
Coakley-Russo Memorial Course
Coakley-Russo Memorial Golf Club

About this course
Coakley-Russo Memorial Golf Club sits in Lyons, New Jersey, a public facility that bears the design influence of Robert Trent Jones Sr. with later involvement from Roger Rulewich, who worked extensively within the Jones organization before establishing his own practice. The course reflects the Jones design philosophy that became widespread across American public golf in the mid-to-late twentieth century: strategic bunkering, substantial greens with distinct internal contours, and hazards positioned to challenge players at multiple skill levels. Rulewich's contributions likely came through renovation or refinement work, as he frequently returned to Jones layouts to update them for modern play and maintenance practices. The routing works through rolling terrain characteristic of central New Jersey, where elevation changes provide natural interest and strategic variety. Water features and bunker complexes frame landing areas and greenside approaches, requiring thoughtful club selection and course management. The greens offer enough movement to make approach angle and pin position significant factors in scoring, a hallmark of the Jones design approach that sought to reward precision over pure length. As a public course carrying a memorial name, Coakley-Russo serves the regional golfing community in Somerset County and the surrounding area. The facility provides accessible championship-length golf with design pedigree, offering players the chance to experience strategic principles developed by one of the twentieth century's most prolific architects. The course remains part of New Jersey's substantial public golf infrastructure, where Jones-influenced designs are well represented across the state's diverse landscape.
Quick facts
- Location
- Lyons, NJ, USA
- Access
- Private
- Year built
- 1947
- Designer(s)
- Robert Trent Jones Sr., Roger Rulewich
- Holes
- 9
- Par
- 36
- Length
- 3,362 yards
- Difficulty
- 37.6/126
Getting there
The journey to Coakley-Russo Memorial Golf Club begins at Newark Liberty International (EWR), less than an hour's drive northeast through the densely woven corridors of central New Jersey. From the airport, the route traces westward along I-78, gradually shedding the industrial sprawl of the Meadowlands for the rolling farmland and wooded ridges of Somerset County. As you exit onto local roads near Lyons, the landscape softens into a quieter, almost pastoral rhythm - a surprising pocket of tranquility tucked between the state's busier arteries - before arriving at this understated municipal gem, a course that has quietly earned its place among the Garden State's most respected public layouts.

FAQ
Common questions about Coakley-Russo Memorial
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
Coakley-Russo Memorial was designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. and Roger Rulewich.
Coakley-Russo Memorial is listed as private on Course Vaults; guest access is typically restricted.
Par at Coakley-Russo Memorial is 36.
Coakley-Russo Memorial plays 3,362 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at Coakley-Russo Memorial is 126.
Coakley-Russo Memorial is a 9-hole course.



