Shady Rest Golf and Country Clubhouse
Scotch Plains, New Jersey
Scotch Hills Golf Course is a 9-hole muni with a storied past.
The course lays site to what was once the first African American country club in the United States - Shady Rest Golf and Country Club. Shady Rest Golf Club opened in 1921 and quickly became a center for African American society. Home to the very first African American golf professional, John Shippen, Jr., the Club regularly hosted dignitaries of the time, including legends like Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, W.E.B. DuBois, Count Basie, Billie Holiday, Joe Louis, and many others.
In 1964, the township of Scotch Plains acquired Shady Rest and renamed it Scotch Hills Golf Club. The original Shady Rest Clubhouse remains on site, promoting the history and significance of the course and clubhouse as a place of national historic interest. The Preserve Shady Rest Committee manages the clubhouse/museum and has plans for its future restoration.
Today, Scotch Hills boasts a hilly, challenging 9-hole layout for a fun morning walk. The Club also has an 18-hole miniature golf course if you’re looking for more action after your round.
Hershey’s Subs is a great nearby option for a post-round sandwich; however, we suggest driving a little further and visiting Amazing Taste in North Plainfield for soul food “made with love.”
Public: Course Website | Opened: 1921
