Courtesy of the club
Evan Schiller
Evan Schiller
Courtesy of the club
Courtesy of the club
Courtesy of the club
Courtesy of the club
Courtesy of the club
Courtesy of the club
Evan Schiller
Metedeconk National Golf Club: 1st/3rd
Metedeconk National Golf Club: 1st/3rd
50 Hannah Hill Rd.
Jackson, NJ 08527
United States
Overview
Set in the northern portion of New Jersey’s Pine Barrens, the course weaves through pine trees on gently sloping ground. Opening and closing holes on each nine play down and then back up the hill, which is the dominant landform that adds interest to the routing. Robert Trent Jones Sr. and Roger Rulewich routed all 27 holes through the pines and local marsh, creating a course that challenges a player’s ability to navigate uneven lies and elevation changes. Missing the fairway here will leave a golfer amid the pines, often with a difficult recovery. A recent bunker renovation opened up views on some holes while widening the landing area on others. Originally opened in 1987, Metedeconk National has occupied a spot in Golf Digest’s Best in State almost every year since.
About
Awards
Ranking history:
Best in State: Ranked in Top 10 in New Jersey from 1989-2003; Top 15 from 2005-2009 & 2015-'22; Top 20 from 2011-2014 and current.
2025-'26 ranking (and previous): 17th.
Panelists
Ratings from our panel of 1,900 course-ranking panelists
100 GREATEST/BEST IN STATE SCORES
Shot Options
Character
Challenge
Layout Variety
Fun
Aesthetics
Conditioning
Reviews
Review
“Metedeconk 3rd/1st is a distinctive RTJ golf course. A large majority of the holes have either bunkering inside the dogleg or a hazard creeping out in the driving areas, forcing the player to decide to lay back with a 3 wood or hit a precise driver to a narrow landing area. The lack of variety in shape and distance of the par 4s (and par 3s) means that a number of holes require the same shot off the tee and the same shot into the green. The course was well maintained, but the fairways were not firm and fast. The greens were firm and fast but were not overly receptive to approach shots. As the course requires carries for most approach shots into narrow greens, good shots were not always rewarded. The 1st 9 was the more distinctive side. Holes 3 (3 shot part 5 with a real decision to make on where to lay up to hit into a challenging green), 7 (fantastic shorter par 4), and 8 (mid sized part 4 with a blind tee shot to a center of the fairway bunker that offers great risk/reward) stand out as the best of the side. The 3rd 9's offered less variety, but the mid length par 3, 23rd, and the closing hole 27th should also be noted."
Read More2026
Review
“* Heavier on right vs. left doglegs and inside bunkering is found on almost all doglegs. * Once off the fairway, balls can find heavy rough quickly and not be found. The course doesn't have the traditional sand barrens landscape around it that would feature more kept waste area. This makes the course very challenging with skinnier fairways to hit. * Greens are well designed with pockets for pins and funneling the ball on approaches. * Shot options are limited with skinnier landing areas, preventing any extreme angles into greens. The greens over water are angled well which feature some of the better holes on property. Short left bunkering greenside catches the overcut approaches which features more heavily for the righty. * Course was very wet despite dryer weather the weeks prior. One rain and the course was soaked."
Read More2025
Review
“The Conk is a championship gof course. it tests you from the tee and the approach shots are key to avoid some challenging long putts. The greens are large with lots of undulation. The bunkering was very nice as well."
Read More2024
Review
“Shot options ranks higher with most drives offering a risk/reward choice to be aggressive and challenge fairway hazards or play it safe for a longer second along with green surrounds, changed during the recent renovation, that offer a multitude of options. Failure to hit the fairway often times requires the golfer to work their way out of the woods or fescue, "take their medicine", and put themselves back in play scrambling for par at best."
Read More2022
Review
“Metedeconk is a very demanding test, which feels like it could host a Women’s US Open one day with its vastness and facilities too. The course is is very secluded as well, as the aesthetics and surrounds are very inviting."
Read More2021
Review
“Narrow fairways with towering pines. Every hole feels on its own and one can rarely see any other hole on the golf course beside the one they're on. Fairway, then penal rough then forest. Soft conditions, not fast and firm. Several blind shots and blind approaches. Massive driving range and strong golf culture. Runoff areas around the green support a variety of shots around them."
Read More2020
Review
“Metedeconk is home to one of the best practice facilities I've seen anywhere. The club facilities, pro shop, staff and food are all excellent and they go out of their way to make you feel welcome. Only to be outdone by the two level mens locker room that was done impeccably. Holes 7, 10 and 18 stand out, and this course plays very tough from the back tees. We had great weather and the course conditions were excellent as the greens were firm and fast and the rough was longer making this a challenging course from start to finish."
Read More2019
Review
“A delightful golfing day: the view of the driving range/practice field as you approach the clubhouse is astounding and sets all the right notes for a great day to come. The strength of the course comes in the handful of holes on each nine that are starkly unusual: terrific long holes with three challenging shots and some excellent very short par 4s highlight each nine. Playing through the forest on virtually every hole gives a warm and intimate character to the course."
Read More2019
Review
“A special NJ track as almost every hole is an entity unto itself. The proximity of marsh and lowland pine forest throughout provide for a memorable ambience on this beautiful course."
Read More2019
