The best public-access and private golf courses in New Jersey, ranked

Looking to play the best golf courses in New Jersey? Welcome to our annual Golfweek’s Best ranking of public-access and private courses.

Following are the rankings for both types of courses, as judged by our nationwide network of raters. The hundreds of members of our course-ratings panel continually evaluate courses and rate them on 10 criteria on a points basis of 1 through 10. They also file a single, overall rating on each course. Those overall ratings are averaged to produce all our Golfweek’s Best course rankings.

The courses on the first list allow public access in some fashion, be it standard daily green fees, through a resort or by staying at an affiliated hotel. If there’s a will, there’s a tee time – no membership required.

KEY: (m) modern, built in 1960 or after; (c) classic, built before 1960. For courses with a number preceding the (m) or (c), that is where the course ranks on Golfweek’s Best lists for top 200 modern and classic courses in the U.S.

* indicates new or returning to the rankings

Best public-access courses in New Jersey

Neshanic Valley in New Jersey (Courtesy of Neshanic Valley)

1. Crystal Springs Resort (Ballyowen)
Hamburg (m)

2. Neshanic Valley
Neshanic Station (m)

3. Seaview (Bay)
Galloway (c)

4. Rock Spring
West Orange (c)

5. Twisted Dune
Egg Harbor Township (m)

6. Knoll (West)
Boonton (c)

7. Shore Gate
Ocean View (m)

8. Crystal Springs Resort (Wild Turkey)
Hamburg (m)

9. Architects
Lopatcong (m)

10. Crystal Springs Resort (Crystal Springs)
Hamburg (m)

11. Seaview (Pines)
Absecon (c)

12. Scotland Run
Williamstown (m)

13. Ballamor
Egg Harbor Township (m)

T14. RiverWinds
West Deptford (m)

T14. Heron Glen
Ringoes (m)

Best private courses in New Jersey

Baltusrol’s Lower Course in New Jersey (Courtesy of Baltusrol/Evan Schiller)

1. Pine Valley GC
Pine Valley (2c)

2. Somerset Hills
Bernardsville (21c)

3. Plainfield
Edison (T31c)

4. Baltusrol (Lower)
Springfield (T34c)

5. Hollywood GC
Deal (T49c)

6. Ridgewood (Championship)
Paramus (T57c)

7. Baltusrol (Upper)
Springfield (T60c)

8. Galloway National
Galloway Township (56m)

9. Bayonne GC
Bayonne (T67m)

10. Mountain Ridge
West Caldwell (T104c)

11. Essex County CC
West Orange (T111c)

12. Hidden Creek
Egg Harbor Township (T118m)

13. Ridge at Back Brook
Ringoes (T134m)

14. Trump National (Old)
Bedminster (T154m)

15. Due Process Stable*
Colt’s Neck (m)