New Jersey has some of the very best County Parks golf courses around, and the courses of Morris County are among the Garden State’s very, very best. Morris County can boast of four distinct, and terrific, properties, consisting of five very unique, well-maintained, fine and friendly tracks all within about a half hour’s drive from one another, Pinch Brook, Sunset Valley, Flanders Valley and Berkshire Valley.
An executive style 18-hole golf course, Pinch Brook Golf Course in Florham Park, which consists of nine Par 3s, is not short on challenges and is designed by world-renowned firm, Rees Jones Inc. An executive style course, measuring just about 5,000 yards, Pinch Brook has the advantage for players who want to get on and off in less time than the championship-length courses. However, this shorter course is not short on challenges.
This 18 hole, par 65, course gained three and a half stars from Golf Digest’s “Best Places to Play,” and “Top 100 Must Play Courses” by Golf Styles magazine. Water hazards enhance the majority of holes, and elevated, undulating greens are sure to test the skill of the most seasoned golfer.
The 190-yard, par 3 sixth hole forces players to hit around a pond, mainly because it is shaped like the state of New Jersey.
“The par 3 sixth hole is the most difficult of the nine par 3’s on the golf course,” said Morris County’s Regional Golf Manager, Eric Thompson”. Featured by a lake on the left side of the hole which resembles the shape of New Jersey and an undulating green makes par an excellent score.
“Pinch Brook is very popular with our juniors, seniors and ladies, but is a fun and challenging golf course for everyone. All 9 par threes are decently long. None of them are “short”, like at a pitch-and-putt. And the course conditions are top-quality, too.”
Another fun-to-play, and well-maintained, Morris County golf course is Sunset Valley Golf Course. Sunset Valley, located in Pompton Plains, is regarded as one of the premier golf courses in New Jersey. It is consistently rated among the best Public Courses in New Jersey with four stars from Golf Digest’s “Best Place to Play,” and one of the “Top 100 Must Play Courses” by Golf Styles, and recipient of “Top Women-Friendly Courses Award” by Golf for Women magazine
Sunset Valley, designed by Hal C. Purdy, has a challenging design and fast greens. The course comprises of 18 holes, is a par 70, and measures about 6,483-yards. Sunset Valley boasts of perhaps the best three finishing holes in the state, according to many golf enthusiasts. The 16th through 18th holes each present a challenge to even the low-handicap and expert golfer. The 16th is a 555-yard, par-5 that goes uphill. The 17th and 18th holes are both Par 4s and go from about 420 to 430 yards each.
“The 18th hole at Sunset Valley is iconic,” Thompson explained. “ This long dogleg left par 4 presents a challenge off the tee as you have a pond on your left and trees and water on the right. The uphill approach shot to a two tiered green will also test the skill in your iron game. And finally if you leave your approach shot on the wrong side of the green, it will be a challenge to two-putt.”
Morris County NJ
Nestled in the picturesque Morris County countryside, Flanders Valley Golf Course offers another highly-rated golfing experience on two 18-hole championship courses, The Red and the Gold and the Blue and the White. Acclaimed as one of the premier public golf destinations in the United States and New Jersey, Flanders’ scenic 409-acre facility combines challenging designs with beautiful landscapes, making it a favorite among golf enthusiasts nationwide.
One of my many favorite parts of Flanders’ is the challenging opening two holes of The Gold Nine. The first, a straight up-the-hill par 5, is a monster, but also a good Par opportunity, and even a Bridie chance. The medium-sized, Par 3 Second Hole, measuring about 150 yards to about 170, plays from a slightly elevated tee complex to a large multi-tiered putting surface.
Morris County NJ
The Gold’s signature is a slight dog leg left 379 yard Par 4 that demands a perfectly placed, precision-off-the-tee drive. There is a pond on the left which is very much in play staring at you from the tee box. Missing right will have you in the trees as the rolling hills slope away from the narrow fairway.
The 7th Hole is a golfer’s dream. A Par 5, the tee shot calls for a ball down the left side if you want to get to the green in two. Missing too far right with force you to lay up because of the trees that creep into the fairway.
The 4th Hole is a sweeping 550 yard dogleg left which goes up a significant slope. The ideal landing area is about 220 yards from the tee box. From there, you are looking at 70ft of elevation change to the green.
The Gold-to-Red course is much different than the other 18. Tipping out at 6,780, every tee shot will have you seeing an elevation change, which makes things interesting when choosing the correct club. Your approach shot will rarely leave you with a flat lie, so adjust accordingly.
The Red Nine, meanwhile, is more flat than the Gold, but what makes this nine difficult is the lack of trees. Some might think that is a good thing, however the wind tends to increase over the duration of your round. Your toughest test will be the 16th hole, a 478 yard-Par 4 with a very slight dog leg right, and will demand your best tee shot of the day. A truly great golf hole!
“The 9th hole on the Gold course is a sweeping hole that moves from right to left with a pond located short left of the green,” said Thompson. “ It’s a classic risk-reward golf hole that gives up plenty of birdies, but also plenty of balls in the water.”
Flanders Valley’s Blue-to-White, or as the regulars will call it, the “Inner18”, is a tree-lined, traditional golf course playing at a Par 72 and tipping out at 6,765 yards. The Blue and the White calls for all types of shots and can be fairly difficult depending on the pin locations.
“Flanders has a little bit of everything for very type of golfer,” said Thompson. “ Many of our area high schools play there, and County College of Morris, too.
“The course is always well-maintained and is a favorite course of our county golfers, and visitors, as well.”
Red Course
Berkshire Valley Golf Course, in Oak Ridge, New Jersey, in Jefferson, is a true destination course with beautiful, picturesque mountain views. Voted as one of the Top 20 Courses in New Jersey by GolfPass/Golf Advisor, Berkshire Valley provides top-quality golf at an affordable price. The course, consisting of 600 acres in the picturesque Highlands region of northern New Jersey, is an 18-hole, par 71 – 6,800 yard, public golf course that presents unique challenges atop the ridge of Green Pond Mountain.
Morris County NJ
“The views at Berkshire Valley are encapsulated on the very first hole,” said Thompson.” Right out of the gate you are introduced to the stunning views of the valley. The first hole presents a daunting opening tee shot from an elevated tee with fescue and a cliff to the right and trouble left.
“Berkshire is something really, really special. You almost can’t believe you’re in New Jersey. You kind of feel like you left the state when you play it/”
No matter what level of player you happen to be, or what kind of course you like to play the best, you’re sure to have a terrific time teeing it up at any of the four great golf courses that Morris County has to offer. Book a round and give one of them a try today.
www.morriscountygolfcourses.com
Contact Us
Pinch Brook
973-377-2039
234 Ridgedale Avenue
Florham Park, NJ 07932
Sunset Valley
973-835-1515
47 West Sunset Road
Pompton Plains, NJ 07444
Flanders Valley
973-584-5382
81 Pleasant Hill Road
Flanders, NJ 07836
Berkshire Valley
973-208-0018
28 Cozy Lake Road
Oak Ridge, NJ 07438
