ELMSFORD, N.Y. (January 20, 2016) - Our journey begins with the site of the Ike Championship, Essex County Country Club in West Orange, N.J.

Essex County Country Club was established on what used to be the Orange Springs Hotel, a famous health resort centered around the "healing waters" of the Orange Mineral Springs. When the waters dried out and the resort's popularity diminished, the former hotel became known as the Mansion House (right), which was subsequently purchased in 1889 by a group who newly established themselves as the Essex County Country Club- the first ever club in New Jersey.

A nine-hole course was completed in 1895, laid out in Hutton Park by a young Scot named Alex Finlay, the club's first professional.  The course was extended to 18 holes in 1897. In 1900, Essex County hosted a meeting which included representatives from 10 New Jersey clubs and resulted in the birth of the New Jersey State Golf Assocation. Later that year, Hutton Park hosted the first New Jersey Amateur Championship. In 1905, Essex County was an integral part of the MGA's establishment as one of the Association's charter members.

In 1916, A.W. Tillinghast was hired to build an 18-hole course, called the "Upper Course," on a 180-acre site atop First Mountain, a couple of miles away. After purchasing more property on the mountain, the club engaged Seth Raynor to replace the Upper Course with two new courses. Incorporating seven of the Tillinghast holes in his design, Raynor was able to finish his redesign of the newly named "East Course" before his surprising death. Charles Banks completed the project, building a second course called the "West Course."

In 1942, Essex County opted for a change and demolished the Mansion House (left) and unveiled a new clubhouse, primarily becoming a golf club. The West Course was sold to Essex County Park Commission in 1979, leaving Raynor's spectacular course as the only layout to this day.

This year's Ike will be the first MGA major that Essex County has hosted since the 1987 Ike Championship (Mike Kavka the winner). Additionally, it has hosted the 1946 Met Amateur (won by Frank Strafaci), the 2011 Mid-Am (won by Niall Handley), as well as five New Jersey Opens (1951, 1954, 1957, 1976, and 1987), and nine State Amateurs (1900, 1910, 1915, 1923, 1935, 1944, 1962, 1982, and 2000).