Jimmy Arbes captured the 2026 New Jersey Mid-Amateur Championship after a dominant week of match play at Alpine Country Club, defeating three-time New Jersey Player of the Year Troy Vannucci, 3 and 1, in the final. After falling in the semifinals one year earlier, Arbes explains what changed, how he handled the pressure of another championship opportunity and why patience, recovery and course management became the foundation of his breakthrough.

Arbes traces his background in golf, what has kept him committed to improving and how he balances work, life and the demands of high-level amateur competition. He also details the mental shift from stroke-play qualifying to match play, the importance of distance control on a demanding championship course and what it means to finally win a New Jersey Golf major after years of coming close.

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Twisted Dune Golf Club brings a taste of Scotland to Egg Harbor Township and delivers one of New Jersey’s most distinctive public golf experiences. From the black tees, the par-72 layout stretches to 7,270 yards, with towering dunes, dramatic elevation changes and more than 100 bunkers creating an intimidating look without making the course feel unfair. Generous landing areas provide room off the tee, but the wind, contours and angles still reward creativity, course management and committed decisions. Conditions were phenomenal during our visit, showing why Twisted Dune is consistently regarded among the state’s top public courses.

This Course Feature takes you through all 18 holes, including the reachable Par 5, 9th, where water turns the second shot into a true risk-reward decision, and the sneaky-tough Par 3, 16th. The public driving range, putting green and chipping green add to the experience, while rates range from up to $135 on a weekend morning to under $60 for weekday twilight and $40 for nine holes after 4:00 p.m. 

Watch the full feature to see why Twisted Dune’s bold visuals, strategic variety and unmistakable identity make it one of the most memorable public golf experiences in New Jersey. 

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Wyndham Clark entered Sunday at Shinnecock with a six-shot lead and left as a two-time U.S. Open champion, but the final round became a test of survival. Mike, who picked Clark to win before the tournament, and Chris examine how he stopped a near-collapse, held off Sam Burns and handled a crowd openly rooting against him. They also assess Shinnecock’s championship setup, Scottie Scheffler’s missed opportunity, Keith Mitchell’s remarkable week and Xander Schauffele’s historic U.S. Open consistency.

Chris reflects on his first six months and nearly 25 consecutive Tuesday episodes with The DROP, including what surprised him, how he found his role and what he sees for the future of the show. The episode also tracks New Jersey professionals across the PGA Tour, looks ahead to the Korn Ferry Tour’s return at the Memorial Health Championship, makes picks for the Travelers Championship and previews a busy week for The DROP.

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Jason Lamp returns to The DROP Podcast for a where-are-you-now episode centered on his next chapter in South Jersey golf. Since his first appearance, Lamp has moved into ownership at Pomona Golf, become a partner at FIRE GOLF, continued helping players through instruction at Atlantic City Country Club, and carried forward the experience he built during his time at Galloway National.

Mike and Jason talk through what life looks like now, why Pomona Golf has become such an important part of his story, what he is building with FIRE GOLF, and how his time at Galloway National continues to shape the way he sees the game. The episode is for golfers who enjoy following the people behind New Jersey golf, especially those interested in instruction, public golf, South Jersey golf culture, and what comes next when a golf professional starts building something of his own.

Pinelands Golf Club in Hammonton, New Jersey has the feel of a course that more golfers are going to start paying attention to. Located just off the Atlantic City Expressway, Pinelands offers a classic South Jersey golf experience built around deep sand-based, tree-lined fairways, distinct doglegs, strategically placed water hazards, and highly contoured greens that make the round feel both playable and demanding.

In this Course Feature on The DROP Podcast, we take a closer look at why Pinelands fits the overlooked-public-golf conversation in New Jersey. The course stretches to 6,503 yards from the back tees and plays to a par 72. What stands out most was the identity of the property: private-feeling fairways, a fair but challenging layout, strong accessibility for golfers coming from the Jersey Shore, South Jersey, and the Philadelphia area, plus continued investment into the golf experience with simulators, range improvements, and Twisted Tavern on site.

If you are looking for a South Jersey round that feels authentic, strategic, and still a little under the radar, Pinelands Golf Club belongs on your list. Watch the full Course Feature to see the layout, the conditions, the atmosphere, and why this Hammonton golf course may be one of the more overlooked public golf experiences in New Jersey.

Twisted Dune Golf Club brings one of the most distinct public golf experiences in South Jersey into focus, with big dunes, bold visuals, generous playing corridors, and the kind of personality golfers remember after the scorecard is put away. Mike and Chris connect that idea of course identity to U.S. Open week at Shinnecock Hills, where wind, firm conditions, patience, decision-making, and emotional control will matter just as much as ball-striking.

The episode also looks at why New Jersey public golf is stronger when courses offer something different, how Shinnecock tests players through discipline instead of comfort, and why Chris Gotterup, Max Greyserman, and James Nicholas give Garden State golf fans a local rooting interest on a major championship stage. Mike and Chris also cover the 32nd Dunning Head Professional Championship at Somerset Hills Country Club, the challenge of head professionals staying competitive while running golf operations, recent PGA Tour and Korn Ferry Tour notes, and this week’s picks for the U.S. Open.

Harbor Pines Golf Club is highlighted as The DROP examines one of South Jersey’s most recognized public golf properties through its course, conditions, pricing, practice facilities, and overall player experience. Assistant General Manager Chris Doyle adds the club perspective on how Harbor Pines delivers a Jersey Shore golf product built around conditioning, access, and a private-club feel without the membership requirement.

The episode covers the parkland-style layout, seven tee options, water throughout the property, distinctive bunkering, large undulating greens, practice setup, and The Roost as part of the full Harbor Pines experience. For golfers who care about New Jersey golf, public golf NJ, course value, facility standards, and where Harbor Pines fits in the Garden State golf landscape, this feature gives the course a serious look beyond the scorecard.

Dan Hicks has spent more than two decades calling golf's biggest moments, making him one of the most trusted voices in championship golf. With the 2026 U.S. Open returning to Shinnecock Hills and The Open Championship heading back to Royal Birkdale, Hicks joins The DROP Podcast to assess the season's defining storylines, the players shaping the year, and the questions still waiting to be answered. From Cameron Young's breakthrough victory at THE PLAYERS Championship to Chris Gotterup's continued rise, this episode examines where the 2026 season stands as golf enters its most important stretch.

The conversation covers NBC's early-season PGA Tour schedule, what separates major championship contenders from talented players, why classic venues such as Shinnecock Hills continue to identify the game's best competitors, and how Royal Birkdale presents a completely different challenge. Hicks also shares his perspective on Young's emergence, Gotterup's potential in major championships, the upcoming FedEx Cup race, and the storylines that could ultimately define the 2026 season. For golfers who follow championship golf, major venue setups, and the biggest names in the game, this episode provides a timely look at the road ahead.

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Pomona Golf is not trying to be the biggest golf course in New Jersey. It is trying to be one of the most fun. In this Course Feature on The DROP Podcast, we sit down with one of Pomona Golf’s owners, Jason Lamp, to talk about the vision behind the property, the renovations taking shape, and why Pomona is leaning into what golfers actually want: great vibes, good food, affordable golf, and a place that feels welcoming from the moment you arrive. With a 9-hole, par-33 layout playing just over 2,300 yards, Pomona gives golfers a chance to play fast, score well, and enjoy a round without the pressure or price tag that often comes with a full 18-hole day.But Pomona Golf is more than just a quick 9. It is a South Jersey golf spot with real personality, real momentum, and an ownership group focused on making the entire experience better, both on and off the course. From the fresh updates around the property to the laid-back atmosphere and food-forward vibe, Pomona is becoming the kind of place golfers want to hang before, during, and after the round. If you are looking for an affordable New Jersey golf course, a fun 9-hole round, or a new South Jersey spot to add to your list, Pomona Golf deserves your attention. Subscribe to The DROP Podcast for more New Jersey golf course features, public golf spotlights, and stories from the people shaping Golfing in the Garden State.

This episode begins with a golf course that left a lasting impression. Pinelands Golf Club in Hammonton delivered outstanding conditions, pure greens, exceptional food, and a level of value that raises an important question: why isn't more of New Jersey talking about this place? Located just off the Atlantic City Expressway, Pinelands offers the kind of complete public golf experience golfers spend all season searching for, yet it remains surprisingly under the radar.

Mike and Chris discuss what separates a good golf course from a complete golf experience, why conditioning and value still matter in today's golf market, and where Pinelands fits within New Jersey's public golf landscape. The episode also covers James Arbes' dominant run to the New Jersey Mid-Am Championship at Alpine Country Club, Grant Sturgeon's fourth Charity Clambake title at Manasquan River Golf Club, PGA Tour and Korn Ferry Tour updates, and a listener debate on county-card golf versus private club membership. For golfers looking for their next great New Jersey round, this episode may point them directly to Hammonton.

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