NEWARK, NJ — A $9.5 million renovation at a public golf course in Newark recently crossed the finish line, getting a thumbs-up from two former professional sports stars along the way.
The Essex County Weequahic Golf Course reopened on Thursday. According to local officials, the course has undergone a “comprehensive makeover” that included updating its drainage and irrigation systems, realigning the layout of the course to enhance safety and eliminate blind spots, and updating other playing conditions – while preserving its historic elements.
Among those present to celebrate the relaunch were retired NFL running back Ottis Anderson – a South Orange resident – and former MLB catcher Rick Cerone, a Newark native.
County officials provided a roundup of the improvements in a news release:
“The irrigation and drainage infrastructure, much of which was installed over 50 years ago, was modernized to help better maintain and care for the course. Holes were redesigned and realigned to eliminate safety hazards and buffers were created to prevent golfers from getting hit with errantly hit balls. Tees, greens and bunkers were rebuilt and designed to replicate historic features that were removed by previous administrations. Cart paths were repaired and dead and decaying trees were removed.”
According to the county, a professional services contract was awarded to Stephen Kay Golf Course Architect of Egg Harbor City for $350,000 to design the golf course improvements. A publicly bid contract was awarded to Downes Tree Service, Inc. from Hawthorne for $9,016,072 to perform the construction work. The Essex County Department of Public Works monitored the project to ensure delays are avoided. The project was funded with grants provided by the state of New Jersey and the Essex County Recreation and Open Space Trust Fund.
Construction began in September 2024.
Weequahic Park Golf Course opened in 1914. The original nine-hole course was designed by Seth Lowe, the former golf professional at historic Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, while the back nine holes, which opened in 1969, were designed by distinguished golf course architect Hal Purdy, making Weequahic a “charming and challenging” par 70, 18-hole facility, county officials said.
“Weequahic Golf Course has a rich history of being the first public course in New Jersey and providing access to the game for all golfers regardless of race, ethnicity, gender and socio-economic status,” Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. said.
“The changes we are making help Weequahic continue to carry out its legacy and keep it as a vibrant recreation attraction for generations to come,” DiVincenzo said.
Other support for the renovation came from New Jersey Assemblywoman Eliana Pintor Marin, Essex County Commissioner President Carlos Pomares, Essex County Commissioner Wayne Richardson, and Newark Councilman Pat Council.
Similar projects were undertaken at Essex County Hendricks Field Golf Course in Belleville in 2021 and Essex County Francis Byrne Golf Course in West Orange in 2023.
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