Wednesday, October 31, 2012
SJ Golf Courses
Wildwood Country Club
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Bethpage Black
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Kingsmill Resort and the President of the Free World
But the most interesting thing was that the President was staying in a house 30 yards from our condo. While playing with two members, they told us the President was coming in to the resort and work on his debate and that it was going to be very low key. We checked in after our round and headed over to our condo. In the parking lot was two blacked out SUV’s with guys in black suits sitting in the running trucks. Two hours later I went out to get more stuff out of our car and they were still there. The next morning there was 5 trucks, secret service agents around the house next to us and in our back yard. We went out for the day and on the way back into the resort, every car entering the resort was searched and had bomb sniffing dogs checking out the cars. The secret service agents were staying above us and were stationed around the house the President was staying in and there was always 1 to 5 Secret Service guys in our back yard which was a little creepy. I did walk out into the back yard and ask one S.S. guy if the Prez was playing golf and he didn't know, we talked for a few minutes and I went back in. They shut down the back end of the resort and we needed to get patted down when we went to dinner at the restaurant which was on the other side of the house he was staying at. At least for two nights we were in the safest place on earth.
How cool would it have been to play golf with the President!
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Prison View Golf Course @ Louisiana State Penitentiary Course Profile
http://www.twooverpar.com/FindaCourse/GolfCoursesinLouisiana/WestFelicianaCountyLouisiana/PrisonViewGolfCourse/tabid/1134/Default.aspx
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Kresson Golf Course before work...
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.....
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.
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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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Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Mickelson's Donut Run......
Let's face it: Golfers gotta eat, too. The customers and staff of a Krispy Kreme doughnut shop near Augusta National Golf Club got excited about the star golfer's visit -- wearing what appears to be his winning green jacket, or something like it -- on Monday morning after the Masters tournament. kevinbo uploaded the photo and got us in touch with the store, owned by his brother-in-law, and they filled us in on the details.
Customers went wild when Mickelson arrived with his family and store manager Greg Carswell rushed to take the money shot with a cell phone. Owner Walton Guthrie noted that Mickelson was probably making a quick stop before preparing to go to the airport. Mickelson apparently ordered several boxes of donuts in an attempt to abscond to California with the circular pastries. Guthrie tells us the photo just goes to show the "human-interest side" of the games and adds that the store is getting lots of attention from people who've seen the photo in various places.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Soggy / Cold Day at Avalon Golf Club
1510 Route 9 North, Cape may Courthouse, New Jersey 08210
Yards: 5868, Par 71 (White Tees)
Course Architect: Bob Hendricks
Built/Open: 1971
Website: www.avalongolfclub.com
Score: 95 (48 out – 47 in)
Date: April 2010
I played Avalon Golf Club, a public course located in Cape May Courthouse, New Jersey. With only limited practice before heading down, I was just hoping to hit the ball cleanly. I shot an 18 hole score of 95 on an foggy, cold, windy day with temps in the low 50’s (my golfing playing partner talked me into shorts, we froze our asses off). My round was good enough to beat two of my golfing buddies all ready this year (yearly goal is to beat my golfing buddies at least once a year), I had 1 par, hitting 3 fairways, 2 greens in regulation and lost 3 balls. My driving needs help, but some practice should help that as the season go on. My mid and short iron game was average, today my iron shots were cutting right. My chipping needs a lot of help, I rocketed three shots over the green from about ten yards off the green. My putting started out very shaky, three – 3 putts on the first four holes, but then I calmed down and had two – up and downs and two putts the rest of the round. This course was very soggy, a few holes I had to walk 40 to 50 yards out of the way just to stay dry and get to my ball. The first tee had a lake behind it which the cart path went right though the middle of. The course needs to resolve their drainage problem, the rain was about a week ago with beautiful weather every day since and there was still standing water everywhere.
FROM THE WEB SITE: Nestled between Ocean City and Wildwood, along the Jersey coast, lies Avalon Golf Club. Measuring from 6325 to 4924 yards, Avalon is a test for all skill levels. At Avalon, players must contend with narrow fairways, an abundance of water, and the most prominent feature, the wind. Being so close to the shore, the wind might very well come into play on certain days. Remember though, a breeze can be a help or a hindrance, so play smart and savor the moment when the salty air wisps by your face and an occasional gull flies by. The management and staff look forward to serving you throughout the year and welcome the opportunity when you may personally visit and play our course.
COURSE CONDITION: Due to the 6 inches of rain last weekend, I will give them a pass this time. The fairways were uncut, mud puddles and very soggy. The greens were pretty fast and the teeing areas were in good shape.
FACILITIES: Avalon Golf Club provides practice facilities, driving range I didn’t see until the 18th hole (at least I think it was a driving range), large putting green, dinning, and fully stocked pro shop.
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): Well for $49.00 with cart, I give it a 3, the wetness and un-cut fairways were a lot to handle!
SHOT (HOLE) OF THE DAY: Hole 18, nice straight drive right down the middle. Such a nice way to end a tough golfing day.
SUGGESTIONS AND COMMENTS: Will be a nicer round of golf when it dries out and maintenance staff performs their magic.
GOLFNERDNESS: Yardage markers need to be replaced and/or repaired, it is hard to guess your distances out past 150 yards.
GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT: Not a very tight course, but water pops up in a few spots where you don’t expect it.
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For personal golf course reviews and comments, check out http://twooverpar.blogspot.com/!
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Monday, March 29, 2010
2010 Golfing Goals
1. Get in shape and lose weight (229, Jan 1st), I was walking and working out 5 days a week but stopped a few weeks ago. I will try to start up again and get back in the groove.
2. Start taking my kids to the range as soon as it get warm, at least two times a week.
3. Play at least 20 rounds of golf (18 holes).
4. Play 10 new courses.
5. Lower handicap to 18.
6. Stop the above double bogey golf and minimise the lost ball penalties.
7. Record a score under 85.
Ocean Acres Country Club
Wild Oaks Golf Club
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Shore Gate Golf Club – A Special Place in South Jersey
By Marian Castner
Anyone who had played golf in southern New Jersey will attest to the superior golf course found at Shore Gate Golf Club in Ocean View, Cape May County. Carved out of a pristine forest among the pine barrens, Shore Gate stands out as one of the “must plays” courses in our state.
Designed by Ron Fream and David Dale, whose work stretches from California to Asia, but is not found anywhere else on the East Coast, the course brings together a smooth blend of both bold and dramatic.
“This type of course is quite unusual for Cape May County, because it has quite a bit of natural changes in elevation,” says Harry Bittner, general manager and head golf professional. “It’s a unique combination of parkland and links-style golf course. There are seven lakes on the course, and the whole atmosphere here is pretty special,”
Bittner has been a part of the Shore Gate family almost from its inception, and a respected figure in south Jersey golf for more than 20 years. His leadership and expertise along with the support of the owners Doug and John Turner, have combined to make Shore Gate a remarkably well-run golf course.
“There’s only one home site and one back road visible on the golf course,” said Bittner. “It’s just an unspoiled golf experience.” One of the highlights of that experience is undoubtedly the long and difficult 9th hole, which Bittner calls “maybe the most dramatic hole in all of south Jersey.”
It was recently ranked as New Jersey’s number four public golf course by Golf Digest in the magazine’s biennial Best in State rankings for 2009-2010.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Bethpage State Park – The Black Course Take Two!
99 Quaker Meeting House Road, Farmingdale, New York 11735
Yards: 6684, Par 71 (White Tees)
Course Architect: A.W. Tillinghast
Website: http://nysparks.state.ny.us/regions/long-island/default.aspx
Score: 107 (56 out, 51 in)
Date: October 21, 2009
After playing the Black Course last October, I decided to make this trip an annual golfing event. This year we had three players making the pilmagamge to Bethpage State Park. Leaving the South Jersey area around 3:00 AM and at times driving excessively over the speed limit, arrived at the course at 5:30, making the drive in 2:30 hours. Driving into Bethpage, the first thing you notice is the grand scale of the place. This State Park is massive, and it's really undulating, wooded and rolling. Seems like the perfect place for a golf course (or five). We parked the car in line, got out and stretched and just waited until 6:00AM for the state worker to hand out the lottery tickets for your tee time reservation. We were the 22nd car in line. After we received our ticket, we drove up and parked at the club house and got in line at the ticket booth to get our tee time. We received the 9:51 AM tee time on the Black Course, now 6:30, we headed to the Oak Room for breakfast and watch the sunrise.
When the sun came up, we headed over to the driving range, little chilly but the sun was out and warning up, 50 degrees at 7:30 AM. We hit a bucket of balls then headed over to the first tee to hang out and wait for our tee time. As you wait and see others teeing off, you are watching from a balcony where everyone stands directly behind the first tee and watches golfers tee off on the first hole. As you wait for your chance on the tee box, more and more people show up to watch, you start getting more and more nervous, your stomach starts doing flips, your brain just keeps saying, don’t chunk it, whiff or banana slice it onto the first fairway of the Green Course. In addition, as you stand there fully knowing as a high handicapper, you really do not belong on this course, to make it worse, there is a sign confirming it.
Our 9:51 tee time was called, the starter cuts off your bracelet you receive when you play, your ready to go. Standing on the tee box with only 15+/- golfer watching us, you just look out and see a 40 to 50 yard drop on the first hole and the beauty of the surroundings, I hit a long ball to the left in the first cut. The Black Course was as tough as last year, walking and pulling the golf cart up and down this very hilly course was brutal and very exhausting. On a beautiful sunny and warm day, I shot an 18 hole score of 107, with 3 pars, hitting 5 fairways, 2 greens in regulation and lost 3 balls, not bad for a US Open Course! I was hitting the ball fairly straight missing the fairways in the first cut mostly. The course is very demanding off the tee, you MUST hit it straight. I tried to hit my approach shots short since you can not really run balls up onto the greens, and the greens are heavily protected by bunkers. On a few holes, it took me two or three strokes to get out of the deep bunkers, that was the majority of my extra strokes. My chipping was pretty good, getting the ball to stick on the green was fairly easy since the greens were soft. My putting was pretty good, the greens were really fast which didn’t allow me to be short as usual.
Designed by A.W. Tillinghast, Bethpage opened in May of 1936. The course was given 3 million from the USGA and was renovated from 1997-1998 by Reese Jones. The atmosphere walking up to the first tee could not get any better, especially with the signature Bethpage Sign which reads. "The Black Course is an extremely difficult course which we recommend only for highly skilled golfers." Right from the start you know that this course will test your game in every faucet. As you might expect with a top-notch course, it is immaculate. From the tee box to the greens you will not be disappointed with the maintenance of the golf course. The rough is long and thick, but still fair for the average golfer. The course is extremely long with narrow fairways and extremely large and in some areas deep bunkers. There is only one hole where water actually comes into play. Because of the length you will be hitting a variety of irons into moderate sized greens, surrounded by large bunkers. All of your tee shots will demand a great deal of accuracy and power.
Overall it is a world-class establishment and no golfer will walk away being disappointed. After the round, we walked around the club house looking at all the pictures, etc... and hit the extensive pro shop and had a late lunch at the Oak Room on the exterior deck overlooking the Black’s 18th Green.
Getting on the course (found this on the net): As for the "how," you have a couple options: 1) use Bethpage's tee time reservation system, 2) go the infamous route of trying to walk-on at the crack of dawn, which often involves camping out in your car, or 3) pay a huge premium to a little-known company that may be able to get you a tee time on your preferred day of play.
Before anyone can use Bethpage's reservation system, they must become a registered user. To register, you have to fax a copy of your driver's license AND write or type out all of the information that appears on the front of it, plus your telephone number (an email address would help, too), in case the image is unreadable via the fax.
If you're not a New York resident, you are also encouraged to include your Social Security number, which will become your reservation system account number. It's not required (they'll assign you a number, otherwise), but it will expedite processing. It usually takes between one and three days before you're officially "in" the system.
Again, out-of-state residents can only make tee times two days in advance of the intended date of play. (Note that when Bethpage says "two days," it means you can begin calling at 7 p.m. two days before you'd like to play. So, for instance, if you plan to play on a Saturday morning, you have to wait until 7 p.m. on Thursday night to make a reservation.) New York residents can reserve seven days out. Sometimes, it's good to call the night before you wish to play because there are often cancellations.
In addition to a $4 reservation fee, the green fee is:
Weekdays: $50 (NY residents) $100 (non-residents)
Weekends: $60 (NY residents) $120 (non-residents)
Your second option for getting on Bethpage Black, as mentioned above, is to try and walk on, as all of the first hour's tee times (which begin at 6:30 am), and one slot per hour thereafter, are made available on a first-come, first-served basis, according to the Bethpage brass.
Walk-on hopefuls typically arrive at Bethpage in the afternoon or early evening the day before they wish to play, backing their cars into the designated and numbered "overnight" parking spaces. At about 6:00 pm, a Bethpage official hands out wrist bands, one per car, which confirms the order for the next morning's ticket dispersement.
It is these tickets, handed out between 4-4:30 am, which allow you to purchase your round of golf. It used to be that only one player in the group needed a ticket, but now every person has to have their own ticket. [Note: If you want a caddie ($60 plus tip) or locker room use for the day ($10), pay for them at the same time as your green fee as you probably won't have time to get through the long cashier line again.]
Overnighters should consider bringing a tent or sleeping bag, too. Cars aren't conducive to sleeping, and, if you choose to bed down on the root-laden grassy area near the parking lot, you'll need more than your golf towel to stay warm and comfortable.
Better yet, get a hotel room nearby. Remember, only your car has to stay put to maintain your place in line. As long as you're back before the tickets are handed out in the morning, you're golden.
From our experience and stories from people we know, if you're one of the first few cars in line, you'll likely get out in the morning. Later arrivals will likely get out, too, but it probably won't be until the afternoon. Either way, if you go this route to get on Bethpage Black, you'll be spending a good deal of time just waiting around, so bring a good book and/or some good beer.
Finally, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention one other option for getting on Bethpage Black, though it's better suited to those for whom money is not an object. An un-named company sells Bethpage Black packages that include the green fee and round-trip transportation from Manhattan for $750 ($400 per person for a foursome). At 15 times the in-state green fee, it is a huge premium, but convenience does have its price.
FROM THE WEB SITE: Bethpage State Park, a mecca for public golf featuring five 18-hole regulation golf courses including the world-renowned Black Course which was the site of the United States Open in 2002, will again host the U.S. Open in 2009. Bethpage State Park was developed from an estate owned by the Yoakum family and other properties. The Yoakum family leased their estate to the Lenox Hills Corporation which subsequently used the property to build the Lenox Hills Country Club. In the early 1930s, the Bethpage Park Authority purchased the Lenox Hills Country Club and other adjacent properties to build what we now know as Bethpage State Park. Famed golf course architect A.W. Tillinghast was hired to design and oversee construction of three new golf courses (Black, Red and Blue) as well as modify the Lenox Hills Course which became the Green Course. Due to the increased demand for golf, the Yellow Course designed by Alfred Tull was opened in 1958. Approximately 300,000 rounds are played annually on the five courses at Bethpage, all of which start from the Clubhouse area.
The Black Course is a difficult and challenging course that should be played only by low-handicap golfers. The course is for walkers only and its slope rating is one of the highest in the northeast. This was one of the last courses designed by master golf course architect A.W. Tillinghast, and is said by many to be his finest work. The Black Course served as the site of the 102nd U.S. Open Championship in 2002. Our National Championship will again return to the Black in 2009. The narrow fairways, high roughs, well placed bunkers and small greens help to make this an extremely difficult course. The Black Course is closed Mondays for course maintenance except holidays.
COURSE CONDITION: The course was in excellent shape, except for ball markers in some of the greens. No divots in the tee boxes or fairways, and the greens were lighting fast.
FACILITIES: Bethpage State Park provides top notch practice facilities (NOTE: no drivers on the driving range), pro shop, locker room, restaurant, tennis courts, hiking trails, bridle path and picnic area.
SHOT OF THE DAY: Hole #11, Par 4, 421 Yards: Hit my second shot short to avoid a mis-hit into the sand trap, I had a 30 yard pitch shot. Took out my 9 iron and chipped the ball to about ten yards past the pin and it slowly rolled back to the pin to about 12 inches, tap in for par.
SUGGESTIONS AND COMMENTS: If you get a chance to play the Black Course, no matter your handicap, go and do it. I read numerous blogs and articles on the Black Course, warning golfers how hard it is and only highly skilled golfers should play it. Well, I have a 19.1 handicap and loved it, and will play it again. Do you need your A+ game and extra balls, yes, if you love golf, you will love this course and want to play it again and again. Anyone can play it, just keep my motto in your mind, “Bad Golf Quickly”, just keep moving and you will not have an issue. And remember, walking only, NO GOLF CARTS. Did I get a physical and mental beating, hell yea, and it was worth it! There is a half way house between holes 5 and 6 which also can be accessed half way down fairway #11 on the left side.
GOLFNERDNESS: Walking only (or pull/push carts), no motorized golf carts on the Black Course. Go play it, don’t worry about your handicap, just keep pace. We had three 18+ handicappers playing and a 8 to 12 handicapper playing and we keep pace with the foursome in front of us and the foursome behind us waited on one par three hole. Walk and play the same links of the past champions, Lucas Glover and Tiger Woods!
GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT: I found this online the week before I left and it was very helpful so I decided to post it here:Hole #1, Par 4, 429 Yards: Take 3 wood (1st hole) tee it up high so you don’t top it. This hole should be a 3 wood & 5 iron.
Hole #2, Par 4, 354 Yards: 3 wood and 6/7 iron... whatever you think your 2nd shot yardage is its one extra club... over the green & left is safe. So play it that direction.
Hole #3, Par 3, 158 Yards: Depending where the tee is (up / down) will dictate which club you pull... NO MATTER WHAT- PLAY TO THE FAT PART OF THE GREEN - IE - THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE GREEN.
Hole #4, Par 5, 461 Yards: Pull driver- aim center of the fairway- don’t try to play left - just hit the fairway is fine. The remainder of the whole... just make sure you play up the right side (don’t be scared) aim off the part of the glacier bunker (on the right side of the bunker) that looks like a pair of nuts (no joke), and continue to play along the right side the whole hole.
Hole #5, Par 4, 423 Yards: This one is not as long as it looks. Just poke Driver / 3W out over the center of the waste bunker (don’t try and clear it along the right side) - and take one extra club on your 2nd shot. Back of green is safe here!, so play it long.
Refreshment House, stock up here, there is no half way house after nine holes!
Hole #6, Par 4, 386 Yards: If you’re hitting driver straight - hit driver. If not hit 3 wood, if not hit 4 iron. Just make sure you are straight on this one. The hole really opens up nicely once you get up the hill- you’ll have to dial in your irons on this one... THIS TIME TAKE ONE CLUB LESS!!!! it plays down hill and with the wind... back of the green is big trouble.
Hole #7, Par 5, 502 Yards: A harmless par of 5 - except for the 3 acre wide glacier bunker. Just play it center of the bunker and get in the fair way. Than you can hit 3w, 4 or even 5 as your lay up, don’t go over the green, to the right and short is safer than left and long.
Hole #8, Par 3, 191 Yards: A long and beautiful par 3. It plays MUCH longer than it looks. It’s either 3 w or 4 iron. - the green is about 30 yards deep, so use the whole green. Don’t worry about over, short is where the trouble is.
Hole #9, Par 4, 385 Yards: Driver definitely, wide open fairway - do not go left. Should be a 9 iron / 8 iron in.
Hole #10, Par 4, 434 Yards: You have to hit driver if you want to have a chance at getting to the green in 2. This is a long par 4. Make sure you pick a club that will get you to the green on the 2nd shot. - bunkers in the front, false back in the rear.
Hole #11, Par 4, 421 Yards: Should be driver then mid iron, just make sure you stay out of the fescue on the right. Take 3 w on tee if you’ve been hitting it straight.Refreshment House half way up the 11 fairway of the left side.
Hole #12, Par 4, 432 Yards: You can clear the bunker - go for it.
Hole #13, Par 5, 480 Yards: You won’t reach the 1st bunker on your first shot, and on your second shot you should be able to clear the 2nd bunker on left. 2nd shot- aim to the left side of the fairway - easy chip for your 3rd shot.
Hole #14, Par 3, 151 Yards: Take one extra club... it should be a 7 iron, NOT AN 8, the green is huge, you will not overshoot it w/ a 7 iron.
Hole #15, Par 4, 430 Yards: Play this one as a par 5- it’s a driver then 3w /4iron hole. Just make sure you club up to get it up to the green.
Hole #16, Par 4, 457 Yards: Take 3 wood or long iron for this one... but driver will be more fun. Make sure you commit to a yardage on 2nd shot, left of green is bad, right of green is bad - short ok.
Hole #17, Par 3, 195 Yards: Club up- aim back left - its the only bail out spot, make sure you get it there.
Hole #18, Par 4, 394 Yards: Take Drive or 3 wood. Club up to get it on to the elevated green - long is good here - so make sure you club up!
This is by far the second hardest course I have ever played behind Merion Golf Club – East Course.
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Thursday, October 22, 2009
Quickie at Cohanzick Country Club
Bridgeton-Fairton Road, Fairton, New Jersey 08320
Yards: 6001, Par 71 (White Tees)
Course Architect: Unknown
Built/Open: Unknown
Website: http://www.allforeclub.com/
Score: 91 (45 out – 46 in)
I played Cohanzick Country Club, a public course located in Fairton, New Jersey managed by the Allforclub. Not expecting to play, just stopped in to check out the course, I decided to tee it up. When I got out of my car the parking lot had one car, I walked around to find a maintenance guy and asked if they were open. I headed out as a single and played the entire 18 holes in two hours and five minutes. I shot an 18 hole score of 91 on an perfect sunny but brisk day in the high 60’s with 5 pars, hitting 4 fairways, 3 greens in regulation and lost 4 balls. My driving is getting better, little rusty the first few holes due to not warming up. My mid and short iron game was average, today my iron shots were cutting right. My putting was pretty good with one 3 putt and 3 – one putts. This course was pretty beat up, the tee boxes were a mess and the cart paths were bumpy with pot holes and lots of exposed tree roots! There were a few nice holes and a few boring holes, I just wanted to play it since I heard they might possibly close anyday now.
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): Well for $19.00 with cart, I give it a 2, you get what you pay for!
SHOT (HOLE) OF THE DAY: Hole 6, 158 yards, Par 3: I pushed my drive right and the ball ended up on the steep down slope of the 10th tee box. I was about 20 yards away from the flag stick and since the grass was pretty deep, I took a chop swing at the ball. The ball came out hot and hit the flag stick like a line drive and the ball stopped about two feet from the hole. Tap in for an unlikely par.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
The Come Back Kid @ Medford Lakes Country Club
Oak Drive, Medford Lakes, New Jersey 08055
Yards: 5832, Par 71 (White Tees)
Course Architect: Alex Findlay
Built/Open: 1929
Website: http://www.medfordlakescountryclub.com/
Score: 91 (47 out – 44 in)
Date: September 2, 2009
FROM THE WEB SITE: In the late 1920s, Medford Lakes was a vacation community in the New Jersey pines, some 18 miles southeast of Camden. One of its prominent citizens, Leon Todd, believed that a golf course was needed in order to provide residents and summer visitors with a complete range of recreational and sporting opportunities. In 1929 the Medford Lakes Development Company acquired the 115-acre Shrider farm. Alex Findlay, scarcely an unknown quantity in southern New Jersey, was brought in to lay out nine holes. His skillful use of both water and trees gave the course, though on the short side and with few changes in elevation, both interest and charm.
COURSE CONDITION: The teeing areas were green but a little messy from the aeration, the fairways were cut short and in good condition, the ball was sticking without much roll most likely from all the wet weather from the past weekend. The rough was either 2 to 3 inches high which was difficult to get the ball out of, but not impossible. The greens are relatively flat, but slight un-noticeable undulations and the top dressing from the aeration had the ball moving all over the greens.
FACILITIES: MLCC provides practice facilities (driving range, putting and chipping greens), dinning, and pro shop. The range is rather small and tight, but fine for a quick warm up before your round.
SHOT (HOLE) OF THE DAY: Hole 18, 484 yards, Par 5: Drive straight down the middle, 2nd shot, lay up just before the horizontal water hazard, third shot on the green, 50 foot lag putt to 12 inches, tap in for par. A great way to end the round!
SUGGESTIONS AND COMMENTS: This course is an older traditional course. Little short and a few holes are tight, but the bunkers and water hazards are well placed. The three employees we spoke to in the pro shop were old cranky SOB’s. We felt like a bother to them. My playing partner knew the bartender for 20+ years and was talking to him before the round, he suggested to eat elsewhere after the round because the food was horrible. One bright light, the cart girl (blonde) was super nice, and a 10 out of 10 in the looks department!
GOLFNERDNESS: Real nice course, cranky employees (except the hotty cart girl), seems to be an older membership still. Hole #13 has a house with a tennis court adjacent to the tee box. There were three toddlers on the tennis court beating the shit out of each other screaming at the top of their lungs with no one around, thats what you want to hear while teeing off.
GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT: Keep an eye on the hole layouts at the top of the score card, there are water hazards in some un-expecting locations.
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Monday, August 24, 2009
Soggy Day at Bear Trap Dunes, I'll Take It!
7 Clubhouse Drive, Ocean View, DE 19970
Yards: 6377, Par 72 (Kodiak [3187] / Black Bear [3190] - White Tees)
Course Architect: Rick Jacobson
Built/Open: 1999
Website: http://www.beartrapdunes.com/
Score: 82 (42 out, 40 in)
Date: August 22, 2009
FROM THE WEB SITE: 'Bear Trap Dunes Golf Club offers one of the area’s most unique and memorable golf experiences on the Eastern Shore. Winding bent grass fairways lined with native wetland grasses drift into natural sand dunes. Impeccably groomed oversized greens and four strategically placed sets of tees beckon golfers of every skill level.'
COURSE CONDITION: The course was in great shape, the fairways and teeing areas were lush and green but really soggy. The greens were in excellent shape and but rolling super slow because of the thunderstorm earlier that morning.
SHOT OF THE DAY: 10 Pars, 10 out of 14 fairways, with 3 missed birdie putts, it is hard to decide.
SUGGESTIONS and COMMENTS: If you are playing here early, bring drinks and a snack, the refreshment cart starts late.
GOLFNERDNESS: Didn’t have any of my own equipment, its good to be forced to try different equipment! But I still will keep my Ping Zing2’s!!
GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT: Keep the ball in the fairway and you will score!
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Medford Lakes Country Club - Hot Hot Hot!
Oak Drive, Medford Lakes, New Jersey 08055
Yards: 5832, Par 71 (White Tees)
Course Architect: Alex Findlay
Built/Open: 1929
Website: http://www.medfordlakescountryclub.com/
Score: 102 (54 out – 48 in)
Date: August 18, 2009
FROM THE WEB SITE: In the late 1920s, Medford Lakes was a vacation community in the New Jersey pines, some 18 miles southeast of Camden. One of its prominent citizens, Leon Todd, believed that a golf course was needed in order to provide residents and summer visitors with a complete range of recreational and sporting opportunities. In 1929 the Medford Lakes Development Company acquired the 115-acre Shrider farm. Alex Findlay, scarcely an unknown quantity in southern New Jersey, was brought in to lay out nine holes. His skillful use of both water and trees gave the course, though on the short side and with few changes in elevation, both interest and charm.
SUGGESTIONS AND COMMENTS: This course is an older traditional course. Little short and a few holes are tight, but the bunkers and water hazards are well placed.
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Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Hot and Muggy Day @ Pine Hill Golf Club
500 West Branch Avenue, Pine Hill, New Jersey 08021
Yards: 6,248, Par 70 (White Tees)
Course Architect: Tom Fazio
Built/Open: 2000
Website: http://www.golfpinehill.com/
Course Ranking: 18th in New Jersey (Golf Digest State Rankings 2009-2010)
Score: 109 (52 out – 57 in)
Date: July 26, 2009
COURSE CONDITION: The course is playing in championship caliber condition as usual. The teeing areas were lush green, the fairways were cut short and the ball was running on the fairways. The rough on the other hand was either 4 to 5 inches high or tall fescue which was impossible to hit the ball out of. The greens looked undulated but the ball was not moving much even though they were dry and fast.
FACILITIES: Top notch practice facilities (driving range, putting and chipping greens), dinning, pro shop and staff. Great practice area, I hit a few balls prior to the round.
SHOT (HOLE) OF THE DAY: Hole 18, Par 4, 371 Yards. Smoked my drive right down the middle of the fairway leaving about 100 yards in. A nice way to end a long, hot and tiring day.
GOLFNERDNESS: I have played this course about 8 to 10 times, only finishing a complete round 3 or 4 times due to illness, family illness or weather related issues. If you have a junior playing from 150 yards in, give the parent a break, $120 is steep for a junior to play.
GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT: Keep the ball out of the rough and fescue and you will be able to score low. For the high handicapped, this will be a very difficult course, take your lumps and play it!
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Friday, July 17, 2009
World’s longest golf course to open in Australia
MELBOURNE (AFP) – The world’s longest golf course, stretching along 1,365 kilometers (848 miles) of desert highway with holes at 18 towns and service stations, is to open in Australia this year, organizers said Tuesday.
The Nullarbor Links, which will span two time zones and measure more than the entire length of Britain, is expected to be completed next month and will host its inaugural tournament on October 22.
“We’re very excited about it. It’s been a long time coming and a lot of effort,” project chairman Don Harrington told AFP.
“This is the longest golf course in the world. It’s unique terrain, there’s something for everybody.”
Golfers will stop at one roadhouse, play a hole, then drive on to the next tee—100 kilometers down the road in some cases. The par-71 course will take three or four days to complete with each player awarded a certificate.
Each hole will showcase a local attraction, from whale-watching to ancient fossil beds and a working sheep station, and include sights such as the Big Kangaroo statue at Border Village straddling South and Western Australia.
“There’s a lot of history and you can see all of that on a golf course,” Harrington said.
“Both Australian tourists and golfing enthusiasts around the world have shown support for what we’re doing.”
The course was the brainchild of Bob Bongiorno, who was managing a roadhouse at remote Balladonia when he came up with the idea.
Bongiorno, now living in Kalgoorlie at the course’s western end, said he tried hitting a few balls when he first moved into the Outback but got sick of encountering spiders when trying to retrieve them.
There should be no such hazards on the synthetic greens of the Nullarbor Links, although golfers who hit a stray shot into the desert will face a monster sand trap.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Nike 8<9 Challenge: Nike STR8-Fit driver vs. TaylorMade R9 driver
Innovation: The Nike STR8-Fit driver has eight (8) different positions to adjust the head of the club. Nike STR8-Fit Driver Head Positions: three (3) open to produce a fade, two (2) neutral, and three (3) closed to produce a draw. The TaylorMade R9 driver has eight (8) different positions to adjust the head of the club and three (3) adjustable weighted screws which can be repositioned to alter ball flight. TaylorMade R9 Driver Head Positions: three (3) open to produce a fade, two (2) neutral, and three (3) closed to produce a draw, with the 8 head positions and the three movable weighted screws, that gives the golfer 24 different configurations to fine tune your swing. I found the torque wrench provided with the Nike STR8-Fit driver was easy to use and with the light and sound indicator which alerts the user when the head is tighten correctly, you can not over torque the club head while adjusting head positions. The TaylorMade R9 driver utilizes the same tool they provide for the screws and for adjusting the club head, there is not an indicator alerting the user to stop trying to tighten the club head. Changing the head positions on the Nike STR8-Fit driver was easy and quick, where the TaylorMade R9 driver took more time changing the head positions and additional time changing positions of the weighted screws. In addition, the Nike STR8-Fit driver has the adjusting tool located in the club head cover which is a great idea, you always have it close when you need adjusting.
Look / Sound / Feel: Looking at each club from a golfer’s stance, both clubs have a tradition driver shape and look. Looking at the bottom of the club head, the Nike STR8-Fit driver again looks like a traditional driver head, where the TaylorMade R9 driver has numerous lines and three core like indentation locations for the adjustable weighted screws. When I picked up the Nike STR8-Fit driver, the first thing that came to mind was that the head was heavier than the TaylorMade R9 driver. But, as you set up and perform your golf swing, it felt light as a feather, the presumed weight was nonexistent. The Nike STR8-Fit driver has the same feel while performing a golf swing no matter which position I changed the club head. The TaylorMade R9 driver with the adjustable weighted screws gave you a slightly different feel after moving the screws in certain positions. Both clubs has a typical driver sound when striking the ball off the tee.
Performance: I hit both drivers in the open position first, then in the closed position. The Nike STR8-Fit driver, with the club head in the 2 degree open position, I pushed the ball out to the right further than usual. I then adjusted the head to 2 degrees closed and hit most of the balls relatively straight with a few balls pushed right but playable. With the TaylorMade R9 driver head in the 2 degree open position and the weighted screws adjusted for a fade, I pushed the balls right much further than expected. I then adjusted the head to 2 degrees closed and moved the adjustable weighted screws to the draw position and hit about half the balls relatively straight, the other half of the balls pushed right, a few to the right were unplayable.
In summary, after hitting balls with both clubs, the Nike STR8-Fit driver for me was straighter and long off the tee giving me a consistent feel with each swing. I also hit the ball on a lower angle than usual so the ball got some additional yardage from roll, it is very easy and quick to adjust the head as well. The TaylorMade R9 driver was not as consistent off the tee, but long off the tee when I hit it straight. It also has 16 additional adjustments over the Nike STR8-Fit driver to fine tune your swing, which seemed a bit cumbersome trying to change positions of the head and then adjusting the weighted screws while hitting balls.
Monday, June 8, 2009
8>9 Challenge
I will be participating in the 8>9 Challenge evaluating the NIKE SQ DYMO STR8-FIT driver against the TaylorMade R9 driver.
Keep an eye out for the results, coming soon!!
