New Jersey’s First Public Course in 20 Years
Old Bridge has a new golf course. Old Bridge Golf Club at Rose-Lambertson, more commonly known simply as “The Rose”, Old Bridge’s brand-new golfing complex is, also, New Jersey’s very first public golf course to open in over 20 years.
Some 17 years in the making, and spanning 218 acres of land owned by Old Bridge Township in Middlesex County, The Rose is a championship-caliber par-71, 18-hole course with a first-class illuminated 30-bay driving range combined with a high-end miniature golf course with lighting highlighted by unique water features and varying terrain.
Planned, developed, constructed and managed by 2020 Acquisitions, a private real estate firm based in New Jersey, The Rose broke ground in the Spring of 2022 and rapidly transformed from a long-held vision into reality. A soft opening of the driving range, putting green and miniature golf areas was launched in late September 2023, with the golf course opening in mid-October with limited tee-time availabilities and no carts. The course is slated to open soon, starting in April 2024 with preferred-rate fees being offered to Old Bridge Township residents, active military personnel and seniors. A tiered fee structure also will be in place for New Jersey as well as out-of-state residents.
The Rose is a partnership with Old Bridge Township and 2020 Acquisitions, with 2020 Acquisitions funding the $15+ million dollar community project along with an additional $32+M in public infrastructure improvements at no cost to taxpayers.
“ Old Bridge Township never wavered in their commitment to achieve this objective, it was just a matter of how and when,” said 202 Acquisitions’ sole principal and CEO Efram Gerszberg. 2020 Acquisitions is also a managing partner in Titan Golf, a golf course holding company.”
As Mayor, I would like to express my appreciation to all who played a role in making this long-awaited golf course a reality,” said Old Bridge Township mayor Owen Henry. “ Their efforts, along with the unwavering dedication, have created a jewel that will provide social and economic benefits for the foreseeable future.”
“ When the opportunity to forge a public-private partnership presented itself, the township’s Redevelopment Agency named 2020 Acquisitions-which has extensive experience in developing and managing golf courses-as redeveloper of the Rose-Lambertson Tract,” added Gerszberg.
Award-winning Egg Harbor City-based architect Stephen Kay, who built NJ’s last municipal public golf course to open, Egg Harbor Township’s McCullough’s Emerald Golf Links, designed the par 71, approximately 6,500-yard, layout that’s both fun and fair to beginners and casual golfers and a challenge to highly skilled and more experienced players. The course measures round 5,00 yards from the Front, or White< tees to just over 6,100 yards(6,120) from the Black, or Middle, tees.
The Rose features generous links-styled fairways with wetlands and ponds, sustainable irrigation, several Risk-Reward opportunities and sloping greens, including a rare Biarrittz green, an unique putting surface with a raised Back and Front portions with a deep valley right in the middle.
“The goal was to make a course that everyone could play and enjoy playing,” said Kay. “ It’s a strategic course, but one with wider fairways than most, and small bunkers which are easier to maintain and that help players from being penalized too harshly. The course is demanding enough to challenge anyone who can break 75 while helping golfers who can just about break 100 to break a hundred.”
“ One of my favorite holes is the 10th,” said Old Bridge Golf Club-Rose-Lambertson’s Director of Golf Ryan McDonald. “ It’s just a really good Risk-Reward Par 5 with water front and left that goes straight up a steep hill with terrific views all around the property.
“ Fifteen, the Par 3 with the Biarritz green, is another tremendous hole. The green is our largest, around 17,000 square feet, and has the raised front and back sections with the valley in the middle. The locals are calling it “The Half-Pipe”. It’s incredible. I love playing it.”
The Rose’s lighted 30-bay driving range and miniature golf course are, also, prime features that local and visiting golfers and the general public are going to love, as well.
“ The property has a little of everything for everyone,” said Kay. “ The range and the miniature golf course are very family friendly. Our side job is bringing up the game for the next generation. Parents and grandparents are going to love bringing their kids and grandkids to play miniature golf, then hit balls on the range, and then, eventually, bring them out onto the course to learn to play the game.”
“ One of the great things about The Rose is that it’s going to be a focal point for recreation for the community,” said McDonald. “ The miniature golf course, the lighted range, the course, the people of Old Bridge are really going to enjoy being here.”
“ The Rose is a very special project,” said Kay. “ The impact it will have on the community, and for golf in Middlesex County, is going to be incredible. I feel very blessed that it happened.”
Old Bridge Golf Course at Rose-Lamberton Amenities
- Par-71, 18-hole public golf course that offers a fun and fair experience for beginners and challenge to highly skilled players
- Designed by New Jersey-based Stephen Kay, whose golf course architecture firm is based in Egg Harbor City
- Unique layout driven by the existence of wetlands with numerous ponds built to support irrigation and water conservation
- 9th hole placement that does not return to the clubhouse; instead it flows around the 200+-acre property
- Illuminated miniature golf course and driving range available on a first-come, first-serve basis that allows for night time activities (the club will be open until 10 p.m.)
- 6,000-SF clubhouse featuring a pro shop, concession area, cart barn, restrooms and 110 parking spaces
- Roadway entry at Lambertson Road, which has undergone upgrades as part of the golf course development
- 5,000-SF maintenance building with 10 parking spaces at the southwest corner of the site
Golf carts with GPS screens
157 Lambertson Road, Old Bridge Township, NJ • www.obnjgolf.com
Phone: (732) 466-9444
