Shore Gate Golf Club

Shore Gate Golf Club opened in 2002 in Ocean View, New Jersey, 20 minutes southwest of Atlantic City, the first East Coast design from Golfplan (Ron Fream and David Dale). The brief was unusual for the Jersey Shore: combine parkland and Scottish links elements on flat coastal land, with seven lakes and strategic bunkering doing the visual and tactical work. Fream and Dale stretched the course to 7,227 yards par 72 with a 136 slope, routing fairways around the water features so that nearly every hole asks at least one forced-carry or lay-up decision. Wind is the quiet defender, there are no trees to block it on most holes, and the course plays measurably differently from morning to afternoon rounds. Large undulating greens, generous waste bunkering, and native fescue framing keep the Scottish-influence visible. Shore Gate was recognized in the top 10 of Best New Upscale Public Courses at opening and has ranked in the Top 20 in New Jersey by Golf Digest multiple times (2005, 2009, 2011-2012). For an Atlantic City trip, pair with Twisted Dune (Struthers 2001) and Sea View Resort for a three-course Jersey coastal itinerary that trends serious on course quality without the urban casino setting.