01 Oct ESSEX COUNTY EXECUTIVE DIVINCENZO ANNOUNCES PROJECT TO MODERNIZE ESSEX COUNTY FRANCIS BYRNE GOLF COURSE
Published on October 1, 2022
West Orange, NJ – Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. announced on Friday, September 30th that a project to modernize Essex County Francis A. Byrne Golf Course in West Orange was underway. It is part of the County Executive’s ongoing initiative to revitalize the Essex County Parks System and provide up-to-date recreational facilities.
“Essex County Francis Byrne Golf Course is known for its historic features and beautiful vistas. The work we are doing will address long-standing issues affecting the course, modernize drainage and irrigation systems and improve playing conditions,” DiVincenzo said.
“Projects such as these bring our community together for a personal experience. They unite our diverse community and help cross lines and break down barriers,” Commissioner Brendan Gill said. “Essex County has three great public golf courses. Thanks to Joe, the courses are well-maintained and always improving,” Commissioner Patricia Sebold said. “We have one of the greatest parks systems in New Jersey and I am proud to stand with the administration in support of this project,” Commissioner Len Luciano said.
“The County’s public courses remain a great deal for Essex residents and they will be even better when this project is completed,” Sheriff Armando Fontoura said.
“Our courses have become so popular,” Essex County Golf Director Tim Christ said, referring to recent improvements made to Essex County Hendricks Field Golf Course in Belleville and Essex County Weequahic Golf Course in Newark. “With these improvements, Francis Byrne is going to be spectacular,” he said, adding the number of rounds projected to be played at Essex County three golf course is on pace to surpass 100,000 rounds in 2022.
The project includes rebuilding sand bunkers, reconstructing and enlarging tee areas, reconstructing greens, installing new sod or enhancing existing grassy areas, repairing cart paths and updating drainage and irrigation systems. Work to remove dead and decaying trees started earlier in September. Nine holes will remain open at Francis Byrne during construction.
Kay Golf Course Design from Galloway Township received a professional services contract for $285,000 to design the improvements to the golf course. Turco Golf Inc. from Pompton Lakes was awarded a publicly bid contract for $6,837,631 to perform the construction. The project is being funded through the Essex County Capital Budget and a grant from the Essex County Recreation and Open Space Trust Fund Advisory Board. Work started earlier in September and is scheduled to be completed by April 2023.
Essex County entered into a Project Labor Agreement to ensure unionized labor was hired for the golf course improvements.
The first hole at Francis Byrne was reconfigured in 2019 to enhance safety at the course and reduce the number of balls that left the golf course and landed on residential properties across Pleasant Valley Way. The last major upgrade at the course was completed in 2009.
Similar improvements to modernize Essex County Weequahic Golf Course in Newark and Essex County Hendricks Field Golf Course in Belleville were completed in 2017 and 2021, respectively.
The Essex County Park System was created in 1895 and is the first county park system established in the United States. The Park System consists of more than 6,000 acres and has 23 parks, five reservations, an environmental center, a zoo, Treetop Adventure Course, ice skating rink, roller skating rink, three public golf courses, golf driving range, two miniature golf courses, five off-leash dog facilities, a castle and the Presby Memorial Iris Gardens. Francis Byrne Golf Course was a private golf club before the County acquired the property in 1978. It is named after Francis Byrne, a West Orange community leader and 15-year Township Commissioner.