Recently I was fortunate to join another GCAer for a round at Metedeconk. We played what they call the 'tournament' 18 holes, which is the third nine (called holes 19-27) and first nine (holes 1-9) of the 27-hole RTJ,Sr/Rulewich layout.
Here is a brief description of the club from their web page:
Nestled in the upper region of the New Jersey Pinelands, atop one of the highest spots in central New Jersey is Metedeconk National Golf Club. The private, 27-hole facility was designed by world-renowned golf course architects Robert Trent Jones, Sr. and Roger Rulewich.
Inspired by the varied topography of the preserve, Jones and his chief designer and top aide, Roger Rulewich, created a 27-hole masterpiece of tree-lined fairways, well-placed bunkers to maximize accuracy and the subtly contoured greens for which Jones is internationally known. And, typical of all Jones' creations, the development of water as a playing hazard is a strategic consideration on seven holes at Metedeconk National. Extensive and multiple tee boxes - another Jones trademark - allow for unlimited flexibility and permit the course to be played at yardages ranging from approximately 5,200 to 7,200. From the championship tees, the course has a rating of 75.4 and a slope index of 146 with a par of 72.
Masterfully routed, the three nines embrace the site's natural wilderness. Almost every hole is an entity unto itself. The proximity of marsh and lowland pine forest throughout provides a delightful dividend to golfers who may be fortunate enough to be joined on their round by the occasional deer, fox, muskrat or circling hawk who continue to make Metedeconk their home.Here is the routing:
Let's get started with the first three holes late on this Friday afternoon!
#19. Slight dogleg left par 4. We played from the blue tees in the hole diagrams I'll provide. Taking on the bunker is a ~250 carry.
The blue yardages in the diagrams are what MNGC calls the member tees.
View from the member tees:
From just short of the dogleg:
Approach shot of about 100 yards after an ideal drive:
What we found out very early on is that Metedeconk has some very firm greens. They will hold, but it must be a well struck shot.
From the back of the green:
As the routing diagram goes, it is a bit of a haul to the next tee, but i nearly birdies the first hole so I didn't care so much.
#20. Slight dogleg right par 4.
Member tees view where you must be careful to not drive it through the fw left; a line actually at the left edge of the right bunker will work with driver if you choose:
Approach shot view to a fun very front pin this day:
More narrow green at the front, pretty wide at the back:
View from long and left of the green:
#21. A dogleg right par 5.
From the members tees it is only 180 yards to clear that bunker; a line to the right of the bunker actually works, even for the bigger hitters playing all the way back.
Nice wide fw here, although it pinches ever so slightly as you near the junk to cross on the third shot:
A good second shot leaves this for the approach:
A view from left of the green:
From just over the green:
More later.