting the greens and preping the sand traps. We played the men’s tees which at any other golf course would be the kids’ tees, measuring a total of 4800. First off, over priced ($23.00) for the conditions of the course, the score cards have not been updated in over 15 years, all the yardages are incorrect on the score card, the teeing areas and fairways are typical grass, the greens have improved and were a little faster than my last visit. With all that said, I shot a round of 82 on a beautiful sunny morning. My driving was good, only spraying a few tee shots off line, drove the first green than proceeded to three putt. My approach shots are good keeping me in play, I was hitting the ball pretty good this day with one birdie, 5 pars and three lost balls. Chipping was average and my putting completely sucked due to the poor greens.

FROM THE WEB SITE: Yea right, website?

COURSE CONDITION: Course maintenance has improved, my lawn at home is about equal. As stated above… the teeing areas and fairways are typical grass and the greens typically have no break. There are no diagrams of the holes (except for stick figure like diagrams on scorecard), no yardage markers anywhere, yardages are incorrect on the score card, leaves you wondering about yardages on most of the holes.

FACILITIES: They have a so called club house, no amenities really at all just a small putting green. This is an easy course to walk, 95% of the golfers walk this course.

SHOT OF THE DAY: 5th Hole, Par 3, knocked it to 12 inches. Also, drove the first green.

SUGGESTIONS and COMMENTS: Good course for beginners, kids and really slow players. That’s about it, not much else to say. Take your little kids there to play, they will see lots of cool wildlife.

GOLFNERDNESS: It is called weed killer, buy some.

GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT: Play a different course.

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Hot and Muggy Day @ Pine Hill Golf Club

Pine Hill Golf Club
500 West Branch Avenue, Pine Hill, New Jersey 08021
Yards: 6,248, Par 70 (White Tees)
Course Architect: Tom Fazio
Built/Open: 2000
Website: http://www.golfpinehill.com/
Course Ranking: 18th in New Jersey (Golf Digest State Rankings 2009-2010)
Score: 109 (52 out – 57 in)
Date: July 26, 2009

I journeyed out to play Pine Hill Golf Club, wondering if I would finish a complete round of golf (see golfnerdness below). Do to my recent relocation, I have not touched my clubs in about two months. I shot an 18 hole score of 109 on a hot, muggy, sunny day in the high 90’s with 2 pars, hitting 6 fairways, 2 greens in regulation and lost 3 balls. My driving was real good on the front nine, then I reached the 11th tee and the wheels fell off until my drive on 18. I hit 6 fairways out of 13, only one tee shot was unplayable. My mid and short iron game was average, my distances are still off due to lack of practice. My chipping was average, the few I miss hit didn’t hurt me. My putting was bad, eight - 3 putts, the dry / fast greens keep the ball rolling to the hole and past, not short as usual. All in all, it was a nice day out on the golf course.

FROM THE WEB SITE: Set atop southern NJ's highest point, Pine Hill Golf Club will astound. World renowned golf course architect, Tom Fazio, designed a property that is both beautiful and challenging. With 18-holes boasting distinctly different characteristics, PHGC has received numerous national accolades and has rightfully taken its place among America's greatest courses. Built upon the site of a former ski resort, the 43,000 square foot clubhouse provides panoramic views of the surrounding landscape and Philadelphia city skyline.

COURSE CONDITION: The course is playing in championship caliber condition as usual. The teeing areas were lush green, the fairways were cut short and the ball was running on the fairways. The rough on the other hand was either 4 to 5 inches high or tall fescue which was impossible to hit the ball out of. The greens looked undulated but the ball was not moving much even though they were dry and fast.

FACILITIES: Top notch practice facilities (driving range, putting and chipping greens), dinning, pro shop and staff. Great practice area, I hit a few balls prior to the round.

SHOT (HOLE) OF THE DAY: Hole 18, Par 4, 371 Yards. Smoked my drive right down the middle of the fairway leaving about 100 yards in. A nice way to end a long, hot and tiring day.

SUGGESTIONS AND COMMENTS: This course is tight and is surrounded by junk if you’re not in the fairway or first cut. The ball nestles down deep in the dense rough and if you don’t watch where it goes, you will never find it. The tall thin strip of fescue which surrounds a lot of the traps and waste areas actually comes into play more then I had expected. Check out the facilities and if you have time, have lunch or dinner on the outdoor patio looking over the course and the Philadelphia skyline.

GOLFNERDNESS: I have played this course about 8 to 10 times, only finishing a complete round 3 or 4 times due to illness, family illness or weather related issues. If you have a junior playing from 150 yards in, give the parent a break, $120 is steep for a junior to play.

GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT: Keep the ball out of the rough and fescue and you will be able to score low. For the high handicapped, this will be a very difficult course, take your lumps and play it!

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Kresson - A Good Value?

Kresson Golf Course
Kresson-Gibbsboro Road
Kresson (Voorhees), New Jersey
Yards: 4800, Par 68 (Out 2705, In 2095 – Men’s Tees)
Course Architect:
Built/Open:
Website: None
Score: 90 (46 out, 44 in)
Date: May 18, 2009

I played Kresson Golf Club as a warm up and practice round before my golf outing at Merion Golf Club – East Course. We played the men’s tees which at any other golf course would be the kids’ tees, measuring a total of 4800. First off, way over priced for the conditions of the course, the score cards have not been updated in over 15 years, all the yardages are incorrect on the score card, the teeing areas and fairways are typical grass and the greens are like a thick carpet with huge aeration holes. With all that said, I shot a round of 90 on a beautiful sunny day. My driving was good, only spraying a few tee shots off line. My approach shots are getting better, I am slowly hitting the ball a little better each time out. Chipping was average and my putting completely sucked due to the piss poor greens, the ball was hopping all over the place and super slow which cost me a few strokes.

FROM THE WEB SITE: Yea right, website.

COURSE CONDITION: Course maintenance is weak, my lawn at home is nicer. As stated above… the teeing areas and fairways are typical grass and the greens are like a thick carpet and are very slow with almost no break. There are no diagrams of the holes (except for stick figure like diagrams on scorecard), no yardage markers anywhere, yardages are incorrect on the score card, leaves you wondering about yardages on most of the holes.

FACILITIES: They have a so called club house, no amenities really at all just a small putting green. This is an easy course to walk, 90% of the golfers walk this course.

SHOT OF THE DAY: First hole, drove it within 20 yards of the green.

SUGGESTIONS and COMMENTS: Good course for beginners, kids and really slow players. That’s about it, not much else to say. Take your little kids there to play, they will see lots of cool wildlife.

GOLFNERDNESS: It is called weed killer, buy some.

GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT: Play a different course.
For all your local golf information, check out http://www.twooverpar.com./

For personal golf course reviews and comments, check out http://twooverpar.blogspot.com/!

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Pine Valley Golf Club Course Profile

Check out the full course profile for the No. 2 golf course in the country - Pine Valley Golf Club!

Cut and paste the link below.

http://www.twooverpar.com/FindaCourse/GolfCoursesinNewJersey/CamdenCountyNJGolfCourses/PineValleyGolfClub/tabid/806/Default.aspx



For all your local golf information, check out http://www.twooverpar.com./

For personal golf course reviews and comments, check out http://twooverpar.blogspot.com/!

Follow us on www.FACEBOOK.com, search “wheresthegolf.com”. Post your course experiences, shot of the day, course reviews, etc… you get the point.

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Valleybrook Country Club - Camden County Public Works Labor – Management Committee

Valleybrook Country Club - Camden County Public Works Labor – Management Committee
5th Annual Crab Party and Golf Outing

Valleybrook Country Club
200 Golfview Drive
Blackwood, New Jersey
Yards: 6008, Par 72 (Middle Tees)
Course Architect: Dave Beakley
Built/Open: 1942
Website: http://www.valleybrookgolf.com/
Golf Outing: Camden County Public Works Labor – Management Committee
Score: Golf Outing (Team -1)
Date: October 2, 2008

I participated in the Camden County Public Works Labor – Management Committee golf outing at Valleybrook Country Club. On a cool, breezy day, our foursome shot a 1 under par. We missed a few birdie putts which would not have made a difference anyway. It was a nice day out of the office and on the links for a good cause.

The course is mostly open with a few tight holes. Most of the fairways are tree lined and the middle holes are very hilly with a few blind shots. Having played this course numerous times and very familiar with the course over the years, we should have performed better.

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.

COURSE CONDITION: Same condition as the previous outing two days before.

FACILITIES: Valleybrook County Club has a driving range, putting green, sand trap area and chipping green. Stop by Riley's Pub after the round, lunch is typical pub food, service is pleasant and friendly, lots of TV’s, cold beer and a good variety on the menu. Keep your eyes open, you may see 'Jaws' in the Pub, nice and friendly guy!

SHOT OF THE DAY: Hole No. 14 (Old Hole #5), 160 yard, Par 3, after four really bad tee shots and a chip onto the green, we were sitting about 40 feet from the hole. In disgust, I swung the putter at the ball with one hand, and directly into the hole, saved par, oops.

SUGGESTIONS AND COMMENTS: Nice open course, some challenging holes, play maybe slow (typical).

GOLFNERDNESS: I always lose more balls during an outing, and ‘shotgun – best ball tournament’ is translated to ‘very long – slow round of golf!’

For all your local golf information, check out www.twooverpar.com!

Valleybrook Country Club - Camden County Hero Scholarship Fund

Valleybrook Country Club
200 Golfview Drive
Blackwood, New Jersey
Yards: 6008, Par 72 (Middle Tees)
Course Architect: Dave Beakley
Built/Open: 1942
Website: http://www.valleybrookgolf.com/
Golf Outing: Camden County Hero Scholarship Fund
Score: Golf Outing (Team -4)
Date: September 30, 2008

I participated in the Camden County Hero Scholarship Fund golf outing at Valleybrook Country Club. On a warm, sunny day, our foursome shot a 4 under par. We were at 5 under par but gave one back late in the round. We also missed a hand full of birdie putts. It was a great day out on the links for a good cause.

The course is mostly open with a few tight holes. Most of the fairways are tree lined and the middle holes are very hilly with a few blind shots. Having played this course numerous times and very familiar with the course over the years, we should have performed better.

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.

COURSE CONDITION: The course overall was in the best shape I have ever seen it. The tee boxes were beat up but the fairways and greens were in prefect shape which typically by this time of year the course is pretty beat up due to all the public and golf outing play. Come to find out, Ron Jaworski had his NFL golf outing the next day, so the course was spruced up for the NFL players. As always, the rough was cut a little high, but our foursome had at least one ball in the fairway every hole. Overall it was in great shape, I hope it stays that way.

FACILITIES: Valleybrook County Club has a driving range, putting green, sand trap area and chipping green. Stop by Riley's Pub after the round, lunch is typical pub food, service is pleasant and friendly, lots of TV’s, cold beer and a good variety on the menu. Keep your eyes open, you may see 'Jaws' in the Pub, nice and friendly guy!

SHOT OF THE DAY: Hole No. 16 (Old Hole #7), 342 yards, Par 4, the hole is a 90 degree dogleg left with a creek and woods on the left until the fairway makes the turn toward the green. For big hitters, most try to cut the corner over the woods toward the green, I have tried this over 40 times and have never made it. This day, I teed up the ball, and crushed it over the woods and in the fairway about 45 yards short of the green. We still pared the hole, wasted swing, wasted opportunity to score.

SUGGESTIONS AND COMMENTS: Nice open course, some challenging holes, play maybe slow (typical).

GOLFNERDNESS: 13 under par won the tournament, cheaters!

For all your local golf information, check out www.twooverpar.com!

Thunder Storms at Pine Hill Golf Club

Pine Hill Golf Club
500 West Branch Avenue, Pine Hill, New Jersey 08021
Yards: 6248, Par 70 (White Tees)
Course Architect: Tom Fazio
Built/Open: 2000
Website: www.golfpinehill.com
Score: 54 (46 out, 9 Holes)
Date: July 27, 2008

On a Sunday afternoon out with the boys, we played (tried) Pine Hill Golf Club this past weekend. Looking at the weather and flirting with thunder storm warnings in the area, we ventured out and attempted to sneak in a round of golf. While driving to the club, the sky was slightly cloudy with the sun peeking through every few minutes, no problem, we’ll get it in.

I shot a 54 on the front nine, driving up the ninth fairway, the ranger warned our foursome of a major thunder storm coming our way. Looking behind us, the sky was black, we rushed the last hole and headed for the club house. By the time I took my clubs to the car and heading back to the club house, it was raining. Within ten minutes, it was black out, thundering, lighting, heavy rain, the kind where you can not see 2 feet in front of you. As for my round, while playing the front nine, my driving was not very good, only hit one fairway and lost 4 balls (2 on hole 6). My putting was good since I like fast greens except on hole 9, which I four putted in a rush to get off the green before the rain started. Good thing was we got a rain check for the back nine, I will wait until fall to avoid the thunder storms.

From The Web Site: Set atop southern NJ's highest point, Pine Hill Golf Club will astound. World renowned golf course architect, Tom Fazio, designed a property that is both beautiful and challenging. With 18-holes boasting distinctly different characteristics, PHGC has received numerous national accolades and has rightfully taken its place among America's greatest courses. Built upon the site of a former ski resort, the 43,000 square foot clubhouse provides panoramic views of the surrounding landscape and Philadelphia city skyline.

Course Condition: The course was in excellent shape, tee boxes, fairways and greens. The greens were lighting fast, till the rain came. The rough was cut short so my wayward shots ran further into the woods. If you have never played Pine Hill, most of the sand traps have a 12”+/- border of fescue around them waiting to gobble up your ball or drop it right next to the lip of the trap, making your next shot almost impossible.
Facilities: As a former member, I love the club house, great architecture, nice outside deck/eating area, excellent members, staff and amenities. The bar is a little small, but the bar food and restaurant food is excellent. Since the course was built on a former ski ‘resort’, your view is unobstructed all the way to Philadelphia from the panoramic windows.

Shot of the Day: None, it was a really bad day!

Suggestions and Comments: Bring you’re A+ game! If you never get to play Pine Valley, this will be the closest test, so I have been told.
Golfnerdness: Played Pine Hill 8 times: 2 of 8 on finishing an entire round due to either weather or personal emergency. Walking back to the club house after the rain started, I mentioned to one of my playing partners, I’m 2 for 8 on finishing a round here, mostly due to rain. A fellow golfer heard me and said, “please call me next time you play, I’ll stay home”. Greens Fee Note: Paid $90, got a rain check for $55, not a bad deal!

For all your local golf information, check out www.twooverpar.com!