Oak Hill Golf Club Celebrates 50th Anniversary
By Anthony Lubrano
Oak Hill Golf Club, located in Milford in Hunterdon County, is proud to be celebrating its 50thanniversary in 2014. Over the past half century, the club has developed a rich history and overcome its share of tribulations from “rock-pick parties” to a battle for its survival in the early 1970s.
The idea to build a golf course in the local area called “The Ridge” originally came from the Riegel Paper Corporation. In the 1950s the Riegel Paper ran golf a league through the Riegel Ridge Community Foundation, which Riegel owned and operated, for their employees and local residents. From this league an enthusiasm for golf was born in the area and then the idea of possibly building a course in The Ridge.
The club was originally formed as a non-profit corporation with a 15 member Board of Trustees under the name “Ridge Golf Club” on February 3, 1963. On February 10, 1963, the course adopted the name “Oak Hill Golf Club” as the official name.
The Board of Trustees hired The William F. Gordon Company to design and build the nine-hole course. At the time, The William F. Gordon Company was a very prominent golf architectural company in the eastern part of the U.S. Gordon designed the famed Saucon Valley Course in Hellertown, Pa., site of the 2000 U.S. Senior Open.
During the construction of the course, Gordon was contracted to remove all stones from the rough down to a size of three inches, and from the fairways down to two inches. After this was accomplished the club still felt that there were so many stones left in some spots that golf clubs would be damaged during play: therefore, club members themselves were asked to help rid the course of the remaining stones.
The “rock-pick parties,” the club held were very successful in improving the condition of the course and because of this the founding members are referred to as “Rock Pickers.”
The first nine holes were completed and open in time for the 1964 golf season.
In December, 1965, Oak Hill received two bids from George Fazio and Gordon to design and construct the second nine holes. Fazio offered to complete the job for $77,500 and Gordon for $80,000 and despite the fact that Fazio’s bid was cheaper, the club decided to go with Gordon to maintain continuity, since he had designed the first 9 holes.
In March, 1972, the Riegel Paper Corporation was sold to the Federal Paper Board Company. Unfortunately for Oak Hill, Federal Paper announced it had no intention of honoring the lease that Riegel Paper had with Oak Hill for the land the course was built on, and instead had plans to turn the course in a condominiums, town houses, and roadways.
A deal was struck with Oak Hill, though, and the 240 acres on which the course currently resides was purchased by Oak Hill Golf Club for $237,000. From a “rocky” beginning, Oak Hill, a par-72, 6,685-yard venue from the tips, had finally settled in as a full-fledged golf club.
Another reason for Oak Hill to celebrate this year is club member Zora Moore’s academic and golfing success. Zora is a senior at Delaware Valley Regional High School and a two-time Hunterdon/ Warren/ Sussex County Champion and First Tee National Scholar.
Becoming a First Tee National Scholar is a great honor as Zora is one of only 102 First Tee National Scholars in the country.
To obtain such an award, Zora has demonstrated exceptional leadership skills, maintained a 3.7 GPA, and is very involved in the Raritan Valley chapter of The First Tee as a coach for younger players. Adding to Zora’s accomplishments at The First Tee, she was the first golfer representing First Tee of Raritan Valley to be extended an invitation to play in the Nature Valley First Tee Open at Pebble Beach.
Zora participated in that event in the summer of 2013.
Oak Hill club professional Michael Knight describes Zora as “a very disciplined, hardworking player who has been successful at every level that she has played at.”
Mark McCabe, Program Director of The First Tee of Raritan Valley, attested to Zora’s discipline as well calling Zora a “very consistent, mentally strong player.” Zora also was recently cited as a scholar-athlete in the Skylands Conference. She will be attending Hampton University on a full scholarship.
In 2013, club member Dan O’Rourke of Delaware Valley Regional placed second, one shot behind the champion, in the NJSIAA State Tournament of Champions at Hopewell Valley Golf Club.
On June 2, 2012, club members Norb Cox and Dennis Darling, playing in the same foursome, achieved a rare golfing milestone when they both achieved a hole-in-one at the 146-yard 11thhole just moments apart.
Golf Digest reports the odds of two golfers from the same foursome sinking an ace on the same hole are in the range of 17 million to one. According to the U.S. Golf Insurance Agency, the odds of two golfers scoring a hole-in-one on the same hole are 32,000 to one.
OAK HILL MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of the Oak Hill Golf Club is to provide an excellent golf experience while at the same time promoting fellowship and camaraderie among its membership.
This mission will be accomplished by
(1) presenting our golf course to a consistently high standard and maintaining its natural characteristics,
(2) retaining our identity as a true golf club, welcoming those who share our core values of a challenging course with playing conditions that are not congested and having modest facilities,
(3) making our club enjoyable, accessible and affordable for our members, their families and guests.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Anthony Lubrano is a three-month P.J. Boatwright Intern for the NJSGA. He is a junior at the University of South Carolina majoring in Sport and Entertainment Management.
