Ballyowen GC
View of a green at Ballyowen Golf Club.
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Rating Index Rating
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4.5
399 Reviews (399)
5 Stars
246
4 Stars
108
3 Stars
28
2 Stars
10
1 Stars
7
Conditions
4.4
Value
4.0
Layout
4.7
Friendliness
4.6
Pace
3.9
Amenities
4.5
90.1%
Recommend this course
358 out of 399 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.7
18 Reviews (18)
5 Stars
14
4 Stars
2
3 Stars
2
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.7
Value
4.2
Layout
4.7
Pace
4.1
Amenities
4.4
StaffFriendliness
4.4
88.9%
Recommend this course
16 out of 18 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.5
33 Reviews (33)
5 Stars
21
4 Stars
7
3 Stars
5
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.5
Value
3.9
Layout
4.7
Pace
3.8
Amenities
4.5
StaffFriendliness
4.6
90.9%
Recommend this course
30 out of 33 reviews
Read Reviews

About

Holes 18
Type Semi-Private/Resort
Style Links
Par 72
Length 7094 yards
Slope 134
Rating 74.1

Ballyowen Golf Club is an homage to the great Scottish links courses, the place where golf originated. The course sprawls across 250 acres of rolling farmland that overlooks the Walkill River. The layout tumbles through valleys and hills, staying as true as possible to the natural contours of the land. Much like a traditional links golf course, the virtually treeless landscape is accented with craggy knolls. The challenging layout features lush green fairways that contrast beautifully with the pristine white sand bunkers and golden patches of rough that border the greensides. There are also water hazards that come into play on five holes. Ballyowen has earned the title of New Jersey's top public course and Golfweek has even ranked it as one of the top 50 courses in the country.

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Course Details

Year Built 1998
Fairways Bent Grass
Greens Bent Grass
Golf Season Year round
Architect Roger Rulewich (1998) A. John Harvey

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes - included in green fees
Caddies Yes
Clubs Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Golf School/Academy Yes
Teaching Pro Yes
Pitching/Chipping Area Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

Credit Cards Accepted VISA, MasterCard, Amex Welcomed
Metal Spikes Allowed No

Food & Beverage

Bar, Snacks, Restaurant, Beverage Carts

Lodging

Lodging Available

Available Facilities

Clubhouse, Spa, Showers, Lockers

Accolades

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Reviews

4.5
399 Reviews (399)
Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Excellent weather
Used cart

CC style golf for the public

Generally used to playing country clubs, this course condition and amenities are on par with CC. Price is a bit higher, but less crowded means for golfers who really enjoy golf has some breathing room.

There were some groups that were horrendously slow. They were older ladies that could only drive 100 yards with horrible swing. They never lost any ball (I'm sure), but took a long time. Other than them, all was good.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 11
Handicap 0-4
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Good weather
Used cart

Great course

Couse conditions - great
Well manicured course
Food and beverage cart was seen on several occasions
Great pace of play
Treat yourself to this wonderful course

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 10
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Good weather
Used cart

Excellent Course!

First time I've played this course and it was excellent. Fairways, rough, bunkers, greens, everything was great. I expected the greens to roll much faster than what they did though. With the views and links style it's a simple reason why it is always one of the best courses you can play. It would be nice if a ranger went around though instead of getting stuck behind some hackers and the ranger saying in short "oh well". If it weren't for the GolfNow Hot Deal of $40, I wouldn't ever put out $110+ to play. Overall this course is a must play at least once!

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Fair
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 74
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 1000 Contributor
Previously Played
Used cart

A different kind of course

For those that have not played this (tree-less) course, it's design utilizes distance, grasses and water as the challenges to overcome. The course is in very good condition, the greens are fast and true. The staff is exceptional and friendly. Avoid the traps as they contain small amounts of sand and numerous small stones.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 198
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Top 50 Contributor
Indy Advisor
First Time Playing
Good weather
Used cart

Lives Up to Its Reputation

Beautiful course in phenomenal shape. High grass will catch your strays but you can find them and play from it, at least right now. Greens a touch slow but overall good.

My only complaint was the pace of play, like others have mentioned. We rode a 4some, even after picking up a single and playing as a 5some for the last 13 holes. When we called and asked for a ranger to do something about it, he rode by, said hi, and left.

But, overall I understand why this is the top public course in the state given its layout, challenge, and condition. It's well worth the trip, and if you get a hot deal time, you're flat out robbing them!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Poor
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Good weather
Used cart

Ballyowen

Course was very well maintained and greens surpurb!

Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Premier course

This is an excellent layout and it's in great condition. It was a little slow but it was really due to one group. I highly recommend it, especially if you can play later in the day at a reduced rate.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 8
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Good weather
Used cart

Great challenging course, but play can be very slow

Great course, but can be slow because there are no Marshall's on the course ensuring groups are moving at a reasonable pace. Other than that, this is a very nice course, but beware that hitting into the deep grass is practically a guarantee that the ball is lost.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 9
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Good weather
Used cart

Nice layout

Except for pace of play Ballyowen never fails. Very well maintained, challenging layout, beautiful scenery.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

lousy policy

We didn't play. The weather was bad enough, sporadic thunderstorms, some lightening, to have us not play. But the course was still open so some could play later after weather cleared. So I'm out $110 bucks and will never use you again.

Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Good weather
Used cart

About as good as NJ publics get

Great course.....getting up there is a pain if you aren't from the area but once you are what a course. I imagine when the fescue is up in the summer this place is diabolical. Feels like a country club and you pay country club prices. That being said this place attracts better golfers than some of the others, which keeps up pace of play.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Fair weather
Used cart

Pretty Nice but Slow

Know the course well and love it. Early in season after tough winter and greens had recently been aerated so won't complain about condition, but slow play was an issue. Starter made issue about but no evidence that anyone was telling anyone to play faster. Fescue was low so that should not have been factor. Staff friendly.

Conditions Fair
Value Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Poor
Amenities Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 87
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
N Y N J Advisor
Verified Purchaser
Top 500 Contributor
First Time Playing
Used cart

Worth the trip

Took advantage of a hot deal and it's deserving to be the top course in the state. Although it was a 2.5 hour drive, it was well worth the trip. Conditions were great for the beginning of the year and much easier to play with the fescue not fully grown. Each hole had an awesome layout with hills and elevation changes. Wish this course was closer and looking forward to playing the other 6 sister courses within the same area.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 15-19
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Used cart

Review

Terrific course. Best available public in NY region. Considerable wind, which may be normal, but, so what. Greens heavily aerated, but reduced price made up for that inconvenience. Made for many more undeserving gimmes.

Conditions Average
Value Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Fair weather
Used cart

Another Round

Great course. The only drawback is that its a slow round. The conditions were very good for this time of year. Will definitely be back

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Poor
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 16
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

A must play

Finally got to play this course. So glad I did. All the great reviews
Are true. I got there early and they let me go as a single. Was not
that busy . It is in superb condition and the greens are very fast.
I wish it was a bit closer to NYC. but worth the trip.
Staff were really friendly.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 54
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

A must play!

Course was still maintained (not quite but close to peak season). Even had a drink cart out there in sub 55 degree weather and ball washers. Fescue was thankfully cut down a bit - still would advise hitting away from this stuff. Views were incredible.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 18
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
2.0
First Time Playing

Poor course managment of players

Course did not manage tee time seperation and allowed too many people to play off the wrong tee. Also, to chare $100+ at 1:00 in Oct is unacceptable since you most likely won't get the round in. The course is gourgeous and in super shape. It was a shame I could not finis the round and had to wait 10 minutes on each tee.

Conditions Average
Value Poor
Friendliness Average
Pace Poor
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 5
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Previously Played

Great layout and people, pace of play was brutal.

The layout here is awesome. On a nice fall afternoon, the course couldn't look better.

Following an apparent frost delay, our noon round went off 20 min late, and required over 5 hrs to complete. We waited on just about every shot.

While in great shape, it drives me crazy the number of ball marks in the greens at such a "quality" course. The greens did run pretty quick, and were kept in good shape otherwise.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Poor
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 9
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Perfect Day

Ballyowen is a great golf experience! My brother and law drove up from the city for an afternoon of golf and we couldn't have had a better time. Course is in great shape!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
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