Local Golf Course Ranked In Top 10 NJ Public Courses: Golfweek

BOONTON, NJ — Knoll Country Club West's golf course has been ranked as one of the top ten public-access golf courses in the state.

According to Golfweek, a golf magazine and digital media site, Knoll West is the eighth-best public golf course in New Jersey.

The Knoll Country Club West, located at 990 Greenbank Road in Boonton, is a par-70 course playing 6,752 yards from the blue tees and 6,479 from the white tees.

The semi-private course has membership options as well as guest options. See the green fees chart below, provided by Knoll West:

The course was established in 1929 and designed by Charles H. Banks. Since then, the club has made major improvements, including adding a practice chipping area, putting green, and a “beautiful” 22-stall driving range.

"Don’t miss the chance to experience this hidden gem," said Parsippany Mayor James Barberio.

Golfweek ranks the golf courses using the following parameters:

1. Routing: How well the holes individually and collectively adhere to the land and to each other.

2a. Integrity of design (classic courses only): The extent to which the existing holes either conform to the original design intent or, for those courses that have been renovated, the extent to which the holes embody a character that is cohesive rather than fragmentary.

2b. Quality of shaping (modern courses only): The extent to which course construction creates design elements that fit in well and provide a consistent look or sensibility.

3. Overall land plan: Ease of integration of all built-out elements with native land including course, clubhouse, real estate, roads, native topography and landforms. Extent to which land plan facilitates long views of surrounds and/or interior views of property.

4. Greens and surrounds: Interest, variety and playability of putting surfaces, collars, chipping areas and greenside bunkers.

5. Variety and memorability of par 3s: Differentiation of holes by length, club required, topography, look and angle of approach.

6. Variety and memorability of par 4s: Range of right-to-left and left-to-right drives and second shots required, as well as spread of length, topography and look of the holes.

7. Variety and memorability of par 5s: Variety of risk/reward opportunities on tee shot; how interesting the second shots are; variety of third shots required.

8. Tree and landscape management: Extent to which ornamentals, hardwoods, conifers and other flora enhance the design and playability of a course without overburdening it or compromising strategic flexibility and agronomy.

9. Conditioning and ecology: Overall quality of maintenance, discounting for short-term issues (weather or top dressing); extent of native areas; diversity of plant life and wildlife.

10. “Walk in the park” test: The sense of the place as worthy of spending four hours on it.

The number one public course in New Jersey is Crystal Springs Resort in Hamburg, Sussex County, according to Golfweek.