Then (1975) and Now: Golf in New Jersey
Photo: Chet Sanok
On our 125th anniversary, New Jersey Golf is looking at what the game was like in the Garden State in twenty-five-year snapshots since 1900. In April, we highlighted the state of the game in New Jersey in 1900, the year NJ Golf was founded. In May we focused our attention on 1925. June described Garden State golf in 1950. This month, we are looking at the rapidly changing world of New Jersey golf in 1975.
By Kevin Casey
By 1975, golf in New Jersey had firmly established itself as both a respected sport and a favorite pastime for a rapidly growing middle class. The post-World War II generation had set the stage, and the Boomers – raised on television, suburbia, and an appetite for leisure – were taking full advantage. Golf was no longer an exclusive pursuit of the wealthy; it had become a widely accessible and culturally mainstream activity.
Across the Garden State, roughly 250 golf courses served a diverse and expanding population of golfers. While iconic private clubs like Baltusrol, Pine Valley, Plainfield, and Ridgewood upheld their reputations as championship-caliber venues, a growing network of public and semi-private courses reflected golf’s broader reach.
Here’s a snapshot of golf 50 years ago in New Jersey.
Golf in New Jersey in 1975, by the Numbers:
- Golf Courses: In 1975, golf was riding a wave created earlier by the combination of television and Arnold Palmer, increasing public golf, and an expanding middle class. There were an estimated 250 golf courses in New Jersey, including about 125 private courses. The number of municipal, county, and resort courses had been steadily increasing since the 1920s.
- All Golfers: In 1975, there were an estimated 530,000 golfers (people who played golf at least once that year) in the state. For context, today, New Jersey is home to 870,000 golfers, according to the National Golf Foundation.
- Women Golfers: Around 80,000 New Jersey women played golf at least once in 1975. FYI, today, about 247,000 women play golf in its various forms in New Jersey.
- State Championships: By 1975, New Jersey Golf conducted 12 annual state championships, up from seven in 1950, but still well below the 25 state championships conducted by New Jersey Golf this year. Here are results from some of the New Jersey state championships in 1975:
- State Amateur: Chet Sanok claimed his third Amateur title at Upper Montclair Country Club—remarkably, 25 years after his second win in 1950.
- State Open: Future PGA Tour professional Jack Kiefer captured his first of two straight wins, at Plainfield Country Club.
- Women’s Amateur: Future LPGA standout Cindy Ferro triumphed at Greenacres Country Club (now Cobblestone Creek Country Club.
- Men’s Senior: Sanok struck again, winning his second straight Senior title, this time at Navesink Country Club.
- Junior Championship: Bill Snouffer claimed victory at Essex County Country Club.
- Women’s Senior: Mrs. Richard Fischer won the 6th edition at Colonia Country Club.
- USGA: By the end of 1975, New Jersey had hosted 28 USGA championships, including six U.S. Opens, five U.S. Women’s Opens, seven U.S. Women’s Amateurs, and seven U.S. Men’s Amateurs, including Jerry Pate’s stirring win at Ridgewood Country Club in 1974.
Notably in 1975, Atlantic City CC hosted the U.S. Women’s Open. Sandra Palmer won the title with room to spare by four shots over Joanne Carner, Sandra Post, and Nancy Lopez, an amateur soon to become the biggest name in women’s golf. This Women’s Open was New Jersey’s fourth USGA championship in three years, an indirect benefit of the USGA’s relocation to from New York City to Liberty Corner in 1972.
Equipment: Then vs. Now
In 1975, golf equipment in the United States was at another crossroads between tradition and innovation. Graphite shafts were just beginning to emerge as a technological advancement, though steel shafts – especially True Temper's Dynamic models – remained standard.
Golf Clubs: In 1975, professional shops dominated club sales, with few retail outlets willing to challenge the professionals’ lead. Wooden clubs, especially persimmon drivers, still held sway on both the PGA Tour and in the bags of top amateur players. Brands like MacGregor, Wilson, and Spalding were household names, with MacGregor's VIP woods and irons enjoying widespread popularity among both elite and recreational players.
The irons of the time were still largely forged blades, demanding precision and skill. Wilson Staff irons were especially admired for their feel. Ping was best known for its putters; Ping irons were gaining market share rapidly on the West Coast but had not quite made a mark here on the East Coast.
Golf Balls: The most popular golf ball in 1975 was the Acushnet Titleist, building on a reputation for attention to detail and consistency. Its Titleist Tour Balata ball, though soft and prone to scuffing, offered high spin and control, making it a favorite of skilled players. All the top balls sold for about $1.25 apiece in 1975.
Meanwhile, Spalding's Top-Flite surlyn-covered golf balls, were making technological waves by offering increased durability compared to the traditional balata balls. Its top shelf ball, Molitor, captured some professional and important amateur events, foreshadowing the eventual domination of solid-core golf balls.
Architecture & Influence: The Jones Legacy
Montclair’s own Robert Trent Jones remained America’s premier course architect in 1975 – but his son, Rees Jones, was stepping into the spotlight. That year, Rees launched his own design firm, also in Montclair, after a decade of working alongside his father. He quickly earned his own “Open Doctor” reputation, as the USGA began to tap him for major championship course prep.
Together, the Joneses designed or renovated more than 500 courses worldwide – including 41 in New Jersey – cementing a design legacy that helped shape American golf well into the 21st century.
New Jersey Golf in 1975 – A Time of Transition
In 1975, New Jersey golf was finding a balance between history and change. Classic clubs maintained their prestige, while new public facilities invited broader participation. It was a year that reflected golf’s evolution – not just in New Jersey, but across the nation – where the sport welcomed new players without losing touch with its traditions.
For more information about New Jersey Golf’s 125th Anniversary, visit NJGolf.org, or contact the author directly at kevincasey36@gmail.com.
