Monmouth County’s Colts Neck Golf Club is Special

By, JOHN TORSIELLO

One of the sweetest courses in the Monmouth County area of New Jersey is Colts Neck Golf Club.

This is a first class track, one that is kept in pristine condition and presents a challenge for the best golfer. Yet, is also not so difficult as to overpower recreational players and those with modest ability. It was designed by the firm of Cornish, Silva and Mungeam of New England. The company is known for designing courses that are fun to play and are approachable for all golfers, with several ways to play a hole.

Spirit Golf Management has taken over operations at the club, located in Colts Neck.

“We looked forward to the opportunity to elevate the courses and make sure it’s on every avid Mid-Atlantic golfer’s must-play list,” said Mike Attara, Principal, Spirit Golf

Management.

Spirit Golf’s partnership with the semiprivate Colts Neck Golf Club began last August, when the firm was hired to oversee golf operations and sales for the club. Spirit Golf’s role expanded in 2023 to include course maintenance.

“Spirit Golf immediately provided the professionalism we were lacking and managed to quickly turn around a challenging situation,” said Steve Schneider, Chief Operating Officer for Colts Neck Golf Club. “Within a few months, we signed a record number of new members for a year and, in the process, turned 2022 into one of the club’s most prosperous years to date.”

The club offers numerous membership options including the all-inclusive Kentucky Derby Membership, the Preakness Membership designed for walkers, the Haskell Membership for junior golfers, and others, said Dean Halterman,

Head Professional. “This year we have introduced two new memberships. The Polo Membership allows guests to experience some of the benefits of full membership at an introductory price. A Tuesday Ladies League and Thursday Men’s League Memberships are designed to allow members the opportunity to enjoy the amenities that the club has to offer. One of our most popular amenities is our grill room and dinner/ballroom which host events for both our members and outside events such as parties, baby showers, and graduations.”

Colts Neck Golf Club has multiple PGA Professionals on staff that offer private and group instruction, as well as camps and clinics for junior golfers. “We have four teaching professionals that are available to give lessons based on your needs,” said Halterman. “The Golf Academy of New Jersey, overseen by our PGA Director of Instruction, PJ Ulanich, offers full-day junior golf camps in the summer from June to August and clinics in the spring and fall.”

Halterman brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to Colts Neck. He has worked at many prestigious clubs in the New Jersey and Philadelphia PGA Sections, including Galloway National Golf Club, the Philadelphia Cricket Club, and Bidermann Golf Club.

The front side at Colts Neck GC is a bit more open than the back nine, which has most of its holes bordered by trees. The course plays 6,262 yards from the back markers and features an eclectic mix of five par-fives, five par-threes and eight par-fours. Accuracy is more important than length to score well here. The greens are on the large size and are surrounded by Scottish-style bunkers and tall fescue rough areas. The layout is not long, playing just over 6,400 yards from the back tees. There are several other teeing options to meet the ability of all golfers.

The 340-yard par-four first hole is a nice way to start a round. It’s straightforward and has a bunkers off the fairway landing area with a green that is flanked by bunkers.

The 385-yard par-four second hole has a fairway bunker near the landing area and a large bunker that wraps around the green from right to center.

The third hole is a 486-yard par-five that can be attacked by long hitters, but there is water that must be avoided to the left. There’s a bunker near the layup area and two bunkers near the green.

The 170-yard par-three fourth hole has large bunkers guarding a wide green.

The 316-yard par-four sixth hole’s green is approachable by long hitters off the tee. There’s a waste area on the right side of the fairway and the green has two bunkers that guard the approach to the green to catch missed drives. There’s also a bunker to the left of the green.

The seventh is a sweet little, 133-yard par-three that has bunkers guarding the green.

The eighth hole plays 560 yards from the tips and is a stout par-five that is lined by trees on both side. There’s a bunker near the fairway tee shot landing area although the layup area for the second shot is wide open. There’s a bunker on the right side of the green

The ninth is a 365-yard par-four that bends somewhat to the right. There are bunkers off the fairway landing area and several near an undulating green.

The 11th hole is another nice par-three playing 183 yards. There is a large bunker to the left of a sizeable putting surface.

The 11th is a beefy par-four, playing 431 yards. You will need two good shots to stay away from bunkers to the side of the fairway landing area and a pond that sits on the right side of the green.

The 12th is a beastly par-three playing 224 yards. Too long a shot will find woods to the back and left of the green, which has a large bunker guarding its left side.

Number 13th is another short par-four that plays 318 yards. There is little trouble so big hitters can take driver out and go for the putting surface off the tee. There is, however, a large tree that guards the front side of the green that must be avoided.

The 14th is a 352-yard par-four where the tee ball carries through a chute of trees. There’s a bunker on the left side of the green.

The 496-yard par-five 15th is another hole where the tee shot must be hit through a chute of trees. There’s a waste area to the left side of the fairway that needs to be avoided and four bunkers near the green.

The 163-yard par-three 16th has a waste area to the right of the green, which is small, and woods to the rear of the putting surface.

The 17th is another par-five that measures 464 yards and can be attacked in two by big boppers. There’s a pot bunker to catch shots in the middle of the fairway landing area and another bunker to the right. There a bunker on the right side of the green.

The 18th is indeed a memorable hole to finish with. It’s 233 yards from the back and the par-three has water in front that has to be cleared with a long iron or hybrid off the tee. The green is large and protected by bunkers on its right side.

Colts Neck Golf Club www.ColtsNeckGolfClub.com

Colts Neck, N.J.

732-303-9330