Redesigned Shore golf course holes drawing raves: 'Love the aesthetics'

TL;DR

Knob Hill Golf Club in Manalapan has redesigned holes 16 and 17, enhancing aesthetics and playability. The course remains accessible to both members and the public.

Key points

Knob Hill Golf Club is in Manalapan, NJ.
The course features a par-70 layout.
Holes 16 and 17 have been redesigned.
The club offers access to members and the public.
The course is known for its unique charm and history.

Mentioned in this story

Manalapan, New Jersey

Knob Hill Golf Club

MANALPAN – A little more than three miles west of the site of the Revolutionary War Battle of Monmouth lies Knob Hill Golf Club, a hidden gem among the Shore’s treasure chest of renowned courses.

A rolling par-70, 6408-yard course with its own unique charm and history, the semi-private club stands out among the area’s top-tier private and nationally acclaimed public courses by providing member and public access throughout the week.

This season, two redesigned holes – Nos. 16 and 17 – present new challenges with an aim to improve the course optics and experience and for all comers.

MORE: NJ golf course is getting a major makeover

Players at Knob Hill Golf Club size up the redesigned 17th hole.

“We are always looking for ways to reinvest in and enhance the course,” said Director of Golf Lou Kubisa. “We understand fees are going up all over and this is an opportunity for us to show we are committed to the membership and public golfers that play here. That’s our niche. We all do a very good job of managing the experience and conditions for our members and the public. This shows our commitment and we are really happy with the way everything turned out.”

The overarching goal with the redesign was to create more playable space on the 16th hole and to keep golfers’ focus on the course away from other holes and activity outside the existing property lines. That also led to changes for the 17th green and resulted in both holes being more isolated from each other and from the environment beyond the boundaries.

Members got their first swings at the new holes on the morning of May 2. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive.

“I love it! I parred them both,” said Colts Neck resident and long-time member Gene Maresca. “It took a little longer than expected with the rough winter but everything came out great.”

“I didn’t play them very well today but I love the aesthetics of both,” said Plainsboro resident and member Len Bellezza. “On 16 there used to be a lot of trees up the right side and it seems the wind is always blowing left to right there so most people would slice into the trees. Now the trees are out and it’s uphill so it plays much longer and it’s wide. It’s beautiful.”