Worldgolfer's Golf Course Reviews

Designer: Dana Fry/Dr. Michael Hurdzan (2004)

Location: Neshanic Station, New Jersey

History: Owned and operated by Somerset County, the municipal Neshanic Valley features 27 holes from Dana Fry and Michael Hurdzan that opened in 2004. These three nines (Meadow, Ridge, and Lake) can be combined to form different eighteens and there is also a 9-hole short course called The Academy. Considered one of the best public courses in New Jersey, Neshanic Valley holds the following accolades:

• #51 Best Course in New Jersey – Top100golfcourses.com (2024)
• #3 Best Public Course in New Jersey – Golfweek (2025)

Conditions: 8/10, Neshanic Valley is in strong condition for a municipal course with lush fairways and teeboxes, smooth greens, and well-kept bunkers.

Value: 8/10, Neshanic Valley provides strong value at $62 during peak times for county residents with further discounts for twilight, seniors, and juniors.

Scorecard:

Tee                          Par         Yardage         Rating           Slope

Black                       72           7065              73.5                131

Gold                        72           6665              71.6                129

Blue                         72           6210               69.4               126

Silver                      72           5580               66.6               115

Green                     72            5061               69.1                119

Hole Descriptions: Public golfers in the Garden State are at somewhat of a disadvantage as the state is dominated by private golf and I don’t think there’s a single public course in the top 30 in state now that Atlantic City is private. With that being said, there are about 10-15 quality public layouts worth seeing, especially as you venture west and south from NYC. Neshanic Valley is certainly one of them.

Situated on rolling farmland about an hour west of New York, there’s a lot to like about Neshanic Valley. It provides great value to local golfers, is well-kept, features 27 holes with fantastic practice facilities, and can play over 7000 yards from the Tips to challenge better players. There is nothing here truly game-changing or rising to national prominence, but I enjoyed the course and definitely think it is a borderline top 5 public course in New Jersey.

There are three nines at Neshanic Valley and I started with the Ridge Course before moving over to the Lake Course. The opening hole is a 390 yard downhill dogleg right par 4 with gorgeous views of the property from an elevated teebox. The course is generally forgiving off the tee and this is the case here with a generous fescue-lined fairway bending right around several bunkers on the right at 240 yards. This approach continues downhill to a fairly flat, open green lined by a bunker right.

The 2nd hole is a clever 352 yard par 4 that turns 90 degrees left at about 235 yards. With a forced carry over fescue and fescue continuing down the left the entire way, it’s a bit unclear at first where to aim on this teebox. At about 210 yards, a trio of nasty bunkers narrows the fairway down the left and is to be avoided. This circular green slopes left-to-right and is defended by a bunker short right.

At 408 yards, the 3rd hole is the longest par 4 on the Ridge Course and probably deserving of its number 1 handicap. What you see is what you get here, as this hole plays uphill the entire way with a generous fairway lined by bunkers down the right at 215 yards and left at 270 yards. This green slopes back-to-front and is lined by a bunker short right.

The 4th hole is Neshanic’s first par 3 playing level at 172 yards. With a bunker flanking its left, this green is pretty interesting with an overall left-to-right cant and two tiers with a back right swale. Putting from the wrong tier could lead to a three-putt.

The 5th is probably the most interesting hole on the Ridge Course as a 518 yard par 5. With a tight, 165 yard forced carry over a wasteland, this is an intimidating downhill teeshot to a fairway lined by bunkers down the right at 240 and 280 yards. A second slab of fairway sits just left of a hazard that bisects the hole and forces the golfer into a tough decision on their second shot. You can continue down the right, leaving a very difficult third shot or try to carry the hazard in two, leaving a more manageable approach. This green is relatively flat and lined by a bunker right.

At 202 yards, the 6th hole is the longest par 3 on the whole property. This hole is notable for its Redan-like green that slopes steadily right-to-left defended by a bunker left.

The 7th hole is a medium-length 368 yard par 4 playing straightaway with a semi-blind teeshot. A large crossbunker down the left at 215 yards dominates your view from the teebox, but there is little danger after this. This green features a fall-off on the right and is defended by a short right bunker.

The 8th hole is a lengthy and difficult par 5 at 532 yards. This hole begins with an uphill forced carry over fescue to a left-to-right sloped fairway lined by trees down the left and fescue right. There’s a bunker just short of the fairway at 150 yards and another down the left at 260 yards. From here, the hole trundles downhill and is very well-bunkered, with a bunker down the right 125 yards short of the green and one on the left 80 yards short. This green features somewhat of a diagonal Biarritz swale and is further defended by bunkers short right.

The Ridge Course’s final hole leads you back to the clubhouse and is another challenging hole at 385 yards uphill. This par 4 plays much longer than the scorecard and features another brief forced carry to a generous fairway lined by three bunkers down the right between 200 and 270 yards. This approach continues uphill to a back-to-front sloped green lined by bunkers left and long.

The Lake Course sits just south of the Ridge Course but also begins near the clubhouse. The 1st hole is a downhill dogleg right par 4 at 412 yards. OB lines the right side the entire way while numerous bunkers line the left between 220 and 280 yards. This approach continues downhill to an undulating green lined by two bunkers left. This is a good hole but unfortunately plays almost exactly the same as the 1st on the Ridge Course it plays adjacent to.

The 2nd is a shorter par 4 at 343 yards but is a somewhat tricky hole. This teeshot requires an 170 yard carry over a hazard to a fairway that turns right and narrows with bunkers on either side around 230 yards. Additional bunkers run down a very tight fairway after this point and anything to the right will be lost. This green slopes back-to-front with a backstop and is defended by bunkers long and short.

The Lake Course is blessed with two excellent par threes beginning with the 155 yard 3rd. This hole feels like it belong on a MacRaynor template course with a deep, geometric bunker short left of a Redan-like green.

At 433 yards, the 4th hole is the longest par 4 at Neshanic Valley and the number 1 handicap on the Lake Course. A pretty hole, this teeshot plays straightaway and downhill from an elevated teebox to a tighter fairway lined by hazard left and two bunkers down the right at 210 and 265 yards. This approach plays slightly back uphill to a large green containing numerous plateaus and lined by a bunker left. Par is a good score here.

The 5th is a fairly bland hole as a straightaway 564 yard par 5, but is on the longer side and is the first of the Lake holes to feature a water hazard. You must carry the water with a brief forced carry here and this lake continues down the left for the first 200 yards. Otherwise, this hole is fairly straightforward with two bunkers down the right on your teeshot and sequential crossbunkers in the lay-up area. This green is bunkerless but is very long and narrow.

The 6th hole again features a brief forced carry over water as a 394 yard dogleg right par 4. This hole turns to the right around 250 yards with a large bunker on the inside corner of the dogleg and fescue down either side. This green is also bunkerless and on the flatter side, but features a fall-off on the back right.

At 355 yards, the 7th hole is a shorter yet interesting risk/reward par 4 that doglegs to the left around 250 yards. The direct line to this green is only about 310 yards, but going for it requires a carry over four left bunkers and water lines the right side of the hole the entire way. The water continues to this green and makes for an intimidating approach.

The 8th hole is a scenic 187 yard par 3 playing over water to a large green defended by bunkers long and short. This green is on the flatter side, but many golfers will be intimidated by this teeshot.

The closing hole on the Lake Course is the best and most memorable hole at Neshanic Valley as a majestic 495 yard par 5. From an elevated teebox, this gorgeous hole features an exhilarating teeshot to a generous fairway lined by a short left bunker at 160 yards and bunkers down either side at 240 yards. This fairway ends at about 310 yards with a ravine and hazard for about 50 yards before the next slab of fairway. This hazard isn’t really in play on the teeshot but certainly must be considered on your second shot. A downhill lie on the fairway and elevated second slab of fairway further complicate matters. Those who are able to reach in two will need to contend with several bunkers short and on either side of a severely back-to-front sloped green.

Overall, I preferred the Lake Course to the Ridge Course for its superior aesthetic appeal and variety. I hope to one day get back to see the Meadow Course, but truthfully it is not a top priority.

General Comments: With plenty of farmland at their disposal, Neshanic Valley features some of the strongest practice facilities in the state, with a large grass driving range, short game area, and 9-hole short course. The clubhouse is modern and stately and sits on the highest point on the property. Pace of play was fairly strong when I played but tee-times here are hard to come by.

Verdict: Although a bit bland in places, the 27-hole Neshanic Valley provides strong value, great conditions, and excellent practice facilities for a municipal course. It is one of the better public courses in New Jersey and one worth playing if in the area.