Betting on the Future; New Ownership at Gambler Ridge

CREAM RIDGE, N.J. - When Tom and Megan Collard closed on Gambler Ridge Golf Club in January of 2025, they weren’t just buying a golf course. They were buying a restaurant, a pro shop, an events venue, a piece of preserved Monmouth County land and, in many ways, a new chapter for their family. 

Just over a year later, the saws are still buzzing in the background, fairway bunkers are freshly shaped, greens are expanding back to their original size, and the Collards’ four children are working everywhere from the bar to the grounds crew. What began as a real estate investment has quickly evolved into something far more personal.

The Collards have lived in Monmouth County for 20 years. Tom’s early career was in engineering and construction for Verizon’s fiber optic network. After a decade, he and Megan pivoted into real estate, building an investment portfolio across New Jersey.

When Gambler Ridge came on the market, Tom was intrigued, though not entirely convinced. 

“I thought it was crazy to buy a golf course,” he admitted.

Initially, he saw it as a land opportunity in a county where property values continue to rise. 

 “They’re not making any more land,” he said. “Owning that much property in Monmouth County that could also generate income was appealing.” 

The course bounced on and off the market. Eventually, Tom realized that if they were going to move, they had to act quickly. 

To fund the purchase, the Collards sold some of their real estate holdings. They closed in January 2025 and quickly realized they hadn’t just bought land, they had acquired multiple businesses under one umbrella: a golf course, a full bar and restaurant, a pro shop, and event space with expansion potential. 

Unlike many public courses in the area that are county-owned or backed by investment groups, Gambler Ridge is now privately held by one family. 

“That gives us the freedom to make long-term decisions,” Tom said. “We’re not trying to squeeze short-term profits. We’re building something for our kids and, hopefully, our grandkids.” 

Megan, who initially thought the idea was “insane,” now sees the deeper value. 

“When you’re in real estate, your kids don’t really see what you’re doing,” she said. “Here, they see us working. They see what we’re building.” 

All four of their children have taken active roles at the course. Their daughters bartended and ran beverage carts over the summer, forming bonds with regular groups. Their sons, now 14 and 16, have embraced golf wholeheartedly, both improving rapidly and spending countless hours on the course. 

“It’s become a place they enjoy,” Tom said, “but also a place where they’re learning business — marketing, hospitality, operations. It’s hands-on.” 

Even the family dogs, Mac and Penny, have taken on unofficial roles chasing geese off the property. 

The Collards entered the golf business at a pivotal moment. While land values in Monmouth County continue to pressure courses toward redevelopment, where it be housing or warehouses or solar farms, golf participation has rebounded significantly since COVID. 

Tom recalls standing at a neighboring course while bulldozers removed nine holes. “That was sad to see,” he said. 

At the same time, he sees opportunity. As private club initiation fees and dues rise, affordable public tee times become increasingly valuable. 

“The demand for golf is increasing while the available public rounds are decreasing,” he said. “That imbalance gives us confidence.” 

Remaining public was never in question. 

“We want to stay public,” Megan emphasized. “A lot of people don’t even realize we are.” 

Gambler Ridge offers what Tom describes as more of a “season pass” model for those who want frequent access, but without committees, interviews, or exclusivity of a private club membership. The goal is accessibility. 

Built in 1985 on property that includes an 1888 barn once used for livestock, Gambler Ridge had strong “bones,” as Megan described it, but it had seen limited reinvestment over the years. 

“It looked like 1985 had thrown up on it,” she joked, referencing outdated carpet and interiors. 

In their first year, the Collards focused on immediate impact. Cleaning up overgrown trees and opening sightlines; improving green conditions; redefining native areas instead of mowing wall-to-wall; renovating the bar and restaurant; and beginning pro shop renovations. 

On the course side, Tom enlisted golf course architect Jack Skirkanich to develop a multi-year master plan. 

After walking the property together before the purchase, Skirkanich saw potential. The first phase of improvements includes new fairway bunkers on holes 1 and 8, bunker renovations on holes 2, 3 and 14, and green expansions on several holes to restore original pin placements that had shrunk over time. 

Construction work is being executed by Tim Malone of Guaranteed Landscaping, with an eye toward touching every hole over the next four to five years. 

Longer-term possibilities include potentially transforming the 12th hole from a par 4 into a par 5, building a new green for 11, reworking tee boxes, and continuing strategic bunker additions. 

“We wanted to start with improvements people will notice right away,” Tom said. “Then keep reinvesting year after year.” 

While golf remains the foundation, the Collards see Gambler Ridge as something broader: a community gathering place. 

The property hosts roughly 125 golf outings annually and accommodates weddings, engagement parties, celebrations of life, and corporate events. A new patio overlooking the 12th hole invites post-round dinners and cocktails. 

The existing banquet space accommodates up to 140 guests, and a tented area allows for larger events. The Collards are also working with the township on approvals to transform the historic barn into a more upscale wedding venue and exploring lodging possibilities on site. 

“We’d love for this to be a multi-purpose destination,” Tom said. 

But the vision remains rooted in public access. 

“We’re not making this a private country club,” he said. “We want it to be affordable and welcoming.” 

The goal is transparency and connection. 

“We’re a family,” Megan said. “We want people to feel like they’re part of this.” 

A year from now, what do they hope golfers say about Gambler Ridge? 

“That they like it and want to come back,” Tom said simply. 

Not necessarily exclusively, but consistently. A course that earns a regular place in a golfer’s rotation. A place where players linger after their round. A place where families gather. 

For the Collards, Gambler Ridge isn’t just a business acquisition. It’s a long-term investment in land, in community, and in their own family legacy, one bunker, one green expansion, and one season at a time. 

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