(L-R) Errol Blake, Eli White, Donald Rucker
The New Jersey Ball Strikers golf club enjoyed their golf Season Opener on April 16, 2016, with play at the Ash Brook Golf Course in Scotch Plains, New Jersey. There, 32 club members reigned in the clear spring day after coming out of a long, cold winter. The group enjoyed themselves by getting into the swing of things with a match play format 2-person team best ball (4 ball), while looking forward to playing many more rounds together during the golf season. “We do it without overdoing it,” says the organization’s website, bursting with cool jazz sounds and images of members having fun on the greens.
(L-R) Herbie Lewis, Jesse Branson
The mens golf organization is based in northern New Jersey and host most of their events in the area on either a Saturday or Sunday.
Founded out of the vision and foresight of retired attorney Mr. Althear Lester, called “Al” by his friends, the former member of the Weequahic Golf Club (Weequahic Park, Newark, New Jersey), felt that the Weequahic course could support two golf clubs based on the number of golfers patronizing the course. In addition, Al wanted to bring more prestige to the Weequahic Golf course and the community by establishing positive and realistic goals for the newly formed golf club. “We meet all challenges with honesty and fair play,” continues the club’s website.
The club was organized in November 1997 and was originally called The Weequahic Ball Strikers Golf Club. The charter members were Leon Harris, Althear Lester, Blease Greene, Leonard Simmons, William Walker, Coleman Holmes, William Wright, Jesse A. Bell, Harry Robinson and Darryl Jeffries.
Photo (L-R): Garrick Bell, Donald Rucker
Another founders meeting was held January 7, 1998 at the home of Morris Billingslea and the name of the club was changed and chartered as ”The New Jersey Balll Strikers Golf Club.”
The newly signed charter was signed by Leon Harris, Coleman Holmes, Morris Billingslea, William Wright, Brian O’Reilly, Zinnerford Smith, Jesse A. Bell, and Althear Lester. The trade name was approved for filing with the U.S.G.A. and the New Jersey State Golf Association. The first officers elected at this meeting were Leon Harris, President; Morris Billingslea, Vice President; Al Lester, Secretary; Zinnerford Smith, Treasurer.
The goals and objectives of the newly formed club were as follows:
- Promote weekly golf competitions at local and regional public courses in the metropolitan area that are designed to satisfy the competitive spirit and accommodate the weekend golfer.
- Allow members to play in as many or few events as they desire for a modest fee.
- Provide members reserved tee times and an opportunity to sample a wide variety of golf.
- Maintain a U.S.G..A. Handicap System for members.
- Maintain a periodic Newsletter for members.
- Maintain an array of individual and team statistics.
- Maintain a system for members to entertain golfing friends.
- Promote Junior Golf.
- Promote Ladies Golf.
- Promote family involvement in a golf program.
| Officers: | Trustees: | |
| President: Thomas E. Culp | Cal Beatty(12) | George Weekes(13) |
| Vice President: Ray Woolfolk | Melvin Knight(12) | Garrick Bell(14) |
| Secretary: Michael Conrad | Melvin Lusane(12) | Greg Ward(14) |
| Treasurer: Edward Cosby | Edward Cosby(13) | Greg Whitaker(14) |
| Golf Director: Melvin Knight | Darryl Jeffries(13) |
The New Jersey Ball Strikers Golf Club in it’s first year boasted over 75 members. The current membership, though not quite that high in number, remains strong in character and deep in community involvement. Our club is well respected and well received in the city of Newark, New Jersey and the surrounding communities.
The golf club participates regularly n competitions (home and away) with local golf clubs throughout New Jersey, New York, Connecticut and Pennsylvania. Our membership is diverse and includes golfers of all ability levels.
(Photo credit: Darryl Jeffries)
