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Oak Ridge Park reviews
14
0
Solid Start, Getting Better
Reviewed:
Updated:
Played on:Jun 17, 2022
Played the course:5+ times
Pros:
Clever layout on the site of a former county golf course that became a popular park for walkers
MAY 2023 UPDATE: Poured tees are in place. Permanent signage is on the way. The uDisc distances have been updated to reflect the actual distances from the new tee locations. A few par changes on the Blue layout to account for the tee locations, and a few of the Whites on the back nine have been shortened a touch ( = more birdies!)
+ The landscape features a significant hillside sloping down from the front of the course to a flat area that drops away a bit more toward the back of the property. The designers created a layout of holes with a variety of elevation challenges to consider. Only a third of the holes are completely "flat."
+ Designers did good work differentiating between Blue and White layouts using more than just distance. For a layout that's on a former golf course, they found a surprising number of extra obstacles to consider from the Blues along with a few mandos
+ Hole #5 is a beauty. After a right dogleg from the Blue tees, you're looking down across a field toward the basket with a small stream across the fairway, with an approach narrowed by tall marshy grasses on the left, and OB marked by a white rail fence on the right. Probably the best view on the course
+ Hole #7 is the one genuinely wooded hole, entirely created by tearing out trees and underbrush. Every time I play the hole gets a little bit clearer and better defined - it took a lot of hard work form local club members
+ Hole #18 is a good uphill par 4 finisher (543' from the Whites, 653' from the Blues). Wide open for letting it rip
+ The 5200' Whites might be a bit long for beginners, but because of the openness of the property they can throw with abandon and gradually learn to control their lines
MAY 2023 UPDATE: Poured tees are in place. Permanent signage is on the way. The uDisc distances have been updated to reflect the actual distances from the new tee locations. A few par changes on the Blue layout to account for the tee locations, and a few of the Whites on the back nine have been shortened a touch ( = more birdies!)
+ The landscape features a significant hillside sloping down from the front of the course to a flat area that drops away a bit more toward the back of the property. The designers created a layout of holes with a variety of elevation challenges to consider. Only a third of the holes are completely "flat."
+ Designers did good work differentiating between Blue and White layouts using more than just distance. For a layout that's on a former golf course, they found a surprising number of extra obstacles to consider from the Blues along with a few mandos
+ Hole #5 is a beauty. After a right dogleg from the Blue tees, you're looking down across a field toward the basket with a small stream across the fairway, with an approach narrowed by tall marshy grasses on the left, and OB marked by a white rail fence on the right. Probably the best view on the course
+ Hole #7 is the one genuinely wooded hole, entirely created by tearing out trees and underbrush. Every time I play the hole gets a little bit clearer and better defined - it took a lot of hard work form local club members
+ Hole #18 is a good uphill par 4 finisher (543' from the Whites, 653' from the Blues). Wide open for letting it rip
+ The 5200' Whites might be a bit long for beginners, but because of the openness of the property they can throw with abandon and gradually learn to control their lines
Cons:
- The nature of the property - being a former golf course that has become a popular walking park - creates some challenges, The trees tend to be in lines (bordering the former golf fairways), and there's a lot of open space. Additionally, the designers didn't want a layout that plays across the paved walking trails. As a result, there are more than a few wide open throws into greens that are tucked between trees, and a few repetitive holes.
- A few walks to the next tee where you're doubling back, or you're walking the length of the next hole just to turn around and play it. You might take "incoming fire" on a busy day
- A few walks to the next tee where you're doubling back, or you're walking the length of the next hole just to turn around and play it. You might take "incoming fire" on a busy day
Other Thoughts:
~ New DisCatchers with arrows to the next Blue and White tees. Mowed grass throughout. Signage includes satellite photos and full explanations of mandos and O.B. Active club: local tag rounds and doubles, annual tournaments. Kiosk with bulletin board, lost disc box. Permanent bathrooms in the park.
~ I've played a handful of converted or shared golf courses that felt like I was just playing up and down the existing fairways with frisbees instead of clubs. Oak Ridge has a few holes like that, but most of the time it feels like playing in an open field course: your disc spends most of its time in the open, but has to navigate an obstacle at the end of the throw.
~ The first dedicated course in Union County NJ. I don't want to oversell it: it's a solid 3 that could become a bit better with age. But it's a big deal to have a full 18 hole course here: it took TEN YEARS of off and on efforts to get it in the ground
~ I've played a handful of converted or shared golf courses that felt like I was just playing up and down the existing fairways with frisbees instead of clubs. Oak Ridge has a few holes like that, but most of the time it feels like playing in an open field course: your disc spends most of its time in the open, but has to navigate an obstacle at the end of the throw.
~ The first dedicated course in Union County NJ. I don't want to oversell it: it's a solid 3 that could become a bit better with age. But it's a big deal to have a full 18 hole course here: it took TEN YEARS of off and on efforts to get it in the ground
8
0
thegock
Experience:
1.9 months
3 played
3 reviews
Oak Ridge Park, Clark NJ 2+ years
Reviewed:
Played on:May 28, 2022
Played the course:5+ times
Pros:
Plenty of fairway space for beginners Great baskets. Large parking lot. New bathrooms. Safe for other users by design. Blue and white tees spaced well for different arm strengths. Next tee arrows are a plus. Other park users are friendly. Great local DG scene in the middle of what was a DG desert. From my POV: less than 5 miles from home.
Cons:
Doesn't have permanent tee pads yet. These would improve my rating. Not very challenging for top golfers. Flatter than most courses.
Other Thoughts:
Great job getting the course established, when Union County has quite a bit of opposition to change.
