Atlantic City Golf Vacations: Golf Course Spotlight: Harbor Pines GC

The Harbor Pines Golf Club is a public facility that boasts an 18-hole, four-star golf course with subtle, breaking greens that provide a challenge for all golfers. The holes are very private and the fairways are wide and open.
The environment friendly course is a local favorite and is considered among women to be one of the best courses for women to play on. The beautiful natural landscape with seventeen acres of water and 520 acres of forestry has even been certified as an National Audubon Sanctuary. The relatively flat course does offer challenges for experienced golfers but it will not be too difficult for intermediate or beginning golfers. Both the 16th and 17th holes are difficult par-4's and the course has various hazards scattered throughout.

Harbor Pines has any number of great holes. It starts with a 505-yard par-five that big hitters can think about going for in two. But the fairway is rather narrow and there are trees right and water to the left that runs almost all the way to the deep green.
Number five is considered the course’s toughest par-four. It plays 452 yards from the tips and bends slightly to the right. Water runs along the right side of the hole all the way to the putting surface and is situated to catch errant tee shots and miss-hit approaches to the green.

Number eight is the best par-three on the front side. The hole plays 215 yards from the championship markers and calls for a long iron or fairway wood over a pond to a green surrounded by five bunkers. A three here is a very good score indeed.

Number nine is another great par-four, playing 460 yards with water left and woods right. You may need to approach the green with a long iron or fairway wood.

Number 12 is perhaps the course’s signature hole. It is certainly one of the most photographed holes in New Jersey and visually stunning. The tee shot on this 339-yarder must clear a large pond and land in a small fairway that sits before the green. The putting surface is protected by bunkers all around and water to the rear. You can make birdie or double bogey here, depending upon your accuracy and length off the tee.

Number 18 is a great finishing hole, playing 481 yards from the tips. A lusty drive that steers clear of a pond on the left and sand and trees on the right of the fairway will leave a perfect chance to go for the green on this par-five in two and finish your round with a birdie, or maybe even eagle.

The prices at Harbor Pines are very reasonable, especially given the quality of the layout and the magnificent conditions. The club has a fully stocked pro shop as well as an attractive and comfortable dining area for pre- and post-round enjoyment. This is a great place to hold an outing or other large-scale event.