One of the oldest, and best, golf courses in New Jersey is, and not coincidentally, the home course of THE state university of New Jersey, Rutgers University.
Around 6,300 yards in length, Rutgers’ PGA sanctioned, and historic, golf course, located on the picturesque Busch Campus in Piscataway, is a Par 71 which offers players of all abilities and levels of knowledge a challenging, but fair, and memorable and enjoyable day on the Links.
A traditional tree-lined Parkland style golf course, Rutgers was first founded way back in 1894 when four men and four women got together and organized The New Brunswick Golf Club. Built in the decade(1890s) of the first explosion of Golf in the United States, Rutgers University Golf Club was among the first member clubs of The United States Golf Association, headquartered now in nearby Short Hills, NJ.
As The New Brunswick Golf Club, Rutgers’ first course consisted of just six holes laid out on rented land east of Livingston Avenue between Delavan and Lawrence Street and extending to Remsen Avenue. Then, in 1897, a 9-Hole, 2,396-yard course was constructed on property leased from George W. Metlar in Piscataway. As was the Custom of its time, holes on the new Piscataway course bore names like Valley, Pie Crust, Carry-All and Goblet. Serving as the Clubhouse was Ross Hall, built by Edward Antill in 1740 which, during The Revolution housed General George Washington and his staff.
With over 250 members, the club was prosperous enough in 1912 to purchase 118 acres further out on River Road. In 1933, however, The Depression led to the bankruptcy of the club, which was purchased in 1935 by Rutgers for $15,000. A new era was launched in 1961 with the construction of an 18-hole course. Expertly designed by Hal Purdy, a noted golf architect, the course was officially opened May 29,1963.
Highlights include narrow fairways, slick putting surfaces and water on seven of its holes. The course is located near points of interest which include The Waksman Institute, Rutgers Medical School and multiple athletic facilities like SHI Stadium, home of the Big 10 contending Scarlet Knights football team.
Open to the public, tee times start at 7 am weekdays and 6 am on weekends during the season from around March 1 to December 15.
The mission of the course is to ensure that every player enjoys a timely round of golf played on superior fairways and true greens with uncompromising service and instruction.
Reasonably priced, and with special reduced rates for Rutgers University students and staff, the course offers a terrific opportunity for Scarlet Knights, present, and even past, a terrific opportunity to learn, hone and grow the Game.
“A lot of students don’t know they can play the course, but they can,” said Rutgers University Golf Course’s PGA Pro/Manager Lisa Jensen.
“It’s a very walkable course with four teeing stations per hole giving everyone, from a low handicapper to a beginner, terrific opportunities to play the game and enjoy playing it.”
Jensen’s favorite hole, she said, is Hole No.16, a Par 4 with fine views of the Busch Campus, SHI Stadium and the world-famous Waksman Institute.
“Sixteen is just a quality, scenic, hole that’s just a lot of fun to play,” Jensen said. “ The whole course, to be honest, is like that. Every hole has something to look at. The History of the Course, and the university, as well, gives us at Rutgers something that almost no other course, public especially, in the state has. It’s just a great place to work and play.”
Well said Lisa. Golfing a round at Rutgers Golf Course is something that every Jersey golfer is sure to love playing. Book a Tee Time today and let ‘er rip.
Rutgers Golf Course
Piscataway, NJ
848-445-2637
