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Joe Palaia Park reviews
12
1
Continuing to Improve 2+ years
Reviewed:
Updated:
Played on:Dec 23, 2018
Played the course:2-4 times
Pros:
Some significant change I experienced playing the course in early 2022. The biggest change is the creation of three woods holes (#6 - #8). They replace the original #3, #7 and #12, so a lot of the existing holes have been renumbered. In addition to adding more woods holes, the redesign improves the course flow, and removes a hole that was notoriously slow and dangerous to park walkers
The new holes #6 (200') and #8 (249') are straight, flat, pretty narrow, with a few trees in the fairway. They add birdie and ace opportunities in addition to the novelty of being in the woods at this course. The new hole #7 is a 550' par 4 with a curling right dogleg. Much of the middle 300' of the hole is turning right, and climbing up a small hill. The hole still needs some stump clearing in the fairway, but it's already a gem. With the fairway lined by removed tree trunks, and the rough covered with laurels, the hole reminded me of what you'd find at Stafford Woods (and that's high praise in New Jersey)
The course continues to be primarily one set of (Blue) tees. The new permanent signage indicates White tees on the two par 5's (#9 and #15), but there are no tees in the ground yet. It appears the only difference to the "White" layout will be shortening these two holes and reducing the pars to 4
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+ Although mostly flat terrain, the designers have done great work shaping 18 distinct holes out of this large park.
+ Baskets are red/white/blue Patriots.
+ There's a practice basket next to the parking lot.
+ This is a fairly open park, but the designers have found ways to carve out distinctive holes by creating placements with guardian trees, and by incorporating berms on a few holes
+ The 5's are long - but they also require shotmaking. Just being able to bomb 'em won't help you through all the obstacles.
The new holes #6 (200') and #8 (249') are straight, flat, pretty narrow, with a few trees in the fairway. They add birdie and ace opportunities in addition to the novelty of being in the woods at this course. The new hole #7 is a 550' par 4 with a curling right dogleg. Much of the middle 300' of the hole is turning right, and climbing up a small hill. The hole still needs some stump clearing in the fairway, but it's already a gem. With the fairway lined by removed tree trunks, and the rough covered with laurels, the hole reminded me of what you'd find at Stafford Woods (and that's high praise in New Jersey)
The course continues to be primarily one set of (Blue) tees. The new permanent signage indicates White tees on the two par 5's (#9 and #15), but there are no tees in the ground yet. It appears the only difference to the "White" layout will be shortening these two holes and reducing the pars to 4
**************
+ Although mostly flat terrain, the designers have done great work shaping 18 distinct holes out of this large park.
+ Baskets are red/white/blue Patriots.
+ There's a practice basket next to the parking lot.
+ This is a fairly open park, but the designers have found ways to carve out distinctive holes by creating placements with guardian trees, and by incorporating berms on a few holes
+ The 5's are long - but they also require shotmaking. Just being able to bomb 'em won't help you through all the obstacles.
Other Thoughts:
- I think Joe Palaia has the chance to be among the best challenges in NJ, up there with Stafford, Doc, Allaire and Tecumseh. They're all different, but they each represent a real and fair challenge. We are raising our game in the Garden State, and I'm grateful to all the designers and people who care for our courses.
