JACKSON – Westlake Country Club & Golf Course recently observed their milestone 25th anniversary as a community within the township.
Around 500 people or more came out to a cocktail party held in the ballroom of the community’s club house. It featured an introduction of past Board Of Trustee presidents.
Among the event committee members involved in putting the large event together were Karen M. Gerson, Dave Whelan and Jeff Miller who shared their thoughts with The Jackson Times.
Gerson lent her creative hand and vision to the yearlong celebration with her talent in design. “It was a fabulous event. Our ballroom looked beautiful. We still have beautiful banners that we had beforehand, three feet by 10 feet, one that is posted before you enter the main entrance of the community.”
“The banners celebrate the 25th anniversary and the same banner is in front of the club house,” Gerson added. “There is another one at the bocce and tennis courts. I created them. I am a graphic designer so I did the designing for the posters we had with memorabilia and we sold slate with major engraved coasters with the 25th anniversary logo on it.”
She added, “we also sold golf balls in packs of three with the logo on it. It was a lot of work for our committee but they did a fabulous job. I don’t know how many we had on the committee but I have a photo of everyone and we had more than 12. We also had 25th anniversary flags on each golf hole that I designed as well.”
Gerson noted, “we sold golf tee signs to whoever wanted to sponsor them like a real estate agent that puts signs on the lawn in front of a house. The top part has the 25th anniversary logo and beneath that whoever wanted to advertise or say congratulations or to have their name so that is seen over at the golf course.”
“The food at the event was wonderful and a lot of people attended and we had a photo area where pictures were taken and music. There was no dancing because there wasn’t enough room,” Gerson added. “We had nice soft music and it was quite beautiful.”
She said that Westlake Country Club & Golf Course has “1,421 homes. Someone told me the other day that Westlake might be the only senior active community in the state of New Jersey that has an 18-hole golf course, a beautiful grill restaurant and a bar.”
Westlake has a large number of clubs that their residents can enjoy. “We have more than one book club and more than one wine club and there is the Italian American Club, a women’s club, a men’s club and dance clubs. We also have a beautiful library at the club house. It is quite a community,” Gerson remarked.
“The cocktail party was terrific and it was great to see so many people relaxing and sharing memories – whether they have been here for two years or 25 years,” Whelan said.
He shared what he enjoys about living in Westlake saying, “life is relaxed and we don’t have to worry about cutting the grass or shoveling snow (in short supply the past few years). While our clubs are numerous, I belong to the Men’s Club, Westlake Veterans Club and two Wine Clubs.”
“I round out my community involvement by serving as Chair on the Building and Grounds Committee, serving as a member of the Pub Committee and representing the Pub Committee during meetings of the Restaurant Committee,” he added.
“We have made numerous friends over the years, 20 years in August, and enjoy the restaurant and pub. The community just completed a complete refurbishment of our tennis courts and added pickleball courts. These are conveniently located next to the bocce courts and a horseshoe pit. Yes, we even have a horseshoe pit,” Whelan added.
Whelan mentioned that the community also has an indoor pool and heated outdoor pool along with an aerobics room and fitness center. “Our crown jewel is the 18-hole golf course!”
