Suburban Golf Club
Suburban Golf Club is a private country club in Union Township, New Jersey founded in 1896.[1] The current course was designed by golf course architect A. W. Tillinghast in 1922. [2] Tom Bendelow designed the predecessor 9 hole course in 1896.[3] In 1999, Ron Prichard Full restoration .[4]
| Club information | |
|---|---|
| Location | 1730 Morris Avenue, Union Township, New Jersey 07083, USA |
| Established | 1896 |
| Type | Private |
| Total holes | 18 |
| Tournaments hosted | Suburban Cup-State Open-State Amateur-MGA Open Qualifier-USGA Senior Open Qualifier |
| Website | www |
| Designed by | A. W. Tillinghast 1922, Restoration Ron Prichard 1999 |
| Par | 71 |
| Length | 6,520 |
| Course rating | 72.3 |
| Slope rating | 135 |
| Course record | 63 |
Suburban Golf Club, Inc. is a non-profit corporation of approximately 230 golf members. It has an 18-hole golf course designed by the architect A. W. Tillinghast. It is situated within the township of Union, Union County, New Jersey. It lies near the intersection of the Garden State Parkway, U.S. Route 22, and New Jersey Route 82 and is approximately 15 miles from Times Square, New York City. The elevation of the Club House is 80 feet above sea level. It is adjacent to the hummocks, a natural water basin and source for the Elizabeth River. Its entrance is on Morris Avenue, which historically is the main road from Elizabeth to Morristown.[4]
The Club has adopted a monogram which depicts its two most important aspects; its age, having originated in 1896, and its location in the metropolitan area and particularly Northern New Jersey. [4]
On March 18, 1896, a group of men, residents of Elizabeth, met, associated themselves, and formed what was then known as the Suburban Club of Elizabeth, New Jersey. The Club was actually founded on March 23, 1896, when a Certificate of Incorporation of the Suburban Club of Elizabeth, New Jersey, was filed with the Union County Clerk.[4]
The present course layout was designed in 1922. The media has often characterized our course as "well bunkered and tree lined." The course had been lengthened somewhat from what it was in the 1920s but its length is not its challenge. This is found in the narrowness of the fairways and tightly trapped small greens. The fairways and greens are well trapped. Many stately indigenous trees surround the course including many types of oak, maple, elm and evergreens. Several flowering and ornamental trees are observed in the spring.[4]
The 18 holes are 6,525 yards in length, with nines of 3,362 and 3,163 yards. Par is established at 71 with nines of 36 and 35. There are two par 5's and three par 3's. Ladies yardage is 6,123. The Club has, throughout the years, been host to all major State tournaments. The course record is 63, held by Ryan McCormick. Because of the many bunkers, trees and small greens, the course is described by commentators as a gentlemen's course but requiring a high degree of accuracy.[4]
In 1999-2001, the most extensive renovation in the Club's history was undertaken. Two million dollars in funds were approved by the general membership for on course renovations. Golf course architect, Ron Prichard, was commissioned to create and implement the Master Plan. Hundreds of trees were removed, 82 bunkers on the course was rebuilt, the fourteenth green was redesigned and built to USGA specifications, many fairways were reshaped/expanded, a complete new irrigation system and pumps were installed. Approximately 200 yards were added to the length of the course[4].
References
- Cohen, Gideon. Suburban Golf Club, Union, New Jersey review, The Golf Course Guru, April 28, 2011. Accessed December 24, 2016.
- Albert Warren Tillinghast, Richard C. Wolffe, Robert S. Trebus, The Course Beautiful: A Collection of Original Articles and Photographs on Golf Course Design (Tree Wolf Productions 1916).
- Barclays Buzz: Favorite N.J. courses? Star-Ledger golf writer Brendan Prunty chimes in http://s.nj.com/urWINDT
- "A History of Suburban Golf Club", Suburban Golf Club. Accessed December 24, 2016.