Rail at Great Gorge Country Club

The Rail Course at Great Gorge Country Club in McAfee, New Jersey, was designed by George Fazio and opened in the early 1970s as part of the Great Gorge resort development in the Vernon Valley area of northern New Jersey. Fazio, who transitioned from professional golf to architecture and became known for strategic, playable designs, created the Rail as a companion to the property's Quarry Course. The layout takes its name from the historic railroad that once ran through the property, and the course occupies rolling terrain characteristic of the Highlands region, with elevation changes and wooded corridors framing many holes.

The routing moves through varied topography, with several holes playing across slopes and others following natural valleys. Fazio's design philosophy emphasized strategic options rather than penal hazards, and the Rail reflects this approach with fairways that reward positioning and greens that require thoughtful approach play. The course served recreational golfers during Great Gorge's years as a major resort destination, which included skiing and conference facilities alongside golf.

The property has changed ownership and operational status multiple times over the decades, reflecting shifts in the resort golf market in northern New Jersey. The Rail Course, like many layouts from the resort-building era of the 1960s and 1970s, represents a period when developers sought to create multi-course destinations within driving distance of the New York metropolitan area.