The weekly Pulse of Golfing In The Garden State – new stories every Monday.
This week: Chris Gotterup wins the John Deere Classic with his brother Patrick on the bag with a final-round 62. Mike makes the case for Crystal Springs as the best golf getaway in the Northeast. Brigantine Golf Links gets its long-overdue spotlight, and Patrick Keenan reveals how Deal Golf & Country Club grew its women's program.
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A Links Course Near Atlantic City That Most NJ Golfers Have Never Played
Brigantine Golf Links has been there since 1927, designed by Wayne Stiles and John Van Kleek, the same architects behind several of the region's classic layouts, and most NJ golfers still haven't been there. Mike went to fix that.
The course sits on a barrier island minutes from the Atlantic City casinos, the only 18-hole course on a barrier island in New Jersey. General Manager Mark Kimminau (hired December 2025, along with superintendent Cal Livesay from Philadelphia Cricket Club) is rebuilding the experience from the ground up: drainage, sod work, new hospitality culture. New clubhouse construction starts later this year.
The answer to Brigantine is the wind. It's the windiest city in the United States (a confirmed Jeopardy answer), and the holes play completely differently depending on whether the tide is bringing the bay breeze or the ocean is kicking back.
A 5-year vision includes a tee/bunker restoration, a short 4-hole course, and an 18-hole putting course. The bones are already there. The comeback is in motion.
Gotterup Wins Again In A Family Affair
Five shots back to start the day. Nine birdies. No bogeys. A final-round 62. Chris Gotterup doesn't flinch on Sundays — and if you need a number that explains why, here it is: no player in the last 40 years has won three times in the same PGA Tour season while closing every victory with a round of 64 or better. Gotterup has now done it in 2026.
The John Deere Classic win was his fifth on the PGA Tour and his third this season — tying him with Matt Fitzpatrick for the most wins on Tour in 2026. Since May 2024, only Scottie Scheffler has won more times worldwide.
What made Sunday different was who was carrying his bag. Regular caddie Brady Stockton was home on paternity leave. Brother Patrick Gotterup stepped in — the same brother who carried the bag through the Korn Ferry days before Chris went pro-caddie. They never won together in those early years. They got it done Sunday, and you could see it on the range when the result was confirmed.
"It closes that chapter of when Pat was on the bag for Chris in the early stages of his career. And now they close that chapter together."
Mays XII Opens Today: 12 Holes of Real Golf
The former Mays Landing Country Club, which fell into disrepair and closed over the year, has been rebuilt by owner Frank Ruocco as a 12-hole public course with a clear mission: real golf, in less time, with a better hang.
This is not an executive course. The par 3s stretch past 200 yards. There's a par 5 to 530. The greens were rolling pure when Mike and his dad played an early preview round. It's $50–$90 depending on the day, cart included. The LaScala restaurant group is running F&B, there's a synthetic 18-hole putting green with fire pits, and they put the Roman numeral for 12 on every flagstick — the kind of detail that sticks.
"You're ahead of the curve. You're thinking outside the box. You're being more creative. Because sometimes we're all tied to the very traditionalist box — and being able to come to a place that's 12 holes, where it's just fun, I think that's going to change the outlook for a lot of people."
Go check it out. Then tell us what you think.
The Best Stay & Play in the NJ?
Mike spent three nights and played three rounds at Crystal Springs Resort this week, Ballyowen, Wild Turkey, and Black Bear. Ballyowen is the clear #1 (every hole has its own identity, conditions were impeccable post-outing). Wild Turkey is the toughest test (the par 3 7th over the quarry lake, the 225-yard par 3 10th straight down a mountain). Black Bear is the most fun for every skill level. The Minerals hotel, Grand Cascades Lodge, and the pool round out a stay that goes well beyond the golf.
"Crystal Springs is the best, most complete stay-and-play golf destination in New Jersey, and I frankly think it belongs in the conversation for best golf getaway in the Northeast."
The full Crystal Springs resort feature is coming to the YouTube channel soon with everything you need to know: the grounds, the instruction session with Tom Reynolds at the Leadbetter Academy, and the mountain views from Black Bear.
In the Spotlight: Deal Golf & Country Club
Patrick Keenan was brought in to run the golf operation at Deal Golf & Country Club, founded 1898, Donald Ross redesign, 6,400 yards with out-of-bounds on six of the first six holes. He immediately made two calls: recruit the Monmouth University pipeline and build a junior program that families actually show up for.
The results aren't subtle. When Keenan arrived, the women's nine-hole program had 9–12 participants. Last year: 58. He attracts competitive players because competitive players attract more competitive players.
"Every club would probably trade 250 family members instead of 300 regular members that just go off at 8 o'clock on Saturday."
Keenan also installed TrackMan on the practice range, six screens where junior golfers can play Magic Carpet games, compete in scrambles, and learn shot shape in real time without being bored into quitting. He did his PGM program internship at Crystal Springs a connection nobody expected this week.
And then there's the fitness story. Keenan wakes at 4:30 AM to work out. He and a crew from his gym raised money for the Jeremy Glick Foundation by attempting to run 100 miles in a single day. Keenan made it 76 miles before his legs stopped cooperating. Three days later, he played in a pro-am.
"There's more than we're all capable of doing. I think that's the big picture of it."
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The 19th Hole
Three NJ-connected players, Chris Gotterup, Max Greyserman, and James Nicholas are all in the field at Royal Birkdale next week. Who are you most excited to watch, and do you think one of them can contend?
Reply and let us know.