View of a green at Ballyowen Golf Club.
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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.

Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 128
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 500 Contributor
First Time Playing
Windy weather
Used cart

Great Layout

Great Layout and good assortment of tees. Big greens that roll true. Would play again. Only drawback is food and drink are very pricey.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 5
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 9
Handicap 25+
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing
Cold weather
Used cart

Amazing Course-Terrible Pace of Play

Course is amazing, somewhat challenging, and would definitely return. Two negatives-gas powered golf carts were a bit scary on the hilly terrain (and is not in line with Crystal Springs "green" initiatives.)
and the pace of play was hideous. My group consisted of myself and my husband...and the round took five hours. There were two extremely slow groups ahead of us and the Ranger basically told us "there was nothing he could do..." Since the Ranger indicated that the same two groups were problematic the day before at one of the sister courses, I think the issue should have been addressed.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Poor
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 14
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Cold weather
Used cart
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays Once every three months
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played

Enjoyable day

Great pace of play. Course in good condition and greens ran true if not just a tad slower than expected. To be fair it was a little wet as we finished eighteen by 10am.

Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 19
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
3.0
Previously Played

Condition

I was disappointed with the course condition. The tees were aerated, the greens aerated a month ago and still weren't cured. They were extremely bumpy. Every putt bobbled. The place was nothing like the last time I played it about 5 years ago. I had nothing but high praise for this course, today that changed. The person I played with couldn't understand how I thought this course was so good, I understand his sentiment. We played Neshanic last week and it was in far superior shape.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 11
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Aeration fairways and greens

Other than aerating, the course is a great test. The elevation changes make you use unusual clubs for the measured yardages on approach shots.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great track

Enjoyed playing here very much! The greens were perfect and the staff very helpful! Only bummer was cart paths only but Mother Nature made that call.
Love this part of NJ as it feels like you are in the mountains of the Carolinas! Would be happy to come back anytime!!!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

The course was well maintained.

Five tee boxes to accommodate different skill levels. The greens were fairly fast and in good condition. The course is expensive and the pace of play was slow on the back nine.

Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 89
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Windy weather
Used cart

Always one of my favorite courses

For April, the conditions were great, cannot complain. The staff is very friendly, even let me go back and get an additional 9 in with no charge. If you have the money, get a round here.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 11
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Poor
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 5
Handicap Don't know
Skill Beginner
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Windy weather
Used cart
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 5
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played

Always a pleasure

The course is always nice, bunkers are what they are during pandemic so no fault of the course there. Overall a round worth the money a couple times a year!

Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 2
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 9
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing

Great place! Worth the trip

First time playing this course today. Made the 2hr trip from L.I (Bethpage greater area) Glad I was finally able to get an early enough tee time to finish all 18! Pulled up to the course and my first impression was “Wow!”while entering and driving up the hill. Pro shop, cart guy and the starter all very nice people! I was warming up at the range and lost track of time. Hurried to the starter area and apologized for the tardiness and told him it was my first time playing the course and I was a little lost. Starter assured me everything was fine and that we were up next. Starter welcomed me and thanked me for coming out and choosing to play with them today. It’s little things like that, that will resonate with customers/patrons like myself and we don’t forget them. Word of mouth travels fast especially when you live on an Island. Customer service these days gets overlooked. This place is top notch when it comes to that. Hard course if your putting isn’t on point and you’re not consistent with your approach shots. Only gave the course conditions a 4/5 bc the greens have seen better days. Way too many bumps and dead spots for my liking. But I’m sure it’s just your usual end of the season wear and tear. Greens also have different elevations depending on the pin placement. There’s no easy putts on this course(Maybe the 1st & 10th holes?lol). Played with 3 gentleman. Great guys and good golfers. Beautiful warm fall day, great service and great golf. Chris, John & Trevor. Thank you for making today’s round worth the trip! I hope to come back next year in 2021 and I’ll be bringing friends.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Played On
Reviews 54
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 1000 Contributor
Previously Played

Shankapottomus

This much hearlded course has seen better days. Blame it on CIVID19 or whatever but Ballyowen is a shadow of it's former self. Course condition was as poor as I ever saw it. I look forward to fall golf since the course is usually in great shape. Greens were horrible Tees were okay and fairways decent. Pace of play was y joke. Was able to get 3/4 of a round in 4.5 hours. I drove 1.5 hours for a crummy experience. Not what I expected.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Played On
Reviews 6
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing

Hot Deal

Got a Hot Deal and saved a lot of money on one of the best courses around. I was a single but the threesome I was supposed to play with canceled so they put me out with another group of very friendly guys. The course did not disappoint. Greens, tees, fairways and manicuring Was very nice.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Cold weather
Used cart

One of NJs best public courses

This course is and absolute blast! We were worried about a first delay as temperatures at tee off at 7:10am were 34 degrees but we got off right on time.

The grounds were a little wet but other than that the conditions were absolutely amazing! This is a great course for skilled golfers. Played the round in just over 4 hours with three guys with handicaps of 20+

Can't wait to be back in 2021

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 16
Skill Beginner
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Great Track

Great course. Very challenging. You get your money’s worth.

Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
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