West Orange Wants To Buy Rock Spring Golf Club for $11M: Mayor

WEST ORANGE, NJ — West Orange is ready to move forward with a plan to buy the 138-acre Rock Spring Club, with plans to use the property for open space and a 9 or 18-hole golf course, Mayor Robert Parisi announced last week.

Township officials are preparing a contract for a purchase price of $11.28 million, less than the current assessed value of $15 million. Closing would occur between April 30 and June 30 if 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, Parisi said.

For many decades, Rock Spring has been 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, according to a Feb. 7 statement from Parisi.

“Immediately upon learning of the potential sale of Rock Spring, the township [of West Orange] began a series of meetings and discussions with Essex County and the Montclair Golf Club Board of Trustees,” Parisi stated. “Simultaneously, we began exploring the options and possibilities for this critical tract of land.”

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

As a result of various negotiations and council approval of required enabling resolutions and contracts at its Feb. 5 meeting, the township is poised to move forward with its due diligence, Parisi said.

“This is a critical step in the township’s desire to maintain open space, build and operate recreational facilities for the future, and plan in a proactive manner,” Parisi stated. “I am excited about the possibilities that acquiring Rock Spring Club provides for the entire township.”

The mayor said that town officials have already received environmental reports, which are being evaluated by outside environmental consultants. Officials are planning to present a bond issue to the West Orange Town Council at their Feb. 19 meeting, along with a contract for the proposed purchase, Parisi stated.

Currently, the township intends to seek competitive proposals to obtain a professional golf course management company to run the course and related operations. Whether the golf course will continue with 18 holes or be trimmed down to 9 holes is still up in the air, the mayor said.

“The recent trend toward fewer holes takes into account busy professionals and others who love golf but don’t necessarily have the time or resources to spend approximately four hours on a course,” Parisi said.

“More importantly, by reducing the footprint of the golf course, there may be other recreational needs which can be accommodated, including a recreational center, walking and jogging paths, and exercise stations which are prevalent at many areas throughout the country,” Parisi added.

Some “small complementary development to maintain the property tax base” or locate township facilities may also be included, Parisi said.

There will be a town hall meeting on the issue before the second reading and final adoption of the bond ordinance that powers the deal, Parisi stated.

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Photo: YouTube / West Orange Township