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Rick Sides

  • Karma: +0/-0
Ballyowen Question
« on: August 07, 2008, 12:42:10 PM »
Has anyone played Ballyowen in north NJ?  I have a day off coming up and was wondering if it was worth the two hour drive from my south NJ home, or if another 2 hour drive elswhere for a good course would be worthwhile.  Any suggestions?

Jerry Kluger

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Ballyowen Question
« Reply #1 on: August 07, 2008, 01:03:56 PM »
Ballyowen is a very good course - check with Matt Ward.  Now is it worth a 2 hour drive and all that gas is another question. 

Dan_Callahan

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Ballyowen Question
« Reply #2 on: August 07, 2008, 01:14:27 PM »
I played there once several years ago. The weather was terrible—cold, wet and windy. I loved the course and would definitely drive two hours to play it again.

Mark Arata

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Ballyowen Question
« Reply #3 on: August 07, 2008, 02:37:50 PM »
drive 2 hours south and go play Beechtree before it closes!
New Orleans, proud to swim home...........

John Foley

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Ballyowen Question
« Reply #4 on: August 07, 2008, 06:05:12 PM »
Rick,

Ballyowen is definetly worth the drive. While you are there go over and check out Wild Turkey. While many on hear will pan it for it's cartball play, it's got some solid architecture and was a fun round.
Integrity in the moment of choice

Matt_Ward

Re: Ballyowen Question
« Reply #5 on: August 07, 2008, 06:28:32 PM »
Rick:

Ballyowen, IMHO, is the best public option in all of North Jersey. Roger Rulewich gets hammered often on this site for attempted restoration work from time to time but his effort at Ballyowen is quite solid although there are a few minor shortcomings.

The front side is less Scottish links - which the course tries to mimmick - and more a combo of American parkland (minus the numerous trees) and Florida style holes (that means the H20 comes into play big time).

The 2nd hole is a delicious risk'n reward hole that comes early in the round. The par-3 6th and the long cape-like 7th are extremely testing. Funny story on the 7th -- I had a long conversation with the owner Gene Mulvihill and after telling him that I easily cut the corner of the hole and had no more than 30 yards to the green he looked like his special toy had been taken away. I suggested to him that a "special" champ tee be created for #7 which now lies across the entrance road to the place. It stretches the hole to 470 yards and when you encounter the prevailing SW headwind you'll need to respect the full length of the dog-leg and the close proximity of the H20 which hangs nearby.

The 9th coming back to the clubhouse provides the real feel of a Shinnecock Hills type hole.

The back nine has the better terrain and the more consistent requirements forcing solid play shot after shot.

Best of the lot in my mind is the uphill par-4 13th which gets little respect but grabs plenty of people with bogeys or worse. And the sweeping par-4 14th which cascades through natural mounds that frame the left and to lesser extent the right. The closing hole is also very good -- the green is literally 50+ yards deep and having 3-4 differences in club selection can happen quite easily.

One other thing -- for big time events the club can easily convert the downhill par-5 10th into a par-4 and the same for the par-5 17th.

Ballyowen, to the credit of the superintendent and staff, is generally the best conditioned public course in the Northern tier of NJ.

John mentioned the likes of Wild Turkey and it too has its moments. I really enjoy the par-3 7th and the cross bunkered fairway of the 9th, to name just two examples.

If you happen to go Rick be sure to stay overnight and sample the Elements Spa and the Latour dining (believe it's four stars dining) and the stellar wine cellar! I believe the rates offered through Minerals Resort & Spa are quite competitive and well worth exploring especially immediately after Labor Day.

If you need more info contact me offline.

 

Bill Brightly

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Ballyowen Question
« Reply #6 on: August 07, 2008, 09:15:07 PM »
Play Ballyowne, it is worth the drive. A little pricey, but a good course.

Mike Nuzzo

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Ballyowen Question
« Reply #7 on: August 07, 2008, 10:33:15 PM »
I played it last year - it was very enjoyable - not a 7 - or the play if within 100 miles.

I would play somewhere in South Jersey instead - as you are already there.
The best public courses fall in the 5-6 range.

AC / Twisted Dunes / that stephen kay quarry course / or the stephen kay lido hole course...

With an imminent closing - I'd say drive to Beechtree instead....
« Last Edit: August 07, 2008, 10:36:06 PM by Mike Nuzzo »
Thinking of Bob, Rihc, Bill, George, Neil, Dr. Childs, & Tiger.

Bill Brightly

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Ballyowen Question
« Reply #8 on: August 07, 2008, 11:25:48 PM »
Matt,

You didn't tell him to play Forsgate instead??? Are you not feeling well?

Matt_Ward

Re: Ballyowen Question
« Reply #9 on: August 08, 2008, 12:08:04 PM »
Bill:

Forsgate is not per se a public course.

I don't know if the club permits outside play without some sort of approval.

No doubt it's something people should play because the Banks Course is truly a gem of a layout IMHO.

Mike N:

I'd have to say if someone is coming from points south of New Jersey then a visit to Beechtree would be in order given the fact that it will be closing shortly. However, I would not take the position that Beechtree is the better overall course when held against Ballyowen. That's a very close call and the Rulewich layout often gets little attention because Roger is not thought of as highly by many on this site as Doak.


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