Flanders Valley is part of the Morris County Park System, and runs 36 holes out of this site.
Word of advice: if you golf a lot in Morris County, buy the golf membership card (45 bucks for the year)...... you get about 10 off each round so you'll make that money back in five rounds.
There are basically two layouts Flanders runs here - the Red-Yellow course and the White-Blue course. During some weeks, they shut down a 9 hole layout, so you can get odd combinations between the two. I'll try and touch on each of the four nine-hole layouts to give you a great idea of what to expect.
Conditions:
REALLY good for a municipal course. You are paying no more than 33-38 on a weekend to walk, but more expensive to ride ... it's New Jersey though so this is a steal..... the greens at this complex are in great shape.
Facilities:
Nothing to write about -- small clubhouse/snackbar/bathrooms. Small putting green. NO DRIVING RANGE.
Course:
Red:
Easier course of the four. Very flat with relatively short holes. If you can stay straight you'll score very low. Toughest hole on this side would be the par 4 7th. It is a HAUL to even get past the trees on the right to have a shot at the green, and even then youll still be between 175-225 out. Par is an amazing score here. Otherwise, very easy to put up a good score.
White:
Fun side, but with a questionable Par 5 #3. This is a double dog leg which, unless you can fade it/draw it hard, you will be hard pressed to make it in two, let alone think about birdie. Green is well protected. More woods on this side, so keep it straight and the holes will not beat you up too much.
Blue:
Much like the white side, except with better whole selection. I always enjoy courses which start with a par 4- par 5- par 3, and this has that. Definitely even more wooded than the white course, and with a difficult #2 par 3 (uphill) and #4 par 4 (water left, woods right). Keep it in the fairway.
Yellow:
By far the toughest test of the 4 nine-hole layouts. Woods. Slanted Fairways. Small, slanted greens. Remember the ball ALWAYS breaks from the hill. Even if it looks like it goes uphill. This course is usually paired with the Red course, so if you start on the Yellow (#1 is a par 5) hit 3 wood off the tee and get your par. You can most likely get a par on the #2 downhill 175 par 3, and will set you up well for the rest of the yellow side. HARDEST HOLE: #4 par 5. This is a SEVERE dogleg left par 5. You HAVE to layup as your first shot. You can put a slight draw on it, but you risk bringing the woods into play - keep it in the fairway with an iron (5 or 6). The fairways on this side slope severely, so I would recommend hitting iron or 3-wood off many tees as you are elevated. Coolest hole would have to be the #6 downhill par 3 which is elevated about 100 feet above the putting surface. Longer than you think!!!!
Great 36 holes here, at a great value. read more