NJSGA Moves Into New Headquarters At Galloping Hill G.C.

The long-awaited move of the new Jersey State Golf Association to its new administrative offices at the recently constructed clubhouse at Galloping Hill Golf Course in Kenilworth was finally realized on Friday, April 12.

In actuality, it’s a move of less than one mile from one side of the Garden State Parkway to the other, but it’s a move of historic proportions for the NJSGA.

“It means so much to the New Jersey State Golf Association. It’s a beautiful, state-of-the-art facility that puts a face on our organization,” said Tom McGovern, NJSGA president.

“There is no doubt it will give us much more visibility and allow us to grow into one of the best state golf associations in the nation,” he added.

The 43,000-square foot facility houses the NJSGA offices on the second (top) floor, providing a commanding view of the Galloping Hill Golf Course. The NJSGA’s space includes seven spacious offices, a board room, a communications room, a business hub and a kitchen.

Also, the NJSGA has been provided ample storage space on both floors with easy access on the lower floor for tournament supplies.

Galloping Hill, along with TaylorMade, Union County and KemperSports have transformed a popular municipal golf course into a modern teaching facility with 27 holes of golf, and with the addition of the new NJSGA headquarters, have created a new home for public golf in New Jersey.

“As we move forward at this exciting time, we believe our new headquarters provides a terrific foundation for the future of golf in New Jersey, particularly youth golfers,” McGovern added.

The building itself came in at a cost of $16.2 million, just five percent over budget.

“Having the NJSGA in our building validates our project and really makes us become golf central in New Jersey,” said Armando Sanchez, Union County’s director of golf operations who oversaw the development.

“The NJSGA will conduct many events through our building. Their presence really is the icing on the cake for us.”

Galloping Hill will host 9thNJSGA Men’s Public Links Championship on July 18. In 2016, Galloping Hill will be the first public course to host the State Open.

Inside the building, the NJSGA, with help from the USGA and Union County, will mount a display depicting the history of golf in the state. The exhibit is to be located and showacased in the Grand Hall on the first floor of the building.

The building, which includes a full-size restaurant, a 300-seat banquet hall and a small cafeteria, has booked more than 50 events in coming months, beginning on April 14 and through 2014.

The clubhouse also features a glassed-in pro shop, large conference center, outdoor terraces and two bar areas featuring televised sports.

“There has been a lot of excitement from people who have come through the building and we believe it will be a huge success,” Sanchez said.

The project was developed by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and is managed by KemperSports.

A new TaylorMade Performance Lab, which opened in 2012, is also on site, as is a two-level driving range that includes heated booths. Also, new practice areas for putting, chipping and sand play have been developed.

“The clubhouse is better than we could have imagined,” Sanchez said. “It surpasses the vision we had when we started. Golfers will be impressed with what they see.

“The trade unions did an outstanding job. The quality of the workmanship is first rate. Inside the building, there are wood finishes and carpeting throughout. It is a clean, sophisticated modern clubhouse and it flows well from an operational standpoint.’

Locker rooms include cherry wood lockers, 93 for the men’s locker room and 52 for the women.