HISTORY
A Links style Golf Course in an Urban setting.
The Bayonne Golf Club was designed and developed by Eric Bergstol and sits on a 150 acre Hudson River site located just five miles from Manhattan. Bergstol, a New York developer, has a resume of eleven golf courses constructed, six projects he personally designed.
The Bayonne Golf Club was built on a waterfront landfill where prior to the mid 1990’s the site was best known for abandoned cars and a place for teenagers late-night parties. New York Harbor, like most harbors, requires continuous dredging. In past years, the Army Corps of Engineers would deposit dredged river material three miles out to sea, which was deemed harmful to ocean fishing. For the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to successfully compete as a world class harbor and accommodate the largest ships, river channels require deepening from thirty-five to fifty feet. With on going channel dredging the authorities needed to identify land sites to deposit the river silt. It was late 1990’s and the Bayonne site was selected as a convenient location to accept dredge. During this period, the site of the current Bayonne Golf Club became the home for millions of cubic yards of Hudson silt and river dredge. This soupy material would arrive at the site’s pier on a barge (now the sixteenth green/seventeenth tee and marina) where it was mixed at a temporary pug-mill (cement) station with an eight per cent mixture of Portland cement, which gave it a firm consistency.
It should be recognized that it was Rinaldo D’argenio, who first discovered the potential of the Bayonne dump site and brought the concept of a golf course to Eric in the late 1990’s. Ron’s advice and counsel has been invaluable to Eric and is credited with providing important guidance throughout the permitting and construction process for the Bayonne golf course project.
The Bayonne Golf Club is now a testament to Eric’s imagination for inventing golf holes - a rare talent to be sure. Eric was assisted by Richard Hurley, a PhD in agronomy at Rutgers University, who served as his consultant for the grasses, plant life and assistance with golf course design. Prior to and during the planning and construction of the golf course Eric and Rich made numerous golfing trips to Scotland to play and observe some of the finest natural golfing links. As a result of the golfing trips a wealth of creative ideas were developed, many of which were used during the design and construction process.
From 1999-2005, the property became filled with vast piles of inert, black muck elevating the once flat site to heights reaching ninety feet above sea level. During the early stages of the process there were few traces of a golf course as each of the eighteen holes were in an unrecognizable form. For years, under Bergstol’s direction, twenty - two ton dump trucks hauled the silt, dredge, and soil fill around the property to give the site its contours.
After shifting the vast mountains of material, it was during the fall of 2004 and spring of 2005 when the final land forms were shaped and the entire property was capped with a meter or two of a soil growing medium, brought to the site using large tri - axle wheel dump trucks. To insure the fairways would play firm and drain well a capping of six to eight inches of clean sand was applied to all fairways and primary rough areas.
In fact the amount of soil delivered to the site was staggering, averaging over two hundred truck loads of soil each day, six days a week, twelve months a year, for almost six years. Including both dredge and soil the total amounted to seven and one half million cubic yards of material – a sum almost too large to imagine.
In May of 2005, seeding the golf course was initiated with the first sign’s of a golf course emerging and green turf maturing throughout the summer and into the fall months. Hurley, working closely with course superintendent Bob Wolverton, selected traditional links grasses with fescues for seeding the rough, hills and mounds, and Colonial bentgrass and Chewings fescue for establishment on the fairways. Velvet and creeping bentgrasses were seeded on the putting greens. Additionally, with the assistance of Steven Kristoph Nursery, plant groupings were established around the golf course using over fifty eight thousand plants from twenty individual species - including junipers, beach rose and Scotch broom. All plant species selected for use were identified to produce a natural links look to the site.
With construction of the golf course completed in the fall of 2005 the golf course opened for play in early June of 2006. The picturesque castle style clubhouse - with attached lighthouse - was completed in eighteen months and opened to the members in the spring of 2008.
THE CLUB
A Private Members Club only five miles from Lower Manhattan.
By invitation only, private memberships are available for those discerning few — whether they are Manhattan residents, or national or international visitors — who understand the unique privilege of retreating from the city to golf, while keeping it all in perfect view. While every effort has been made to satisfy all membership needs, Bayonne Golf Club is primarily a club for the passionate golfer who enjoys the timeless joy of playing golf on a windswept links.
THE COURSE
Recognized by golf enthusiasts as the finest example of a man-made links style golf course as found anywhere in the world.
Called the “most audacious golf course in the world” by Sports Illustrated, Bayonne’s links design pays worthy homage to the great seaside courses of Scotland and Ireland. Twisting and tumbling, the holes weave among the towering dunes like they do at Turnberry or Ballybunion. The unique waterfront setting not only lends itself to fresh sea breezes, but dazzling views of New York Harbor’s dynamic landscape and Manhattan’s iconic skyline. The challenging course has achieved international recognition from some of the finest publications.
THE CLUBHOUSE
Acclaimed to be the most interesting after golf pub in America with unparalled panoramic views.
Designed by an award-winning architectural firm, the clubhouse has exceeded its great expectations. Located high upon the dunes, the sprawling design stands sentinel on the property, casting a magnanimous glow over the links. Replete with a full lockerroom, taproom, library, outdoor veranda, there’s no shortage of options for post-round pints or dining. Wherever it is, the attentive staff make its members feel at home.
GOLF AMENITIES
Teaching clinics and individual instruction is a priority feature at the club.
Not to be overlooked, Bayonne’s members have access to multiple practice facilities and expert golf instruction. The club’s four acre short game area — a nexus of chipping areas, greens, bunkers and putting greens — lets members work on every type of shot from 100 yards and in. Lessons can be arranged with the club’s talented instructional staff on any aspect of the game.
ACCESS
Arrive at the club on a customized club owned ferry. For use exclusively by members and their guests.
Members find access to this intimate golfing club incredibly convenient. Just 15 minutes from Manhattan by car, members can also touch down on Bayonne’s private helipad, or dock their own boats into the club’s private marina. By far the most civilized way to get to Bayonne is by club’s private boat — a scenic 20 minute ride to the course, passing the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island along the way.