MUST-PLAY
GOLF COURSES:
HOW TO FIND THE BEST COURSES,
AMENITIES & DINING FACILITIES.
Bowling Green Golf Club • 53 Schoolhouse Road
Oak Ridge, NJ 07438 • 973-697-8688
Must-Play Golf Courses: How to Find the Best Courses, Amenities & Dining Facilities.
2
1. THE PERFECT ROUND STARTS WITH THE RIGHT LOCATION
2. CHOOSING A COURSE TO MATCH YOUR GAME
3. CONSIDERING EXTRAS AND AMENITIES
4. PLANNING FOR ONE OR 100
bowlinggreengolf
• com
Finding the perfect golf experience in Northern and Central New
Jersey can be as daunting as fading your drive around a dog leg
right, into the wind, when you’re natural swing is a draw.
But finding the ideal course and cutting the corner of that
challenging dogleg can both be accomplished with a little due
diligence and the right amount of tenacity.
You don’t have time to waste on an inferior golf experience. You
want a challenging but fair layout that ensures you’ll use all of the
clubs in your bag.
• Conditions that reward your improved skills
• A quick pace of play during which you never feel rushed
• A friendly greeting from knowledgeable, professional staff
• A location that is accessible from the office or your home
And with all that, the amenities and accessibility that perfectly
complement a day on the greens and fairways.
Must-Play Golf Courses: How to Find the Best Courses, Amenities & Dining Facilities.
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THE PERFECT ROUND STARTS WITH THE RIGHT LOCATION
Golf is meant to be enjoyed at the perfect tempo. Too much
rushing or waiting can spoil an otherwise enjoyable round.
Finding a location that’s easily accessible from all points
around Northern and Central New Jersey – and even New
York City and Pennsylvania for when you’re planning a
group excursion – is critical to ensuring that you can fit in a
round of 18 without worrying about travel time. Proximity to
major thoroughfares and limited exposure to areas of high
congestion are a plus.
Of course, location is about more than convenience and
proximity. So a longer drive may not be a minus. Many new
and seasoned players see golf as a therapeutic escape
from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. It’s not just an
opportunity to compete against yourself and friends, but a
chance to recharge and rejuvenate. This requires first-class
service and course conditions, the right pace of play, and
great outdoor vistas complete with mountain and lake views
that appear stolen from a postcard.
bowlinggreengolf
• com
Must-Play Golf Courses: How to Find the Best Courses, Amenities & Dining Facilities.
5
CHOOSING A COURSE TO MATCH YOUR GAME
There comes a point when many recreational, part-time
golfers grow into more serious players who are actively
seeking out challenging courses with signature holes
featuring high-risk, high-reward shots.
Once you reach this level, you need to find a superiorly
maintained course that rewards your improved shots. When
you’re playing more rounds, you’ll want a course that can
be played in a little more than four hours, is competitively
priced or has membership options. That’s critical so that
you don’t burn out your love of the game or your wallet.
Whether these courses are public, private, or semi private –
a hybrid of the two, you’ll want to bear in mind the value of
the experience you’re purchasing. A word about variety; in a
course you may be playing as much as 25 times a year, you
want to keep the game interesting and engaging. Variety
can be found from scenery to hazards, from tee box options
to pin placements. Hopefully all four!
bowlinggreengolf
• com
Must-Play Golf Courses: How to Find the Best Courses, Amenities & Dining Facilities.
6
A WORD ABOUT PUBLIC, PRIVATE, AND SEMI-PRIVATE
Private clubs offer a wide range of amenities and a
superiorly conditioned course. However they are closed
to the public and only available to members. While most
private clubs do have a guest policy that allows members to
bring guests this tends to be limited.
Public courses on the other hand are open and available
to anyone interested in scheduling a round. Many public
courses are municipal county courses with conditions
that don’t compare, etc. Other public courses are resort
courses; with conditions and variety that command higher
prices, their first priority is the resort guest.
Semi-private clubs offer another option that can be
attractive to avid golfers. Like private clubs, semi-private
clubs offer a wide range of amenities. The course conditions
also tend to be very good. Membership options give access
to priority tee times and preferred green fee rates which
afford the golfer a private club experience at costs which are
significantly lower. And management is solely focused on
making sure customers return.
bowlinggreengolf
• com
Must-Play Golf Courses: How to Find the Best Courses, Amenities & Dining Facilities.
8
CONSIDERING EXTRAS AND AMENITIES
Whether you’re seeking out a quality “19th hole” with
top-notch food and service or a myriad of additional
recreation options such as tennis courts or spacious locker
rooms, it’s important to vet all of a golf club’s amenities.
• Can you grab a quick snack while you’re on the course?
• Is the restaurant family friendly?
• Can the club accommodate and cater for a tournament of
100-plus golfers?
Remember that the golf club you patronize can also be
a prime choice for events such as weddings, business
meetings and family gatherings. If you’re considering
becoming a regular customer, you should take the time to
step off the fairways and get a more global look at all that
a golf club has to offer.
bowlinggreengolf
• com
Must-Play Golf Courses: How to Find the Best Courses, Amenities & Dining Facilities.
9
PLANNING FOR ONE OR 100
Will the golf course be adept at coordinating everything from
finding the perfect playing partner for your threesome to
handling all the details for your daughter’s wedding.
You’ll want to vet the professionalism of both the
traditional golf staff, from the pro shop employees to the
starter, and the catering and events team. If you plan on
hosting any large events for work or family at the club, be
sure to see if there is a dedicated events coordinator who
will oversee all the details and be personally accountable
to you.
bowlinggreengolf
• com
If you’re a discerning golfer who’s looking for a golf course
that’s a great match for your golf game and your lifestyle, this
e guide will point you in the right direction.
• Is the location convenient for you?
• Does the course offer variety to keep your interest?
• Are the amenities available to make your visit more enjoyable?
• Is it easy to plan your outing or event?
Northern and Central New Jersey have plenty of options
suitable for a random weekend round. But there are far fewer
golf courses committed to long term customer relationship
building. Happy hunting for your perfect match!
TAKE A LOOK AT
BOWLING GREEN.
YOU’LL LIKE WHAT YOU SEE.
Bowling Green Golf Club • 53 Schoolhouse Road
Oak Ridge, NJ 07438 • 973-697-8688