Stretching from Cape May to the on-shore boundaries of Long Beach Island, the Jersey Shore is dotted with some of the finest high-end public golf courses anywhere ... all lush and green, all like a picture postcard, all cut out of the pines and accented with nature's touch of water and sand.

There's Cape May National, Shore Gate, Sand Barrens, Brigantine Golf Links, Blue Heron Pines East-West, Seaview Bay-Pines, Harbor Pines, Twisted Dune and Sea Oaks. Greens fees run $65 to $125, with increases coming after June 14.

Then, there's the Mays Landing Golf and Country Club, kind of the hidden gem in the shore's jeweled crown. Same class as the aforementioned, but more affordable. Weekday rates, including Fridays, are less than $50. Weekends less than $ 70 (see related scorecard).

``We stay within our market,'' said Jim Fraser of Fraser Golf Associates, owners of Mays Landing. ``We believe we owe something to the people who support us ... and support us all year round. We don't want to chase them away. It's worked well for us.''

In 1998, to keep Mays Landing competitive with the high- end layouts and to give each hole its own personality, Fraser Golf Associates called on noted golf course architect Stephen Kay to make some changes.

Kay knew the South Jersey terrain. He designed Blue Heron Pines West, Harbor Pines and Scotland Run. Kay was brought in to make sure the changes would conform to the layout while enhancing and improving the golf holes.

The Frasers also brought in course superintendent Barry Anes to make sure said changes did what they were supposed to do. Anes worked with Kay at Manhattan Woods in New York.

The changes, started during the winter and completed in time for April play, were made to holes 1, 6, 9, 10, 14 and 18.

At the first hole, a berm (grassy mound) was was was was constructed at the left side of the fairway where the fairway turns for its dogleg right. There's also a small waste area beyond the berm. On the fifth hole, a waste- water retention bunker runs down the left side of the fairway. At the sixth hole, the No.1 handicap hole, a waste- water retention bunker has been added to the right side of the fairway. A waste-water retention bunker has been added to the 9th hole.

The 10th hole was shortened by about 60 yards (to 310), but bunkers were added. It's now a short (par) four, but if you're going to go for it you have a lot of bunkers to worry about. Most people lay up for about an 8- or 9-iron shot.

The once tree-lined 14th hole was was opened from the tee to a large water retention area running from right to left along fairway. On 17, there's a hazard on left side, a berm about 190-200 yards from the tee on left side of the fairway. It was all water retention before.

Mays Landing plays to 6,624 yards from the tips (back tees), 6,251 yards from the white tees, 5,448 yards from the gold and 5,306 from the red.

The course is somewhat tight, but fair. The player can not just tee it high and let it fly. It's going to take well- placed shots and a mental approach to keep in the fairways and score well.