Member Golf Day A Soldout Success At Eagle Oaks

For the first time, NJSGA Member Golf Day came to Eagle Oaks Golf and Country Club in Farmingdale and the result was a sold-out field of 112 golfers.

“This is a great time of year to play and a great property. It’s kind of a hidden gem and we’re so happy that NJSGA members today are exposed to the facility at Eagle Oaks,” said Rich Kennedy, NJSGA Director Handicapping and Member Benefit Services.

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“There are a lot of excited people here. It’s a great start to the fall season of Member Golf Days. We still have Member Golf Day spots available for Riverton (Oct. 4) and Twin Brooks (Oct. 11).”

Among the golfers in the Team Net Four-Ball, with Stableford Scoring event at Eagle Oaks was Dave Formicella, the principal of Golf Club of New Jersey, an NJSGA club without real estate.

The G.C. of N.J., which is celebrating its 20th year, conducts a 40-event schedule for its 100 members.

“We’re for golf zealots and play many high-end semi-private courses and public courses throughout the state,” Formicella said. “I love NJSGA Member Golf Days. It’s a great opportunity for people to play these private courses, especially if you are hooked on the game of golf.”

Tim Hamilton and John Gross, a pair of Red Bank bartenders, usually golf on their off days.

“This is a chance to play courses you wouldn’t get to play. I also like the competition,” Hamilton said. “It’s something you don’t get at your normal golf outings.”

Dave Grames of Upper Montclair is a member at Forest Hill Field Club in Bloomfield and plays in Member Golf Days whenever he can.

“I enjoy playing private courses and this is an opportunity to play many of them. Among my favorite Member Golf Days were events at Navesink, Alpine and Roxiticus,” Grames said.

His partner, Sandy Okin of West Orange, said he is in his 54th year of playing golf. He was a member of the 1971 NYU golf team that won an NCAA regional championship. A graphic designer, he helped design the Ben Hogan Room at the USGA Museum in Far Hills.

“We’re playing upcoming Member Golfs Days at Trump National, Galloway and Ridge at Back Brook,” Okin said.

Bob and Dore Murray of Wall participated in their first NJSGA Member Golf Day. NJSGA membership afforded them the opportunity to marshal at this summer’s PGA Championship at Baltusrol.

“That was a great experience. We were up close and personal and inside the ropes with the best golfers in the world, all of our favorites and we met some nice people,” Dore said.

“We’re looking to join a club in the area and this Member Golf Day is a chance for us to experience Eagle Oaks,“ Bob said. “We met other volunteers at Baltusrol who recommended we play Atlantic City Country Cub and we did that and had a wonderful time.”

Scotch Plains’ Rhoda Faughnan, playing with husband Bob, has been playing in MGD’s for five years.

“I love these events,” Rhoda said “It so wonderful to play and a great experience to play these private courses. We were happy to get second place at Roxiticus. We also played Essex Fells and Morris County this year.”