
Carlos Amoedo

Dom Furore

Dom Furore

Courtesy of the club/Charley Raudenbush

Photo by Dom Furore

Dom Furore

Golf Digest/Photo by Dom Furore

Photo by Dom Furore
Overview
A genuine original, its unique character is forged from the sandy pine barrens of southwest Jersey. Founder George Crump had help from now-legendary architects H.S. Colt, A.W. Tillinghast, George C. Thomas Jr. and Walter Travis. Hugh Wilson (of Merion fame) and his brother Alan finished the job, and William Flynn and Perry Maxwell made revisions. Throughout the course, Pine Valley blends all three schools of golf design—penal, heroic and strategic—often times on a single hole. Recent tree removal at selected spots have revealed some gorgeous views of the sandy landscape upon which the course is routed, and bunker reconstruction by Tom Fazio has given the barrens a more intricate and ornate look.
About
Awards


Ranking history:
100 Greatest: Ranked since 1966. Ranked among the Top 2 since the inaugural edition in 1985.
2023-'24 ranking: 1st (since 2017).
Highest Ranking: Ranked 1st from 1985-2000, 2003-2008, 2013-2014, & since 2017.
Best in State: Ranked in Top 5 in New Jersey since 1977.
Current ranking: 1st since 1985.
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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
“While I knew going in that the course was often considered the best in the US or even the world, it actually exceeded my expectations. I had the good fortune to play it twice with perfect weather and the course was firm and fast. I thought it provided generally wide enough landing areas off the tee. But, if you missed the fairway, you often had tree issues or sand issues that required you to punch out and play a shot that could not reach the green. With the firm fairways, length was not valued over accuracy. I thought the small greens on the short par fours were magnificent. It was just a world class experience."
Read More2024
Review
“Make sure you have the game to play this course. Much harder than you can imaging,"
Read More2024
Review
“I once shot 76 here, in my 4o's and have had other good rounds, but now at 77 it is too tough for me. The forced carries are just too long. But that does not take away from the magnificence of the course and the setting. There are any number of great holes on this course. The first seems straight forward - drive down the left and try to have a straight shot to the green. But if you do either shot straight, your woes begin. The second, with the wall of bunkers in front of the green and the deeply slanted green are more trouble than most players can handle. But the holes are not unfair, just very difficult. And that's the way it goes around the course all the way to the 18th with the water hazard fronting the green. This is a must play for any golfer of near scratch ability, but for the guy with only a 200-yard drive, prepare for some great sightseeing and a very high score. This course deserves its #1 rating, but it is not for the average golfer."
Read More2024
Review
“There is not much to say that hasn't already been said. The courses holes, variety, and character all were unique and consistent with one of the top courses in the world. Hole lengths, shapes, green contours, and sizes, as well as land movement across holes was truly exceptional. The course is fair, and gives players room to operate and place shot strategically, but punishes misses severly with sharp bunkers and thick vegetation."
Read More2024
Review
“Like walking in a dream! Challenging from the very start until the last putt drops on 18, absolutely no let up or weak hole throughout the round. Sandy soil turf conditioning and corridors lined by majestic pines. Bunkering is numerous, penal, and yet aesthetically beautiful."
Read More2024
Review
“The waste areas turn errant shots into potential disasters. The severity of some of the greenside slopes and waste areas is unmatched anywhere in the States. I see something new there everytime I play the course. The design of the greens and the hole locations alter the desired line of play on so many holes. The visual intimidation on many shots is a part of the allure as disaster lurks everywhere."
Read More2022
Review
“The quintessential American course built successfully to be a complete, rigorous test of golf. Core routing with hole corridors oriented in all directions through trees and rustic, sandy, rolling terrain. Heavily "bunkered", irregularly maintained but played as waste areas, bounding both sides of the fairway often, and sometimes crossing tees and greens. 11 of 14 holes have difficult turning points with left-to-right doglegs on eight of them, and five moving sharply. The course has an excellent mix of long, medium and short holes. Mostly played through the air, greater emphasis is placed on accuracy due to the large penalties paid for being out of position. "
Read More2022
Review
“The defining American course, tough as nails, demanding, "unfair" at times, exhausting mentally and physically. Not to be missed!"
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Review
“The ultimate golf experience in the United States. Pine Valley is the best course in the world, but it is also one of it's least forgiving. The course demands precision and harshly punishes any poor shots. Though sometimes people say it's Disneyland for golfers, I don't think most children enjoy Disneyland as much as golfers enjoy Pine Valley."
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Review
“Each hole is so distinct and memorable. You could play Pine Valley every day for years and never get bored with the layout variety and shot options the design presents. The conditioning is world-class with firm fast fairways and true greens. There is a great mix of postage stamp greens and fairly large green surfaces. The green complexes are all unique and require constant attention to detail."
Read More2022
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