By Vinnie Manginelli, PGA
Alex Hoyos, PGA
Essex County Country Club was founded in 1887 and is not only the oldest club in New Jersey, but the sixth oldest in the country. ECCC was a founding member of the Metropolitan Golf Association and the New Jersey State Golf Association and was one of the first 25 clubs recognized by the United States Golf Association.
The club’s original course was designed by A.W. Tillinghast in 1917 and was redesigned by Seth Raynor and Charles Banks in 1926. Now, ECCC is proud to add Gil Hanse to that all-star lineup of golf course architects who’ve added their vision and expertise to the West Orange, New Jersey facility.
Some years ago, the leadership at ECCC commissioned Hanse to create a 10-year master plan. After visiting the facility and observing the course for a period of time, Hanse presented his findings and opinion to the 300+ members, facility leadership and Board of Directors.
“Mr. Hanse completed his master plan around the same time I came to ECCC four years ago,” says Alex Hoyos, the PGA of America Director of Golf. “When he came over to do Baltusrol, we reached out to him to move forward with the plan. He came on the property and walked the grounds with our superintendent Jason Thompson and was blown away by the conditions being maintained at our club.”
Hanse told the team at ECCC that there wasn’t much needed from a renovation standpoint. The course hadn’t been architecturally touched in many decades and Thompson (a 25-year veteran at ECCC) and his team continue to ensure pristine conditions year after year.
It was determined that the only hole on the course that was inconsistent with the style of the club’s original architects was the 1st hole. The project started in October, and the hole’s fairway, approach and putting green have been completed. Hanse is working on the tee box as we speak.
Hanse is restoring all bunkers and tees with the addition of new tees and 25 new bunkers. The project is due to wrap up in April.
“We’re giving the course a nice structural facelift, and we couldn’t be more excited about it,” Hoyos adds.
At the same time, there’s a secondary project that’s part of the current capital improvement plan that includes upgrading the pool facilities, redoing the recreation area, burying some power lines and even building a new cart barn. They’re also installing synthetic turf on the two-tiered driving range tee line.
With an 85 percent approval vote, the vast majority of the ECCC members are on board with the current renovations and capital projects. However, Hoyos understands the importance of constant communication with members to keep them in the loop as excited anticipation grows for a great 2024.
As a result, Superintendent Jason Thompson sends a weekly newsletter with the progress of their master plan and provides photos and drone flyover footage so members can see the work in progress and appreciate the effort even more when they’re out there this spring.
