Spooky Brook Golf Course

Spooky Brook Golf Course, located in Franklin Township, New Jersey, is an 18-hole course owned by Somerset County. The course, an Ed Ault design that opened in 1970, has long been a popular tee time in Central New Jersey because it is very walkable and a test that players of all ability levels can enjoy. Whereas Quail Brook Golf Course and Neshanic Valley Golf Course are the stars of the Somerset County Park system and have, over the years, garnered acclaim and attention beyond New Jersey, Spooky Brook Golf Course rates as the most beginner- and senior-friendly of the five county layouts. As a golf course architect, Ed Ault created his designs with ordinary players in mind, always with an emphasis on moderating the difficulty and making fairways and greens accessible. So it is at Spooky Brook Golf Course what you see is what you get. If you like to walk, this is an especially fun layout. The setting is delightful and free of housing. There s not a lot of trouble to wreck a scorecard here. Even the trees aren t a big threat to par, as they are well spaced out by the fairways. Many fairways run side by side with generous rough areas between them. Since the rough normally isn t onerous, players generally find errant shots and make a decent recovery. Four sets of tees provide different degrees of difficulty between 5,161 yards and 6,655 yards. The course can be sneaky long, as three par 4s on the front nine top 400 yards from the tips. The back nine is the more interesting of the two sides at Spooky Brook Golf Course. On the 17th hole players must hit over a pond to get to the green. A small tributary (once named Spooky Brook) also winds across several fairways, but the hazard really doesn t pose much of a threat. The greens at Spooky Brook Golf Course are inviting targets with moderate slopes and undulations. Spooky Brook Golf Course gives players of all skill levels a chance to feel good about their games. Over the years the playing field has earned praise for its conditioning. Practice facilities at Spooky Brook Golf Course include a driving range and a putting green where you can also do some chipping. This is a spartan facility. There s a pro shop but no restaurant. You can get drinks and snacks from vending machines. For a fun, relaxing round of golf at a solid, well-maintained but no-frills facility in Central New Jersey, consider a tee time at Spooky Brook Golf Course.