Alright, so I’ve been seeing chatter online about Blue Heron Golf in NJ. Everyone asking if it’s worth dropping cash on a round there. Figured it was time I checked it out myself. Not gonna lie, some of those player reviews had me a little hesitant.
Making the Booking
First step was booking. Hopped online, found their website. Honestly? Kinda clunky. Found a decent weekday rate and pulled the trigger. Paid for two, hoping my buddy wouldn’t bail. Got the confirmation email. Easy enough, I guess.
Getting There & First Look
Drove down early Tuesday morning. Easy drive, signs were clear. Pulled into the lot around 7:30 AM. Place looked… decent. Clubhouse is big but feels a bit worn? Bag drop guy was friendly. Got a cart quick. Pro shop guy? Not super talkative, kinda just wanted my money and to push me out. Grabbed a coffee. Meh, tasted old. Already missing my Keurig.
Hit the driving range before tee-off. Okay, this was a letdown. Grass was patchy, kinda thin, mostly dirt in spots. Limited range balls. Putting green? Rolled okay, but speed felt slow compared to what I like. My buddy showed up, thank god. Grabbed a cart and headed to the first tee.
On the Course – The Good, The Bad, The Ugly
Alright, let’s break down actually playing.
The Holes:
Some holes are really nice. Like that par 3 over water? Solid. Views in spots? Pretty decent for Jersey. Layout has some fun challenges, gotta think a bit.
The Conditions:
This is where it got frustrating. It was rough. Seriously. Big patches on fairways were bare dirt or thin, straggly grass. Like, not a little spot here and there – whole sections were just bad. Bunkers? Forget it. One looked like it hadn’t been raked in weeks, another was basically mud. Greens were patchy and bumpy on several holes. Rough was thick and gnarly in places, thin and weedy in others. Felt inconsistent.
Pace of Play:
We started early, so we flew for the first nine. Back nine? Crawled. Got stuck behind a fivesome that clearly didn’t understand “ready golf.” Ranger drove by once, waved, didn’t do squat. Took over 5 hours total. Brutal.
The 19th Hole (Sort Of)
Finished up, thirsty. Grill was packed and loud. Wanted a beer and a quick bite. Saw the prices. Noped right out of there. Felt super overpriced for a hot dog and a Sam Adams. Staff behind the counter looked stressed and slammed. Went straight to my car. Packed up my dirty clubs.
So… Is It Worth Playing?
Straight talk? Here’s my list:
- Low Price Tag? Okay, if you snag a really hot deal online, maybe. I wouldn’t pay rack rate.
- Convenience? Yep, easy drive if you’re in North Jersey or NYC.
- Fun Layout? Honestly, yes. Some interesting holes. It could be a great track.
- Good Conditions? NO. A big, fat NO. Fairways, bunkers, greens – it was neglected.
- Good Pace? Nope. Got stuck bad.
- Good Service? Bag drop guy was cool. Pro shop and grill? Rushed and indifferent.
Look, if you need a cheap-ish, convenient tee time and can handle truly mediocre (or worse) conditions and slow play, go for it. But if you actually care about playing on decent grass and bunkers that aren’t mud pits? Save your money. I wouldn’t rush back unless I saw proof they seriously turned the place around. Plenty of other spots nearby that try harder for your cash. Kinda bummed, cause it had potential.
