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Valleybrook Course Review
South Jersey is covered with tight-knit communities and friendly suburban neighborhoods, and Valleybrook Country Club manages to give players a terrific golfing experience right in the middle of all of it.
The Ron Jaworski owned club is situated in the heart of Blackwood, with its holes twisting through condominiums and running alongside suburban homes. But the quality and challenge of the layout is more than enough to keep you focused on your round.
Valleybrook is open enough to welcome beginners and high-handicappers, but even at 6,384, it provides enough challenge with a smart and varying design that will keep even expert golfers coming back. Every hole is different and the elevation change throughout the course, especially on holes No. 6 through 12, is a rare treat as far as South Jersey courses go.
The course does a fantastic job of forcing a golfer to use every club in their bag. In fact, even off the tee, you're faced with plenty of options and its not unusual - or wrong - to hit an iron off the same tee that another member of your group hits driver.
The course's most challenging hole, the 367-yard par-4 16th, is a perfect example. The hard dog leg left is protected by trees, but a well-played draw or a nice high drive could put you right at the foot of the elevated green. The safe shot though, is a mid iron to a landing area that leaves a relatively undaunted approach.
The 350-yard, par-4 7th is another hole where a mid iron off the tee is the smart shot. One of the more memorable holes on the course, the smart play on No. 7 is to hit to the middle of the fairway, right around the 150-yard marker, leaving a short iron into a depressed green which is protected by water in front. A large mound protects the back of the green, so while you should be taking less club for the elevation drop, hitting long is the safer miss here.
Few holes demand a driver off the tee. Just one par-4, the 428-yard, 18th, measures more than 400 yards, so even conservative tee shots tend to leave reasonable approaches. However, the opening and closing holes are both great opportunities to break out the big stick - as they should be.
No. 1 is a wide open 391-yard par-4 with just a bunker short to the left and a line of trees to the right. Even the most errant of tee shots here can be found and put on the green with a solid second shot. No. 18 is straight away with mounds on either side of the fairway that funnel wide shots back into play.
The challenge at Valleybrook comes from the varying holes and the decisions a golfer faces on each hole. Open holes like Nos. 1 and 18 are balanced by winding fairways demanding accurate drives like No. 13, a 359-yard par-4 with an elevated tee and a small green. Greens are on the fast side, but controllable. A solid putting stroke is needed to score well.
The par-5s are reachable and the best chances for birdies, but the 517-yard 9th requires two great shots to reach. The hole bends left and the rolls down toward a stream. Longer hitters should take a little off their drive to stop it in the fairway, but even a perfectly placed drive leaves more than 200 yards into a narrow, but deep green protected to the right by trees and the left by bunkers.
Valleybook also boasts full practice facilities including a driving range, putting green and chipping area, to help you prepare for the round. It's really the perfect place to escape for a round of golf while still being in the middle of it all.
High handicappers will like: The length. Not overwhelming, but not short at 6,384 yards from the back tees, shorter hitters can still score well. And try the Jaworski Dog at the turn.
Mid handicappers will like: The varying types of holes and shots. Valleybrook is a course where a player can improve their game. The length is also friendly for the mid-range golfers.
Low handicappers will like: Shot making opportunities. For better golfers, Valleybrook really plays as a thinking man's course where club selection is about as important as ball striking, perhaps more important on some holes.
Where to go
Sports
Golf
Valleybrook Course Review
South Jersey is covered with tight-knit communities and friendly suburban neighborhoods, and Valleybrook Country Club manages to give players a terrific golfing experience right in the middle of all of it.
The Ron Jaworski owned club is situated in the heart of Blackwood, with its holes twisting through condominiums and running alongside suburban homes. But the quality and challenge of the layout is more than enough to keep you focused on your round.
Valleybrook is open enough to welcome beginners and high-handicappers, but even at 6,384, it provides enough challenge with a smart and varying design that will keep even expert golfers coming back. Every hole is different and the elevation change throughout the course, especially on holes No. 6 through 12, is a rare treat as far as South Jersey courses go.
The course does a fantastic job of forcing a golfer to use every club in their bag. In fact, even off the tee, you're faced with plenty of options and its not unusual - or wrong - to hit an iron off the same tee that another member of your group hits driver.
The course's most challenging hole, the 367-yard par-4 16th, is a perfect example. The hard dog leg left is protected by trees, but a well-played draw or a nice high drive could put you right at the foot of the elevated green. The safe shot though, is a mid iron to a landing area that leaves a relatively undaunted approach.
The 350-yard, par-4 7th is another hole where a mid iron off the tee is the smart shot. One of the more memorable holes on the course, the smart play on No. 7 is to hit to the middle of the fairway, right around the 150-yard marker, leaving a short iron into a depressed green which is protected by water in front. A large mound protects the back of the green, so while you should be taking less club for the elevation drop, hitting long is the safer miss here.
Few holes demand a driver off the tee. Just one par-4, the 428-yard, 18th, measures more than 400 yards, so even conservative tee shots tend to leave reasonable approaches. However, the opening and closing holes are both great opportunities to break out the big stick - as they should be.
No. 1 is a wide open 391-yard par-4 with just a bunker short to the left and a line of trees to the right. Even the most errant of tee shots here can be found and put on the green with a solid second shot. No. 18 is straight away with mounds on either side of the fairway that funnel wide shots back into play.
The challenge at Valleybrook comes from the varying holes and the decisions a golfer faces on each hole. Open holes like Nos. 1 and 18 are balanced by winding fairways demanding accurate drives like No. 13, a 359-yard par-4 with an elevated tee and a small green. Greens are on the fast side, but controllable. A solid putting stroke is needed to score well.
The par-5s are reachable and the best chances for birdies, but the 517-yard 9th requires two great shots to reach. The hole bends left and the rolls down toward a stream. Longer hitters should take a little off their drive to stop it in the fairway, but even a perfectly placed drive leaves more than 200 yards into a narrow, but deep green protected to the right by trees and the left by bunkers.
Valleybook also boasts full practice facilities including a driving range, putting green and chipping area, to help you prepare for the round. It's really the perfect place to escape for a round of golf while still being in the middle of it all.
High handicappers will like: The length. Not overwhelming, but not short at 6,384 yards from the back tees, shorter hitters can still score well. And try the Jaworski Dog at the turn.
Mid handicappers will like: The varying types of holes and shots. Valleybrook is a course where a player can improve their game. The length is also friendly for the mid-range golfers.
Low handicappers will like: Shot making opportunities. For better golfers, Valleybrook really plays as a thinking man's course where club selection is about as important as ball striking, perhaps more important on some holes.