Hominy Hill

The course at Hominy Hill is laid out on land to the north of Naval Weapons Station Earle in Monmouth County. Such is the quality of this Robert Trent Jones Snr design, it hosted the US Amateur Public Links Championships in 1983.

“The story of how Hominy Hill came into existence is a fascinating one.” Writes M James Ward (see below for his full review). “The man responsible for the course was Henry Mercer – a shipping magnate who enjoyed mixing golf and business. Mercer's home summer club – Rumson Country Club located near to the Atlantic Ocean – had a long established reputation in being rather close-minded when people of dissimilar backgrounds visited the club. Mercer in his business came in touch many times with Japanese and Greeks who like him were active in the shipping area.

Mercer would entertain his guests frequently at Rumson and the leadership made it a point to explain such invitations would need to be curtailed. Sensing an ultimatum was brewing, Mercer took a pre-emptive approach. His response was rather straightforward – he would entertain who he wished, when he wished, where he wished. And if that meant leaving Rumson so be it.

His love of golf was deeply embedded, as Mercer was also a member of the Augusta National Golf Club. He had pasture land located in the nearby community of Colts Neck on which his prized Guernsey and Charolais cattle grazed. Mercer engaged the services of architect Robert Trent Jones, Sr. who had offices not far from the site in Montclair.

Jones was at the height of his design career and he created for Mercer an 18-hole layout far beyond the likes of Rumson. The course became the ultra-private haven for Mercer, his family and guests. Near the end of Mercer's life a decision was made to sell Hominy Hill to Monmouth County with the property forever to be used as a golf facility open to the general public.”