Great Gorge Country Club

The Lake Course at Great Gorge Country Club in McAfee, New Jersey, was designed by George Fazio and opened in the late 1960s as part of the Playboy Club Great Gorge resort development. Fazio, who transitioned from competitive golf to architecture and became known for strategic designs that emphasized playability alongside challenge, routed this course through the rolling terrain of northern New Jersey's Vernon Valley. The property sits in the shadow of the surrounding mountains, with the course taking advantage of natural elevation changes and water features that give the layout its name. The routing incorporates several holes that play around or across lakes and wetlands, requiring golfers to make careful club selections and commit to carries over water. The terrain provides natural movement in the fairways and greens, with Fazio's design philosophy favoring strategic options rather than purely penal hazards. The course reflects the architectural sensibilities of its era, when resort courses balanced challenge for better players with accessibility for recreational golfers. Great Gorge operated as a destination resort through the 1970s and 1980s, hosting corporate outings and regional events during its peak years. The property has changed ownership and management several times over the decades, and the club has evolved from its original resort character. The Lake Course remains part of the facility's golf offerings in the Vernon Valley area, serving members and guests in a region known for both winter skiing and summer golf.