Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Kresson Golf Course before work...

Kresson Golf Course
Kresson-Gibbsboro Road
Kresson (Voorhees), New Jersey
Yards: 4800, Par 68 (Out 2705, In 2095 – Men’s Tees)
Course Architect:
Built/Open:
Website: None
Score: 82 (41 out, 41 in)
Date: July 2, 2010

I played Kresson Golf Club early (6:00 AM) before going to work while they were cutting the greens and preping the sand traps. We played the men’s tees which at any other golf course would be the kids’ tees, measuring a total of 4800. First off, over priced ($23.00) for the conditions of the course, the score cards have not been updated in over 15 years, all the yardages are incorrect on the score card, the teeing areas and fairways are typical grass, the greens have improved and were a little faster than my last visit. With all that said, I shot a round of 82 on a beautiful sunny morning. My driving was good, only spraying a few tee shots off line, drove the first green than proceeded to three putt. My approach shots are good keeping me in play, I was hitting the ball pretty good this day with one birdie, 5 pars and three lost balls. Chipping was average and my putting completely sucked due to the poor greens.

FROM THE WEB SITE: Yea right, website?

COURSE CONDITION: Course maintenance has improved, my lawn at home is about equal. As stated above… the teeing areas and fairways are typical grass and the greens typically have no break. There are no diagrams of the holes (except for stick figure like diagrams on scorecard), no yardage markers anywhere, yardages are incorrect on the score card, leaves you wondering about yardages on most of the holes.

FACILITIES: They have a so called club house, no amenities really at all just a small putting green. This is an easy course to walk, 95% of the golfers walk this course.

SHOT OF THE DAY: 5th Hole, Par 3, knocked it to 12 inches. Also, drove the first green.

SUGGESTIONS and COMMENTS: Good course for beginners, kids and really slow players. That’s about it, not much else to say. Take your little kids there to play, they will see lots of cool wildlife.

GOLFNERDNESS: It is called weed killer, buy some.

GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT: Play a different course.

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Running Deer Golf Club - Open to all.....

Running Deer Golf Club
1111 Parvin Mill Road, Pittsgrove, New Jersey 08318
Phone: 856-358-2000
Website: www.runningdeergolfclub.com
Yards: 7104, Par 72 (Black Tees)
Course Architect: Ed Carmen
Built/Open: 2000

I played the previous private golf course, Running Deer Golf Club. An 18-hole championship course, now a semi-private golf course open for public play located in Pittsgrove, New Jersey. While in the car heading to the club on a hot summer afternoon, I was remembering why I have not been back to Running Deer in a few years. Hmmm, the unfinished club house, lack of help around the facility and the less than desirable course maintenance, I was wondering and hoping the past conditions had changed. Within minutes of arriving I could tell there has been a significant change. The club house was complete, helpful employees were all over the property happy to help and the first fairway and tee area was lush and green.

Ed Carmen designed and built Running Deer in 2000 after managing several other golf facilities. Mr. Carmen was the general manager / owner of the golf club since the clubs inception. Over the last few years, rumor has it, the club was having financial issues and started cutting back on the support staff and facility maintenance. As a result, the golf clubs high standards started to decline. In 2009 Ron Jaworski Management purchased the ailing golf club from Ed Carmen and converted the private club to a semi-private golf club open to public play. RJM immediately proceeded with club house upgrades and course maintenance and it shows. I spoke to a few golfers at the Antlers Pub after my round and they are thrilled the course is coming back to life and could not be happier RJM purchased the golf facility.

Ron Jaworski Management also owners and/or managers nearby Valleybrook Country Club and Riverwinds Golf Club.

RDGC offers several discounts, contact the pro shop for details. Here is a current golf special: $29 early bird special. This special runs Monday – Thursday only, from open (7am) to 8:30 am only. $29 includes golf with cart for anybody who walks through the door.

FROM THE WEB SITE: From the moment you walk into our finely-appointed clubhouse, with its elegant wood décor and cathedral ceilings, you'll know that you're some place special - to be treated special. As you make it around our 18, tree-lined holes of quite difficult golf, you'll hear - nature! That's right. Here, amidst a densely-populated area of the Northeast, you'll hear only natural sounds, as Running Deer affords a round buffered from honking horns and life's hubbub. You'll be left with the opportunity to leave the workaday world behind and concentrate on your game.

COURSE CONDITION: I had the opportunity to play this course a few years ago while it was still a private club. When I played that day (4 to 5 years ago), the overall course did not seem to be maintained the way one would expect from a private course. So when I arrived at the course for my first experience since purchased by Ron Jaworski Management, I was a little apprehensive. After playing the first few holes, there is no doubt RJM has made vast improvements in the course conditions. The teeing areas were lush and green without the zillion driver divots common at most public courses. The rolling fairways were green and firm with nasty rough alongside numerous fairways. The subtle undulating greens were firm and rolling quick in the hot summer afternoon. Overall I was very impressed with the course conditions, at present time the course conditions are what you expect for a private country club, not a course open and accessible to all.

FACILITIES: Running Deer Golf Club provides complete practice facilities with a large grass driving range, putting and chipping greens, sand trap practice area and on-site teaching facilities. RDGC maintains a filly stocked pro shop with the top of the line equipment and apparel.

At my last visit, there were a few sections of the club house which sat un-finished. To RJM’s credit, the club house is completely finished and looks great. It houses the pro shop, restaurant / bar, locker facilities, grand ballroom, conference and banquet facilities. I had dinner at the bar after my round, very friendly bartender, lots of TVs, warm and comfortable decor, good food and cold beer.

VALUE vs COURSE CONDITIONS (1 thru 5 – 1: awful how could they charge me to play here to 5 excellent all around facility would definitely be back): I give it a 4 to 4.5, great course conditions.

PRESTIGIOUS AWARD: From GolfStyles Magazine Summer 2010: “Many courses in South Jersey want to be Pine Valley. Running Deer, designed by Ed Carman, comes closest, which is perhaps the highest compliment one can give to the crown jewel in Ron Jaworski’s golf holdings.”

DIRECTIONS:
From the North: Take Route 55 South to the Garden Road/Brotmanville Exit #35B. Turn right off the exit. Garden Road approximately 2.2 miles & turn left onto s Mill Road (Route 645). Go 1.4 miles and turn right onto Running Deer Trail. Arrive at Running Deer Golf Club .5 miles.

From the East: Take Route 40 or Landis Avenue (Route 56) West to Route 47. Follow Route 47 North to Garden Road and head West. Go 3.6 miles and turn left onto Parvins Mill road. Go 1.4 miles and turn right onto Running Deer Trail. Arrive at Running Deer Golf Club .5 miles.

or

Take Route 206 South and follow past Route 40 intersection. This will put you on Wheat Road. Follow to Delsea Drive (Route 47) and turn right going North. Follow .6 miles to Garden Road Intersection (traffic light, Minotola Bank) and turn left heading West. Follow 3.6 miles and turn left on Parvins Mill Road (Route 645). Go 1.4 miles and turn right onto Running Deer Trail. Arrive at Running Deer Golf Club .5 miles.

From the South: Take Route 55 North to Garden Road/Brotmanville Exit #35B. Turn left at the exit. Take Garden Road approximately 2.3 miles and turn left onto Parvins Mill Road (Route 645). Go 1.4 miles and turn right onto Running Deer Trail. Arrive at Running Deer Golf Club .5 miles.

From the West: Take Route 49 East to Route 77 North. At Carl's Corner take Route 56 for .5 miles to Parvins Mill Road. Travel approximately 2.6 miles and turn left onto Running Deer Trail. Arrive at Running Deer Golf Club .5 miles.

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