[Cliff Hamm]

http://www.nj.com/golf/index.ssf/2012/01/njsga_tabs_galloping_hill_to_b.html

Just came across this article indicating that GH will host the NJ State Open in 2016.  The NJ Public Links will be there in 2013.  Rees Jones will be doing the renovation work.  The article indicates that if you haven't been there for awhile you won't recognize it.  That's a good thing.

I played my beginning golf at Baltusrol on Mondays and at GH other days.  Talk about a world of difference.  GH at that time had mats for tees. Helpful if you wanted to bring the club back straight

To say it is hilly is an underestimate.  The third hole had a rope tow and was used for skiing in the winter.  GH was the go to place in the area for great sledding.

The course was often soggy.  There were numerous gopher holes and tunnels in fairways from gophers/moles or whatever where you could see the elevations from the tunnels in the fairways.  

Yet I loved the place as is so true of so many of our memories from our youth.  Great burgers, kept my clubs in the so called clubhouse and would walk over after high school.  Holes were distinct altho at the time had no interest of knowledge in golf architecture, except designing holes on the side of my notebook in boring classes.

I am curious as to the current state of GH.  Has anyone played it recently?  Is it worthy of a NJ Open?  The article refers to it as the premier county owned course in NJ.  Can it really compare to Hominy Hill?

[Ben Voelker]

Cliff,

I moved to New Jersey in July and played Galloping Hill this fall.  There was a lot of construction when we were there; the first tee, ninth green and 10th tee were all not in use and we played temporary tees/greens on those holes.  It was definitely rough around the edges and very, very soggy.  Of course, pretty much every course was soaked this year after all the rain.  It did strike me as a place that had some real potential with some pretty cool land movement and well routed holes.  I really liked 3 and I thought one of the front 9 par 5's (5 or 6 maybe?) was very cool.  I really enjoyed 14 as well, with its rolling fairway.  It will be interesting to see what Rees Jones does with it.

With that in mind, I don't think its the best county course in New Jersey. Personally, I enjoyed Frances Byrne more.  While there's work to do there as well, I think there's even more potential with that course.  From what I gather, Neshanic Valley and Hominy Hill are the premier county courses in the state, but I haven't had the chance to make it to either yet.

[Jeff Spittel]

Grew up about a mile away and my dad and I used to play it before he joined Suburban. At one point it was the worst maintained golf course I've ever seen. Always had some pretty good bones and it will be great to see it get some TLC.

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