NJ's Second best course is a composite

[Robert Mercer Deruntz]

Reading the NJ thread and remembering how the Senior Open was played on a composite layout, this is the 2nd best course in NJ.  I love Plainfield, Somerset, Hollywood, and NJ's more famous 36 hole Tillie complex.  However, Ridgewood in a composite layout is incredible.  The Center nine has 2 great, great short holes!  The East and West nines probably has his best 5's, though the West 5's are probably dropped in a composite layout.  The par 3's are all awesome.  There is incredible variety among the par 4's and there are several routing options to create an incredible composite course.

[Matt_Ward]

Robert:

I can make an equally good case with Montclair Golf Club in West Orange, NJ as well. Likely, one could do something with Baltusrol as well.

However ...

Composite golf is nothing more than a basic rearrangement of the deck chairs. Unless the club actually uses the "composite" on a regular basis then I don't see the point in factoring in such oddities. It's nothing more than cherry picking all-star holes that are never used in a daily fashion.

P.S. Clearly, the holes sequence used for the Sr. PGA was rather unique.

[Patrick_Mucci]

Robert,

I think you've pointed out why Ridgewood is vastly underrated.
The quality of the holes and their variety are excellent, yet, like RD, Ridgewood gets little respect.

[JSlonis]

Pat,

I agree 100%.  The quality of each Nine at Ridgewood CC is outstanding.  I've always felt that it gets slighted for some reason, when I see these goofy ranking lists.  Outside of maybe two other courses in NJ, I think it is as good as any course in NJ.

[Robert Mercer Deruntz]

Because there are so many great courses in Metro-NY, there are courses that get slighted.  Both Ridgewood and Plainfield are great examples.  I theorize that they are slighted because there are some other higher ranked courses by their respected architects and that the quota of top ranked courses has been filled.  I really believe that a proper day at Ridgewood requires a 27 hole round.  Is there a weak hole at Ridgewood?  I really don't think there is one--though there are a couple easy holes, they are really good to great holes.