Black Oak Clubhouse Completion Coming Down Back Nine

The course, weaving its way through and over the hills of Washington Township, has been open for years, but missing one integral piece.

A true clubhouse, where members can come to meet, eat, enjoy a full-service locker room, pro shop, and simply relax after a round of 18, is a few short months away from being par for the course at Black Oak Golf Club in Long Valley.

After receiving approval in the fall of 2013 from the Highlands Committee to break ground on a two-story structure at the Bartley Road private club, the ownership put shovels in the dirt in Dec. 2013. It took some six years to conquer the approval process between the Department of Environmental Protection and Highlands Committee.

But tee time is here, and workers are moving quickly to have the clubhouse ready for the spring season.

“[Construction] is on target and looking at an April 1 opening,” said co-owner Bob Vreeland. “We want it to be ready before the golf season is in full swing.”

Two trailers have stood as a makeshift clubhouse for members, one offering administrative offices, a bar and small restaurant. The other trailer is packed with pro shop goods and equipment.

The trailer with the eatery will be gone after Jan. 1, Vreeland said, but the pro shop will stay put until construction is complete.

It’s hard to miss the rising structure of the clubhouse while driving down Bartley Road, which has made an impact on golfers.

“We’ve had about 40 requests for membership in the last 30 days,” Vreeland said. “Really, it’s been since the frame has gone up.”

Despite some roller coaster temperatures and washout days, the construction crews have worked on site nearly non-stop to complete the project.

The clubhouse will offer 14,723-square-feet on the interior, plus a 4,335-square-foot golf cart garage.

For more information about Black Oak Golf Club, click here.