Hominy Hill
One of the finest municipal courses in America, a muscular Robert Trent Jones design in the horse country of Colts Neck, owned by Monmouth County and open to anyone with a tee time.
Photo: Hominy Hill Golf Course via Google.
The verdict
Hominy Hill is the rare municipal course that belongs in any conversation about the best public golf in the country. Robert Trent Jones built it in 1964 as a private club on the rolling horse country of Colts Neck in central New Jersey, and Monmouth County later acquired it for the public. The pedigree shows on every hole: big tees, deep, sculpted bunkers, and the long, demanding par 4s that were a Jones signature.
At 7,049 yards from the back it has championship length, and 138 bunkers with water on four holes give it teeth few county courses can match. It hosted the 1983 US Amateur Public Links and remains a fixture on best municipal and best in state lists. For the price of a county green fee, you play a genuinely great golf course, which is exactly why tee times here are coveted.
Hominy Hill at a glance
- Opened
- 1964
- Designer
- Robert Trent Jones
- Type
- Parkland
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- 7,049 yards
- Green fee
- From about 60 dollars
Designer and details verified June 2026: Hominy Hill was designed by Robert Trent Jones and opened in 1964, playing 7,049 yards to a par 72 with a course rating of 73.8 and a slope of 135 from the back tees. It is a municipal course owned by Monmouth County, with 138 bunkers and water on four holes. Indicative non resident green fees of roughly 130 to 140 dollars reflect the 2026 season, with far lower county resident rates; fees change by season and residency, so always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
This is classic Trent Jones strategic design, where length and bunkering do the defending. The fairways are generous off the tee, but the approaches are where the course bites, with elevated, well guarded greens that demand the right club and the right side of the fairway. The 138 bunkers are not decoration; they sit precisely where a slightly errant shot finishes.
The par 4s are the backbone, several stretching well beyond 440 yards and asking for two real shots, true to the Jones idea that par should be a hard earned number. Water enters play on four holes, the par 5s give the long hitter a reasonable look at going for it, and the greens are large and contoured enough to test the putter all day. Conditioning, for a county course, is consistently strong.
For traveling golfers, Hominy Hill is the anchor of a central New Jersey public golf day, an easy add to a Jersey Shore or New York area trip and a reminder that great architecture is not always behind a private gate.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Public municipal, owned by Monmouth County; open to all, with discounted rates for county residents |
| Green fee | From about 60 dollars for residents to roughly 130 to 140 for non residents, indicative 2026; varies by residency and day |
| Booking | Book online through the county golf system; weekend times are in high demand |
| On the day | Walking is allowed and rewarding; carts available; standard golf dress |
| Getting there | In Colts Neck, central New Jersey, about an hour from Newark (EWR) and close to the Jersey Shore |
| Best months | Roughly April to November; late spring and early fall are prime |
Access and fees verified June 2026; county pricing and resident rates change year to year, so always confirm current rates and availability directly before booking.
Where to stay nearby
Colts Neck sits between the Jersey Shore and the New York metro, so a base is easy: shore towns like Long Branch and Asbury Park are close for a beach and golf weekend, while the Red Bank area offers hotels and dining a short drive from the first tee.
For a wider New Jersey golf trip, Hominy Hill pairs well with the links style public golf up north at Ballyowen Golf Club and the windswept dunescape down the shore at Twisted Dune Golf Club.
Looking for a base nearby? See our recommended hotels and resorts.
Build a New Jersey golf trip
We arrange tee times at Hominy Hill, pair it with the best public golf in New Jersey and the New York area and book the lodging around them. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Hominy Hill questions
Who designed Hominy Hill Golf Course?
Hominy Hill was designed by Robert Trent Jones and opened in 1964 in Colts Neck, New Jersey. It plays 7,049 yards to a par 72 and is owned by Monmouth County.
Is Hominy Hill open to the public?
Yes. It is a public municipal course owned by Monmouth County, with the best rates reserved for county residents and visitors paying a higher daily fee. Tee times can be booked online.
Why is Hominy Hill so highly rated?
It is widely regarded as one of the best municipal and public courses in the United States, a classic Robert Trent Jones test with 138 bunkers, water on four holes and championship length, and it hosted the 1983 US Amateur Public Links.
How much does it cost to play Hominy Hill?
Indicative green fees for non residents run around 130 to 140 US dollars for 18 holes in the 2026 season, with much lower rates for Monmouth County residents. Rates change by season and residency, so always confirm directly before booking.
Related
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, yardage and ratings verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.