A Guide to New Jersey's Golf Courses & Driving Ranges

Ask any golfer—professional or amateur—about Pine Valley Golf Club, and you’ll instantly get a dreamy look. And that’s because the southwestern New Jersey golf club is ranked one of the best in the world. Due to its high acclaim, this is a private course. However, the golf club opens its doors to the public on the last Sunday in September so everyone can enjoy the beautiful landscape and play a few holes.

Baltursol Golf Club has a rich history for not only being a premier golf institution but also a longtime host to golf’s major championships. Normally divided into upper and lower Baltursol, the two combined greens have been the location for 17 big tournaments including seven U.S. Opens and two PGA Championships. The club is private, but if you’re lucky enough to know a member, then you can experience the great landscapes and play in a beautiful setting. Just be sure to consult their dress code guidelines on the website before heading over.

Located in the Crystal Springs Resort, Ballyowen Golf Club feels like you’ve stepped into the a little piece of Ireland. The New Jersey golf course is rated one of the best and most beautiful greens. And the best part? It’s open to the public, and you can get caddie service for an extra $20. If you’re not much of a player, stop by the Owen’s Pub, where you can grab a pint and listen to the in-house bagpipe player.

While most golf courses and clubs are outside the city limits, the Skyway Golf Course is situated in the middle of one. Located in Jersey City’s West Side, the nine-hole layout gives players views of the Manhattan skyline and Pulaski Skyway. Open to the public, visitors can book their tee times in advance on the website

Bayonne may be near lots of ports and isn’t necessarily deemed as having a luscious landscape. However, if you can step into the Bayonne Golf Club, then you’ll see something vastly different. Sitting on 150 acres of New Jersey marshland, the invite-only private golf club is known for its adventurous links, which make for challenging rounds of the game. For members who want to get away from New York City for a little while, the Bayonne Golf Club is the perfect oasis to escape the hustle and bustle of the city.

Before hitting a New Jersey golf course, maybe you’d like to get some practice swings in. If so, the Pennington Golf Center is the perfect spot. Located in South Jersey, it’s close enough for even Philadelphians to get to. Their driving range offers four target greens, a sand trap and other practice areas, and the Golf Center also offers lessons to work on your skills. If you’ve got friends or family who aren’t into improving their game, there is also miniature golf for them to have fun with.

While many golf courses and driving ranges in New Jersey are traditional looking, 21 Golf Range brings golf into modern times. Located in Palisades Park, NJ, the driving range is set up with an automatic ball tee-up system and climate-controlled multi-level bays. In addition to working on your swing, there is an area where you can improve your putting skills. And if you want to take a break, there is a restaurant, cafe and spa on the grounds for you to relax a while before another round.