GACattak

I have previously reviewed this course, so I'll limit this to two key points:

Conditions - They seemed to have delayed greens aeration until they were sure the lockdown was over (likely to due to inability to get crews working). As of 5/22 the greens still showed some aeration marks, but were 90% of the way there. In another week with some nice weather, they will be perfect as usual. Fairways were top notch. Rough still has to grow in a bit, but typical of mid May.

2) They don't use raised cups, but instead put styrofoam inside which stops the ball from falling more than 1/2" down (everyone knows coronavirus lives in the bottom of golf cups). This has no impact on play and is much much much more enjoyable than raised cups. It's an hour drive for me, but worth it and I have a hard time imagining playing anywhere else until we're back to normal.

Ballyowen is a beautiful and fun course that is consistently in great shape. I played on a warm humid day when there hadn't been significant rain in the past several days. My experience is that they are liberal with the water in the summer to keep the grass healthy in the heat and that seems to still be the case. Conditions were very very good. Fairways were lush and in great shape. Greens were a little spongy but rolled true and at a nice pace (maybe 10-11 on stimp if I guessed) and when you have a downhill, downgrain putt it's easy to run by 10-15 feet.

The holes are generally surrounded by tall fescue that starts usually about 10 yards outside of the primary rough. It looks like they are having some issues getting this to grow as thick as I remember, which isn't a bad thing. When it's healthy, it's basically a lost ball, which is not fun. On the side of holes 12, 13 and 14 it looks like they had to totally replant it as the mounds there are almost barren. I'm sure this will grow in by the fall. I'd be fine if the fescue never gets to the point where it's impossible to find a ball. That's not how Scottish links courses are, and honestly, anyone who misses a 50-yard wide fairway and 10 yards of rough doesn't needs to be penalized by a lost ball. Let's just let that golfer find their ball and keep moving. The course record isn't in danger.

The design of the course makes it the most fun when the fairways and greens are fast and the ball can take the ample contours and undulations that are everywhere. Probably need to wait until post-Labor Day (and fall aeration) to see that.

It's not really a links design, and it's silly that they make the starter (typically NJ-bred thru and thru) wear a kilt. Don't worry about that, there are plenty of links-like mounds and hills that make for a really fun round for any skill level. Fairways are wide, and greens are large but usually with defined sections that reward hitting it close. Long putts tend to have multiple breaks over mounds and through swales.

Practice facilities are good with a nice grass driving range and huge putting green that allows for chipping. The putting green was paced similar to the greens on the course. The only complaint I have is that for $133 they should upgrade the range balls which were in pretty rough shape (as in Tin-Cup-driving-range-scene type of bad).

Overally it's a great experience. The course was prob 75% full and pace of place was great (4hrs on a 9:30 Thursday AM tee time). It's hard to believe you're only 1hr 15min from NYC. Beautiful views of NJ mountains and I'm sure are spectaculr during foliage season. In terms of bang for buck with a $133 weekday price tag, the value is average for the area. Worth a visit.

Good layout and much improved with the renovation. Several really good holes, but a few lack any real definition or notable characteristics. Overall a fun course and a challenge despite shorter length. Several holes play to elevated greens which is something not seen in more modern courses.

Fairways and rough were in great shape. Greens as of this review are really in rough shape, with post-aeration like top dressing despite not having been aerated. Extremely slow and bumpy - this may resolve over time, will take a few weeks to heal and then you're into aeration season, so might be longer if they do that.