[Coral_Ridge]

Reading in my book "Golf Clubs of the MGA", I read about Metedeconk National Golf Club (in NJ)  which was founded in 1984.  The caption of the write up says "Bound For Glory".  Has this golf course measured up to it's expectations?  Will we be hearing of it down the road, or does maybe the membership want to now keep a low profile in the golfing world.  

[Steve_ Shaffer]

At one time, Metedeconk wanted a President's  Cup but it didn't happen.                      

[Robert Mercer Deruntz]

It aspires to be another Pine Valley.  It is 18 Jones Sr. with Rulwich and 9 Rulwich.  The 2003 Met Open was contested there and showed that it could play brutally tough.  There is no such thing as bail out.  This is a flat out penal golf course that is narrow, severe greens, multitudes of bunkers, lakes, streams, ect.  It is an incredible piece of pine barren land, but falls way short of at least 20 other NJ courses.  By the way, the Met Open was not contested from all the back tees and due to a disasterous new superintendant (no longer there)--5 fairways were resodded with over 50 yard by 28 yard sections!  Greens could only run at 9 1/2 compared to the usual 11+ for this tournament---These conditions still produced super high scores.

[Matt_Ward]

Jon:

MNGC has one of the finest practice areas you can have.

On the golf front -- agree w what Robert mentioned. The course accentuates the penal aspects quite well but there is really little in terms of design character or the inclusion of that provide a different perspective or uniqueness. Much of the course centers around the need to hit drives that are continually straight with sufficient distance.

In its original days when Steve C was the superintendent the turf quality there was second to none when compared to any other course in NJ IMHO. Have not been back recently to say what's going on now.

I like a few of the holes -- the 27th hole -- the 9th of the 3rd nine is a very tough long par-4 -- I'd include it among my personal best holes in all of Jersey.

All in all, MNGC is a fairly one-dimensional type of course. Nearly all of the holes are encased in their own isolation from one another and pity the poor player who opts for the wrong tees and has a military golf experience (left / right / left) when there.

Metedeconk wanted to be viewed among the very elite clubs in all of NJ and it still has a lot to offer, however, after the dust has settled since it's opening nearly 20 years ago - I'd say it falls outside the best of the best the state provides. Just proves toughness and overall difficulty are not the only characteristics of design greatness.

[Mike_Cirba]

I like Metedeconk National quite a bit, if only for the fact that it may be the only course on the globe (27 holes) where there are 6 really good par fives.

On the other hand, one searching for a good par three would still be out there.

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