Honoring the Past and Present: 2025 NJ Golf Hall of Fame Induction and Founding Clubs Celebration
WEST ORANGE, N.J. - The 2025 New Jersey Golf Hall of Fame Ceremony was a night filled with pride, tradition, and celebration, as golf’s finest from the Garden State gathered to honor a new class of inductees and pay tribute to the historic clubs that helped shape the game. Held against a backdrop of rich history and lasting legacy, the evening recognized not only the outstanding achievements of individuals like Marina Alex, Stephen Foehl, and Brian Komline, but also celebrated the founding golf clubs whose early contributions laid the foundation for New Jersey’s vibrant golf community.
The evening began with a celebration of the 10 founding clubs of the organization. Representatives from Baltusrol Golf Club, Morris County Golf Club, North Jersey Country Club, Plainfield Country Club, Montclair Golf Club and host Essex County were in attendance to receive a special plaque to display on the first tee of their clubs. These clubs, along with Yountakah Country Club, The Englewood Golf Club, Jersey City Golf Club and Lakewood Country Club have not only played a vital role in the organization’s history, but they remain special contributors to the growth and spirit of the game in New Jersey.
“We stand on the shoulders of 10 clubs whose passionate dedication, birthed a legacy that has flourished into a vibrant golf community - the one we enjoyed today,” said NJ Golf Executive Director Kevin Purcell. “On the evening of June 1st, 1900, a momentous event took place just down the hill here at the original clubhouse for Essex County. Ten clubs, each distinguished in their own right, convened for dinner to establish the framework for what would become New Jersey's premier Amateur championship. The gathering was not just a social event, but a congregation of minds to commit to, to commit to nurturing the sport of golf in our state.”
“The legacy they have bestowed on us, a legacy that today includes a community of 260 member clubs, courses and organizations collectively encompassing 80,000 New Jersey golfers. Their vision and devotion helped create a community where the love for the game transcends generations, ensuring that the spirit of golf remains vibrant and strong in New Jersey,” added Purcell.
The remainder of the evening honored the careers of the three inductees.
Marina Alex, a New Jersey native and two-time LPGA winner has deep roots in the Garden State, including winning two NJSIAA titles, a New Jersey Junior Girls’ Championship and a runner-up finish in the New Jersey Women’s Amateur. She went on to have a wildly successful collegiate career at Vanderbilt and then on the Tour.
“I think winning the New Jersey State High School Championship was the first time I realized this idea of playing professional golf was actually a possibility,” Marina reflected during her speech. “Even though I was not able to capture the New Jersey Amateur – which I'm still a little bitter about it, the Pride I had growing up playing in this state, I carried into my career at Vanderbilt and then eventually on to the LPGA. It took many years to feel settled out there and like I truly even belonged. In fact, there were so many years where I thought it was over well before it even began.”
Her two LPGA victories came in 2018 and 2022.
“Then came the win in Portland,” Marina reaclled. “Thinking back to that event, it still makes me super proud because of what it took to get there. All the years of hard work, a ton of heartbreak, and eventually learning to trust myself. Even when it seemed like most everyone was doing things differently and often times better, the 11 years on the LPGA were not about results or wins, but they were really about resilience, about finding something deep within myself. When I was ready to close the door on Professional Golf many times, I'm glad that I didn’t.”
Her younger brother, Anthony, shared touching thoughts on being alongside Marina throughout this journey.
“Marina is an extraordinary individual that has accomplished incredible success both on the course and off,” said Anthony. “Many of us had the privilege to witness Marina excel and her craft at every level. Displaying the level of common mastery on the course, ready to showcase her talents with ease. However, the culmination of all those incredible golf shots across the globe were anything but easy. Marina is a fierce competitor with an insatiable drive to find the best answer to any problem. Dedicating her life to golf, I have witnessed her challenge all her limitations with the confidence she would ultimately be successful.”
Former long-time NJ Golf Executive Director Steve Foehl was recognized for his contributions to the game not only in New Jersey but across the country. Current NJ Golf Director of Operations Mike McAneny reflected on his time working under Foehl.
“What I quickly realized is I'd been given the opportunity to learn from one of the best,” McAneny added. "As a friend, a boss and a highly experienced administrator. He quickly became the perfect mentor. Steve has a deeper knowledge of the game than just about anybody. Whether it was expertise with the Rules of Golf or his understanding of the intricacies of championship administration, Steve knew it cold - and he'd seen it all. Like a great teacher, he shared his knowledge with so many people whether it was our staff, our officials, board members, or the people at the clubs we visited or his counterparts across the country. So many times I'd be with Steve at a club and we'd be sidetracked by somebody, whether it was a golf professional or a superintendent or a member who wanted to pick his brain about the rules or how to handle something controversial around the club, or just chat. He was always generous about sharing his knowledge with anyone who asked. This no doubt, came from some of his mentors and so many others. Steve paid all that knowledge forward.”
Brian Komline has carved out one of the most impressive amateur careers in New Jersey golf history. A two-time New Jersey State Amateur champion and winner of the State Open, his consistent excellence and passion for the game have made a lasting impact on the state’s golf community.
"This is really such an honor,” Komline expressed. "I quickly fell in love with the game of golf, not just golf, but the camaraderie that came with it. The morning rounds with the boys, which turned into lunch, maybe a cocktail or two, and then an emergency 9 holes in the afternoon. Golf is an extremely hard game. Somehow I got pretty good at it in a relatively short amount of time, but I was still missing something, and that was the urge to test my game against the best players in the area. That’s where the New Jersey State Golf Association came in for me.”
Komline collected the New Jersey Open, Amateur, Mid-Amateur, Four-Ball and Public Links Championships.
"In addition to the trophies, the accolades and the wins, what truly sets Brian apart is his impact on and off the course. He is an incredible father, husband and amazing friend,” John Olsen, a friend of Komline’s said. “His contributions to this game go far beyond the game itself. We celebrate a career and not just defined by success, but by character too. We honor a person who has enriched the lives of so many, whether it be through golf or life.”
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