Seaview’s Bay Course
When it comes to target markets, you’re not going to find many golf destinations in the U.S. as well-positioned as Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Not only does Atlantic City combine a wealth of terrific high-end public golf near the Jersey Shore with world-class entertainment, but it’s situated between two of the five most golfer-rich metropolitan areas in the nation: New York City and Philadelphia. Together, these MSAs account for over 2.25 million golfers among them.
New York City is just over a two-hour drive north and Philadelphia is slightly over an hour northwest, but Atlantic City is becoming a popular draw beyond the northeast U.S.
A blast on the Bay
On a recent spring morning at the Seaview Resort’s Bay Course – designed by Hugh Wilson and Donald Ross – our group was joined by a group of Canadian golfers who made a dedicated golf trip from Quebec to experience one of the game’s more unheralded destination locations. And maybe some casino table games, great seafood, the beach and boardwalk, and comedy shows and concerts as well.
The Bay Course at Seaview is the annual host of the LPGA’s ShopRite Classic and one of the more recognizable names in a deep lineup of great golf in and around the Atlantic City region. In a densely populated state with the lowest proportion of public golf in the nation, there’s no shortage of accessible golf options.
While venerable Atlantic City Country Club – known as the birthplace of the term “birdie” – is now a private club, there are 10 high-end public facilities in the area, from Ballamor and Blue Heron Pines to Twisted Dune and Vineyard National Golf at the Renault Winery & Resort.
There are almost as many casino resorts in Atlantic City, with nine in total: Bally’s, Borgata, Caesars, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock, Harrah’s, Ocean, Resorts, and Tropicana. As good as the golf is, it’s difficult to dispute that the casinos are perhaps Atlantic City’s greatest draw – whether it’s for high-stakes poker, penny slots, or fine dining and nightlife.
For those seeking a dedicated stay-and-play golf opportunity, Seaview is a very popular option. Operated by Troon and located just outside Atlantic City on 670 acres of coast and woodlands, with two 18-hole courses (the Bay and Pines) and a 296-room hotel. Seaview’s courses are quite different from one another, as the Bay has a Scottish-links feel along the marshes and coast, with small greens, deep bunkers and views of the Atlantic City skyline. The Pines Course, designed by William Flynn and Howard Toomey, winds through N.J. woodlands and has more expansive, sloping greens. The latter was the site of the 1942 PGA Championship, where Sam Snead won his first major title.
Seaview’s Bay Course
Atlantic City has plenty to offer
Beyond the boardwalk, casinos and golf courses, the food and beverage options in Atlantic City are plentiful.
Dock’s Oyster House, an Atlantic City fixture since 1897, is not to be missed, with its full raw bar boasting as many as 10 different oysters per night along with great steaks and some of the freshest seafood at the Jersey Shore. For those golfers seeking a cozy 19th hole, The Seed is one of the most unique spots you’ll find, describing itself as “a living beer project” and located about eight blocks from the casinos. Recognized by USA Today as one of the best new breweries in the nation in 2021, The Seed is known for its laid-back vibe and experimental approach to brewing that yields flavorful and memorable beers.
And when it comes to memorable golf, there are enough options in the Atlantic City area to warrant multiple trips.
If you’re fortunate enough to snag a tee time at Atlantic City Country Club or Galloway National, they’re experiences not to be missed. But the following public facilities are “shore” to please:
Ballamor Golf Club: Formerly a private club and still conditioned like one, this sanctuary is carved out of 350 acres of gently rolling land and dense woods. There’s unquestionably a feeling of seclusion at this layout that features wide fairways and receptively large greens, making it a popular daily-fee option.
Blue Heron Pines: One of the seven public golf facilities in New Jersey and Pennsylvania owned and operated by former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Ron Jaworski, Blue Heron has been recognized by some publications as the finest 18-hole daily fee course at the Jersey Shore, with a layout that winds through the natural beauty of the pinelands.
Brigantine Golf Links: On a barrier island just across from Atlantic City, this windswept and nearly treeless links-style layout can be an ever-changing experience. It’s a municipal course, sold to the city of Brigantine in 2002, and has undergone improvements and upgrades over the years. Legend has it that golf professionals from the 1920s would practice at Brigantine before heading overseas to play in the British Open.
Harbor Pines: Just minutes from Atlantic City, this popular parkland-style course is spread across 520 acres of tranquil woodlands (and 17 acres of water, including 12 ponds). Only a few holes have parallel routing as they play to or from the clubhouse, making it a favorite not only of golfers throughout the South Jersey area but those looking for an escape from the bustle of the casino floor.
LBI National Golf & Resort: Recently reimagined and revived, this property is located just more than a half hour from Atlantic City, but features skyline views from its 35,000-square-foot clubhouse with a restaurant and multiple private dining and event spaces. There’s also a 32-room inn and a meticulously maintained golf course in the pine barrens that has lights on the trees ringing the 18th hole for those groups squeezing in late-day play.
McCullough’s Emerald Golf Links: A tribute to British Isles courses like St. Andrews, Carnoustie, Prestwick and others, this course was uniquely built atop a former landfill, giving it the only 100-foot elevation changes in the region. In addition to wide-open fairways, tricky coastal winds and undulating greens, the experience includes a signature 7th hole with a three-acre waste area and 160-yard-wide island fairway that gives life to a hole that famed architect Alister MacKenzie designed (and won an award for) but never had the opportunity to build.
Shore Gate Golf Club: Just more than two decades old, Shore Gate is another daily fee club in the Atlantic City area that feels like an escape – with a fun and challenging routing situated on 245 acres of pristine forest. Located just two miles from the beach, there’s a delightfully unbothered feel at this property that’s consistently ranked among the top public courses in the state.
Twisted Dune Golf Club: For those looking for a truly memorable round at the Jersey Shore, Twisted Dune delivers and then some. It is a wild links-style layout like none other in the Garden State, as more than two million yards of earth were moved to create twisting landscapes, dramatic contours, surprising elevation changes, and individual playing corridors separated by sand dunes.
Vineyard Golf at Renault: There’s a wonderfully novel experience in playing over and through vineyards that date back more than 150 years, as several of the holes at this winery escape do. The French-inspired resort, now owned by Vivamee Hospitality, not only boasts a memorable daily-fee golf course but a 55-room hotel, thoughtful dine (and wine) offerings, and 12 unique event venues.
Twisted Dune Golf Club