Aerial view of Francis A. Byrne Golf Course with lush green fairways and mature trees under a clear sky

West Orange, New Jersey· Municipal

Golf at Francis A. Byrne?
Track Your Handicap & Bets

Short Grass is the free golf app used by golfers at Francis A. Byrne Golf Course to log rounds, track their USGA handicap index, and run Nassau, Low Medal, and Skins bets — all on the course, in real time.

4.2(201 Google reviews)

72Par

6,463Yards (Blue)

127Slope

71.3Rating

About Francis A. Byrne Golf Course

Francis A. Byrne Golf Course, nestled in the scenic hills of West Orange, New Jersey, offers a classic municipal golf experience within the Essex County Parks system. Designed by renowned architect Hal Purdy and opened in 1965, this 18-hole championship course is known for its challenging layout, mature tree-lined fairways, and well-maintained greens. It provides a true test of golf for players of all skill levels, blending natural beauty with strategic design.

The course's design philosophy emphasizes precision and thoughtful shot-making. Players will encounter a variety of holes, from tight doglegs demanding accurate drives to elevated greens requiring careful club selection. The terrain features subtle elevation changes that add to the course's character and challenge, without being overly strenuous to walk. Its accessibility as a municipal course makes it a popular choice for local golfers seeking a quality round without the private club price tag.

What makes Byrne special is its enduring classic feel and commitment to providing an enjoyable yet challenging golf experience. The course is consistently praised for its conditioning, especially the greens, which often run true and fast. The overall playing experience is one of traditional golf, where strategy often trumps brute force, and a well-placed shot is rewarded. It’s a course that invites repeat play, as golfers discover new nuances with each round.

Course Tee Information

Blue6,463 yds

Rating 71.3Slope 127

White6,084 yds

Rating 69.5Slope 122

Gold5,493 yds

Rating 66.8Slope 115

Red5,493 yds

Rating 71.7Slope 122

All tees play to par 72. Source: www.essexcountyparks.org/golf/francis-a-byrne-golf-course.

Free for all golfers

Track your handicap at Francis A. Byrne Golf Course.
It takes two minutes to set up.

No credit card required

Everything You Need at Francis A. Byrne Golf Course

Short Grass is built for golfers who play courses like Francis A. Byrne Golf Course — where every stroke counts and the bets make it interesting.

Live Handicap Tracking

Log your round at Francis A. Byrne Golf Course and your handicap differential is calculated automatically using the official USGA World Handicap System formula. No spreadsheets required.

Score History & Trends

See how your game evolves across every round at Francis A. Byrne Golf Course. Track your scoring average, best rounds, and improvement over time with visual charts.

Hole-by-Hole Stats

Identify your weakest holes on the Francis A. Byrne Golf Course layout. Discover exactly which holes are costing you strokes and where you can pick up shots.

In-Round Betting

Set up Nassau, Skins, Low Medal, and Short Grass bets before you tee off. The app tracks the money in real time as you play.

Playing Partners

Connect with the golfers you play with at Francis A. Byrne Golf Course. Compare handicaps, view each other's scorecards, and settle bets through the app.

Leaderboards

See where you rank among Short Grass members who play at Francis A. Byrne Golf Course. Compete on gross and net leaderboards by course.

Betting Games

Run Your Usual Games at Francis A. Byrne

Whether your group plays a weekly Nassau or a Skins game on the back nine, Short Grass handles the maths so you can focus on your game. All bets support gross and net (handicap-adjusted) scoring.

Nassau

Three separate bets — front nine, back nine, and overall 18. The classic format for any foursome at Francis A. Byrne Golf Course.

Low Medal

Lowest gross or net score wins the pot. Choose Full 18, Front 9, Back 9, or Front & Back 9 together.

Skins

Win a hole outright to claim the skin. Ties carry over, building the pot on Francis A. Byrne Golf Course's toughest holes.

Short Grass

Points for hitting fairways and greens. Rewards the ball-strikers in your group.

Match Play

Hole-by-hole head-to-head with full handicap strokes applied. Perfect for a challenge match.

Why West Orange, New Jersey Golfers Use Short Grass

1Francis A. Byrne Golf Course's slope of 127 means handicap strokes matter — Short Grass allocates them correctly by hole handicap rank.
2Tracking your stats hole by hole shows where you're losing shots and where you can improve.
3West Orange, New Jersey golfers play regularly. Short Grass keeps a running handicap index that updates after every round.
4All betting games support gross and net scoring — Nassau, Skins, Low Medal, and more.
5Free for all golfers. No subscription required to log rounds, track handicap, or run bets.