Walk-ons only at golf courses

A new automated tee-time reservation system, which allows golfers to reserve playing time at the three golf courses operated by the Middlesex County Improvement Authority (MCIA), will be installed and tested during January and February.

Tamarack Golf Course in East Brunswick, the Meadows at Middlesex in Plainsboro, and Raritan Landing will be open for play during the first two months of the year, but the current tee-time system will be inoperative and no advance reservations will be accepted, according to a press release from the MCIA.

"It will be walk-ons only, on a first-come, first-served basis, until early March, when the new reservations system will be up and running," said Jane S. Leal, the MCIA’s director of administration.

"We knew this switch could cause some disruption in the reservations service, so we thought we’d take advantage of the slower winter months when not many people play golf in the northeast, and most of those who do play are only out on the warmer days," Leal said.

"Our courses are open all year though, and even with the tee-time system out of commission, we don’t anticipate that anyone will have much of a wait to play," she said.

She noted that golfers should not call the courses directly to try to reserve tee times.

"The course employees are not permitted to set aside times for people, and I hope our golfers will realize this and not try to put them on the spot," she said.