Writers Cup at Forsgate Country Club

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 21^st 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 17^th 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.