View of a green at Ballyowen Golf Club.
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Rating Index Rating
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4.5
331 Reviews (331)
5 Stars
202
4 Stars
93
3 Stars
20
2 Stars
9
1 Stars
7
Conditions
4.4
Value
3.9
Layout
4.5
Friendliness
4.5
Pace
4.0
Amenities
4.3
92.8%
Recommend this course
297 out of 331 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.5
4 Reviews (4)
5 Stars
2
4 Stars
2
3 Stars
0
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.3
Value
3.3
Layout
4.3
Pace
3.5
Amenities
4.0
StaffFriendliness
4.5
100.0%
Recommend this course
4 out of 4 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.6
43 Reviews (43)
5 Stars
27
4 Stars
14
3 Stars
2
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.6
Value
4.0
Layout
4.7
Pace
4.0
Amenities
4.4
StaffFriendliness
4.6
97.7%
Recommend this course
42 out of 43 reviews
Read Reviews

About

Holes 18
Type Semi-Private/Resort
Style Links
Par 72
Length 7094 yards
Slope 134
Rating 74.1

Ballyowen Golf Club is an homage to the great Scottish links courses, the place where golf originated. The course sprawls across 250 acres of rolling farmland that overlooks the Walkill River. The layout tumbles through valleys and hills, staying as true as possible to the natural contours of the land. Much like a traditional links golf course, the virtually treeless landscape is accented with craggy knolls. The challenging layout features lush green fairways that contrast beautifully with the pristine white sand bunkers and golden patches of rough that border the greensides. There are also water hazards that come into play on five holes. Ballyowen has earned the title of New Jersey's top public course and Golfweek has even ranked it as one of the top 50 courses in the country.

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Course Details

Year Built 1998
Fairways Bent Grass
Greens Bent Grass
Golf Season Year round
Architect Roger Rulewich (1998) A. John Harvey

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes - included in green fees
Clubs Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Caddies Yes
Golf School Academy Yes
Teaching Pro Yes
Pitching/Chipping Area Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

Credit Cards Accepted VISA, MasterCard, Amex Welcomed
Metal Spikes Allowed No

Food & Beverage

Bar, Snacks, Restaurant, Beverage Carts

Lodging

Lodging Available

Available Facilities

Clubhouse, Spa, Showers, Lockers

Accolades

Reviews

4.5
331 Reviews (331)

What Golfers Are Saying

The 19th Hole is Great For:
Drinks 24
19th Hole Scenic Views 21
Dinner 13
Course Challenges Include:
Thick Rough 43
Bunkers 42
Undulating Greens 36
This course/club is great for:
Advanced Golfers 42
Wildlife/ Scenic Views 32
A Bucket list/Top 100 Pick 29
This Course's Location is:
Worth the Drive 47
In the 'Burbs 17
At a Resort 15

Numbers based on reviews tagged with attribute.

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Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Great first time playing this gem...

Came to play a round to kick off masters Sunday and was glad I made the long drive our to this course. It's a great looking facility with a friendly staff. The clubhouse is smallish, but the bar is a nice place to have a pint. The range is grass which is a big plus.

The course looks great and has a extremely fun layout. Shots off the tee require accuracy, but you do get rewarded when you hit your spot. The greens were receptive and putts rolled nicely. The par 3s are very memorable with water coming into play on 3 of the 4. The par 5s are great risk reward holes with none being too out of range after a proper drive.

The only issue was after the winter the fairways were extremely soggy. Many balls actually plugged almost completely underground... this made it pretty difficult to find your ball! This normally wouldn't be a problem - I've heard the course can play fast and firm in the summer.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great day despite slow 3 ball in front of us

Overall still best public in NJ. Feels expensive at $170 in November! Course in great condition though greens covered in pitch mark scars as players do not repair. Carts needed soil to repair divots. Greens ran true. Rangers very friendly and proactively tried to push along groups in front despite being swore at by one group!!!!! Range adequate though free balls covered in mud! Club house bar closed for wedding when we finished which was disappointing!

Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 99
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Fair
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great course.

Great course. Great condition. Very slow round. Waited with another group on 3 holes on the back 9.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Windy weather
Used cart

It's Everything they Say it is!!

Probably the most challenging course I've played in New Jersey. As a Links course it ranks up there with the best while it adds some rolling hills into the mix. My only criticism is a few holes were blind shots which made my first time experience quite challenging wishing we had a fore caddy to help us with our lay-ups & approach shots.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 5
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 21
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Course layout is very nice and so is maintenance and staff. Definitely one of the best Public course in NJ. Maybe first tee time at 6:10 is a little “aggressive” as there was not so much light for the first two holes. Greens were in great shape even though a little slow. I was paired with two other players and we were allowed to tee off before a foursome who was supposed to play before us and ended up finishing the round in 3:30’!
Only comment is that $217 is a little expensive compared to other nice Public courses in the area.

Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Played On
Reviews 14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Worth it

Course in excellent condition. Layout varied and intriguing.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 8
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Really Nice, But…

The course is flat out beautiful and the facilities and staff are very nice but, if I’m going to nitpick (which, for the price, I think is a fair thing to do): LANTERNFLIES, so many lanternflies, their corpses littering several of the greens; most of the par 4s are similar in length so you often play the same clubs over and over; pace of play was a bit slow (about a 5 hour round) but the rangers did a good job asking the group in front to pick it up; some of the bunkers were more hard dirt than soft sand.

Overall a great course but a few adjustments would make it nearly perfect.

Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 28
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Nice but high cost

Everything is far above average except cost effectiveness.

Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great course Conditiona

This place is a “Have to Play “ course.
So what are you waiting for.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 8
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 47
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 47
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
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