Designer: Hal Purdy (1974), Robert McNeil (2006, Renovation)
Location: Pompton Plains, New Jersey
History: Owned by the Morris County Parks Commission, Sunset Valley was designed in 1974 by Hal Purdy. The course underwent a significant renovation beginning in 2006, when Robert McNeil altered several holes.
Conditions: 6/10, Sunset Valley’s conditioning is solid but not great with slower greens and tree overgrowth hampering turf health.
Value: 7/10, As a County course, Sunset Valley offers competitive rates with the general public paying about $55 and discounts for Morris County residents, twilight, juniors, and seniors.
Scorecard:
Tee Par Yardage Rating Slope
Blue 70 6368 71.8 130
White 70 5990 69.5 128
Gold 70 5679 68.0 126
Red 70 5157 70.6 124
Hole Descriptions: Sunset Valley is considered one of the better public courses in New Jersey but for me is a bit of a mixed bag. While I appreciate the visuals of the surrounding hills, challenge (especially the closing stretch), and good value, the course was built during the dark age of golf architecture (1940s-70s) and certainly feels a bit outdated in places. Tree overgrowth has really taken a lot of strategy away and the course feels overly tight in places. The bunkering is basic and repetitive and the often very large greens offer little charm. Overall, Sunset Valley is a solid municipal option for Morris County residents, but is on the forgettable side and not worth repeat plays or travel to see.
The course opens with a 370 yard par 4 that plays slightly downhill. There’s bunkers down either side around 225 yards and sporadic trees lining this tighter fairway. The most challenging aspect of this hole is a severely back-to-front sloped green defended by bunkers left and short right.
The number 1 handicap 2nd hole is one of the best holes at Sunset Valley as a 537 yard par 5. With a memorable downhill teeshot playing over a pond, this hole features another tight fairway lined by a right bunker at 260 yards and trees down the left the entire way. Following the bunker, the fairway turns left and uphill with two crossbunkers down the left in the lay-up area. This green is elevated and shallow, defended short by a false front and bunkers and sloping back-to-front with a back left plateau. There’s lot of room for big numbers here and pars are well-earned.
The 3rd hole is a 201 yard par 3 that plays at least a club shorter downhill. Two bunkers line the left side of a front-to-back sloped green.
At 408 yards, the 4th hole is a very difficult par 4 beginning with an 180 yard forced carry to find a skinny fairway lined by thick forest and a creek down the left. This approach runs uphill towards a narrow green that slopes hard right-to-left and back-to-front. Three deep bunkers defend the green left while tall trees line the right.
The 5th hole plays downhill back the opposite direction as a 402 yard dogleg right par 4. While the fairway is initially generous, it becomes quite narrow around the dogleg at 230 yards with tall trees on either side. Once in the fairway, the hole is fairly simple with a level approach to a flatter green defended by a bunker short.
The 6th hole is the best par 3 at Sunset Valley playing slightly uphill at 185 yards. A pretty one-shotter playing over a pond, this green slopes hard towards the front left with bunkers short on either side.
The 7th hole is a shorter par 4 at 355 yards, but is a complicated hole that honestly feels a bit too contrived. This hole begins with an elevated teebox and downhill teeshot to a very tight corridor of fairway lined by forest on either side. This fairway slopes severely left-to-right, which makes it hard to find a level lie or stay in the short grass. Pin position matters here with an extremely long and narrow green featuring numerous tiers. Any missed GIR will be costly, with bunkers short and right, forest left, and a hidden creek long.
The 8th hole is a bit more straightforward as another shorter 352 yard par 4. Accuracy is paramount here, with a tight, tree-lined fairway lined by a large left bunker at 240 yards. There are numerous bunkers further up including a Principal’s Nose-like bunker in the middle of the fairway but these are only in play for the longest hitters around 300 yards. This green is extremely large but overall fairly flat with bunkers short on either side.
At 378 yards, the 9th hole runs back towards the clubhouse as a slight dogleg right par 4. This is a rather forgettable hole playing slightly uphill with several trees down either side. This green slopes mostly back-to-front with bunkers short on either side.
The back 9 begins with a 384 yard dogleg right par 4 playing slightly downhill from the clubhouse. The teeshot here is initially straight for the first 260 yards, before snapping hard to the right at this point. Thick trees line the fairway down either side the entire way and a large left crossbunker narrows the fairway around 280 yards. Those who don’t reach at least 240 yards might be blocked out on this approach to a narrow, diagonal green that slopes hard left-to-right with bunkers short right.
The 329 yard 11th hole is the shortest par 4 at Sunset Valley and is potentially reachable for longer hitters as it plays severely downhill. The teeshot is completely blind but anything straight here should be fine. This approach continues downhill to a large, left-to-right sloped green defended by bunkers left, long, and right.
The 12th hole sits in the far corner of the property as a 203 yard par 3. While not easy due to the length, this is a rather dull hole with a flattish green defended by a bunker short.
At 342 yards, the 13th hole is probably the last good birdie opportunity before a very difficult closing stretch. This is one of the more interesting holes on the course with a more generous tree-lined fairway and semi-blind teeshot over a plateau. Large bunkers begin down either side around 220 yards but these are not easily seen on the teebox. This approach is quite strong to a long, elevated green containing lots of internal movement and defended by bunkers short on either side.
The 14th hole is a brutally difficult 396 yard par 4 with little to no room for error. This slight dogleg right begins with an immediate 200 yard forced carry over a pond to an extremely narrow fairway lined by a steep hill of forest right and a bunker down the left at 275 yards. The approach is not much easier, with a narrow front-to-back sloped green lined by water left and long and a bunker short right.
The 15th hole is the final par 3 on the course and shortest at 147 yards. Playing over the pond and bunker to an elevated green, this putting surface is wide and shallow.
At 542 yards, the 16th hole is the longer of the two par fives at Sunset Valley and a very challenging hole. It begins with an awkward, semi-blind teeshot to a tree-lined fairway that turns left as soon as it begins. A large right bunker at 230 yards is to be avoided but those who turn the ball over too much may find a hidden pond down the left beginning at 240 yards. Once safely in the fairway, this hole plays steadily uphill the entire way, making it play very long. The fairway remains tight the entire way with thick forest down either side for the final 200 yards and ponds on either side just prior to this. This elevated green slopes steadily left-to-right with numerous bunkers defending just short.
The final two holes are often mentioned when discussing New Jersey’s toughest closing stretches and are probably deserving of being in the conversation. The 17th hole is the the longest par 4 at Sunset Valley at 433 yards and features probably the most difficult teeshot on the course. From an elevated teebox, this fairway is extremely narrow and lined by two ponds down the left and a pond and thick trees down the right. Anything off-line here will likely find a watery grave and this feels like a hole you’d play in Florida. This diagonal green is large and slopes left-to-right with a right bunker.
Sunset Valley’s closing hole turns back the opposite direction as a dogleg left 404 yard par 4. Water runs down the left here for the first 260 yards and the fairway turns left at around 220 yards with a large bunker on this side as well. This approach runs steadily uphill towards a difficult, back-to-front sloped green.
General Comments: There’s no range at Sunset Valley but there are two practice greens to warm up on prior to your round. Pace of play was about average and the course is a tough walk, with many hills to navigate.
Verdict: A hilly and challenging municipal course in Northern New Jersey, Sunset Valley is a solid, yet forgettable course not worth repeat plays or going out of your way to see.
