Best golf courses near Avalon, NJ

The backbone of this super-maximalist design from Dana Fry and Jason Straka in the South New Jersey cape is a pair of constructed 40-foot-high central ridges that half of the complex’s 27 holes scramble up and down. The design is a head-spinning presentation of three different nines that show off electrified putting surfaces stuffed with all manner of tiers, baubles and side slopes, big sandy dunes, scrubby barrens, cavernous bunkers, a section on the north end that mimics holes forged from a quarry and a kaleidoscope of native New Jersey vegetation. The new Union League National earned second-place honors in our 2022 Best New Private award.

Shore Gate is a challenging, target-heavy golf course—likely inspired by nearby Galloway National with a hint of Pine Valley—that's very popular with Avalon vacationers. Penal, deep bunkers as well as tall pines with pine straw and sand present a strong challenge to public golfers. It's a former member of Golf Digest's Best Courses in New Jersey but still among the very best public options in South Jersey.

Cape May National is a nice course to play for vacation-goers or full-time residents. Routed around a 50-acre private bird sanctuary, Cape May National's routing offers some decent variety and mostly above average conditions. The National also boasted Skee Riegel, a two-time Walker Cupper and runner-up finisher to Ben Hogan at the 1951 Masters, as its long-time pro emeritus.