The Doc Cramer DGC is tucked back in the woods behind the Doc Cramer sports complex in Manahawkin, New Jersey. The course is right off of exit 63 on the Garden State Parkway making it a great stop for a quick round while road tripping. It's also a short drive from Long Beach Island, making it a great place to get a round in while you're on a beach vacation. The course is quite new and is the only course to play along the shore in South Jersey. The baskets are quite new and in great condition. Tee signs are in now, displaying hole number, par, distance, and a map of the hole. Bright orange navigation signs get you from basket to tee with little confusion. The foliage is kept at bay and the grounds are quite clean. The course plays with good variety over its nine holes featuring tight ace runs, longer open shots, varieties of curves, and a little bit of elevation is thrown in the mix to keep things interesting. Basket placement is strategic forcing a number of risky putts, and the breeze coming off the ocean adds another variable to the game play. The course is short, but challenging. There's plenty of parking too.

Tees are a bit a of a drag. They're mostly natural, and with the sandy nature of the soil around here, sure footed drives are not guaranteed. Where they have put down a rubber matt, it's not long enough. Maps on tee signs are not incredibly accurate, which makes for a rough first time round since many baskets are not visible from the tee. Some fairways need to have a few trees taken out. I'm all about challenge, but some shots here require you to throw through jail the get to the pin. It's a bit of a long walk back to the beginning of the course from the ninth hole. The course plays quickly, I wish there were more holes. I hope there are plans to expand the course because it certainly feels like there is enough space to put in at least a few more if not a whole back nine.

This course is a nice escape from the touristy beach atmosphere of LBI and nicely tucked away from Manahawkin's big box highway strip. While I wish there were more holes, Doc Cramer is a nice break and welcome change of scenery from the beach.