Every late summer I’m invited to a charity golf outing at Stanton Ridge Golf and Country Club to benefit Patrick’s Pals, an excellent organization that supports children with multiple disabilities and their families.
Mike Donahue, a member of Global Traveler’s Advisory Board, invited me. We decided to take my recently restored 1972 Dodge Dart Swinger on a short road trip to the course, about an hour away in north-central New Jersey. Our foursome included Mike’s father, Tom, and Jim Bolger.
Stephen Kay designed the course in 1993. He has created several notable New Jersey layouts, including Blue Heron Pines and The Architects Golf Club, which recreates famous holes from around the world. Kay emphasizes classic design principles and generous fairways so golfers feel unpressured by neighboring groups.
We played Stanton Ridge in a scramble format; I look forward to returning to play my own ball someday.
Hole 3 | 371 yards, par 4
This hole always catches players off guard. I often watch the group ahead struggle with tee shots that come up short. Out-of-bounds lurk to the right near expensive homes, while a wooded area and the front-nine pump house sit hard left.
We managed a clean drive left of center that gave us a chance to reach the green. The hole climbs uphill, so we all underestimated the yardage. Mike and Tom fell short; Jim and I pushed our shots too far right—mine nearly went out. A simple chip got us onto the green in three, and a single putt secured par—a solid scramble result.
Hole 6 | 533 yards, par 5
Rated the course’s toughest hole, this long par 5 looks to bend right from the tee but plays mostly straight, with the ideal drive placed slightly right of center. Many drives end up too far right on the hillside and can spill into the woods.
Jim hit a monster drive after a few on-course tips from Mike. His ball caught the downward crest and rolled extra yards beyond the fairway while avoiding the pond on the left. From there the hole opens, and a fairway wood sets up an approach to an elevated green requiring a wedge. Bunkers around 130 yards demand accuracy.
Hole 7 | 213 yards, par 3
This par 3 is frequently underestimated. Members know it takes more club than it appears. After watching my teammates try various irons and a 5-wood, I chose a 3-wood and went for it. A pond sits between the tee and green and has ruined many hopes—Mike and Tom included. My shot checked to about 15 feet, and I tapped in for birdie. A hole-in-one here would have won a C-Class Mercedes-Benz; though that prize remained out of reach, the gallery’s applause felt good.
Hole 8 | 509 yards, par 5
This long hole climbs gradually toward the green. Accuracy off the tee is essential: a grove of trees and out-of-bounds with houses threaten the right, while dense woods and a fairway bunker stand left. Our group hit a perfect drive and a solid fairway wood. Approaching the clover-shaped green, we were close to the turn and the lunch grill, but that didn’t stop Mike’s great chip and Tom’s composed birdie putt.
Hole 10 | 475 yards, par 4
The No. 2 handicap hole is difficult due to length and the demanding tee shot. A dogleg left requires a near-perfect draw to avoid woods on the right and a large pond. Our approach was about 170 yards to the pin. The green is straightforward, flanked by two bunkers.
Hole 12 | 196 yards, par 3
Not inherently hard, this green is often misjudged because it plays longer than it looks. All three of my teammates came up short or veered into sand. You need a strong, straight tee shot to carry the valley that sits below the elevated tee. We walked away with a bogey and a few lessons learned.
Hole 13 | 327 yards, par 4
Poor drives made this hole tougher than intended. My tee shot looked great but didn’t carry the fairway bunker on the dogleg left. Jim struck one long but didn’t quite clear the “shmoo” along the left—brushy terrain that, fortunately, was dry enough to play from. Jim and I trudged through and found our balls sitting up nicely. Our scramble shots reached the green; Mike and Jim rolled off the back right on their attempts. I hit a high chip to about 20 feet, and Tom’s putt dropped from a foot away. We birdied and celebrated as we walked off.
Hole 15 | 456 yards, par 4
Another birdie hole for our team. We tried to cut the dogleg left and thread the needle near a towering power-line structure. Jim threaded one around the left and landed past the fairway bunker in the rough, leaving a short approach. Mike’s shot rolled close, setting up Tom, who calmly sank a 15-foot putt for birdie. I contributed enthusiasm more than skill that hole.
Stanton Ridge Golf and Country Club
25 Clubhouse Drive
Whitehouse Station, NJ 08889
tel 908 534 1234
stantonridgecc.com