Union County has 3 decent courses, including Galloping Hill. There is also Oak Ridge and Ash Brook. You can purchase a non-county resident card and make reservations a week in advance. I think the greens fees are under $30.

The courses are in Kenilworth, Scotch Plains and Clark. All reasonably accessible on I-78 or Rt. 22.

Top 20 public golf courses NJ 2012.

http://www.golf.com/courses-and-trave ... f-courses-new-jersey-2012

actually the closest course is LaTourette on staten island....believe it or not, its a great course....south shore GC on staten island is not bad either.

I like Byrne too but found it crowded and slow at times. I did sink a 185 yard eagle there so I have fond memories too.

Francis Byrne off Pleasant Valley Way in West Orange is good. Used to be private - challenging enough, similar to Galloping Hills in hilliness. Kept in good shape - only about five minutes off 280 if you take the Northfield Ave. exit.

Other public courses worth mentioning:

East Orange
Green Knoll (Bridgewater)
Spooky Brook (Franklin Township)

Would say that both Newark and Galloping Hills are both good local choices.

We like to play at Rutgers golf course.

It's public, very good condition, free online tee time reservation, always finish in 4 hours or less.

http://golfcourse.rutgers.edu/

Also have played at all of the public courses in staten island (La Tourette and South Shore GC) and if we get discounted tee time online. Expect to take about 5 hours or so. They never seem to be on time.

What, you can't afford to join Liberty National or Bayonne? Yeah, me neither.

Galloping Hill is off the Parkway at Exit 138 in Kenilworth. That is about the only real 18-hole public course that I know of within 20 miles.

we love playing Newark!

Not yet. They are building one off 440 but it's been a few years and it's only 9 holes. You have to drive about 30 minutes to get away from crowds. Hendricks Field and Weequahic are close enough but they get crowded and are poorly managed.

Can anyone recommend a public golf course around here?

Thanks.