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The clubhouse is located in
the center of the golf course set
at a height of 90 feet above the
Hudson River. Few golf courses
have 13 holes that can be viewed
from the clubhouse - all except
for holes No. 5, 6, 10, 11,
and 17. Photo 2016.

The clubhouse with 360 degree city and river views is truly spectacular. The pro shop is situated on the
left corner of the clubhouse only a few yards from No. 1 tee, on the left. From the pro shop holes No. 1,
2, 3, 7, 8, and 9 can be viewed; No. 13 green and fairway on the right; No. 18 green and fairway in the
center. The 150 foot flag pole with a 75 x 40 foot American flag can be viewed from every hole on the golf
course. Photo 2016.

139

From left to right are holes No. 17, 16, 15, No. 14 tee and green. On the right are holes No. 9 and 8.
Photo 2017.

The practice putting green is located in front of Hole No. 2 is named ‘Wee Burn’ with the green
the clubhouse. The pub is located on the left, with placed over a small tidal salt marsh. As used
the outside patio in the center, both on the second in Scotland the definition of ‘Wee’ means small
floor of the clubhouse, offering impressive views and a ‘Burn’ is a small steam. Photo 2017.
while enjoying a beverage, lunch or dinner.
Photo 2017.

140

The downhill par 3 hole No. 3 is named ‘Redan’ after a design style that places the lowest portion of the
putting surface in the back of the green. Photo 2017.

141

The green and fairway for hole No. 4, a par 5
named ‘Church Spire,’ is on the right, the green
for the short par 3 hole No. 5, named ‘Butterfly’s
feet,’ is in the center, with the 14 acre wetland
mitigation area found center top. Photo 2015.

The large stack bunker in front of No. 5 green was constructed using pieces of fescue sod placed on top of
each other in the same style as practiced at Scottish and Irish links golf courses. Photo 2017.

142

The par 5 hole No. 8 is appropriately named ‘Salt Marsh’ with the green and fairway
routed along this tidal waterfront. Photo 2006.

143

Looking back from the green on hole No. 8
towards the fairway. Photo 2017.

144

One of the most attractive views
on the property is from hole No.

12 tee looking toward this par
4 green and the Hudson River.
Across the river in the distance

is Brooklyn. Photo 2016.

145

Hole No. 12 with the ‘7 Sisters 6 Brothers’ bunkers in front and on both sides of the green. Photo 2017.

The par 4 No. 12 green has a water front setting close to the Hudson River. Photo 2017.

146

The fairway for hole No. 12 is on the left, the tee and fairway for hole No. 13 is in the center and the tee
and fairway for hole No. 18 on the right. Photo 2017.

On the par 5 hole No. 13 there are no greenside sand bunkers. This large contoured green allows for a
wide range of pin positions. Photo 2017.

147

The par 4 hole No. 15 is recognized as one of the finest short par 4 holes in the metro New York and New
Jersey areas. The ‘Sheeps Bed’ bunkers can be found on the right side of the fairway in front of the steep
false front and elevated green site. Playing golf in Scotland during the 1700’s and 1800’s sheep would
roam links courses and bed down on protected slopes away from the wind. Sand bunkers would develop
as a result of the sheep wearing through the grass thus creating the first sand hazzards. Photo 2016.

Photo taken from the top of the lighthouse with the green for hole No. 15 on the left, the carriage road and
hole No. 18 in the center and the fairway for hole No. 13 on the far right. Photo 2016.

148

Description and Names
of the Golf Holes

“With only 136 upland acres,
we used elevation to separate holes.
I wanted to create features that looked like a
natural linksland golf course such as

Ballybunion in Ireland or
Cruden Bay in Scotland.”

Eric Bergstol

In true Scottish – Irish terms, a ‘links’ golf ‘links’ courses are relatively flat (i.e., St.
course is one established on non-agricul- Andrews and Carnoustie) and some are lo-
tural land located between the sea and cated on coastal sand dunes with a signif-
productive farm land. This is where native icant rolling landscape of large steep hills
stands of fescues, bents, marum (beach- and valleys (i.e., Western Gailes, Cruden
grass), blue lyme, broom, and gorse grow Bay, and Royal Aberdeen in Scotland, and
on a sandy, infertile soil. Ballybunion, Lahinch, and Tralee in Ire-
land).
Today, it is not possible to create a ‘natural’
links golf course in an urban city setting One item of note common to all courses
near the metropolitan harbor of New York. in Scotland and Ireland is the naming of
Keeping this in mind, the Bayonne Golf golf holes which are proudly displayed on
Club is a fine example of a ‘man-made’ the score card along with the hole number,
links course. par, distance, and handicap. This nam-
ing of golf holes and features on the golf
‘Links’ courses of Scotland and Ireland course has long been a tradition on link-
range from famous tournament sites to sland courses. Anyone who has played St.
relatively unknown golf courses that have Andrews knows that not only are the holes
been played by the local population for named but all of the bunkers also have dis-
over a hundred years. tinctive or descriptive names.

Each golf course has its own history, Names applied may have originated from
quirks, and style depending on the loca- some unique physical landform, feature,
tion, landscape, and topography. Some shape, plants observed growing on or

149

around the golf course, a historical refer- 3. Par 3, 184 yards
ence, or something of local interest. ‘Redan’

Some names of golf holes have become The green format for the third hole was
famous in the world of golf (i.e., the par inspired after playing the par 3 hole
3, No. 7 at Troon is named the ‘Postage No. 15, named the ‘Redan,’ at North
Stamp’ after the small putting surface, or Berwick in Scotland. With the Redan
the ‘Road Hole’ at St. Andrews with a road green design, the putting surface is di-
situated next to the 17th green). agonal and slopes from the front right
to back left.
During the winter of 2005 – 2006 names
were chosen for each hole at the Bay- 4. Par 5, 560 yards
onne Golf Club. Selecting names such as ‘Church Spire’
‘Church Spire,’ ‘7 Sisters 6 Brothers,’ and
‘Sheep’s Bed,’ provide a certain curiosity On this par 5, large sand/scrub and
for one to want to know more about the hilly groupings of waste bunkers sepa-
hole name and the golf course. rate the fairway landing zones. For the
second shot the green is hidden from
view and the golfer will see, in the dis-
1. Par 4, 365 yards tance, a church spire which provides
‘Dell’ a point of reference for the left side of
the green.
The first hole at Bayonne features a
partially blind approach to the green 5. Par 3, 146 yards
which is hidden from view behind a ‘Butterfly’s Feet’
small dune. This hole design, with a
green placed out of sight from the tee, A short par 3 protected in front by a
is a variation of a feature found on menacing stacked sod-bunker. Golf-
some great links of Scotland and Ire- ers will find an interesting green con-
land, most notably the ‘Dell’ hole at tour that demands a skillful approach
Lahinch (Ireland). that includes a soft landing (on the
green).
2. Par 4, 424 yards
‘Wee Burn’ 6. Par 4, 346 yards
‘Bay’s End’
In Scotland, a stream is called a ‘burn.’
On the second hole, a dogleg left, a A short par 4 that offers a risk/reward
small burn enters the salt marsh ad- challenge to include the ability to drive
jacent to the fairway landing area and the green in one with an eagle oppor-
between the locations of the green. tunity, while at the same time, present-
ing significant danger from an errant
tee shot that may result in a bogey or
more.

150

7. Par 4, 433 yard 10. Par 4, 471 yards
‘Beach Rose’ ‘H ighl and s’

A straightaway par 4 set between hills In Scotland and Ireland, one can find
and knolls. A beach rose is commonly golf holes routed through and around
called a spray rose, or by its scientif- natural links, consisting of grassy
ic name Ragosa rose. At the Bayonne dunes land. The 10th hole at Bayonne
Golf Club the beach rose can be found is a long dogleg right set in a canyon
growing among a variety of shrubs and with hills and mounds on both sides
plants. of the fairway.

8. Par 5, 579 yard 11. Par 3, 236 yard
‘Sa lt M arsh’ ‘The Nook’

This par 5 plays along a tidal, brackish The golfer will find a long par 3 with
marshland, vegetated with cordgrass a portion of the green hidden behind
and other salt tolerant plant species. a large dune on the right. When the
The mitigated wetland adjacent to the hole is set on the right side of the
eighth hole at Bayonne is the largest green, the golfer may want to hit his
manmade site of its kind on the lower first shot over the dune.
Hudson River.
12. Par 4, 442 yards
9. Par 4, 402 yard ‘7 Sisters 6 Brothers’
‘Plateau’
The hole name comes from the seven
Hitting a drive to a natural plateau can bunkers that cross the fairway provid-
be found on many linksland courses ing separation between the fairway
in Scotland and Ireland. On the ninth and green approach, with another six
hole, a dogleg right, the plateau is at an bunkers located on the right front and
angle to the tee. There’s plenty of room side of the green.
to the left to hit the fairway; however,
if the golfer’s intention is to have his 13. Par 5, 563 yards
drive land down the fairway, closer to ‘Old Glory’
the green, it requires a long carry to
reach the fairway. An uphill par 5 climbs its way between
grassy hills and mounds. During the
First nine holes, summer months, the golfer should
Par 36, 3,439 yards have the prevailing wind at his back
on this hole. To the right of the green
is the club’s iconic flagpole -- one of
the tallest on the east coast -- with the
stars and stripes displayed.

151

14. Par 3, 222 yards 18. Par 4, 454 yards
‘High Tide’ ‘L igh thouse’

A view of the bay is provided on this A long uphill par 4 guided between
downhill par 3 with the green set be- large, grassy dunes, takes the golf-
tween the water and a large sandy er home. The club’s lighthouse may
waste area. The plateau green is remi- serve as the aiming guide for the tee or
niscent of some steep greenside drop- second shot.
offs found at Royal Dornoch (Scot-
land). Second nine holes,
Par 35, 3,681 yards
15. Par 4, 316 yards
‘Sheep’s Bed’ Total, Par 71, 7,120 yards

Sand bunkers originated on the earli- Championship tees,
est golf courses resulting from sheep course rating 74.9,
bedding down on slopes and in small slope 145
valleys. The sheep, wanting to be pro-
tected from the wind, created areas of Blue members tees,
exposed sand, now known as bunkers. 6712 yards,
The 15th hole at Bayonne has hollows course rating 73.0, 142
in front of both the tee and green that
provide protected areas, reminiscent of White tees,
golf holes found in Scotland and Ire- 6303 yards,
land. course rating 71.1,
slope 133
16. Par 4, 486 yards
‘Heaven’s Gate’ Red tees,
5378 yards,
From elevated tees the golfer is treated course rating 70.7,
to some of the best views of the day. slope 133
The 16th at Bayonne is a long par 4,
with a generous fairway, and a large
green situated on a peninsula on the
Hudson River.

17. Par 4, 491 yards
‘Water’s Edge’

The 17th hole is routed along the
Hudson River, with a drive challenged
by water and guarded on the left by a
large continuous beach bunker.

152

The above original score card was used during the inaugural
2006 season.

Above is the score card as used for the 2017 golfing season.

153



The Bayonne Triangle,
A Memorable Finish

NS

W

Golf course architecture allows for an open the west. As variable wind conditions are
palette to design 18 unique holes. The a constant factor at Bayonne, having the
Bayonne Golf Club provides what some last three holes play to shifting winds adds
might say are the most scenic, challeng- to the intrigue of ‘The Bayonne Triangle.’
ing, and arguably the best three-hole set of
finishing holes you will ever play. Hole No. 16 is appropriately named
‘Heaven’s Gate’ borrowed from the
For the golfer, an extreme challenge awaits breathtaking city scenery and overall
and it is called ‘The Bayonne Triangle’ that panoramic view from the tee. The tee
includes holes No. 16, 17, and 18. These shot is aimed directly towards Lower
three world class par 4 holes measure 486, Manhattan to a wide embracing fairway.
491, and 454 yards, respectively, from the After a well hit drive down the fairway,
championship tees. the second shot is to a large undulating
peninsula green, which is situated next
The three finishing holes at Bayonne are to the Hudson River. The 16th at Bay-
routed in a ‘triangle’. Hole No. 16 to the onne will be noted as a favorite, begging
north, No. 17 to the south, and No. 18 to to be played again and again.

155



Hole No. 16, Manhattan and the World Trade
Center in the distance. This hole has been

identified by the Metropolitan Golf Association
as one of “The Modern Dream 18” - a selection

of the best modern golf holes in the New York
Metropolitan area. Photo 2016.

The large and contoured green for No. 16
is most fitting for this demanding and
scenic par 4 hole. Photo 2016.



Hole No. 17 carries the name ‘Waters View from the back (Championship) tee on hole
Edge’ requiring a long drive carried over No. 17 requires a 250 yard carry for the players
water to the fairway. This cape-style de- first shot to the fairway. Photo 2017.
sign bends around the beach and sand to
the green. At 491 yards from the champi-
onship tee, the 17th at Bayonne is one of
the most memorable par 4 holes you will
ever play.

160

Hole No. 17 is a most beautiful
waterfront par 4. Photo 2017.

161

Hole No. 17 from the green towards the fairway and tee. Photo 2017.

The challenging hole No. 17 showing the long tee, wide fairway, and large waste bunker. The carriage
road is used to take golfers from the clubhouse to the marina and to the water practice range. Photo 2017.

162

The par 4 hole No. 18 affording this view from the black (Championship) tee,
the green is located in front of the flagpole. Photo 2016.

Hole No. 18 is named ‘Lighthouse’ and
offers a long uphill climb to the majestic
white castle-style clubhouse. With a slight
dogleg left and large fescue dunes abound-
ing, this hole offers the ultimate finish to a
round of links style golf.

The finishing hole features a wide fairway
and large green site. Photo 2015.

163

A rewarding finish to a round of links golf.
Photo 2017.

164



Club Membership

The year was 2004 and the golf course was lined the framework for a viable private
still under construction, bearing only a Bayonne Golf Club membership.
faint appearance to the completed course.
The most important priority at the time The club offered three categories of mem-
was to finish the shaping and seeding of bership: Local Golf Memberships, National
the golf course in 2005 and have the golf Golf Memberships, and International Golf
course ready to open for play in the spring Memberships. The memberships were all
of 2006 using a temporary clubhouse set individual and for all membership classes
up in the lower club parking lot. there would be no assessments for future
club projects.
Prospective members
Planning for a
looking to see the dream
first class facility
In both 2004 and 2005 there was no golf
course to show prospective members With Manhattan as a prime focus for at-
other than paper plans and artist render- tracting members to the Bayonne Golf
ings of the yet to be built golf holes and Club, the plan was to identify those who
a three-by four-foot plastic model of the wanted to become a member of an exclu-
clubhouse. Little with which to impress sively private, high end golfing club. Some
potential members. of the amenities provided would include a
club owned and operated ferry service to
Eric hired James “Jim” Coady to be the transport members and guests to and from
Club Secretary with responsibility for lower Manhattan, and a helistop.
identifying individuals who may have in-
terest in joining a new and exclusive pri- The greatest new course golf
vate golf club located only five miles from
Manhattan. As a businessman, Jim pre- course on the east coast
viously developed an impressive number
of professional contacts and acquaintanc- In reality for all of 2004 and half of 2005
es. Being an avid golfer himself Jim had there were only piles of dirt, mud, and
a broad knowledge of private golf clubs, muck on the site of the ‘to be’ golf course.
their members, and club membership ar- Not being deterred, Jim Coady continued
rangements, primarily in the tri-state area talking up “the greatest new golf course
of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. project on the east coast” to all his golfing
friends and acquaintances. It was a com-
While construction continued on the golf mon occurrence to see Jim with prospec-
course, planning was initiated to develop a tive members driving through the proper-
private membership club. It was Eric, Jim ty, sometimes getting his Cadillac Escalade
Coady, Mark Unger, and Ron who out- stuck in mud, as he attempted to show the
progress of golf holes emerging from the
dirt. During most of these two years all

167

Photo 2017.

Jim had to show prospective members was From the beginning the desire was to en-
a dream, a routing plan, and the plastic courage a club culture where the members
clubhouse model. would arrive at the clubhouse and feel like
it was their own. To enable a relaxed at-
Colin Sheehan is commended for his sup- mosphere there would be no list of rules
port of the Bayonne Golf Club. Colin is a for members and guests to follow, the
native of Southport, Connecticut, is a golf only rule being to act respectfully of oth-
historian noted for having a wealth of per- ers while playing golf and inside the club-
sonal contacts within the golf industry. He house. The desire was to create a casual
is currently the Golf Coach of the Yale Golf relaxed atmosphere where the club em-
Team. It was Colin who assisted, during ployees would know members by name.
the early stages of developing a club mem-
bership, in spreading the word about this Time to embrace the vision
“new links course that was being built
on the Hudson.” As Jim and Colin were Prospective members immediately em-
friends this relationship worked very well braced the Bayonne golf course project.
in making the early and continuing con- For anyone visiting the site in 2005, it was
tacts necessary to develop the club mem- all there for the imagination -- the Hudson
bership. River, Manhattan only five miles away, and

168

a impressive links golf opportunity in the Individual recognition goes out to all
making. founding members of the Bayonne Golf
Club and members of record on opening
There were a total of 78 founding mem- day in May of 2006 who believed in and
bers who believed in and could appreciate could appreciate this ‘new world class pri-
the vision for a world class private facility vate golf club’ located in the New York
as they joined the Bayonne Golf Club pri- harbor on the Hudson River.
or to completing construction of the golf
course. Additionally, there were 63 mem- Ten years after opening of the golf course
bers who joined the club prior to opening in 2006, the Bayonne Golf Club is rec-
the golf course for members play in May ognized as a premium private club with
2006 that provided a total of 141 mem- a reputation for having a links style golf
bers at the beginning of the first golfing course of the same high caliber as the fin-
season. est natural links courses of the world. Ten
years after opening, the club is enjoyed by
over 300 members.

169



Initiating a Club Culture

BMaayyon2n0e06Gtoolf2C01lu6b The 2006 golf events included a Member/
Member tournament, the Gentlemen’s In-
When developing a club, the staff has a vitational Two-Day Member/Guest, two
significant influence on creating and main- one-day Member/Guest events, the Com-
taining club culture. In the 10 years since pass Ross Match Play Tournament, the
the opening of the golf course the following Club Championship, and the Senior Club
employees are recognized for their dedica- Championship.
tion and service to the Bayonne Golf Club.
Simplicity, the Bayonne club
Four people have been with the club since
opening the golf course in the spring of logo
2006 -- Laurie Levan, originally Member
Services and currently General Manager; The original Bayonne club logo design was
Chris Billington, Head Golf Professional; of a yellow and tan ‘sunburst’. However,
Tim Piliere, originally a club caddie, now after a few attempts to make a prototype
the Caddie Master; and Jimmy “Vegas” for hats and shirts, it became apparent that
Garrity, club caddie and locker room at- the ‘sunburst’ would be too elaborate for
tendant. stitching on merchandise.

Bayonne Golf Club, opening Next, the focus moved to develop a clean
design to represent the Bayonne Golf
season golf events Club. A logo that would be simple in ap-
pearance and easy to stitch on a shirt or
In the winter of 2005 – 2006 member golf hat. The final decision was made in late
events were discussed and the decision 2005 to adopt a modified fleur-de-lis with
was made to develop a minimum num- a capital ‘B’ in the center of the logo using
ber of tournaments anticipating members’ red, white and blue colors. After a year of
desire to bring their friends and guests to using the three colors for the logo it was
play the golf course. decided to reproduce the club logo only in
one color.
Dwight Segall and Chris Billington, the
founding employees of the Club, met with
Eric, Jim Coady, and Doc Hurley to orga-
nize a framework for the members’ golf
event schedule in 2006. This first golfing
season set the tone for planning future golf
events.

Tri-color logo.
Image 2006.

171

Developing a quality cludes a bathroom, television, card table
and couches.
caddie program
Tom Brewer was the first caddie master.
The Bayonne Golf Club demands a healthy Under Tom’s direction the caddie program
caddie program designed to have approx- was initiated and ready for opening day in
imately 40 experienced caddies available May of 2006.
for golfers’ services.
The caddies are primarily professionals
Caddie rooms were included as a part of that typically spend the spring, summer,
the clubhouse design, on the bottom floor and fall at the Bayonne Golf Club then mi-
below the pro shop, with two rooms ded- grate to Florida for the winter to caddie
icated for use by caddies. While waiting at some of the finest private clubs in that
for a “loop” the caddies have exclusive state.
access to an air conditioned area that in-

Caddie crew for the 2017 golfing season.

172

Points of Interest and Club Lore

As with all golf clubs members are proud All 18 holes...
of their golf course and enjoy hearing sto-
ries and facts they can share with their The Bayonne Golf Club American flag can
friends. Relating to the Bayonne Golf Club be viewed from all 18 holes on the golf
there are a few interesting points and tales course.
worthy of friendly conversation.
AofCitlsumb ewmibtehros.n..ly one request
Most impressive views that
Many golf clubs post a list of rules for
cannot be matched members to abide by. At the Bayonne Golf
Club there is no list of rules, the only re-
From the clubhouse golfers can view the quest is to act respectful of others while
World Trade Center, Statue of Liberty, playing golf and inside the clubhouse.
Empire State Building, Lower Manhattan,
Downtown Brooklyn, planes taking off Is Bayonne the only ranked
and landing at the Newark Liberty Interna- gproalcftcicoeurrsaengwei?th a water
tional Airport, Staten Island, and a total of
eight bridges to include the George Wash- Maybe so. Having a water range for hitting
ington, Verrazano, Brooklyn, Manhattan, floating golf balls into the river is an inge-
Williamsburg, Newark Bay, Bayonne, and nious way to provide a long game practice
Goethals. area on a site with limited upland acres.
This would not be possible if the Bayonne
Second largest American flag Golf Club did not own riparian land rights
aEnadstpColoeacstombination on the (underwater) in the Hudson River, ex-
tending out from the No. 16 green, No. 17
The largest American flag flown at the Bay- fairway, and No. 12 green.
onne Golf Club is 75 x 40 feet, weighs 85
pounds, and has been recognized as the The five largest putting greens
second largest flag and 150 foot tall flag-
pole combination on the East coast, sec- The Bayonne golf course is noted for hav-
ond only to West Point. Who would know ing large greens, with the five largest be-
the ball placed at the top the 150 foot flag- ing No. 10 at 13,158 sq. ft., No. 18 having
pole is 23k gold leafed and 24 inches in 11,736 sq. ft., No. 8 sized at 10,859 sq.
diameter. It takes 10 men to lower flag. ft., the practice putting green at the club-
The Club maintains an inventory of four house with 10,680 sq. ft., and No. 16 hav-
flags for use due to wind fraying the ends ing 9,843 sq. ft.
requiring repair. With each flag repair it
is shortened by a foot or two. Flags can be
repaired three or four times before they are
retired from use.

173

Always a par 4 hole? Spire’ is the feature that can be seen in the
distance while walking down the fairway;
Caddies enjoy telling a story about the No. 5 ‘Butterfly’s Feet’ implies that a high,
17th hole, the long par 4, that it was orig- soft shot is required for this hole; No. 11
inally intended to be a par 5. During the ‘The Nook’ describes the location of the
early planning phase for the golf course, green in a corner, niche, or recess; No. 12
once the holes were laid out in the field, it ‘7 Sisters 6 brothers’ are the 13 bunkers on
became clear this hole would be a strong this hole; and No. 15 ‘Sheep’s Bed’ relates
par 4 but a weak par 5. Any thought of to the bunkers on this hole. Sand bun-
hole No. 17 as a par 5 was fleeting. kers originated on the earliest golf courses
from sheep bedding down on slopes for
Holes that crisscross, rarely protection from the wind which wore out
the grass, exposing sand now known as
used in modern golf designs bunkers.

As found on a few of the original Scottish GSTahoneldfyyeCaalrnud2b0t1he2,BHayuornrniceane
links courses are holes that crisscross with
the most familiar one found at the Old As reported by Captain Jim Cowan, “In
Course in St. Andrews as holes No. 7 and preparation for hurricane Sandy, I made
11 cross. On the par 4 hole No. 7 the shot arrangements to bring our club ferry to the
to the double green is played to the right Liberty Landing Marina (located in Liberty
side pin location. The par 3 hole No. 11 State Park) with its normally calm basin.
flag is set on the left side of this large dou- As the storm approached, it was apparent
ble green making the cross. the forecasted storm surge of 11 feet would
be historic. For that reason I chose to leave
At the Bayonne Golf Club there are two the vessel in the water instead of hauling it
sets of tees situated that create a cross of out and putting it on blocks.” The ‘Heav-
tee shots. This allows for golfers to walk en’s Gate’ Bayonne club ferry was taken to
off No. 1 green and tee off on hole No. 2 the assigned slip on October 28, 2012 as
to the lower left fairway. For the tee shot the hurricane was predicted to reach the
on hole No. 8 the drive is hit to the upper New York City area on October 29.
right fairway. This Bayonne cross of tee
shots is beautifully placed and executed so Jim goes on to say, “I went to the Bayonne
the crisscross does not interfere with play. Golf Club and stayed in the clubhouse all
night during the hurricane. As I watched
Naming the golf holes... the water come over the heliport pad (near
the 16th green), I was now confident in
Some of the hole names, as found on the my decision to leave the boat in the water
scorecard, may require an explanation for -- knowing that boats on land were proba-
the meaning, to include: No. 1 ‘Dell’ refers bly being destroyed.” The actual recorded
to the green being located in a hollow; No. storm surge at Battery Park in Lower Man-
2 ‘Wee Burn’ relates to the Scottish term for hattan was 13.88 feet.
a small stream; No. 3 ‘Redan’ style green
design with the front of the green high and
the back of the green lower; No. 4 ‘Church

174

A night to remember as Jim recalls, “It Scoring a two on a par 5 is called an ‘al-
was an interesting night in the clubhouse. batross’ which is one of the rarest feats
The four chimney caps were breaking off in the game of golf. This scoring term
and hitting the roof and water was leaking represents three strokes below par on a
through the ceiling in quite a few places. single hole. On a par 5 hole, the golfer
The power went out and the emergency must put the second shot into the hole
generators did not come on but the emer- to record an albatross.
gency alarms blasted all night.
Paul Leff holds the honor of recording
When the storm was over, “I went to the the first albatross at the Bayonne Golf
Liberty Landing Marina to check on the Club. It was October 11, 2012 when
Bayonne club ferry. When I arrived, there Paul walked up to the tee on the 544
was not a scratch -- it was perfect.” Credit yard par 5 hole No. 13. On that day
to Captain Jim Cowan for saving the club’s the blue tee markers were up on the
ferry from significant hurricane damage. box. Paul explains, “After three-put-
ting on green No. 12, I stepped up
As for the Bayonne Golf Club, the primary to the next tee and swung with some
damage was to the marina (near the 16th anger and flushed it. The fairway was
green), requiring extensive repairs; the wa- firm and the ball hit and ran out.” The
ter range bentgrass tee was badly damaged pin was set on the lower left position
and required a total rebuild; the granite on this undulating green that offered a
rock breakwaters adjacent to the 17th fair- 200-yard shot to the hole. Paul goes on
way suffered significant damage and had to report “I selected a 4 rescue club and
to be repaired; the waterfronts and public hit the shot well on a good line but had
walkway along holes No. 8, 16, 17, and no visual to the green to see the shot
12 had mountains of debris that required land.” Not finding a ball on the green
removal; the public walkway had some Paul’s first move “was to confidently but
damage, requiring attention; and the club- almost jokingly check the cup. To my
house experienced damage to roof tiles shock, the ball was in the hole.” Paul
and chimney caps. Other than what was now has the honor of attaining some-
described above, there was no damage to thing that most golfers will never have
the greens, tees, fairways, and roughs as a the good fortune to make.
result of hurricane Sandy.
Jared Becker tells how he made an alba-
Two holes in one in the same tross score of two on June 23, 2017 on
the 565 yard par 5 hole No. 8, a “one
day on the same golf hole in a million” feat. “I hit a big sweep-
ing hooked drive from the blue mem-
A 60,000-to-1 occasion to make two holes bers tees. The ball came to rest in the
in one in the same day. It was club member first cut at the end of the fairway left
Joel Ramin who, while playing 36 holes on of the fairway bunker. From 195 yards
Sunday April 8, 2012, made two holes in I hit six iron over the salt marsh that
one on the par 3 hole No. 5. landed ten feet short and left of the pin.

175

The ball rolled past the hole and rolled the 18th green. That was the par 5 hole on
back down the hill and into the hole for that cross country day at Bayonne. What
a score of two.” How good is that to occurred was most notable as Eric Bergstol
watch the ball fall into the cup to score hit his drive into the 15th fairway. His sec-
an albatross. ond shot was blind requiring it to be hit
approximately 220 yards uphill, over the
The ‘what c6o1uld have been’ 15th green, over the stone wall, over the
18th green side bunker to make the green.
a score of Eric’s second shot was hit perfectly, over the
wall and bunker, landing on the green and
Touring pro Morgan Hoffman was invited stopping three feet from the cup. He made
to play Bayonne by member Thiery Prissert the putt for a most unusual and memora-
in 2015. Playing from the tips and after ble eagle three.
shooting an eight under par 28 on the
front nine Morgan was standing on the CtAhlveuebAryugspuesctiaalNpaitnieoncaolnGe forlofm
16th tee at 10 under par only three pars
away from shooting a 61. Next, he made a Bayonne’s club professional Chris Billing-
bogey score on hole No. 16. On the long ton knew Doc Hurley attended the Masters
17th he was in the fairway 170 yards from Tournament each April. One year he asked,
the green and hit his second shot in the “Would you bring me back a pine cone from
green side bunker, buried in the fescue. Augusta.” What Doc brought back to Chris
It took seven hacks to get the ball on the was a pine cone picked up from under the
green and a two-putt for a score of 11 on famed ‘Eisenhower pine tree’ on the 17th
the hole. After a birdie on No. 18 he shot hole.
a 40 on the back nine for a 68 for the day.

Ladies course record

It was the summer of 2014 when LPGA The name of this legendary tree goes back
touring professional Morgan Pressel and to the late 1950s when then President of the
her fiancé came to the Bayonne Golf Club United States Dwight D. Eisenhower was a
for a casual round of golf. Playing from frequent visitor to the Augusta National Golf
approximately 6,500 yards, members’ tees, Club. President Eisenhower had great diffi-
Morgan recorded a round of 63 to set the culty hitting his drive off the 17th tee with-
non-competitive ladies course record. The out hitting this pine tree. He wanted the tree
score card remains on display in the pro removed but his request was firmly denied.
shop. Over the years this ‘Eisenhower tree’ was
admired and recognized each spring during
Not an everyday eagle three the annual Masters Tournament.

During one of the annual Bayonne Cross A few years ago the Eisenhower tree was
Country events, using made up ‘crazy’ golf blown down during a winter storm. The ‘Ei-
holes, was a par 5 that teed off from the senhower pine cone’ that Chris keeps in the
17th tee with the green being No. 18. The Bayonne Pro Shop is truly a one of a kind
golfer was to hit his drive from the 17th that can never be replaced.
tee toward the 15th fairway and then on to

176

Acknowledgements

The Bayonne Golf Club journey, as doc- Critical to the success of the project was
umented in this book -- the 10 year per- having engaged the following profession-
mitting and construction story -- was als, as without their efforts the Bayonne
organized, researched, and written as a Golf Club would not have been completed:
narrative by Richard Hurley with signifi- Steve Boswell - engineering; Ray Walker
cant historical and editorial content pro- and Ray Liotta - site development and en-
vided by Eric Bergstol, Ron D’Argenio and gineering; Susan Goetz and Laura George
Allen Hicks. In preparation for writing - environmental engineering; Behram Tur-
this book, original permitting and con- an - civil and environmental engineering;
struction documents were used for refer- Mark Gallagher and Stephen Souza - wet-
ence. land mitigation and best management
practice; Hart Howerton and Associates
Laurie Levan, Bayonne Golf Club general - clubhouse architects; Bob Wolverton -
manager, was very supportive in organiz- grow in golf course superintendent; Don
ing some of the photo shoots and co ordi- Ellsworth - shaper/dozer operator; and
nation with Jostens publishing for design Steven Kristoph - landscape plants.
and layout of the book. Tom Turner, Jos-
tens representative and Mike Lipkin, de- It was Malcolm McLaren of McLaren Engi-
sign and layout specialist, offered helpful neering Group that provided the engineer-
advice during the process that led to com- ing design for the clubhouse that allowed
pleting this book. the structure to be built on a ninety foot
high pile of fill material.
A special thanks to my daughter, Monica
Reider, a high school English literature Sincere gratitude to the following indi-
teacher, who completed the final editing viduals, recognizing their support for the
of the text. project to include Fred DiSanti - Vice Pres-
ident of Government Affairs for PSE&G,
Supporting Eric Bergstol with the Bayonne Mayor Joseph Doria - City of Bayonne,
Golf Club project were his advisors, to and Rich Campisano - legal counsel for the
include Ron D’Argenio, Esq. - legal; Mark City of Bayonne.
Unger - finance; Allen Hicks - construc-
tion; Richard Hurley, PhD - agronomy, Colin Sheehan, a noted golf historian is ac-
soils, and course design; and James Coady knowledged for seeing the potential of a
- club membership development. Quo- world class links course being constructed
tations and comments referred to in this on the Hudson River and his efforts with
book are all original recollections. identifying those who may have interest in
a Bayonne club membership.

177

Recognition to the design team for their All images and reproductions of copyright-
work on the interior of the clubhouse led ed material not generated by The Bayonne
by Kimberly Bergstol - Eric’s wife, assisted Golf Club and the author, are published
by Dora Capio - Eric’s administrative as- in accordance with Fair Use guidelines un-
sistant, and Andrea Bergstol - Eric’s oldest der 17 U.S.C. 107 and its provisions for
daughter. non-commercial, research, archival, and
scholarly products.
Some of the historical notes, maps, and
records relating to what is now know as As documented by the Bayonne Nature
Bayonne, New Jersey were offered by Ron Club (www.bayonnenatureclub.org), edu-
D’Argenio, including information as pre- cational walks have been organized to take
sented in the book “Half Moon - Henry place from the golf course public walk-
Hudson And The Voyage That Redrew way. These nature walks afford the 600
The Map Of The New World” by Douglas club members the opportunity to record
Hunter, and the web site www.bayonne- and preserve wildlife sightings that offer
history.com. documentation for the environmental re-
bound observed after construction of the
The construction photos selected for use Bayonne Golf Club.
in this book were taken and preserved by
Richard Hurley. Photos of the golf course Since the opening of the golf course for
and aerial photography of the Bayonne golf member play in May of 2006, develop-
course property and clubhouse were first ment of the club culture and members’ re-
commissioned in 2005 - 2008 with pro- lations has been nurtured by Laurie Levan
fessional photographers ESTO and Larry - general manager and Chris Billington -
Lambrecht; in 2016 and 2017 with Erik head golf professional.
Rank; and 2017 with Michael Clements.
Additional photos from Valerie Burke Im-
ages, Barry Sloan, and a photo from Mi- Richard Hurley, PhD
chael Light were used, as well as photos June 2017
provided by Chris Billington, Bayonne golf
professional, Tom Woodward, golf course
superintendent, and John McCay, turf
equipment technician.

178

Twilight arrives after a day at the Club. Photo 2016.

179



About The Narrator,
The Bayonne Golf Club Journey

Richard Hurley is a native of Neptune, Over a 50 year career as a turfgrass spe-
New Jersey whose interest in golf was ini- cialist, extensive domestic and interna-
tiated by caddying at a local course and tional experience was attained in selecting
working on golf course maintenance crews grasses for golf courses, new golf course
while attending high school and college. construction, and working with golf
course architects and superintendents to
What started as a teenage interest in golf solve a range of turf problems on new or
led to enrollment in a university program existing golf courses.
working toward completing a Bachelor
of Science degree in agronomy in 1970 It was in the early 1990s that Hurley first
and a Masters degree in turfgrass manage- met Eric Bergstol while he was work-
ment in 1973, both from the University of ing on constructing his first golf project
Rhode Island. named Minisceongo in Pomona, New
York. What followed was a relationship
After five years as golf course superinten- that would include assisting him with his
dent at Tavistock Country Club in Had- golf projects and annual golfing trips with
donfield, New Jersey, Hurley joined Lofts Eric to Scotland to play links golf.
Seed, Inc. in 1977. While employed by
Lofts as the research director, require- Hurley adds, “It has been most reward-
ments for a PhD in turfgrass breeding ing to have had an opportunity to play
were completed in 1983 through Rutgers a small roll in what I call the Bayonne
University. Golf Club journey. This has been one
of the most gratifying professional experi-
Hurley is one of only a few agronomists ences in my life and I sincerely appreciate
in the world who has been awarded a Eric Bergstol for making the Bayonne
PhD degree in turfgrass breeding, having Golf Club a reality.”
studied under the direction of Dr. C. Reed
Funk, the world renowned cool season
turfgrass breeder.

181