Scott-
I grew up in Long Branch, NJ, not too far from Hominy Hill, which I have only played once. I believe it is the only course to have hosted both the USGA Mens and Womens Public Links Championships, although I would not bet my life on that. In fact, I played it in June of 1995 and the Womens Publinx was played there later that summer.
As I recall, the history of the course is that it was built in the 1960s by one man (his name may have been Mercer) who was very big in the global shipping business. He did a lot of business with Asians and frequently entertained them at the country club at the Jersey Shore to which he was a member.
At some point he was told that his Asian business guests were not especially welcome at the country club. He then built Hominy Hill pretty much as a very, very, very private/personal club for use almost solely to entertain his Asian business clients. In all the times I drove by the course in the 1960s, I don't think I EVER saw anyone playing on the course. I doubt there were 1,000 rounds played a year when the course was owned by this gentleman.
At some point (in the late 1970s/early 1980s), the owner died and I believe his heirs either donated the course to Monmouth County or sold it to the county for a nominal amount.