Riverwinds Golf and Tennis Club
"Golf is deceptively simple, and endlessly complicated." - Arnold Palmer
(Played on Wednesday, February 21st, 2018)
Riverwinds Golf and Tennis Club, located in West Deptford, New Jersey, is an absolute gem of southern Jersey. It's a links-like golf course, situated on the Delaware river across from the shining city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
It was an absolutely beautiful day, hovering around 70 degrees. It was our first round in short sleeve weather in who knows how many months. Although it was 70 degrees in February, a strong breeze blew throughout the golf course all day, which was actually very refreshing as it cooled us off throughout the round.
We apologize in advance for this review being a little longer than usual. This course is definitely a favorite of ours, and with it's stellar views and pretty top notch conditions for a public course, we decided to take a boatload of pictures to show off the course.
It was only Chris Colman and Thomas Pusey on the course, while Chris Pusey was stuck in class. We had been planning to play Riverwinds for a long while, and when we saw the weather report for the 21st, we just HAD to book a tee time.
After being paired up with two random players, who we unfortunately do not remember their names, although they were very nice gents, we were off and running on one of our favorite courses less than twenty minutes from our houses.
Because it was a perfect day for golf, and because we had a 12:30 tee-time, we were well aware we wouldn't be able to play our usual 3 hour morning round we were accustomed to during the winter at Beckett.
The front nine at Riverwinds is pretty benign. There are some great holes and some very difficult holes sprinkled in. The fairways are generous and the greens are very large.
We discovered that for every "gettable" hole on the front nine, where birdie is very possible, there will be a tough hole immediately after to try and take it away. This is especially present on holes 4, 5, 6, and 7.
The fourth hole is a short, 490 yard par 5, usually downwind. The par 4 fifth hole, pictured below is only about 430 yards, but typically plays into the wind coming off the river. And with a burn winding down the left side, a pond sitting on the left of the fairway, and a waste area on the right side this hole can be a beast.
The burn, by the way, is in play on 6 of the 18 holes at Riverwinds.
After a short par 4 sixth hole, there is the long, downhill par 3 seventh hole, pictured below. During our round, the tee only measured 175 yards, but due to the headwind kicking up right as we were getting ready to hit, we both clubbed up. Every member of our foursome came up short of the green. Brutal.
Our round had a few great moments involving our golf skills, mostly involving Thomas's short-game. On the tenth hole, a long par 5 with a burn running in front of the green, pictured below, Thomas decided he was going to go for the risky green in two. If you notice the bridge to cross the burn, you can see his lucky-ass ball sitting nicely on top.
He almost got up and down for birdie from there.
Another lucky moment for Thomas occurred a little later in the round, on the par 3 15th hole. Thomas hooked his tee shot left into the hazard that is essentially the Delaware River, so he had to take a drop.
After taking a drop, Thomas holed his 30-some yard chip for an amazing par. If only he could have done that sooner in his round could he have perhaps salvaged his round.
Of course, we never really care about our scores unless we're playing a match. We just try to have fun and enjoy the great game that is golf.
The back nine at Riverwinds is the better nine, simply because it has the better stretch of holes. Holes 14-18, which are all along the Delaware river, are on another level when put next to the other 13 holes.
Colman said that 16 is his favorite hole. He says that although the 17th is the signature hole, 16 is just the perfect hole, giving plenty of options every single time you play it.
Thomas went with the peninsula/island par 3 17th as his favorite hole, because we don't often get to play any other green quite like it in our area.
We could go on, but we feel that photos do better than words for the back nine we absolutely adore.
These photos were taken from our cellphones, and were in no way enhanced. This course is really that amazing. Even in February!
Unfortunately, there are a few downfalls with Riverwinds that kind of hold it back. There isn't really a clubhouse built yet, so you have to travel about a quarter of a mile from the pro shop in the tennis center to the first tee. It isn't that big of a deal though. The staff knows how to run the course effectively, although they do have a slight problem with pace of play.
Other than the wet fairways due to rain the day before, there is nothing really to complain about. Thomas and Chris both walked the course, just because it was cart path only and we believe everyone should walk any chance they can. Golfing on foot just feels right.
Hopefully this type of weather continues on until the official start of spring. Although we enjoy the course to ourselves, we always welcome warm weather with open arms. We have a few more courses planned soon. We hope whoever reads this continues with us, as we continue playing golf. Cheers.
- The Sunday Golfers
P.S. Colman took that first photo of this post. He claims it is his favorite golf course photo he's ever taken.
"Golf is deceptively simple, and endlessly complicated." - Arnold Palmer
(Played on Wednesday, February 21st, 2018)
 |
| The signature 17th hole at Riverwinds, at sunset. |
Riverwinds Golf and Tennis Club, located in West Deptford, New Jersey, is an absolute gem of southern Jersey. It's a links-like golf course, situated on the Delaware river across from the shining city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
It was an absolutely beautiful day, hovering around 70 degrees. It was our first round in short sleeve weather in who knows how many months. Although it was 70 degrees in February, a strong breeze blew throughout the golf course all day, which was actually very refreshing as it cooled us off throughout the round.
 |
| Thomas teeing off on the 4th hole. |
 |
| Thomas chipping onto the 1st green, laying the sod as usual. |
We apologize in advance for this review being a little longer than usual. This course is definitely a favorite of ours, and with it's stellar views and pretty top notch conditions for a public course, we decided to take a boatload of pictures to show off the course.
 |
| Look down the first fairway from the tee box. |
It was only Chris Colman and Thomas Pusey on the course, while Chris Pusey was stuck in class. We had been planning to play Riverwinds for a long while, and when we saw the weather report for the 21st, we just HAD to book a tee time.
After being paired up with two random players, who we unfortunately do not remember their names, although they were very nice gents, we were off and running on one of our favorite courses less than twenty minutes from our houses.
 |
| Chris on the 11th tee, with the Delaware river and Philly in the background. |
Because it was a perfect day for golf, and because we had a 12:30 tee-time, we were well aware we wouldn't be able to play our usual 3 hour morning round we were accustomed to during the winter at Beckett.
 |
| Colman teeing off on the 5th tee. |
The front nine at Riverwinds is pretty benign. There are some great holes and some very difficult holes sprinkled in. The fairways are generous and the greens are very large.
 |
| Thomas lining up the first of his inevitable 3 putt on the 9th hole. These greens are huge. |
We discovered that for every "gettable" hole on the front nine, where birdie is very possible, there will be a tough hole immediately after to try and take it away. This is especially present on holes 4, 5, 6, and 7.
The fourth hole is a short, 490 yard par 5, usually downwind. The par 4 fifth hole, pictured below is only about 430 yards, but typically plays into the wind coming off the river. And with a burn winding down the left side, a pond sitting on the left of the fairway, and a waste area on the right side this hole can be a beast.
The burn, by the way, is in play on 6 of the 18 holes at Riverwinds.
 |
| Thomas hitting his approach into the 5th green. |
 |
| The waste area on the 5th hole. |
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| The bridge across the burn from the 5th green to the 6th tee. |
After a short par 4 sixth hole, there is the long, downhill par 3 seventh hole, pictured below. During our round, the tee only measured 175 yards, but due to the headwind kicking up right as we were getting ready to hit, we both clubbed up. Every member of our foursome came up short of the green. Brutal.
 |
| Thomas hitting his tee shot on the par 3 7th. |
Our round had a few great moments involving our golf skills, mostly involving Thomas's short-game. On the tenth hole, a long par 5 with a burn running in front of the green, pictured below, Thomas decided he was going to go for the risky green in two. If you notice the bridge to cross the burn, you can see his lucky-ass ball sitting nicely on top.
He almost got up and down for birdie from there.
 |
| The bridge crossing the the burn to 10th green. You can see Thomas's ball sitting on the bridge. The lucky bastard. |
Another lucky moment for Thomas occurred a little later in the round, on the par 3 15th hole. Thomas hooked his tee shot left into the hazard that is essentially the Delaware River, so he had to take a drop.
 |
| Thomas retrieving his ball from the hazard on 15, with our playing partner also looking for his ball. |
After taking a drop, Thomas holed his 30-some yard chip for an amazing par. If only he could have done that sooner in his round could he have perhaps salvaged his round.
Of course, we never really care about our scores unless we're playing a match. We just try to have fun and enjoy the great game that is golf.
 |
| The green of the par 4 12th hole. |
The back nine at Riverwinds is the better nine, simply because it has the better stretch of holes. Holes 14-18, which are all along the Delaware river, are on another level when put next to the other 13 holes.
Colman said that 16 is his favorite hole. He says that although the 17th is the signature hole, 16 is just the perfect hole, giving plenty of options every single time you play it.
Thomas went with the peninsula/island par 3 17th as his favorite hole, because we don't often get to play any other green quite like it in our area.
We could go on, but we feel that photos do better than words for the back nine we absolutely adore.
 |
| Thomas on the 13th tee. |
 |
| Thomas teeing off on 16, with the best view of the river in the background. |
 |
| The sunset at Riverwinds, with the 17th green below. |
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| Colman walking up the 10th fairway. |
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| The 9th tee box, with a lake to carry to hit the fairway. |
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| The Pusey Signature, with Thomas unable to control his laughter. |
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| The 18th fairway, seen from the tips. |
These photos were taken from our cellphones, and were in no way enhanced. This course is really that amazing. Even in February!
Unfortunately, there are a few downfalls with Riverwinds that kind of hold it back. There isn't really a clubhouse built yet, so you have to travel about a quarter of a mile from the pro shop in the tennis center to the first tee. It isn't that big of a deal though. The staff knows how to run the course effectively, although they do have a slight problem with pace of play.
Other than the wet fairways due to rain the day before, there is nothing really to complain about. Thomas and Chris both walked the course, just because it was cart path only and we believe everyone should walk any chance they can. Golfing on foot just feels right.
Hopefully this type of weather continues on until the official start of spring. Although we enjoy the course to ourselves, we always welcome warm weather with open arms. We have a few more courses planned soon. We hope whoever reads this continues with us, as we continue playing golf. Cheers.
- The Sunday Golfers
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| The Riverwinds flagstick. |
P.S. Colman took that first photo of this post. He claims it is his favorite golf course photo he's ever taken.
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