First/Fourth at Montclair Golf Club

Montclair Golf Club, established in 1893, is one of the oldest clubs in New Jersey and occupies rolling terrain in the Watchung Mountains of West Orange. The club's original course was designed by Tom Bendelow, the prolific Scottish-born architect who laid out hundreds of courses across America in the early twentieth century. Bendelow's work at Montclair reflects his characteristic straightforward routing adapted to the natural contours of the property, though the course has been modified over the decades as the club evolved.

The terrain features elevation changes typical of the Watchung ridge, with holes playing across slopes and through mature tree corridors. The property offers views over the surrounding Essex County landscape, and the routing takes advantage of the natural movement in the land. Like many early American courses, Montclair has seen alterations and updates over its long history to accommodate modern equipment and maintenance practices while preserving the essential character of its parkland setting.

Montclair Golf Club has maintained a traditional private club culture throughout its existence, serving as a fixture in northern New Jersey golf for well over a century. The club has hosted regional amateur competitions and remains an active part of the area's golf community. Its longevity and Bendelow pedigree place it among the historic courses that helped establish golf in the New York metropolitan region during the game's formative years in America.