West Orange Inks Deal To Buy Rock Springs Golf Club

WEST ORANGE, NJ — Well, West Orange… it’s a done deal. The township now officially owns a golf course.

Last week, West Orange Mayor Robert Parisi announced on social media that the town has signed a deal to purchase the 138-acre Rock Spring Club, a former private country club.

“The township owns a golf course!” Parisi wrote on April 18.

Parisi reiterated his support of the purchase in a press release put out by the company that brokered the deal, Holliday Fenoglio Fowler L.P.

"This is the premier golf course in the Mid-Atlantic region, which will now serve the entire community, our neighbors and visitors," Parisi said. "We look forward to its success and the opportunities it presents to preserve open space and improve the quality of life."

In February, Parisi announced that township officials were preparing a contract for a purchase price of $11.28 million, less than the current assessed value of $15 million. At the time, he said that closing would occur between April 30 and June 30 if the town council approves the transaction, and the township will be entitled to a credit of $3,000 for every day prior to June 30 that closing occurs, which could reduce the purchase price to $11.1 million.

• See related article: West Orange Wants To Buy Rock Spring Golf Club

Whether the golf course will continue with 18 holes or be trimmed down to 9 holes is still up in the air, Parisi said in February.

For decades, Rock Spring operated as a private country club. But about three years ago, the Montclair Golf Club merged with Rock Spring Club to complement its 36-hole golf course located on the border of West Orange and Verona.

About two months ago, the Montclair Golf Club announced it would not open the Rock Spring course this year and that it intended to sell the property.

"We are very pleased that the town opted to pursue the land site," Jose Cruz of Holliday Fenoglio Fowler said Tuesday. "The opportunity to acquire 138-plus acres in West Orange is extremely rare."

Local community members immediately offered their own commentary on the deal. As seen online:

• “Awesome news... I think I’ll have to learn how to play.”
• “Please keep the grounds pristine. I will say that the previous owners maintained, cleaned, mowed the greens almost on a daily basis. Today I saw a couple and their two dogs using the holes by Walker and Undercliff as a dog park. Smh. Can’t have anything nice.”
• “A legacy of open space and recreation has been preservered! Thank you, Mayor and Council.”
• “Can the proceeds offset my insane property taxes?”

In January, Essex County officials also expressed interest in buying the Rock Spring Club. County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. said that the property “should be preserved for open space and recreation instead of being developed.”

• See related article: Essex County Trying To Buy West Orange Country Club, DiVincenzo Says

ROCK SPRING JOB FAIR

A job fair for the Rock Spring Golf Club will be held on Tuesday, April 23 from 1 to 4 p.m., and on Wednesday, April 24 from 9 a.m. to noon.

According to a municipal news release, the job fairs will take place at 90 Rock Spring Road. Participants should complete an online application here before arriving for the event. People must apply in person.

Available positions include golf shop staff, restaurant staff, beverage cart attendants, cooks and maintenance staff. Learn more here.

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