Designer: Dr. Michael Hurdzan/Dana Fry (2001)
Location: Gladstone, New Jersey
History: Opened along with its sister Highlands Course in 2001 on an old horse farm, The Hickory is an 18-hole par 3 course and to date the only USGA rated par 3 course in America. It is highly regarded, earning the following accolades:
#9 Best Short/Par 3/Non-Traditional Course in America – Golfweek (2023)
#33 Best Course in New Jersey – Top100golfcourses.com (2024)
Conditions: 8/10, While not quite as well-conditioned as the Highlands Course, the Hickory Course is still in very strong shape with excellent bunkering and thick rough.
Value: N/A, This is a private course.
Scorecard:
Tee Par Yardage Rating Slope
Hickory 54 3080 56.4 100
Hunter 54 2599 54.4 86
Hole Descriptions: On Hamilton Farm’s website, there’s a quote from architect Dana Fry, “If there is a better par-3 course in America, I’d like to know where it is.” While this statement may come across as arrogant, I do think Fry has every right to be proud of his design at Hamilton Farm, which is certainly among the best par three courses in the country. My main takeaway after playing the Hickory Course was how large the property is. At a whopping 130 acres, it feels bigger and more spread out than some regulation courses and it’s clear the architects were given leeway to build 18 excellent holes and were not limited by space in any way. This results in a testing par 3 course with tremendous variety and ensures the golfer uses every club in their bag. This alone makes it quite unique amongst short courses, which are often constrained by space and have a pitch-and-putt feel. Even some of my favorite par 3 courses (Bandon Preserve, The Cradle, etc.) fall victim to this phenomenon. While the Hickory Course will undoubtedly rank behind the championship Highlands Course at Hamilton Farm, every par 3 here would fit well on the big course and a visit to Hamilton Farm is not complete unless you play both courses. Members are extremely fortunate to have such a fun and unique opportunity to practice their irons and I would play here constantly if I were a member.
You immediately discover this is no average par 3 course when you step up to the 1st hole, a 206 yard one-shotter that’s only the 4th longest on the course. Playing adjacent to the parking lot, this hole runs slightly downhill over a valley to an elevated green that mostly slopes left-to-right but features a false front on the left. A hill of rough guards the left while two deep bunkers defend the right. I had a career round at the Hickory Course but made my only double of the day here.
The 1st
One of the drawbacks of such a large property is that the course isn’t the easiest walk and it’s not always clear where the next hole is with such a large distance between holes. This is evident after a decently long cart ride to the 2nd, an 148 yard par 3 that plays slightly uphill. This is a pretty hole with a wide, left-to-right sloped green defended by numerous bunkers left, right, and long as well as a false front.
The 2nd
The 3rd hole is another very attractive hole also playing 148 yards but slightly downhill to a flatter green lined by bunkers short and long.
The 3rd
The 4th hole lies across Fowler Road and is the first of several holes to feature prominent water hazards on the Hickory Course. This attractive 174 yarder plays over a hazard the entire way to a diagonal, right-to-left sloped green lined by a trio of bunkers short and one long right.
I usually don’t love houses on a golf course but will make an exception for the beautiful mansions of Western NJ
The 5th hole stands alone on the other side of some mansions and plays 184 yards. This is one of the less memorable holes on the course, featuring a back-to-front sloped green defended by a bunker short left.
The 5th
At 218 yards, the 6th hole is a gorgeous one-shotter that plays steadily downhill to a flatter green featuring two tiers and defended by two bunkers short right. It is certainly one of the best holes on the property.
The 6th
The 7th hole sits back across Fowler Road and plays slightly downhill at 188 yards. This hole contains a green that pinches in from both sides and is lined by a bunker short left and hidden creek just short you’ll need to carry.
The 7th
The 8th is probably my favorite hole on the course as a gorgeous 171 yarder playing over a valley to a wide, but very well-defended green. There are big penalties for missing this green short, with a steep false front and very deep bunker defending the front of the putting surface.
The fantastic par 3 8th
The front 9 closes with another very pretty hole playing slightly downhill at 155 yards. This infinity green is on the flatter side and is lined by two bunkers short right.
The 9th
The 10th hole sits right next to the driving range and is likely the most memorable hole at the Hickory Course. This unique hole features two distinct teeboxes with the conventional teebox playing 129 yards and a seldom used right teebox at 111 yards. While not a long hole, this is an intimidating approach with a narrow island green surrounded by water on all sides and bunkers short and long. It is a great hole from both teeboxes.
The 10th from the main teebox
The alternate teebox at 10 is shorter but features a tougher angle
Playing back uphill, the 154 yard 11th hole contains a subtler green lined by a bunker short left.
The 11th
The 12th hole is the shortest on the course at 127 yards and is the closest thing the Hickory Course gets to a throwaway hole. This short hole plays level to a subtle, back-to-front sloped green lined by a bunker right.
The 12th
The 13th is an 153 yard hole playing over fescue towards a back-to-front sloped green lined by two fronting bunkers.
The 13th
At 218 yards, the number 2 handicap 14th is probably the toughest hole on the course playing longer uphill with OB left the entire way. This elevated green is further defended by a deep bunker right and slopes back-to-front with two tiers. Par is an excellent score here.
The excellent 14th
Club selection is imperative on the 15th, an 186 yard one-shotter that plays steadily downhill to a flatter green lined by a bunker short right.
The 15th
The 16th hole runs back uphill at 141 yards to a small, severe green that slopes hard back-to-front and left-to-right. A pair of pretty bunkers lines the green short right.
The 16th
At 229 yards, the 17th hole is the longest par 3 on the Hickory Course but plays a bit shorter downhill. This very attractive hole features a large, right-to-left sloped green and is the only bunkerless hole on the course.
The long 17th
The Hickory Course closes in short, but beautiful fashion with the 134 yard 18th. Like the 10th, this is almost an island green with a carry over water the entire way to a flatter, circular putting surface also defended by a bunker short left.
The gorgeous 18th
General Comments: Hamilton Farm is an exclusive, upscale country club with a beautiful clubhouse and expansive property for its two courses. Practice facilities include a large grass driving range and practice green near the patio. Lodging is available for the Club’s national members, one of whom is Michael Jordan. The United States Equestrian Team is headquartered on property.
Verdict: An elite par 3 course, Hamilton Farm’s Hickory Course is built on an expansive property and features tremendous variety and visuals. It is great fun and a strong test and members are very fortunate to have this option to compliment the Highlands Course.