Worldgolfer's Golf Course Reviews

Designer: Robert Trent Jones Sr. (1965)

Location: Colts Neck, New Jersey

History: The story behind Hominy Hill is a fascinating one and begins with a man named Henry Dickson Mercer. Mercer, a shipping magnate and member of Augusta National, wanted somewhere more welcoming for his guests than Rumson Country Club on the Jersey Shore, so he enlisted Robert Trent Jones Sr. to build his own private course nearby. This course called Hominy Hill opened in 1965 and was one of the most exclusive courses in the country, as only guests and family of Mr. Mercer could play. Towards the end of his life in 1976, Mercer sold the course to Monmouth Country and it has been open to the public since then. Hominy Hill has hosted two U.S. Amateur Public Links Championships and currently owns the following award:

• #54 Best Course in New Jersey – Top100golfcourses.com (2024)

Conditions: 7/10, For a county course that gets a lot of play, Hominy Hill was in solid shape and presented well, even when I played it shortly after aeration.

Value: 6/10, Hominy Hill offers good value, with county residents paying as little as $42 to walk weekdays and discounts for veterans, seniors, and juniors. Nonresidents will have to pay anywhere between $67 to $84 depending on time and day.

Scorecard:

Tee                     Par         Yardage         Rating          Slope

Blue                   72            7049               73.4               134

White                72           6456               70.8               129

Red                     72           5793               73.4                130

Hole Descriptions: Hominy Hill was a big deal when it opened as Henry Mercer’s private retreat and I imagine an even bigger deal when it was unveiled as a public course in the 1970s. Since then, numerous upscale public options have opened in New Jersey and RTJ’s popularity has waned, but Hominy Hill is still held in high regard, especially amongst locals. After being fortunate to secure a tough teetime and see the course myself, it’s easy to see why this course remains popular. Playing over gently rolling farmland, the course is routed well and has many hallmark RTJ features such as long, rectangular teeboxes, tree-lined doglegs, and slightly raised greens with bunkers usually on either side. The course can play long at over 7000 yards, and offers great value and conditions for a municipal-run facility as well. While not far from the Jersey Shore, Hominy Hill is a decidedly parkland design, but usually stays cooler and gets a breeze off the Ocean. For me, it is a bit forgettable compared to some other public courses in the Garden State, but Monmouth County should be proud to have such a solid municipal offering on their roster.

Robert Trent Jones Sr. was a big fan of doglegs and this is seen on the opening two holes, beginning with the 390 yard par 4 1st. This is not a very easy opener, with a tight, tree-lined fairway bending to the left around 230 yards with bunkers on either side of the dogleg. Those who miss well to the right will be blocked out while those down the left will have a hard time finding their ball on the range. This approach runs slightly uphill to a narrow green that slopes mostly back-to-front with a pair of bunkers on either side.  The 2nd hole is a shorter par 4 at 328 yards and this time plays as a dogleg right. The teeshot from the Blue Tees plays downhill over a creek, but from the Whites is more level to a fairway that turns right at only about 160 yards. Three bunkers line the inside corner of the dogleg while a left bunker is found around 190 yards. This green is again rather narrow and slopes towards the center from both sides with bunkers on either side and long.

Hominy Hill’s first and likely toughest par 3 comes at the 181 yard 3rd hole. This one-shotter plays over level terrain to an undulating green defended by bunkers short, left, and right.

At 498 yards, the 4th is one of the more interesting holes on the course as a risk/reward par 5. A slight dogleg left, this teeshot plays semi-blind to a skinny fairway that turns at about 210 yards with two bunkers down the left. Aggressive teeshots that play over these bunkers or have significant right-to-left movement can find a speed slot and go much further. This approach runs downhill the entire way towards a relatively flat green well-protected by two bunkers right, marshland long, and a small pond short left. This pond in particular is an excellent hazard and gives the longer hitter more to think about on his second shot. The 5th is yet another risk/reward hole, this time as a 312 yard par 4. Another dogleg, this hole turns almost 90 degrees to the right at about 200 yards with bunkers on either side at this point. Longer hitters can likely go for the green here, but numerous bunkers surrounding it short and on either side are probably a common destination.

After crossing the course’s driveway, you reach the 6th, the fifth consecutive non-par 3 dogleg to begin your round. At 374 yards, this medium-length par 4 turns hard to the left at about 215 yards with a narrow fairway and two bunkers on either side of the dogleg. This is one of the more interesting greens on the course, sloping back-to-front with a front right swale and bunkers on either side.

The 7th hole plays back the opposite direction as an 175 yard par 3. This is an attractive hole featuring a large green defended by bunkers on either side and long. The majority of this putting surface is pretty flat, but the front portion slopes back-to-front and there’s a back left swale.

The 8th hole is probably my favorite hole on the front side as a 390 yard slight dogleg left par 4. With trees and OB down the left, this hole features a relatively narrow fairway lined by bunkers on either side around 220 yards. This approach runs uphill towards an extremely narrow back-to-front sloped green flanked by bunkers. Pars are well-earned here.

The front 9 closes with one of the course’s more interesting holes in the 475 yard par 5 9th. This short par 5 runs slightly uphill the entire way, but is likely still reachable for longer hitters. The teeshot here, however, forces you into a decision with a tight fairway lined by trees down the left, two right bunkers around 225 yards, and a water hazard beginning down the right around 250 yards. This water hazard continues almost all the way to the green and a lay-up here must also contend with four other bunkers down the right. With about 70 yards remaining, this fairway takes a hard turn to the right towards a two-tier, back-to-front sloped green defended by bunkers short and on either side. The strategic angles and risk/reward nature of this hole make it another one of my favorites here.

At 430 yards, the 10th hole is Hominy Hill’s longest par 4 and yet another dogleg. This hole features a more generous fairway that turns to the right with bunkers on either side at about 230 yards. This approach runs uphill towards an elevated green with four bunkers on its corners.

The 11th is Hominy Hill’s shortest and possibly most picturesque hole as an 162 yard par 3. With its teeshot playing downhill over a creek, this hole plays even shorter to a well-defended green with water left and two bunkers down the right. This putting surface slopes towards the water hazard.

The 12th hole is another somewhat challenging long par 4 at 419 yards. Featuring a semi-blind teeshot, this hole makes a sharp turn to the right around 210 yards with bunkers on either side at this point. Golfers will likely face a long approach into a diagonal, back-to-front sloped green with bunkers short and long.

The 13th hole plays along the edge of the property as a shorter dogleg right at 370 yards. The turn to the right occurs at only about 160 yards (obviously with bunkers on either side) and forces the golfer to either cut the corner or lay-up off the tee here. This green slopes from the back right-to-front left and is open up front but defended by bunkers on either side and long.

At 504 yards, the 14th hole is the longest par 5 on the course and the start of a solid closing stretch. A slight dogleg right, this hole features a semi-blind teeshot to a narrow, tree-lined fairway. The ideal line is over a right-sided bunker visible from the teebox at 160 yards. The remainder the fairway plays straight and tight, until about 70 yards short of the green when it ends with a creek. The green sits on the other side of the creek and slopes severely back-to-front with a bunker right.

The 15th is probably my favorite hole at Hominy Hill as a pretty 375 yard dogleg left par 4. This hole plays longer uphill the entire way with a generous fairway that turns left around three bunkers between 175 and 230 yards. Longer hitters can cut the corner here and leave themselves an uphill pitch into an elevated green containing multiple plateaus.

The 16th hole is the final par 3 on the course and another visually appealing hole playing downhill at 188 yards. This green is large and on the flatter side and defended by four large bunkers.

After a dogleg at every non-par 3 for the first 16 holes, the 17th is the first straight hole as a 501 yard par 5. This hole features a tight fairway lined by bunkers down the right at 185 yards and left at 220 yards. While there’s room to miss on the left, anything to the right will likely be lost in thick forest. This lay-up area narrows even further with trees down both sides and a pair of right bunkers. Three additional bunkers defend short of a large, back-to-front sloped green.

Hominy Hill’s closing hole is one final dogleg as a 384 yard par 4. Playing slightly uphill the entire way, this hole turns to the right around 220 yards with large bunkers down either side. Those with big misses should be wary of fescue that begins down the left just after the bunker and tall trees down the right. This green runs slightly back-to-front with bunkers on either side.

General Comments: Practice facilities at Hominy Hill include a large practice green and full range just behind the farm-like clubhouse. The course is a pleasant walk and pace of play was average when I played, but keep in mind the teesheet is always full.

Verdict: A municipal Jersey Shore course with an interesting history, Hominy Hill is a bit repetitive in my opinion, but features strong conditioning and value, and is a solid option for Monmouth County residents. If you are in the area, I’d recommend a round here but know that obtaining a teetime will be tough.