Brian Gaffney Returns As Head Pro At Essex Fells C.C.

Brian Gaffney, NJSGA Open champion in 2010 and two-time NJPGA player of the Year, is coming home to New Jersey as PGA Golf Professional at Essex Fells Country Club following a stint at New York’s Quaker Ridge.

“It is with great enthusiasm that we introduce Brian Gaffney as our new PGA Golf Professional,” said Dan Pasternak, recently hired PGA general manager at the club. “We were committed to identifying and recruiting a top tier professional and frankly, we have not only achieved our goal but I am truly of the belief that we now have one of the finest in the business.”

Gaffney has extensive experience as a PGA Professional. He worked as an assistant professional at Echo Lake Country Club, Manasquan River Golf Club and Admirals Cove Country Club before coming to Essex Fells Country Club for the first time where he worked for two years under NJPGA Hall of Famer Russ Helwig. He left Essex Fells to become the Head Professional at White Beeches Golf and Country Club where he spent two seasons.

He then moved to Rumson Country Club where he was the head professional. After eight years, Brian was tapped by Quaker Ridge, a historic club and consistently ranked among the top 100 greatest courses in the world.

Gaffney is also a very accomplished player. He earned All-American honors while at Montclair State University and has been nationally ranked by the PGA of America since 2004. He has won nine New Jersey PGA Major Championships earning Player of the Year honors in 2011 and 2012. Brian played in the 2012 United States Open at the Olympic Club, and he has played in five PGA Championships including 2015 at Whistling Straits where he was not only the low club professional, but also the only one to make the cut. Brian also played in 2016 PGA Championship at Baltusrol.

“I have had the pleasure of knowing Brian for many years,” continued Pasternak. “He possesses all of the qualifications you would want if designing the ultimate club professional. Clearly he is an elite player. He runs a first class golf program and retail shop. He is an outstanding golf instructor for players of all levels. He is also a mentor to young professionals helping not only those who have worked for him to achieve head professional status, but many others through his commitment to serving the PGA and his profession. Brian is a past New Jersey PGA Board member, and most importantly a man known for his integrity and professionalism.”

Essex Fells recently added a brand new golf practice facility and associated course renovations by architect Rees Jones.