Northern Jersey golf courses focus of new book

Two golf holes at Hamilton Farm Golf Club, located on the grounds of the Brady Estate, and nominated for inclusion in the forthcoming book “The Search for the 50 Most Beautiful Golf Holes in New Jersey,” by Dr. John T. Whiting, founder and chief photographer of Golf Event Photos, were recently photographed for his book. A similar visit was made to the Roxiticus Golf Club in Mendham. Tiger Woods and others have brought renewed attention to golf. According to Whiting, “this attention has caused many, golfers and non-golfers alike, to become acquainted with the extraordinary beauty of the golf venues that professional golfers compete on week after week.” For over 15 years Whiting has been photographing golf events on many of New Jersey’s most beautiful golf courses, he said. “Much of the attention in golf tournaments and outings is focused on the performance of the players, their successes and failures and the winners of the event,” said Whiting. “Much of the joy of playing golf is being able to play on extraordinarily beautiful golf courses, a fact that is often overlooked by the golfer who is disappointed with his/her performance on the golf course when his/her attention is limited to how well they scored. Golfers who enjoy the beauty of the golf course as they play are likely to be more satisfied with their day on the golf course at the conclusion of their round, regardless of the score, than the golfer who is only concerned about his/her swing, the score and who won.” The search for “beautiful” golf holes in New Jersey began with Whiting contacting nearly 200 of the state’s golf courses, and inviting the course managers of those clubs to nominate their course’s most beautiful golf hole, he explained. Following the nomination of a favorite hole, a visit is scheduled to the golf course to gather information about the history of the course, its special hole and to take photographs for eventual inclusion in his book. The book is now focusing on northern New Jersey golf courses that have nominated holes to be considered among the most beautiful in the state, according to Whiting.