Detailed description of Pine Valley Golf Club, Pine Valley Golf Course
Pine Valley Golf Club -Pine Valley, is a Private, 18 hole golf course located in Pine Valley, New Jersey.
Pine Valley Golf Club first opened for play in 1918. The course was designed by George Crump, and H.S. Colt.
Pine Valley was rated the #1 golf course in the world in both 2012 and 2015 by Golf Magazine. Hey wait a second, there is no ocean view, no island green in the sense of an island in the middle of a lake. What gives? Why is Pine Valley continually judged as the finest course? Those in the know say it is the world's best course because 1) it has more world class holes than any other course, 2) it's eighteen 'consecutive holes are the best eighteen consecutive holes, 3) it has the finest three hole start and 4) the finest three hole finish of any course in the world.
George Crump deserves the vast majority of the credit for the incorporation of so many classic design elements. Crump is the man who found the property, who lived on site and scoured it week after week to find the ideal routing, and who oversaw the detailed construction of fourteen of the holes.
Cypress Point or Royal Melbourne (West) or Royal County Down or even The Old Course at St. Andrews, each feature nines of unequal merit. However, at Pine Valley, the level of excellence and challenge remains from the 1st tee to the last putt on the 18th green.
The design features wide fairways and large, fast greens. There are several sand and grass bunkers located throughout the course, and water hazards come into play on four holes. This club has the highest slope and course ratings for men in the continental U.S. A redesign of two holes was completed in 1989 by Tom Fazio and Andy Banfield.
This golf facility also offers a ten hole Short Course designed by Tom Fazio. Due to the private nature of the club, green fees are not available for publication.
Think a course has to be play to a Par 72 to be any good? Think again. Pine Valley is “only†a Par 70, and yet it is regarded as the finest golf venue in the world. The course plays to 6,656 yards from the back tees.
(cart not included), played on Tuesday, August 2009 at 10am
I was very fortunate to be invited to play this course. I have played it before and the experience has always been the same - The course was in perfect condition and very difficult. You need to get off the tee well and avoid the sand. (lots of sand) This was an unforgetable experience. I hope to be invited to play again. August in New Jersey was very hot.
Guest (cart included), played on Friday, September 2008 at 8am
It is a tough track but fair
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Guest (cart not included), played on Wednesday, October 2010 at noon
When invited to play PV your only response should be "yes,when?" My head golf pro, our first assistant, and I were invited by a member to play PV late last fall before they aerified. It was my last round of the season and it is now mid January; every night while I lay in bed I replay that round in my head...hoping to burn the images into my memory in fear i forget. There is only one word that describes PV - "Majestic". I would compare it to the most catholic person you know getting an inside tour of the Vatican; a truly one in a lifetime opportunity.
Driving into the grounds was like going to summer camp with narrow twisting roads and large pines. After a brief stop at the clubhouse to change our shoes and look around we drove to the driving range. The range is immense and the best I have every seen. The clubhouse is understated but lavish at the same time. Giant portraits of crested blazered men of importance line the dining rooms, a large board with a listing of members, a tiny pro shop that probably sells more items that your mega sports store.
It is true that every hole is a signature hole. A surprisingly easy driving course, but if you venture far from the sprinkler lines you will be in so much trouble that your only choice is to pitch it back into play. I'm not long, but straight and on three holes I missed three fairways but all three left zero chance of reaching the green in regulation.
The green complexes are outstanding and for all poa greens they are lightning fast and firm. The undulations are subtle but for a first timer I would've shot a hundred without the guidance of my caddy Tom.
Sand is everywhere and there are no rakes. If you find a foot print you have to deal with it. They are "hazards" after all...we are all spoiled by conventional bunker maintenance. It's not only sandy in playig areas, you'd swear you were playing an ocean course and trudging through dunes to the next patch of emerald green fairway or green. There are very few water hazards except for a couple of holes on the back nine.
I hope I get a chance to go back.