Skyway Golf Course - Jersey City

[Chris Wegner]

So as not to step on Eric's new member thread I wanted to slide this over to it's own thread.


http://xchem.villanova.edu/~bausch/images/albums/Skyway/


I would love to hear opinions from those who have played, some holes illicit strong opinions. #3, #7 and #8 especially.
I really enjoy the golfers who think they can carry it 280 getting their hearts broken when they can't make the 220 yard carry on #8 from the tips.


I also invite anyone who has not played to come visit. But beware as hard as I try we are very busy and home to a lot of beginner golfers. I just went to two rangers on weekend mornings as one usually ends up becoming a caddy for four ability challenged golfers.

[Jaeger Kovich]

Chris - I will definitely be back again soon. I've been all over the place. Don't be surprised if you see me there at the crack of dawn or a late emergency 9 after next week.


I want to see it again before I comment on the architecture. There is a lot going on in the urban environment under Routes 1 & 9! Glad you are busy.

[Jerry Kluger]

I can see why you're so busy - looks like a bunch of fun.   So how do you work it if players want to go 18 - what are the greens fees? 

[Chris Wegner]

Jerry,


The nine hole format has been overwhelmingly popular in fact only about 10% of the golfers play 18. Those that do are required to book two separate tee times. Traditionally we space them 2:20 apart so to avoid a backup. We have some flexibility with that spacing and will book further apart if guys want to stop between nines or closer if they are playing early enough to play a sub 2 hour round.


Green fees are $19 Monday-Thursday for Registered Hudson County Resident Golfers and $33 for others. Weekends we get $4 more. To play an additional nine its not a straight doubling and will cost Registered Hudson County Resident Golfers $33 and $53 for others. Weekends we get $10 more.


Carts are $10 for 9 and $14 for 18.


60% of our weekday rounds walk while that ratio flips on weekends where we see close to 60% take carts.


Also check out http://www.skywaygolfcourse.com/course-info/rates/ for more information.


Thanks

[Keith Phillips]

I live nearby and have heard good things, but haven't been yet - checked the website and saw no reference to the question 'who is the architect?'  Any idea??

[Joe Bausch]

I live nearby and have heard good things, but haven't been yet - checked the website and saw no reference to the question 'who is the architect?'  Any idea??

The architects are listed right on the scorecard.   

http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/albums/Skyway/pages/page_4.html

[Keith Phillips]

Thanks, Joe!  I look forward to playing later this fall.

[John Morrissett]

I played Skyway Golf Course Sunday and Monday with Robert Walker and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

The course offers much more than just cool setting - it is a compelling collection of holes, with each hole having something to it.  I would be proud to be able to call it my home course (as Robert can), as I would look forward to playing every hole several times each week.

To offer some specific comments as solicited from Chris:

1st hole - attractive, gentle, fun opener with the great backdrop to an interesting green.

2nd hole - seriously long with the back hole location and wind.  This hole lets you know early on that the course is not just a novelty.

3rd hole - I never found the fairway and couldn't go for the green in two, but the green is plenty challenging (and I wondered if a long second shot could hold the green, esp. downwind).

4th hole - attractive and deceptive with the green sloping to the right (making shots from the left bunker esp. challenging).  A nice change of pace with a cross-breeze for the first time.

5th hole - a long, hard hole back towards the Pulaski Skyway.  The scale and small undulations at the green reminded Robert of the Old Course.  (In general, while the greens are generous in size, they don't play that way.)

6th hole - interesting to play a hole where a hook literally can't get you into trouble (because of the net).  Attractive slightly sunken green.

7th hole - After figuring out the play from the tee (less than a driver), I liked the pitch to the tight target.

8th hole - As mentioned,  the 220 yard carry off the tee (which I did negotiate!) was a surprise.  Some regulars said that some players play down the 1st fairway to shorten the hole, but I didn't see that much of an advantage (but I didn't try).  If there is a real benefit, that would create safety and pace of play issues that may lead to an internal OB between the two holes. 

9th hole - Nice variety of hole locations on an interesting green that can make the hole play quite differently.  Great backdrop (again).

Chris, what are the criticisms people have of 3 and 7?  The 3rd is a bit narrow and has a tough green, but that all works fine for a short three-shotter.  The 7th is the one hole that felt squeezed in, but it has a nice approach.

[Chris Wegner]

John,


Thanks for visiting Skyway and glad you enjoyed it. As we progress in year 2 I think we are seeing our regulars play the course a lot smarter which is really eliminated most criticisms. Our number one issue was density of the fescue, but a mid-season mow and drought conditions paired with some irrigation head re-alignment have kept that very playable. 6,000 rounds a month hacking in it also helps to thin it out.


On a regular basis now I have golfers comment how #3 may be one of NJ's better par 5's. In the beginning it was a difficult hole for many to manage as they were unsure of where to play to. (Hint: Hit it Left) The green is very difficult to hold in two but a left to right shot favoring the left side of the green is the best bet. Personally after finding the front bunker one too many times I now lay up to about 100 yards as far left as I can to allow a nice angle in. The predominant wind is against you on this hole, can't remember getting a helping wind yet.


The desire to hit driver has led to many finding the pond on #7, again repeated play has helped golfers learn to hit fairway wood or hybrid off this tee and favor the right side. We sometimes forget the flaw of many golfers who believe golf is fair, so I still get the occasional gripe of not finding a level lie on #7. It is easily our most undulating fairway with numerous shelves and slopes. No doubt 30 more yards of property would have helped on #7, but even so it is my favorite hole on the course.


Good ole' #8 is still simply an issue of golfers playing more tee than they can handle. The number of golfers needing to use the drop zones is amazing and we just had to re-seed all three drop zones. An expanded landing area decreasing the carry is on the way and should help. Still not too many tee shots more intimidating than that one. The wind usually helps on the tee shot though. Playing towards #1 is no easier or shorter so not sure of that play? I have played from the first fairway once before but not by plan. The second shot from there is also 100% blind.


John again thanks for visiting and please say hello next time you are at Skyway. I was on property both Sunday and Monday so I am sure our paths crossed.

[John Morrissett]

Chris -

Thanks for the detailed comments.  All very interesting, esp. the 7th being your favorite.  That really is a good approach and good green complex.

Please help me with the wind, as one regular said that the prevailing wind is from the west, with 2, 5 and 8 against the wind.  Is it actually the opposite (as your comments on 3 and 8 say)?  If so, that does make a big difference on 8 (when it was hurting both days for me). Thanks for clarifying that the idea of playing down #1 makes no sense.

Congratulations on such a good course with a great story.  Your regulars are certainly proud of it (and understandably want to keep it a secret).  I don't know when I will be back in the area, but when I am I will certainly play again and look for you.

John

[Mike Sweeney]

We got rained out at Bulle Rock (MD) today on the drive back from DC to NYC.


When we hit Jersey, the skies cleared and I said to my son, "google 9 hole courses near Jersey City."


Skyway was very nice, and in a Top 10 unique location. The staff was really nice and if you ever get caught in Jersey traffic, just go play Skyway

[B.Ross]

played skyway recently for the first time, loved it. i piped a drive on #3 down left side, caught cart path and had 180 into the green (from the tips). on 7, i also piped a drive and b/c i kept it far enough right, it took slope down to middle of fairway, leaving me an approach of 70 yards. finally on 8, back into a slight wind, i hit a fantastic drive and carried the brush by 15-20 yards, leaving myself 265 into the green. really a fantastic 9 hole. i've played other roy case / grossman layouts (osprey point in boca, north sound in grand cayman) and they all have a similar feel, and its not a bad thing. as a duo, they seem to have found a distinct style (at least to me) which includes very big greens and large chipping areas. it's as if the courses are built with a bit of "turf economics" in mind. strong recco from me on skyway should you be in the nyc area

[Stewart Abramson]

I played Skyway Golf Course Sunday and Monday with Robert Walker and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

The course offers much more than just cool setting - it is a compelling collection of holes, with each hole having something to it.  I would be proud to be able to call it my home course (as Robert can), as I would look forward to playing every hole several times each week.

To offer some specific comments as solicited from Chris:

1st hole - attractive, gentle, fun opener with the great backdrop to an interesting green.





Skyway #1 dogleg left from tee







Skyway #1 approach


2nd hole - seriously long with the back hole location and wind.  This hole lets you know early on that the course is not just a novelty.





Skyway #2 from tee





Skyway #2 back right of green




3rd hole - I never found the fairway and couldn't go for the green in two, but the green is plenty challenging (and I wondered if a long second shot could hold the green, esp. downwind).


way #3 730 par 5 by Stew Abrams, on Flickr


Skyway #3 730 par 5 from tee 





Skyway #3 733 par 5 second shot





Skyway #3 736 view back




4th hole - attractive and deceptive with the green sloping to the right (making shots from the left bunker esp. challenging).  A nice change of pace with a cross-breeze for the first time.





Skyway #4 737 par 3  from 120 yards



5th hole - a long, hard hole back towards the Pulaski Skyway.  The scale and small undulations at the green reminded Robert of the Old Course.  (In general, while the greens are generous in size, they don't play that way.)





Skyway #5 741 from tee





Skyway #5 745 approach uphill-sidehill lie





6th hole - interesting to play a hole where a hook literally can't get you into trouble (because of the net).  Attractive slightly sunken green.





Skyway #6 746 par 5 from tee







Skyway #6 750 par 5 second shot





Skyway #6 752 par 5 downhill pitch to green





7th hole - After figuring out the play from the tee (less than a driver), I liked the pitch to the tight target.





Skyway #7 753 from tee - blind to landing area



Skyway #7 756 approach

8th hole - As mentioned,  the 220 yard carry off the tee (which I did negotiate!) was a surprise.  Some regulars said that some players play down the 1st fairway to shorten the hole, but I didn't see that much of an advantage (but I didn't try).  If there is a real benefit, that would create safety and pace of play issues that may lead to an internal OB between the two holes. 





Skyway #8 757 par 5 from the tips





Skyway #8 759 par 5  second shot carries penalty area





Skyway #8 760 par 5 approach


9th hole - Nice variety of hole locations on an interesting green that can make the hole play quite differently.  Great backdrop (again).





Skyway #9 762 par 3 pin is tucked left on lower tier. tough putt down the slope for anything on the larger upper right tier

I've wanted to play Skyway since reading the original post above 8 years ago.  Finally made it there yesterday and could kick myself for waiting so long. I didn't expect such a good course hidden within the Route 1/9/Pulaski skyway corridor. Joe's link above doesn't work for me any more. Here's a link to the photos I took yesterday. https://www.flickr.com/photos/golfcoursepix/albums/72177720318965423



I've also inserted photos of each hole and short descriptions into John M's post quoted above.

[Richard Hetzel]

I played Skyway on my way back from The Bridge. The place was PACKED. Fun golf course, but overplayed and the amount of divots (not repaired) and pitch marks on the greens (not repaired) was crazy. I thought the golf course was fun, but I also am of the opinion that it photographs much better than it looks in person. All in all, it was a fun round to squeeze in (played Ferry Point first, which I hated) before heading back to Ohio!

[Steve Lapper]

I played Skyway on my way back from The Bridge. The place was PACKED. Fun golf courses, but overplayed and the amount of divots (not repaired) and pitch marks on the greens (not repaired) was crazy. I thought the golf courses was fun, but I also am of the opinion that it photographs much better than it looks in person. All in all, it was a fun round to squeeze in (played Ferry Point first, which I hated) before heading back to Ohio!

Richard,


  Why did you "hate" Ferry Point? Inquiring minds want to know!

[Stewart Abramson]

I played Skyway on my way back from The Bridge. The place was PACKED. Fun golf courses, but overplayed and the amount of divots (not repaired) and pitch marks on the greens (not repaired) was crazy. I thought the golf courses was fun, but I also am of the opinion that it photographs much better than it looks in person. All in all, it was a fun round to squeeze in...

The tee sheet was full the day I played, but we played at a good pace: Teed off at 7:50 am and finished before 10:00 am even though we were paired with a beginner who scored well over 55 for the nine holes, putting out everything, taking  several tries to escape bunkers, while playing every shot strictly by the rules. The course looked great in person. Very few divots in the fairways. Typical unrepaired ball marks on greens for a busy muni.  Several of the teeing grounds had large overused areas where divots had not been repaired. Other than that it looked great.

[Richard Hetzel]

I played Skyway on my way back from The Bridge. The place was PACKED. Fun golf courses, but overplayed and the amount of divots (not repaired) and pitch marks on the greens (not repaired) was crazy. I thought the golf courses was fun, but I also am of the opinion that it photographs much better than it looks in person. All in all, it was a fun round to squeeze in (played Ferry Point first, which I hated) before heading back to Ohio!

Richard,


  Why did you "hate" Ferry Point? Inquiring minds want to know!

Maybe hate was a strong word here.
Basically, the fairways fed right into the high grass stuff. Instant lost ball for the most part. I hit some excellent drives, or so I thought. Some killed me from run out into the high stuff whereas some space in between would have helped. They probably do this to save maintenance costs; less to maintain, less monies spent. The last few holes were kinda boring as well. The views of Manhattan and the bridge trick you into thinking it's a lot nicer. I am also NOT much of a fan of anything (other than American Dunes which I actually enjoyed) that Jack designs (or helps in designing, which is probably more of the case).

Ferry Point is going to be a Bally's casino, with hotels and parking garages in the near future according to the golf portfolio manager that I was paired up with. He was secret shopping that day and told me all about it.
Final thought, playing The Bridge the day before certainly did NOT help matters any!
Skyway GC had a foursome in EVERY single group when I teed off at 4:30 pm. I was lucky I was able to squeeze it into my trip! I really liked how Skyway was basically shoehorned into an industrial area and a school. Cool back drops.