Forsgate Country Club

I started visiting in 1984 for state lunch meeting but I've never played golf here. It's easy to reach from anywhere and the food and service has been consistently excellent. I almost always take a photo of the continrntal breakfast because of the offerings. Yesterday's class was perfect. Coffee never ran out!

The venue is quite pleasant, though it features rustic furniture. The food, unfortunately, was not particularly enjoyable, and the chicken was rather dry. I recently attended an event at this location. The exterior of the building is certainly beautiful.

The food we were served at our party was pretty good, except the desserts were kinda weird. The bartender we had though was top tier. He was quick, friendly and knew how to make a mean old fashioned. I will say, the other members that were roaming the place, were making our guests feel unwanted, lol. The bathrooms weren't working so we had to use the ones in the private members only, and they were eyeballing us something evil, lol.

Forsgate Country Club was the brainchild of John A. Forster, a Scottish immigrant who arrived in the US literally in rags, but through hard work and dedication, went on to become the chairman of Crum & Forster Insurance Company.

Forster was an avid golfer who purchased 50 acres of land in Monroe Township right before World War I. Forster continued to buy up land around the farm to create a “playground” for his employees – a golf and country club. In the late 1920s, he commissioned Charles Banks, an associate of C.B. Macdonald and Seth Raynor, to design the golf course. Clifford Wendehack was hired to design the clubhouse.

Over the years, the Banks Course has received its fair share of accolades including a Golf Digest ranking in the top 20 courses in New Jersey from 2015–2018 and 2021–present, a #13 ranking by Golf Magazine in the state in 2020–2021, and the 12th best Biarritz holes in the US by Links Magazine. The club is also highly ranked on Top100GolfCourses.com.

With Forsgate, Banks has created a challenging parkland-style golf course with rolling fairways that produce a variety of stances that require finesse and creativity. These meticulously maintained fairways lead to some of the most incredible green complexes in New Jersey. You’ll find 18 elevated greens that vary in shape and size, some with false fronts and others with classic features such as a Redan and Biarritz. Each green complex has incorporated bunkers that sit well below the putting surface, some up to 16 feet. Banks was a master at creating replica holes, and many of the holes he built were inspired by some of his Scottish favorites. Many golf historians consider Forsgate to be among Banks‘ top three designs.

In 1961, golf architect Hal Purdy created a 9-hole layout and returned a decade later to add another nine. Arnold Palmer renovated the golf course in 1995 and later the course was named in his honor. The scenic Palmer Course features water hazards on 10 of its holes and is enjoyable for golfers of all skill levels.

On top of two fabulous golf courses, Forsgate has some remarkable practice facilities. There’s a full-length driving range where you can hit every club in your bag, a short game area with a bunker, and a practice putting green.

Forsgate Country Club is a warm, welcoming, family-oriented club with countless recreational opportunities and social pursuits for the entire family. In addition to two superb golf courses, members have access to Forsgate’s 24-hour state-of-the-art fitness center, pickleball courts, and the junior Olympic-sized swimming pool complex. Each year, the staff puts together a calendar of entertainment, special themed dinners, and events to highlight each season.

The Gatenby Grille and Bar is a great place to grab a bite to eat, enjoy a favorite beverage, and catch up on the latest club news. During the season, Gatenby Grille’s terrace is open for dining under the stars and enjoying beautiful sunsets over the Banks Course.

The best way to enjoy all that Forsgate has to offer is to become a member. They offer individual, family, and corporate memberships that don’t require a sponsor. A Full Golf Membership gives you access to everything Forsgate offers, including their winter indoor practice golf simulator.

Excellent wedding venue. We got married and had the rehearsal dinner there in March 2020. Very pretty place, where the ballroom has lots of natural light and space. The food was great; got a lot of positive feedback on how good everything tasted, both during the rehearsal dinner and wedding day. The staff was great and responsive. And the value for all of this was superb. If you're looking for a good sized reception venue, or even just a place to hold a party, Forsgate is an excellent option.