Must Play
Enhancements Continue to Make
Rutgers GC a Must Play By, JOHN TORSIELLO
Y
ou thought the Rutgers University Golf Course was good? Well, we’re here to tell you it’s getting even
better. In December, the club completed what was termed “a long overdue bunker and tee project”, by Lisa Jensen, PGA Professional/ Manager. “So that we didn’t have to close completely, we chose to break the project up and work on half the bunkers and the eight targeted tee boxes in the spring and complete the remaining bunkers in the fall. It will take a few years to integrate the new grass into the surrounding areas, but we are very pleased with the result.” OK, I told you management and the University are committed to making this Piscataway jewel shine even brighter. Rutgers GC is a unique public course in a collegiate setting, which is not something you get to experience on a regular basis. There are views of the surrounding academic and athletic communities on almost every hole, and the track, the golf one not the one for running and jumping, is a test for all skill levels. Said Jensen, “We look for a four-hour round of golf, and pace of play is monitored by our player assistants. I’m not sure that people are aware of this, but the timing data was developed through a review by the New Jersey State Golf Association, not just a random decision by the golf operations staff. We aren’t perfect, but we do try very hard to stick to our pace of play mission.” Jensen believes three distinct qualities separate Rutgers GC from other area courses. “We are a test for almost all level of golfer, our staff is engaged in providing great customer service, and we have an amazing group of core golfers. At 6,337 yards from the Scarlet tees, our yardage indicates that we are a short course that has little challenge; that is very far from the case. Our customers are from all walks of life and socioeconomic backgrounds. In many ways we are the melting pot of New Jersey, and that is exactly how we like it.” Jensen said the club will continue to evaluate on an operational level what its next major improvement for the course will be, but most 22
plans are to help the course recover from the impacts that the weather had on the facility in 2018. That said, the course is in great shape. Jensen talked about some of her favorite holes on the course, picking numbers two, eight and 17. “The second hole seems like a pretty straightforward par-four, but you need to hit your drive on the right side of the fairway to have a more reasonable shot into the green, and the bunker on the right side of the fairway comes into play more than you think. The green is guarded by two well-placed bunkers that protect a narrow approach area. You have to hit a high, soft shot into this green as the day goes on, as the sun and the wind will dry it out very quickly. Most putts on the right side of the green move from right to left, opposite of what you see. The eighth is a tough par-three and always seems to play into the wind, regardless of the prevailing direction. “Whatever tee you play from on this hole, you need to hit a high shot onto this green to have it hold and have a chance at birdie. I believe that this hole plays
Golfing Magazine • New Jersey/E. Pennsylvania Section
five to eight yards longer than the yardage indicates.” The 17th is a hole that people dread playing when they step onto the first tee box, said Jensen. From the tips it plays over 200 yards, and the green is one of the smallest on the golf course. “Players show up at this hole knowing that they need to have at least a par to walk to the 18th hole with confidence to finish a great round and bogey to salvage a good one. Water runs the whole length of the hole, and the two greenside bunkers add some anxiety to the tee shot. If you are not hitting the ball well, I would suggest you lay up in the fairway, chip on and try to make your par; otherwise choose and commit to your club and swing away.” Rutgers GC’s main tee time vendor, ForeUp, incurs no booking fees. The course also partners with Golf Now, Teeoff.com (part of the Golf 18 Network) and Victory Golf Pass to provide targeted discounts to players. Daily discounts are available after 1 p.m. on weekdays and weekends, and the course will offer specials throughout the year. Visit www.GolfCourse.Rutgers.edu.
