Deal, New Jersey
Hollywood is one for classic-architecture buffs—a shotmaker’s course that rewards precision, patience, and local knowledge over power. Restored to its strategic Travis roots, it’s a private-club experience that feels as polished as it is historic, highlighted by a notorious 17th and walkable footprint.
Hollywood Golf Club offers a living showcase of Golden Age strategy, reimagined for the modern player via painstaking restorations. Walter J. Travis’s routing maximizes a compact, rolling footprint, leveraging ingenious angles and demanding greens to produce memorable shot values despite modest topography. Major renovations led by Tom Doak and, most recently, Brian Schneider’s full 17th-hole restoration, have revived the classic Travis look—wide fairways, aggressive bunkering, and fiendishly shaped greens—creating a timeless test where every club sees action and recovery skills are paramount.
Travis’s architectural DNA shapes every hole, blending strategic nuance with memorable putting surfaces, thanks to major modern restorations.
A stern, lengthy par-4 early in the round that sets the tone for Hollywood’s championship demands. It’s all about a precise tee ball and a long, tough approach to a well-defended green.
Position your drive for maximum angle, then trust your longest iron or hybrid—bailing wide leaves a difficult scramble.
Miss right and you face thick rough and awkward angles; left brings bunkers and a near-certain bogey.
Immaculate, private-club standards—pristine fairways, slick and true greens, and artfully presented bunkers reflecting the Travis look.
Efficient member pace—expect a prompt round with quick transitions and minimal waiting.
Classic, traditional, and quietly elite—expect pride in history and competitive spirit, but without ostentation.
Standard private-club attire—collared shirts, no denim or gymwear; confirm with the club for policy.
Watch flyover videos or Google Earth the rebuilt 17th—its new angles and restored tunnel make it the pivotal test of the round.
With stout par 4s and a 250-yard par 3, proficiency from 170–220 yards is vital; bring your confidence with the long clubs.
Play a practice round in variable breezes—Hollywood’s proximity to the Atlantic means club selection changes fast.
While flat and walkable, walking the quick-paced round can challenge anyone unused to carrying for 18—get your walking shoes ready.
Club founded as Deal Golf Club
Renamed Hollywood Golf Club, inspired by Oakwood Hall
Original 18-hole course by Isaac Mackie opens
Major redesign by Walter J. Travis shapes classic layout
Dick Wilson remodel modernizes the course
Tom Doak/Renaissance leads masterful Travis-era restoration
Brian Schneider restores/renovates the 17th hole to Travis’s vision
Hollywood’s 17th, once a shadow of its former self, was entirely rebuilt in 2021 by Brian Schneider. The project restored its unique Travis-era challenge, expanding the tee, reviving the historic tunnel, and rekindling its reputation as one of New Jersey’s most daunting par 3s.
Well before the modern classic course resurgence, Hollywood and Deal Golf & Country Club have battled for Shore supremacy just blocks apart. The neighborhood rivalry fuels both clubs and amplifies the stakes in every interclub match.
The unusual 'Hollywood' name traces to Oakwood Hall, George W. Young’s grand bungalow on club grounds, reflecting the Gilded Age roots of the Jersey coast and the club’s unique blend of ambition and local identity.
Since hosting the 1921 U.S. Women’s Amateur and countless Met and state championships, Hollywood has drawn the region’s finest players. Its challenging greens and tight fairways have determined more than a few careers.
The club’s name comes from a grand 19th-century estate, not Tinseltown.
The 17th hole was rebuilt in 2021, restoring a Travis-era tunnel and risky angle.
Hollywood finished near the top in America’s first-ever published course rankings—1926.
Original architect Walter J. Travis was also a three-time U.S. Amateur champion.
The cross-street rivalry with Deal Golf & Country Club is woven into Shore golf lore.
Best local public play and Golden Age bones
Nationally ranked, championship pedigree
Prestige option, modern luxury course
Respected parkland routing within an hour
Long Branch or Asbury Park—short drive, beach vibes, restaurants, and nightlife
Courses with the most similar DNA profile — matched by deviation shape across all eight playing characteristics.
Why it matches: If Hollywood Golf Club is your kind of course, Belle Meade Country Club is worth a look because it a comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character.
Why it matches: If Hollywood Golf Club is your kind of course, Cincinnati Country Club is worth a look because it a comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character.
Why it matches: There is real overlap here. Applebrook Golf Club a comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character, making it a compelling counterpart to Hollywood Golf Club.
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