In this week's Road Trip Close to Home, News 12's Amanda Eustice introduces viewers to the growing sport of park golf and how it's teeing up a new kind of golf experience.

New Jersey

Great Gorge Golf Club in Vernon, North Jersey, has launched a new park golf course called One Club, marking the first of its kind in New Jersey. Park golf is described as a more accessible and affordable alternative to traditional golf, featuring larger balls, bigger holes, and only one club with no loft.

Originating in Asia, particularly Japan, where it is popular among seniors, park golf at Great Gorge has been adapted to appeal to all ages by adding features like a scoreboard and music. The course is significantly shorter than standard golf courses, making it easier and quicker to play, and is designed to be inclusive and enjoyable for everyone.

New way to tee off at Great Gorge Golf Club in North Jersey

WELL, THERE'S A NEW WAY TO PLAY GOLF IN NORTH JERSEY. TEEING OFF DOESN'T BREAK THE BANK OR EVEN TAKE HOURS. IN THIS WEEK'S ROAD TRIP CLOSE TO HOME, NEWS 12'S AMANDA EUSTACE IS INTRODUCING US TO THE SPORT OF PARK GOLF AT ONE CLUB ON THE GREAT GORGE GOLF CLUB IN VERNON. So what is One Club? So One Club, it's the first park golf course in New Jersey and it's the pickleball of golf. People think of this as maybe the pickleball of golf because, you know, tennis players, they got to the point they couldn't play and now they play pickleball. Maybe this is kind of, could follow that same niche. All right, this seems way more intimidating than what I had anticipated. You got this, Amanda. Come on. And you said hit it hard, right? Yeah. Okay. That wasn't terrible. The ball is a lot bigger. The hole is twice as big and you're only using one club, which has no loft. So maybe croquet-ish a little, but yeah, just an easy game that is played by everyone. Everybody can play. Oh my goodness. It started in Asia, Japan has a couple thousand golf courses and it was just a game there that was kind of played by seniors. And when we brought it here, we added the scoreboard and some music and so we're trying to make it the younger generation can do it also. And it's just a miniature golf course. It's 600 yards instead of 6,000 yards. It's supposed to be easy, fun, walk in the park, cool vibe, music, everybody can play it. What? Yes! And if I can do it, so can you. On this week's Road Trip Close to Home, I'm Amanda Eustace.

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