Middletown Country Club

I've been playing at Middletown since 2000. It's a sentimental favorite, fun course with some warts.

First off, never play before mid-afternoon. The pace of play on a weekend morning is horrible and the $55 price tag is a poor value. The course gets really backed up starting at 6, the first par 3 and gets really bad once you make the turn. 10 is another par 3, so expect a back up. Then 11 is a really short par 4 that virtually requires you to wait for the group to clear the green. Not to mention 11 tee is in prime landing area for tee balls off 12 tee. This is the bottleneck of the course and really screws up the pace of play, not really much management can do to fix the problem because there is no space to expand to open up the course/change the layout. I think Middletown is the only course I've ever walked off of due to pace of play (done it at least 3 times, I've learned my lesson).Twilight price of $39 is a more reasonable for this course given the condition and the course is usually pretty empty in the afternoon so no pace of play issues.

The course layout is really solid. 1 and 2 are tough opening holes. 3 is a nice little breather but plenty of ways to get in trouble. 4 is a solid par 5 - dogleg left that funnels towards the green. Can reach in 2 but there's not much room for an errant shot. 5 is a tough short Par 4. If you play driver there is trouble right and a Tree that blocks your approach if too far left with a very sloped back to front green being the last defense. 6 is a picture-esque par 3. Could be really nice with better maintenance. 7 is a really tough tee shot which requires a carry over hazard and trouble left (made more difficult by an uneven tee box). 8 is a below average par 3. 9 is an ok short par 4. They've done some maintenance around the green which makes the prospect of going for the green more fun. 10 is a nice par 3, requires mid to long iron to a small green with a steep slope back to front - par is a great score. 11 is a short par 4 reachable by 3 wood. Another severe sloping back to front green is the challenge on this hole (they've been cutting the hole in an unfair position (front right on a ridiculous slope) this year, basically impossible to make birdie on what I feel was intended to be a birdie hole before the start of a pretty tough closing stretch. 12 is a really tough tee shot. They did some tree maintenance to make a little easier (and more fair), but still demanding - either need to lay up with a 5 iron or fade a longer club. Anything over 200 and straight is dead OB. Good solid hole. 13 is a tough hole, dog leg right, probably the most severe sloping front to back green you'll ever come across - par is a solid score. 14 is an ok mid iron par 3. 15 is a really difficult long dog leg par 4. This tee shot to me has gotten harder over the years as the trees grow in. Used to be able to have a chance to get a 3 wood over the trees but now seems almost impossible. Have to play a draw around the tree which if you execute is rewarded with a nice run out. Still have a tough iron on a sloped fairway to a small green that is protected visually by a false front. Hit a straight tee shot and you've got 200+ approach. 16 is a solid hole, hit a good drive 250 to the left side of the fairway and you have 150 in to a two tiered green protected by OB right behind. Hit a poor tee shot and you're laying up because of the pond protecting the green (which is probably the worst conditioned green on the course). 17 is a short par 4 reachable with a solid 3 wood. Green slopes severely from front to back, so the ideal tee shot if you don't land the green is to be long of the green pitching back into the slope. Otherwise requires a nearly impossible short pitch off the slope to get close to the hole for a birdie look. 18 is a solid closing hole (in terrible shape - cart path is a disaster, it's an unfortunate cosmetic ending to your round that I hope is addressed for what otherwise could be a solid closing hole). Shortish uphill par 4. Left is safe but leaves a tough shot from poor conditioned area to a green which is well protected by a bunker in front. There is a sliver of fairway on top of the hill which is only accessible by a fade or dead straight shot as OB is tight to the right. If you can execute you have a better angle into the green with a wedge in your hand. Green is severely sloped front to back, not a lot of makeable putts on that green, just hoping for a two putt.

Fairways aren't in great shape/virtually non existent on some holes. When you do find the fairways don't expect a plush lie.

Greens have a ton of slope. You'll be faced with a lot of short putts with decent movement to avoid 3 putts. They're in decent shape. If you're above the hole it's impossible to make putts.

Tee boxes aren't in good shape. A lot have some slope to them and a few aren't necessarily set up square to the hole, so it's visually annoying.

Condition of the course aside, I really enjoy the layout. It's not long in terms of yards and doesn't require a lot of drivers, but it demands accuracy and shaping the ball, strategic shot placement off the tee and smart approach shots that must be below the hole. I've had some really low rounds and some really high rounds. If you're not hitting the ball straight, you're in for a frustrating day.

If this course was in better shape, and a little more spread out to help with pace of play it would be a gem. Ultimately, I think management does the best they can do with what they have. I would recommend the course to anyone with couple caveats re course condition and don't go on a weekend morning.

We couldn't even finish the round. We got through 10 holes in 3 and a half hours and finally had enough. There was at least a two group backup on every hole. My group and I decided to call it a day-it's unfortunate since the course wasn't in awful shape. I made a comment to another golfer and the course and he said it's always like this on weekends. Sounds like they need some better course management to figure out tee times. Definitely will not be playing here again.

Great course, super friendly staff. I had a great day.

Never an even lie

Fairways are like a cow pasture

Looking for a cheap round on my club’s maintenance day I decided to play Middletown because I heard about it’s quirky golden age lay out. I also heard if played before August the course is in decent shape. Here’s the thing, I don’t mind a course that’s a bit scruffy but I hate when a design is completely compromised by conditions. The bones of this golf course are actually really cool. It’s very Alex Findlay, little trouble off the tees, minimal bunkering, fairways and greens using much of the land’s natural contours etc etc. I especially felt like the greens COULD BE the highlight of this short par 68 layout because they are so undulating and use of much of the terrain to dictate break that they’re very demanding from approach through putt. The clear problem with Middletown is money and maintence. The course desperately (and I mean desperately) needs trees removed and brush taken back. I would say at least half of the holes if not more cannot be played with the intended lines because of encroaching vegetation. Next the fairway (and some green) sizes have shrunk so much over time it’s almost comical. Some fairways are less than 20 yards wide simply because a choice has been made to not have fairway grass to maintain. The original fairway lines are clear but they are now rough. 18 is a great example, once an interesting double fairway daring players to take on OB right to set up an approach level with the green the current hole only has the upper FW available while the lower section is completely grown in. There are no longer choices at Middletown simply bang a driver as close to the green as possible on a short par 4 or try to land a long iron on some sliver of FW. Finally (and I know this review is a bit long winded) the greens need to be maintained at a reasonable speed. I love fast greens but when I played the greens were far to fast for their slope and firmness. When short irons aren’t holding and anything above the hole will not hold the green (11 is a good example) that’s a problem. At times I felt like I was playing a smaller, dumpier version of the US Open at Shinnecock with how baked out the greens were. In the end I think this place could be a super fun quirky little course that offers enjoyment for all golfers. It’s got a really awesome collection of par 3s and is demanding enough on and around the greens no matter it’s yardage. With all that said to ever get to that point the township (someone told me they own it) would need to focus resources on important things: vegetation removal, irrigation, FW restoration, and bunkering. Clearly a lot to be done. In the end for 25 bucks go check out the bones of this place just in case it becomes a park or houses one day or if you’re lucky check it out before it gets the help it needs so you can say you saw it during the dark times.

Its was really hot today 100°

Course was in good shape. Greens were fast. Staff was out making sure we had plenty of water. Very friendly staff.

We got a GolfNow deal and it was well worth it. As you all know, you never get a flat lie at Middletown but the course was in phenomenal shape and the greens rolled like those on the tour. I certainly would recommend this course this year to anyone. It’s not real long, but still very, very challenging.

I believe they overbooked the course because of Fathers Day and didn't do anything to keep the pace moving. Almost 6 hours to play 18. Long day!

Sand traps need attention.

After moving to the area a few years ago, we have grown to love this course. We routinely play in 3-1/2 to 4 hrs (midweek) ahead of their 4:15 pace and that can include walking (it's hilly). As others commented, course and GREENS knowledge is very helpful - 1st timers need to relax and give it another shot - you'll have more fun 2nd time around. Enjoy the beautiful, massive trees and fast greens. Nice bar to watch golf, Phillies or Eagles.

Recently took a chance that the heavy rains would hold off and maybe get a quick round in for it's been awhile since i played here. For once things went my way. The course is in great shape No problem with the tees, fairways, greens or bunkers. For those who haven't played here before don't be fooled by the yardage, In my humble opinion there are at least 7 holes you are going to need a solid drive (plus 220-230) to have a decent chance to be on the green in regulation and that 's from the whites.This place is as hilly as it is quirky and I mean that in a good way. I'll be back soon.

I know its been raining...but our two groups lost more balls JUST BARELY OFF OF THE FAIRWAY!

And, please, all 8 of us are fairly decrnt putters; bit when the hole is cut at a 45 degree angle on a severe slope...ridiculous! Read USGS suggestions on hole placements...

A shame...a fun layout

Up & down fairways, onjulating greens , my local course play to the left cause it’s gonna roll down hill,a majority of fairways are downhill lie. The course is maintained well and better with age.

When you get the right spot it’s satisfaction guaranteed !

Course condition fine

Very slow foursome ahead of us

18 holds took 4.5 hours - pace too slow

Played there on Sunday for the first time. Very hilly course and a little odd. A few par 4's under 300 yards and several over 400. And only one par 5. Greens were in really nice shape. Quick and challenging. If you don't like sloping greens skip this course. Course was in pretty decent shape overall, but was a bit shaggy toward the end. I'd generally have given it a 3-4 star rating but the horrifically slow pace of play makes it a "never again" for me, at least on a weekend. There was nobody on the course moving people along. Plus it seems "par for the course" that groups wait on the several short par fours for the group ahead to clear the tees before teeing off. This was true even for the group playing in front of us that had no golfer who hit the ball more than than 175 off the tee. My round was 5 hours and I didn't get to play 17 or 18 because of a commitment I had that I never thought would conflict with this round of golf.