By Steve Gordon
Forget the Canadian Open, the UL International Women’s
competition and previews for the upcoming PGA tournament and Olympics
competition. All the focus on July 21st was on the Writers Cup at
the Forsgate Country Club.
This is an event held annually between golf writers from PA
and New Jersey against a team from NY and Connecticut. It is played amicably
but the competition isn’t taken lightly. It is a highly contested event with a
lot of pride on the line. In this version the team from PA/NJ retained the cup
and holds a 7-2 advantage over their northern counterparts.
As players arrive at this beautiful centrally located venue and
line up for the shotgun start competition they can warm up on the range and
putting green then take part in a skills challenge. On the practice range there
was an 80 yard closest to the pin where you get three shots and can score
points on each shot. Also on the range was a one ball opportunity for bonus
points for an accurate shot with a minimum distance of 114 yards to land in a
box staked out.
On the putting green there was an opportunity to test the
flat stick with a short putt and a long putt. Players scored points if they
were within 3 feet, the length of the practice green flag, within 6 inches or if
you made the putt. There were two ways to approach this. Try to lag each of
your three chances close to score points or try to hole it for big points but
risk not getting points if too short, long, left or right.
Forsgate today is a 36-hole golf facility established in
1931 named after the owner and his wife with a combination of their surnames,
John Forster
and his wife’s maiden name Gatenby. Charles H. Banks, nicknamed
Steam shovel for his favorite piece of equipment, drew up and built the
original 18-hole course appropriately called The Banks Course which is the
course used for this competition.
It is mostly an old style course with tees and greens in
close proximity and naturally laid out through the varied terrain of elevation
changes. But to make it a little unique Banks threw in a few unusual features
like the 17th hole named Biarritz, a par 3 of 239 yards from the
very back tee. What makes this hole non traditional is a very long green with a
deep swale in the middle. If you are on the wrong level you could walk off the
green feeling good about a three putt.
Another hole, number 12, is called Horseshoe because it is
surrounded by horseshoe shaped bunkers and the front of the green is a bowl. It
is 165 yards from the back tees (140 from the member tees) so any shot in the
vicinity will funnel down toward the hole if it is in the bowl.
Spread throughout the course are holes that play up and down
the hilly terrain of this central New Jersey facility as well as side hill
holes where you aim at one side of the fairways off the tee and let the ball
roll back to the middle. Also flat lies are rare in many of the fairways and
there are very few spots where the golf course touches a backyard or two.
The second 18-holes, the Palmer Course, designed by Hal Purdy and
opened in 1961 is a nice complement to the Banks Course. The Palmer Course was
redesigned by the Arnold Palmer group in 1995 and got a dressing up in 2007 by
Stephen Kay.
This course is shorter and a bit less severe than the Banks 18. It
features water that is prominently in play on a handful of holes which is in
contrast to its big brother which has no water. Make no mistake however as it
is not a pushover and provides a nice option to the older course or a nice
place to get in another 18 holes while at Forsgate.
The Forsgate club is a true family affair, with excellent golf and
associated teaching programs. Members get a few free lessons a month to hone
their games, and there are individualized and group lessons for all levels of
player. It’s Junior Golf Program is sensational. Joining the staff this year
was Frank Esposito, arguably one of the best playing teachers in the state who
played full time on the Champions Tour last year.
Forsgate’s restaurants offer something for everyone in addidtion
to multiple banquet rooms for catered events. The club is a true oasis in
Central New Jersey.
