Shore golf course is true ‘show up and swing’ experience, no tee times required

FARMINGDALE – “Show up and swing.” That’s been the mantra at Cruz Golf Country Club since it opened to the public in 1981. Not much has changed in the last 45 years. The family-owned club prides itself on a “no tee times” policy and welcomes golfers of all ages and skill levels to play its gentle rolling yet strategic parkland-style course isolated off Birdsall Road.

“The beauty of this place says, ‘you’re here, there’s no pressure, have a good time and enjoy yourself – it’s golf,’” said Golf Director and Howell resident John Soares, originally from the Azores Islands, Portugal. “We take great pride in maintaining it. We have a very loyal customer base. It’s a relatively flat course and folks love to walk it. We have senior rates during the week and nobody pushes anybody here. Everybody is welcome.”

See drone view of redesigned Shore golf course holes that are drawing raves

The relatively short 5,062-yard, technical par-70 course features sharp-  and soft-angle doglegs, ponds and brooks throughout and tree-lined fairways with an occasional stray tree directly in the line of play. A mix of undulating and humpback style greens cap each hole. Unique challenges abound, including: an island-style 10^th hole, reachable from the across-the-driveway tee box; a pond and fountain-fronted par-3 16^th with plastic swan to mock; and a final snaking, uphill, nearly 500-yard 18^th with water and fence hazards.

‘You’ve got to be a sharpshooter’

“We love it. It’s challenging. You’ve got to be a sharpshooter,” said Preston Williams, Long Branch. “We come year-round, except in the snow. The greens are tough but in really good shape this year. The crew here does a great job.”

“It’s a great place to learn,” added Tinton Falls resident Patrick Shomo. “I’ve been coming for about five years and I keep learning new things. It challenges you and makes you better.”

NJ golf course is getting a major makeover

The dedication to preserving the unpretentious, laid-back attitude and pristine conditions honor the vision of its founder and designer, the late Evaristo Cruz Sr., a Portuguese immigrant. Cruz Sr. built a successful construction business out of Newark in the 1950s and 60s, focusing on public works and infrastructure. After a brother in-law got him interested in the game on vacation at Doral Golf Club in Florida, Cruz Sr. designed and built the original nine-hole course on farmland here in the mid-1970s trucking in loads of dirt from a nearby job in Lakewood.

I’m going to build myself a golf course. ‘Of course we all thought he was crazy’

“My father was not a good golfer,” said Holmdel resident Lee Cruz, one of three sons. “He was only a beginner when he played down at Doral so he was holding people up. They didn’t like that and he didn’t like being pushed. So he said: ‘Give me Bob Jackson – one of the best bulldozer operators in the state – some loaders and some dozers and I’m going to build myself a golf course.’ Of course we all thought he was crazy.”

Cruz Sr. honed his game on the nine-hole course completed in 1976 with family and friends between trips to Florida and Portugal. He later expanded the course to 18 holes and opened it to the public in 1982. While Cruz Sr. also designed the second nine, he left construction to caretaker Joe Sieira. Those holes, now Nos. 1-9, all feature crown or humpback greens, which differ from the distinct undulating, original nine (now holes 10-18) crafted by Cruz Sr., who died in 1997.

Head greenskeeper Tino Neves, a Howell High School Class of 1983 grad, has been working at the club since immigrating from Cruz’s hometown of Coimbra, Portugal in 1977. He helped with the expansion and works to preserve the conditions and original feel of the course today.

“First it was all farmland, turkeys, cows, pigs and chickens and Mr. Cruz’ original nine holes,” Neves said. “That’s why a lot of the fairways aren’t straight. We had to go around the animal areas. People would feed the cows on the 8^th tee. It was fun. We also planted most of the trees here to give it cover.”

The entire course and surrounding grounds are a throwback in time. A tree-lined canopy drive greets and shelters arriving golfers from the 15^th and 17^th fairways en route to the parking area pinched behind the maintenance barn and clubhouse. Picnic areas, outdoor bars and grills, tennis, basketball and volleyball courts, a soccer field and a pool are all available for family, religious or ethnic group events, weddings and other gatherings – as is a vintage hall inside the clubhouse with dance floor and antique bar. Cruz Sr. even constructed a dual-use wine cellar/bomb shelter off the clubhouse.

‘Like being transported back to a different era’

“This place has that old world historic charm and country comfort,” said Tom Dean of Manasquan after playing his first round at Cruz. “Unique holes, natural trees, water and foot bridges, the canopied entranceway, classic clubhouse and barn – fantastic. It’s like being transported back to a different era.”

On the recent Memorial Day Friday mid-afternoon, eight carts lined up to tee off on the first hole.

The wait was about 20 minutes but nobody was in a rush – some groups talked about pairing up, others were practicing on the chip and putt green near the queue.

No hurry, no worry. Just show up and swing and play some golf.

IF YOU GO ▶ Cruz Golf Country Club

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Cruz Golf Country Club in Farmingdale, N.J. – what to know if you play