SKYVIEW GOLF COURSE 3.5 stars
By Jeff Louis
“Shhhhhh. Don’t turn around. It’s just me!” I just wanted to sneak up on my readers as we head into the fall season with a tasty nugget of real estate. Are you coming in to visit from out of town? Would you like to see the change in seasons as they affect the color of the leaves on the trees? Is your significant other out shopping and you’re hoping to sneak in a round of golf? Grab your clubs and come with me to Sparta, New Jersey. We’re going to play Skyview Golf Course...
Skyview was designed by Robert McNeil and I can tell you this about the layout - yes this is considered a mountain course, but it plays different. Skyview is more like a serene, parkland-style course, that has attention deficit disorder. It starts out easy enough, with a straight away par 4. The only trouble present, comes into play if you hit a wayward drive into the street which lines the entire right side of the hole. However, the tone of the course is set on hole number two. This is the aptly named “Skyward.” How about a 547 yard par 5 that plays 100% uphill? Carts are not allowed on this hole, making it play even longer.
By Jeff Louis
“Shhhhhh. Don’t turn around. It’s just me!” I just wanted to sneak up on my readers as we head into the fall season with a tasty nugget of real estate. Are you coming in to visit from out of town? Would you like to see the change in seasons as they affect the color of the leaves on the trees? Is your significant other out shopping and you’re hoping to sneak in a round of golf? Grab your clubs and come with me to Sparta, New Jersey. We’re going to play Skyview Golf Course...
Skyview was designed by Robert McNeil and I can tell you this about the layout - yes this is considered a mountain course, but it plays different. Skyview is more like a serene, parkland-style course, that has attention deficit disorder. It starts out easy enough, with a straight away par 4. The only trouble present, comes into play if you hit a wayward drive into the street which lines the entire right side of the hole. However, the tone of the course is set on hole number two. This is the aptly named “Skyward.” How about a 547 yard par 5 that plays 100% uphill? Carts are not allowed on this hole, making it play even longer.
Oh, and it’s not over my friend. Prepare yourself for putting greens slicker than chicken grease on plate glass. Indiana Jones will have to help you play the next par 5. It’s called “The Edge.” (My goodness how the designers had fun naming these holes.) “The Edge” is a Par 5, 552 yards, and is the #3 Handicap hole - rated "Most Intimidating" by NJ Golfer Magazine. Okay, let’s examine this closer. Is the #3 hole the most intimidating? You bet it is!! Your tee shot had better be straighter than a William Tell arrow trying to hit an apple. You have no shot if your ball goes left, and, if it goes right, you’ll be up a hill, in a rock cropping that is filled with all snakes. That’s not even the scary part. Once you get to the end of the fairway, there is a blind 80 foot drop to the green. Oh don’t worry, Ashton Kutcher won’t be there to “Punk” you.
This type of psychotic, Jekyll & Hyde golf is exactly what makes this a lot of fun. Now, before some of you scream this is a ‘tricked out’ course, it’s not. This course is extremely fair. As long as you hit that ball straight or like to work your shots left or, right. Another part of the fun factor of Skyview lies in the angles which the holes play. Pictured above is the 7th hole, “Rock Pile.” You can see at the end of the fairway, there is a left tilt that leads into a right turn. Much of the same awaits you on the back 9 holes. Although, they play downhill, you can’t take them for granted. The number 14 hole, “Falling Rock” has a boulder precariously perched to the left of the tee box. This is not a marker. This is a reminder of the danger. McNeil has this hole squeezed tighter than a grizzly bear in a thong. (Extreme visualization, indeed). Once you get downhill, the hole is 90 degrees to the right. The drawing card is the extra large green. So inviting, so deadly. Come closer, closer. Pssst, Bagger Vance couldn’t read this green, no matter how many times he took his shoes off.
This type of psychotic, Jekyll & Hyde golf is exactly what makes this a lot of fun. Now, before some of you scream this is a ‘tricked out’ course, it’s not. This course is extremely fair. As long as you hit that ball straight or like to work your shots left or, right. Another part of the fun factor of Skyview lies in the angles which the holes play. Pictured above is the 7th hole, “Rock Pile.” You can see at the end of the fairway, there is a left tilt that leads into a right turn. Much of the same awaits you on the back 9 holes. Although, they play downhill, you can’t take them for granted. The number 14 hole, “Falling Rock” has a boulder precariously perched to the left of the tee box. This is not a marker. This is a reminder of the danger. McNeil has this hole squeezed tighter than a grizzly bear in a thong. (Extreme visualization, indeed). Once you get downhill, the hole is 90 degrees to the right. The drawing card is the extra large green. So inviting, so deadly. Come closer, closer. Pssst, Bagger Vance couldn’t read this green, no matter how many times he took his shoes off.
Now, I don’t want to scare you away from this course. On the contrary. You should line up to play it, regularly. Grab some apple cider and put your name on the list. I’ll be right there. Oh, and play it as it lies!
Recommendation: 3.5 stars
Current Price: Week $60; Weekend $85
Par 72, Slope n/a, Rating n/a, Yardage n/a
Address: 226 Lafayette Road, Sparta, NJ 07871
Website: http://www.skyviewgolf.com/golf/proto/skyviewgolf/
Photo courtesy of SkyView GC http://www.skyviewgolf.com/golf/proto/skyviewgolf/coursetour07/coursetour07.htm
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