Francis A. Byrne Golf Course — Attraction in West Orange

I play all 3 Essex County courses regularly all season long and have done so for years. Byrne has always played as the most difficult for me given that there are so few Par 5's and Par 3's. The front nine features some significant elevation changes that you will feel if you walk the course like I do. Making birdies on this course is extremely gratifying and I believe playing this course regularly will make you a better golfer. My favorites holes would have to be #5 and uphill Par 3 and #1 a Par 4 that used to be a Par 5. The only reason I like those holes is that they are 2 of the easiest holes on the course and I have scored well on them! I would also like to add that the staff has always been polite and helpful to me. In the summer I show up at 6:00 AM without a tee time, they always get me out in under 20 minutes from #10 tee. I'm looking forward to my first round here later this week.

Updated Review as of 6/6/2024 I played the course for the first time since the recent renovation and it was very different. I'll summarize by saying the course got much harder with fairway bunkers and crazy undulations on some greens. It was not enjoyable to play so terribly but if the goal is to challenge yourself this if the course for you. I won't be coming back until my game is stronger. And, if there's a baseball game on TV in the clubhouse don't expect the starter to inform you of when you...

Went on a curiosity to visit this place at 4 PM on a wednesday, walk rate was $26. Course was wide open (probably because it was steamy high 80s outside) in terms of traffic, when i paired myself up with a single handicapper in a cart, we managed to finish 5 minutes to 7, when the ranger reminded us twice on the course we had to be in by. Really tough conditions to score here. Your driver is not going to matter as much as your mid and long irons (There aren't too many short par 4's here, and only one par 5 on the whole course - the first hole) . Strangely one of the par 3's on the back had a temp green (strange in september) which was slightly disappointing but you can tell they put a lot of care into this course -- greens standard county cut, which is high, rough was pretty gnarly on some holes (on 10 my ball found the side of the green mound and took me ten minutes to find and two shots to get out). Clubhouse was standard, mens room had a few lockers and at least a small bench so I could change out of my work clothes quickly. My playing partner warned me not to come on the weekends (its not the easiest layout for a hacker), which is fine since I quit a private club and end up at Flanders, Galloping Hill or wherever the most pleasant 4 and a half to 5 hour round is available....

Management and people working there are extremely rude. Expensive for what the course is. It's been backed up everytime I've gone so far and they won't let you finish your round they make you come in at 8 when the sun is still up. We just finished 15 and paying 72 bucks and not letting us finish is absurd never had that issue on any other course. Got told by the starter we could go in waited at the desk, person took their time and then rudely told us to go back outside I'll call you in.... literally called us back in 5 minutes later to check in. They have a ridiculous system and its just compounded with how rude they are about everything. Would not recommend this course. For the price, only having 1 par 5, the ALWAYS backed up slow pace of play, and rude staff to top it off is not worth the money. Sad because with the improvements could be better but to me not worth it and after my experience each time would never recommend not with all the people that played with me who felt the...