Ballyowen Golf Club

Although the pace of play is sometimes a little slow, this is the best public golf course in New Jersey. By far...

What a fantastic course! Definitely has a European type format and the course is in fantastic condition! Rained the day before and it was cart path only, but the pace of play was good, took about 4 hours and 30 minutes to complete in a foursome. Will definitely be coming back again soon!

Rangers totally failed to manage pace of play. We were stuck in golfing purgatory standing around on every shot. Our round required 5 1/4 hours to complete which is 45 minutes longer than the target set by Ballyowen and at least 75 minutes longer than it should take. It's certainly the nicest public course in NJ but I'll never be back.

Very challenging links style course. Fairways are very deceiving and the greens were fast and very undulating. Conditions were fantastic, staff was super friendly and helpful. I think this course would be a little easier second time around as some holes are very tricky to the eye. Overall excellent time. Dont know about some of the negative reviews as this lace is top notch and the staff has it all buttoned up. They keep you spaced part nicely so no waiting, they don't cram tee times in. Worth a trip out to play.

This is a Fantastic golfing destination for myself and 3 golf buddies (playing together for 50 years), Excellent in every way. Played on a hot afternoon in August: tee off 3:30pm. Arrived at #16, with a chance to maybe break 80, as a foursome cut in front of us needing, I guess, to finish before nightfall. Long Story Short …. played 17 and 18 in the dark …… ruined the score and the day.

Played this course various times between 5 and 7 years ago. Came back, was excited to bring a friend for the first time. Bragged about the course. Walked away so embarrassed to have done this. Course still has nice views and in better than average condition, but play was so slow. Cart girl did come by within first half hour, which was great. However, had no Powerade or Gatorade. Said she’d come back soon after getting restocked. Didn’t come back until I called the main office over an hour later. Slow play also in my opinion could’ve been helped if a ranger had been out there. Took an hour and a half to finally see one, but again this had to be requested in same call as when asking for the cart girl. For the $ the course charges, I’d expect more on course amenities. Don’t remember these problems years ago, and surely will not be returning here.

Ranger not out here often enough, nor was cart girl compared to how it was years ago. Wouldn’t recommend at all. Coursein good shape, wonderful views, but staff on course not as on point as it was years ago and just disrupts the round

All the staff is nice and kind.
All the courses are well maintained condition.
The green was pretty fast.
The Hamburg from the clubhouse restaurant was really good food like 5 star hotel restaurant.

The course is very good. Par 4s have great variety, as do the par 5s. Par 3s, not so much. 3 of the par 3s play over water to a green that's perched out into the water. Meh. The course conditions are great, top quality fairways and greens, maintained nicely firm. Very close to being one of my top 25 courses played, but not quite. Right on the edge to be sure. That said, there are some things I don't like.

The fescue rough. It's terrible. It slows down play because players can't find golf balls. That high grass works fine at private courses that get 5,000 rounds a year, but for a resort course, they're just terrible. Simply no reason to have that on the course. Also, the routing isn't the best and is certainly meant for cart play. The course can be walked, but it would be a difficult walk. The sixth hole is just silly where you have to travel the entire distance of the hole twice in order to play it. The transition from 1 to 2 is less than ideal. The transition from 3 to 4 is just bad. 12 to 13 is also horrendous. The cart path cutting across the 10th fairway is magical.

Also annoying is having every green elevated. The second hole is a great example of where a flat green could accept a running shot, but for no apparent reason, it's elevated 2-3 feet above fairway level. There are no opportunities to use ground slopes to funnel the ball from off greens into hole locations.

For me, the course isn't 5 stars and there is nothing it can do to be five stars. It's just not there. At the end of the day, the course is an above average routing with very good conditioning and a big scale.

Played June 2018 on a Saturday at 11 am. Course conditions outstanding as usual. So the golf was great but:
Clubhouse staff and starter indifferent

Bathrooms in clubhouse unattended to.

No balls on the range, had to get them myself out of the barrel in the little shack. About 1/2 the balls were damaged/unhittable

Hitting stations on range not moved, no grass

We fell 1/2 hole behind and a 2some jumped in the gap on 13. We waited every shot the rest of the round. They were staff, were chatting with the attendants at the cart return area after they finished in front of us. Didn’t get our clubs cleaned

So the customer service left LOTS to be desired

This course is in perfect condition and the shot values are incredible. Every hole is thrilling. Not one hole will you say, “oh that’s just alright”. Prepare to be beaten down and prepare to like it. I will be returning soon.

The course really can't be any better the Fescue was high the fairways wear dry and the greens were fast what else would you want. Always play this course when I get a chance

Always a great time. Staff is super nice and helpful. Course is so nice and challenging

From the time you enter the gates and see this wonderful clubhouse sitting high up on the hill you know you are in for something special. Presentation of the course, especially cross cutting of fairways just perfect. The fescue has been cut for the upcoming season so very playable. Had a 9.30am tee time from GolfNow felt like we where the only ones out there and got round as a 2 ball in under 4 hours with stopping, taking & posing for many photos. Only negative is that greens aeration done 3 weeks ago and not back to fast flat pace as yet. Some fairways being aerated as we played.
Put that aside would love to play this Gem again in peak condition. Big thanks to the Starter, John Lennon for making our experience even more enjoyable