Skyway G.C. In Jersey City Open To Public On Monday
Way back in 1900 when the New Jersey State Golf Association was formed, one of the 10 charter courses was a nine-hole private club called Jersey City Golf Club.
The club was founded in 1898 as a nine-hole venue and occupied 50 acres on the south side of Duncan Avenue extending west from Delaware Avenue and included a clubhouse. Membership was capped at 150 active members.
In May, 1902, Jersey City had 98 golfers among the list of 1,136 names keeping handicaps at the 14 member clubs of the NJSGA.
By 1905, the demise of the Jersey City Golf Club was at hand. The land had been given over to become part of West Side Park, now known as Lincoln Park. The golf grounds were subsequently used for tennis.
On Monday, June 15, Hudson County residents will once again be party to a challenging local nine-hole golf course called Skyway Golf Course, close to the site of the old Jersey City Golf Club, right on Duncan Avenue at Lincoln Park West.
Skyway, the newest NJSGA-member course, is located close to the Pulaski Skyway. It offers nine quality golf holes, three par-3s, three par-4s, and three par-5s, at affordable rates.
"It's the first public, affordable course in Hudson County," said Norman Guerra, chief executive officer of the Hudson County Improvement Authority. “I always wondered why we didn’t have a public golf course in Hudson County. All the other counties have them.
“We first looked at the project in 2005. We asked, ‘Can we build here? How dirty is that land?’,” he said. “We purchased the property from the archdiocese and we thought nine holes would work out better than 18 holes.
“For golfers of Hudson County, this course will make it easier and cheaper for us to play,” DeGise said.
Once the project got rolling, it took five years to clear the land and fill the former dump space with soil to provide the proper elevation for the course. The new course, which plays at 3,247 yards from the tips, was built using about 1.2 million cubic yards of fill to the site, which had been completely flat. Altitudes at the site now average 25 feet and go as high as 45 feet, officials had previously said.
Once the land was filled it only took 15 months to create the links style course. The designation comes from the land's coastal setting, which also makes it windier than other courses.
DeGise played in the first official round on Friday, June 12, along with U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez.
They also took part in the course's ribbon cutting ceremony at noon. DeGise believes many Hudson County residents will play Skyway with regularity.
"I think it will be very popular with golfers,." Sen Menendez stated: “This a legacy of things gone wrong which is now acres converted to open spaces, and is now a legacy of the future. It will be a real opportunity for families to enjoy a lifetime sport. This is an example what is possible in urban areas.”
While the Skyway may not be as time consuming as standard 18-hole courses, the architect of the course, Dale Wesselman of KemperSports, considers it to be a very competitive nine holes. It comprises three par-3 holes, three par-4 holes and three par-5 holes.
"This is not an executive nine, not a pitch and put, this is a regulation nine holes," said Wesselman, who oversaw construction of the course. "This is my 21st course, and it is as good as it gets."
Views include One World Trade in the New York Financial District and the Empire State Building, as well as the adjacent Pulaski Skyway, for which the course was named after. It is also provides sanctuary for wildlife.
"It's the perfect view of the surrounding land," said DeGise." "It's circular, meaning the view here is beautiful no matter where you look."
Hudson County residents will be able to play 18 holes for $33, Monday through Thursday, while 18 holes will cost a resident $43 on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday. However, nine holes on a weekend will cost a resident just $19.
The course will be fully operational with food and a clubhouse by the first week in July, according to Stephen Mills, the course's general manager.
For more information on the course and local rates visit skywaygolfcourse.com.
