There are so many wonderful places to get to play a great round of golf in The Garden State, but a round at Heron Glen Golf Course is truly memorable.
The only Hunterdon County Golf Course, and managed by Kemper Sports, Heron Glen, built from the old Kuster Dairy Farm in Ringoes combines top quality conditions and a links-style layout with first class service to provide members, guests and visiting golfers a private country club feel at a premiere public golf course setting.
Arriving onto the Central Jersey golf scene in 2002, Heron Glen Golf Course has consistently ranked itself as one of the State’s higher rated and most beloved golf courses. HGGC ranks #1 by Golfer’s Choice in the Top 20 Public Golf Courses in New Jersey.
Heron Glen is a regulation style golf course with 18 holes spanning 7065 yards and a par of 72. The course features Bent Grass tees, fairways, and greens, designed by architect Dan Schlegel in 2002. Golfers can enjoy GPS power carts, a driving range, and are welcome to walk the course. The course has a rating of 74 and a slope of 138.
Heron Glen utilizes the natural contours as its primary defense, with sand traps positioned to great effect. Although there are no lakes or ponds, wetlands dot the property and Schlegel uses them, especially, in each of the par fives. Shot-making, strategy and patience are key to making it around Heron Glen.
The course’s signature hole isn’t one of the par fives, however, but one of its par threes. Playing around 180 yards from the Blues, the tee shot on Hole No. 5 plays from an elevated tee box to an elongated, three-tiered putting surface surrounded by native fescue grass.
“ Five is a really, really good par 3,” said HGGC’s PGA General Manager Tim Ward. “ The elongated, three-tiered green creates some challenging pin positions.”
Hole 3, a medium sized Par 5, gives long hitters a chance to go for the green in two make birdie, or maybe even eagle. The long dogleg left Par Five 10th headline’s a very rare three par five Back Nine. Providing players will more birdie, and par, chances than a typical, and traditional, layout of four par fives, two per side, would.
“ Not many courses have five par fives with three on The Back,” said Ward, who’s been with HGGC since it opened 23 years ago. “ It gives good golfers some extra opportunities to makes some birdies. It’s one of the unique things about Heron Glen our golfers really like.”
The open layout and peaceful, serene countryside setting provided by Heron Glen keeps golfers coming back.
“ It’s just a really well-designed golf course,” said Ward. “ It’s a par-72 with an unique mix of par trees, fours and fives that all golfers of all skill levels and ages will have a great time playing. In 2013 we were voted “most female friendly” in the state. The same year we were also voted “Top Place to Play under $80”. Even after Covid, we kept our greens fees low. We’re all about the golfers here at Heron Glen.”
Attention to golfers and their playing, practicing and social needs with their GPS carts and practice and dining amenities cater to all golfers of all ages and abilities.
“I like to play it late in the day. You can almost hear the cows who used to be on the old Kuster farm. The old silo on the 4th Hole is kind of a cool feature, too. Play it once, and you’ll never forget it.”
Heron Glen Golf Course
110 State Highway 202 & 31,
Ringoes, NJ 08551
Phone: 908-806-6804
Email: info@heronglen.com
Course Accolades
Through 2008 and 2022, Heron Glen has been recognized by the National Golf Foundation with the “National Customer Loyalty Award” as being a Top 5 facility in overall customer loyalty.
KemperSports has significant experience in the golf course rankings and awards processes and has fostered close relationships with many of the golf industry’s most influential people in this area. We have played an instrumental role in positioning and promoting the Heron Glen brand. Some of the awards and accolades for the course include:
- Ranked #11 of the Top Public Courses in New Jersey by Jersey Golfer Magazine in 2005 and earned the “top spot” for being the best course with the most affordable prices.
- Ranked in the Top 35 New Public Golf Courses Opened in 2002 by Golf Magazine
- Voted one of the Top Six Women-Friendly courses in NJ in 2004 by Garden State Golf Magazine
- 2005 Northeast Golf Magazine Readers Choice – Chosen for readers favorite golf courses and readers favorite new golf courses.
- Selected by 55+ Lifestyles Magazine as a Senior Golf Friendly Course.
- ★★★★ 4 Stars Best Places to Play by Golf Digest in 2010
- Ranked # 17 in Golf.com Best Public Golf
- Ranked in Golf Magazine’s top 20 Golf Courses to play, New jersey, in 2010
- Heron Glen was recognized by Golf Magazine in its 2012 September issue as one of the “Best Public Access Courses in New Jersey” at No. 16 in the state.
- Heron Glen Golf Course was recognized from New Jersey Monthly as #9 “Best Public Courses in New Jersey” in 2013.
- Heron Glen was also honored as the “Top Course Under $80” in the state, by New Jersey Monthly in 2013.
- #2 in the “Best Conditioned (Public Owned)” category, by New Jersey Monthly in 2013.
- Heron Glen tied for third in the “Best for Walking” list, by New Jersey Monthly in 2013.
- Heron Glen was rated #1 in the “Most Female Friendly” course in the state, by New Jersey Monthly in 2013.
- Heron Glen was recognized by Golf Magazine in its 2014 September issue as one of the “Best Public Access Courses in New Jersey” at No. 16 in the state.
- Heron Glen was recognized by GolfStyles in its Fall 2014 issue as one of the “Best Bargains” at No. 6 in the state.
- Heron Glen was ranked #1 Top Golf Course in New Jersey by Golf Advisor in 2015.
- Heron Glen was recognized by Golf Magazine in its 2016 September issue as one of the “The Best Courses Near You” at No. 15 in New Jersey.
- Ranked # 1 by Golf Advisor “Top 10 golf courses in New Jersey” 2016.
- Ranked #15 “Best Golf Courses You Can Play” in New Jersey, 2017 Edition.
- Top Honors in Annual NGF Loyalty Awards, Top-5 overall in more than $70 category.
- Golfweek’s Best 2018: “Courses You Can Play” #11 in New Jersey.
- Golf Advisor “2018 Annual Top 50 Golf Courses in the United States”, Ranked # 32.
- Golf Advisor “Best of 2018” New Jersey, ranked #4.
- Golf Styles “Elite 80”, 2019 Must Play
- National Golf Foundation “2019 Best Overall Facility Winner for the Overall Customer Loyalty Award”
- Golf Advisors “Golfers’ Choice: Best of New Jersey golf courses 2019” Ranked #2
- Golf Advisors “Golfers’ Choice Top 50 courses in the U.S. in 2019” Ranked #44
- Golfweek’s Best 2021: “Courses You Can Play” #12 in New Jersey
- Heron Glen was rated #16 by Golf Pass – Golfer’s Choice 2022: Top 50 U.S. Courses
- Heron Glen was rated #1 by Golf Pass – Golfer’s Choice 2022: Best Golf Courses in New Jersey
- Heron Glen was rated #11 by GolfWeek – Best Public Access Courses in New Jersey 2022
- Golfers’ Choice 2022: Best golf courses in New Jersey #1
- Golfers’ Choice 2023: Best golf courses in New Jersey #7
- Top 20 Golf Courses in New Jersey – Golfers’ Choice 2024 #8
- Top 25 Public Golf Courses in the U.S. – Golfers’ Choice 2025 #13
- Top 20 Public Golf Courses in New Jersey – Golfers’ Choice 2025 #1
