Every time I see this, it always shocks me. A South Jersey golf club is ranked the number 1 golf course in America. What’s ever crazier, it’s not the first time it happened. I remember reading about it a few years ago and I got so obsessed I went down quite the rabbit hole. I can’t wrap my brain around how this keeps ranking the top club and no one plays there. Turns out, it’s extremely exclusive. Even the most famous people haven’t been able to play there. Membership is by invitation only from the board of directors. The only way a guest is allowed into the club is if they are invited and accompanied by a member, and they must have low handicaps to play the course.
They literally just voted to allow women to be members in 2021. The golf club has existed for 108 years and women were just allowed to be members in 2021!!! Before that, women were only allowed to play on Sunday afternoons!
One of the biggest reasons of why it’s always ranked so high is because of it’s difficultly. In “The Complete Golfer”, course architect Robert Trent Jones wrote that it “is frequently alluded to as the most difficult course in the world, and this reputation is justified. To my way of thinking, it also possesses more classic holes than any other course in the world.”[8] Johnny Miller wrote that “There are no weak holes. Every single one is a masterpiece. There is a surprise around every corner, 18 unique and beautiful challenges.”[9]
As for some of the notable members, President Bush, Brian Roberts (CEO of Comcast), Sean Connery, Connie Mack, Arnold Palmer, just to name a few. I have a feeling there are some younger members that are trying to keep it under wraps. Luke Combs is a big golfer, maybe he’ll get to play when he’s at the The Linc at the end of July.
Check out some of the other local golf courses that made Golf Digest’s list and see if you have any played at any.