Rail/Lake at Great Gorge Country Club

Great Gorge Country Club's Rail and Lake courses occupy a mountainous property in McAfee, New Jersey, part of the Vernon Valley region in the state's northwestern highlands. George Fazio designed both eighteen-hole layouts in the late 1960s as part of a larger resort development that capitalized on the area's ski terrain and natural topography. The courses share the rolling, forested character typical of northern New Jersey's Appalachian foothills, with significant elevation changes and rock outcroppings that Fazio incorporated into the routing.

The Rail Course takes its name from the historic railroad corridor that once ran through the property, while the Lake Course features water hazards and wetland areas that define several key holes. Both layouts reflect Fazio's straightforward design approach from this period, emphasizing playability for resort guests while using the natural terrain to create variety and challenge. The courses wind through wooded valleys and open ridgelines, offering views of the surrounding mountains and the adjacent ski slopes that were central to the resort's identity.

Great Gorge operated as a prominent resort destination through the 1970s and 1980s, hosting regional amateur events and serving as a recreational anchor for the development. The property has changed ownership and management several times over the decades, with periods of renovation and operational shifts reflecting broader trends in the resort golf market. The courses remain part of the Vernon Valley landscape, their routing still shaped by Fazio's original work on this distinctive mountain terrain.