MONTCLAIR, N.J. (January 20, 2016) — Montclair Golf Club and Rock Spring Club, two premier private golf clubs located in West Orange, New Jersey, are pleased to announce the merger of their properties and operations. The club will be known as Montclair Golf Club and will continue to operate both facilities, which are located 3.6 miles apart.

The memberships of both clubs voted decisively to approve the merger. “This merger is unprecedented in the golf/private club industry in New Jersey and the greater Northeast. We will be able to provide greater value to our members who will enjoy increased options for golf and all other club activities,” said Keith Phillips, MGC president. Leo Fraser, RSC president, added, “Both Rock Spring and Montclair have long histories and strong traditions. We believe this merger will leverage the strength of both clubs and create a new chapter on a combined basis.”

Both clubs are full service facilities with rich histories in golf, dating back to 1893 at Montclair and 1925 at Rock Spring. Following the merger, the Club will boast 54 holes of golf designed originally by Donald Ross, Seth Raynor and Charles Banks. The 36 holes at the Montclair campus are unique in that there are four nine-hole layouts each beginning and ending at the clubhouse; because each of the courses is identically sloped and rated, Montclair has never needed pre-arranged tee times and can accommodate competitions of many different formats. The Montclair courses were renovated recently by Rees Jones. The 18-hole Rock Spring course was designed by Raynor and Banks and complements the design of the Montclair courses.

Both clubs have hosted numerous tournaments over their long and distinguished histories, thanks in part to the pedigree of their designs. Montclair has hosted six New Jersey State Open Championships, seven New Jersey State Amateur Championships, and the New Jersey State Four-Ball Championship, along with the U.S. Amateur Championship in 1985 and the U.S. Women’s Amateur in 1973. Rock Spring has hosted the New Jersey State Open four times and the State Amateur once. The courses are similar in that they do not overpower in length but instead rely on strategic shotmaking and adept short game play around their challenging green complexes.

The merged club also offers 11 Har-Tru tennis courts, eight platform tennis courts, and two swimming pool complexes with adult and children’s pools. Daniel Somogyi, named as the General Manager and Chief Operating Officer of the merged club, said, “This merger is very exciting. We now have more options for quality programming designed to bring our members together. We have a very talented employee group at both clubs who will do everything possible to meet and exceed member expectations through the integration and beyond.”

On a combined basis, the Club will have approximately 950 members, including 590 members with full privileges. Montclair Golf Club’s vision is to be the premier family-oriented golf club in northern New Jersey with unrivaled facilities.

Official Release
Contacts: Keith Phillips (973-809-0505; kdphome@yahoo.com)
Leo Fraser (973-476-2030; leowfraser@comcast.net)