The Ridge at Back Brook
Ringoes, New Jersey
Fine Clubhouses of America
The Ridge's rustic, mountain lodge-style clubhouse feels right at home in western New Jersey.
A half-hour drive from Princeton, The Ridge at Back Brook offers its members a taste of mountain living in the scenic countryside of New Jersey. Rolling hills, farmlands, and forests, Jersey's "Garden State" nickname starts to click.
Joel Moore was sure of two things when he set out to build The Ridge at Back Brook: 1. Tom Fazio would design his dream golf course, and 2. He would have a mountain lodge-style clubhouse - something you would ordinarily see in places like Wyoming or Montana.
Bringing the mountain west to western New Jersey was easier dreamed than done. The first three architectural firms Moore spoke with told him his idea for the clubhouse would never work in the Northeast, stressing that a mountain lodge-style clubhouse would not be embraced on the East Coast. Steadfast in his vision, Moore presented his concept to a fourth firm. Moore's pitch resonated and resulted in an on-the-spot sketch from one of the members of the design firm - they would bring his vision to life.
Moore's out-of-the-box idea led to some unique challenges along the way. Speaking over the phone, Moore shared what he remembered as a turning point in the project. Numerous Canadian lodge pole pine trees were crucially needed, not only for aesthetics but to support the lodge roof and prevent it from collapsing. Moore, ever the problem solver, located and secured the trees, only to learn that nobody local had any experience working with and installing the specialty lumber.
Moore wasted no time, went straight to the source, and brought in the “Log Dogs” (Log Dog Construction) from Wyoming to lead the project. Moore laughed as he told me how he once drove to the club during a blizzard, concerned about his construction site, only to find the Log Dogs hard at work installing the vertical logs. Their response to his surprise and gratitude was, "Don't you think it snows in Wyoming!"
Besides look and feel, Moore wanted a clubhouse that members and guests actually used while they were on site. Moore added, "We were never going to build ballrooms or conference rooms that would sit empty most of the time. We designed the clubhouse for our members to enjoy." Golfers have full access to nearly every room of the grand but comfy lodge, each designed to foster natural socialization in a casual setting.
Moore wanted members to enjoy hanging out at the club rather than rushing to leave after they finished playing. The clubhouse achieves that mission. There are unique touches everywhere; from its large, central fireplace to the billiard room, it's an ideal place to enjoy a day. The massive back deck overlooks four holes and is perfect for a sunset bbq or a cocktail. The club's grill room is as casual as they come and puts out some of the best cookies in golf - their white chocolate cherry macadamia nut deserves a special accolade. The outdoor bar deserves a shout-out as well. Grab something to go and take it to the undulating practice green or take a stroll around the property. You're in the country now.
Public: Course Website | Opened: 2002 | Designer: Tom Fazio
