Public Hits Jackpot at Atlantic City CC


The historic Atlantic City Country Club, a longtime private club and venue for seven national championships, including the U.S. Amateur (1901) and the U.S. Women’s Open (1948, 1965 and 1975) has opened its doors to public play from Monday through Thursday. Until this year, Caesar’s Entertainment, which acquired the private course in 1998, then renovated it with the help of Tom Doak, welcomed only its casino guests, often as few as two or three groups per day. Now, the course is offering a limited number of public tee times for $175 each ($125 during October 2005). In addition to being redesigned in its early years by famed golf architects Willie Park, Howard Toomey and William Flynn, the course is recognized as the birthplace of the term “birdie” (1903), the club of head pro John J. McDermott, the first American to win the U.S. Open (1911), and site of the first Champions Tour event (1980). For tee times, call 609-641-7575.

Tee Time King Acquired

The Active Network, Inc. (www.theactivenetwork.com), a leading provider of online event registration, management and marketing services, has acquired Morristown, N.J.-based Tee Time King, Inc. (www.teetimeking.com), the premier provider of online tee time reservations and golf course management software in the mid-Atlantic region. The acquisition will enable the company to leverage and integrate Tee Time King’s established software base and leading consumer golf portal with its own systems and consumer communities to bring new opportunities to golf course operators, golf tournament and event directors, and golfers.

Oak Ridge’s Back on Track

The back nine at Union County’s Oak Ridge Golf Course reopened for play after a fungus called pythium blight forced its closure in August. Despite dropping prices to account for the disruption, county officials reported as much as a 60 percent drop in play. Now, the reseeded fairways are growing in, the greens are back to pre-fungus conditions, and business has returned to normal levels.

Neshanic Valley’s Ridge Course Opens


The third and final nine holes at Neshanic Valley Golf Course in Branchburg, N.J., opened in September, thus completing this 27-hole golf and learning complex. “The Ridge nine offers the greatest challenge at Neshanic Valley,” says manager of golf operations Bob Ransone. “The fairways slope dramatically, there are numerous blind shots, and the layout is more complex than the other two nines. However, playing any combination of our three nines, golfers will enjoy a terrific golf experience.” The Ridge Course joins the existing Meadow and Lake courses, a nine-hole Academy Course, learning center and Callaway Performance Center.

Pine Hill Waives Dues

Beginning Oct. 1st, any type of membership purchased at Pine Hill Golf Club in Pine Hill, N.J., will be dues-free for the remainder of 2005. Memberships include: individual, for individuals, couples and families; corporate, for small and large companies; weekday, for individuals, couples and families; junior executive, for individuals, families and couples 35 years old or younger; and social, a dining membership for individuals. Because Pine Hill is an Empire Golf Management club, its members can participate in the Club Max program, whereby they can enjoy playing privileges at Empire’s other clubs including: Pine Barrens Golf Club in Jackson N.J.; New Jersey National Golf Club in Basking Ridge, N.J.; Miniscengo Golf Club in Pomona, N.Y.; Branton Woods Golf Club in Hopewell Junction, N.Y.; and Hollow Brook Golf Club in Westchester County, N.Y. For complete membership program details and a fee schedule, contact our Membership Department, 856-435-3100 or toll free at 877-450-8866, ext. 5.

Bayonne GC Principal Eyes Housing Development

Eric Bergstol, president of Empire Golf and its soon-to-be-completed Bayonne Golf Club, has teamed up with homebuilder Pulte Homes/Del Web in an effort to win a housing development contract from the Bayonne Local Redevelopment Authority. The BLRA’s plan, which seeks to develop the Bayonne Bay area (formerly the Military Ocean Terminal), is for more than 1,600 residential units—with a preference for active adult communities—a waterfront walkway, and two waterfront parks. Potential developers have to bid at least $60 million for the 36 acres of property and there are currently 10 proposals being reviewed. Pulte/Del Webb chief Ralph Raciti said his company’s plan is to offer homes in the $300-$400,000 range and that the full buildout would generate almost $9.5 million per year in taxes to the city of Bayonne.

Hartefeld Offers Innovative Corporate Memberships


Taking another big step in its transition from daily-fee course to private club, Hartefeld National Golf Club in Avondale, Pa., recently launched its Hartefeld Hospitality Partnerships, a new class of corporate golf membership that extends beyond greens privileges to an array of services ranging from company golf tournaments to staff holiday parties. Five plan levels are available, and each can be further customized with built-in amenities to suit specific company requirements. Unlike other corporate memberships, Hartefeld is shunning the cookie cutter, one-size-fits-all concept in favor of flexibility and customization.
“With today’s increasingly competitive business climate and ever-tightening budgets, many companies are looking for club memberships that offer a wide range of entertainment services as well as access to a beautiful course,” says Phil Hernandez, director of membership. “With the introduction of our new Hospitality Partnerships, Hartefeld is at the forefront of this membership trend.”

For example, the Hartefeld Plan includes unlimited use of the golf course for the primary designee, unlimited use of the golf course for the associate designee Mondays through Fridays, unlimited use of the practice facility, 14-day advanced tee time reservation privileges, a 10 percent discount in The Grille & Pub at Hartefeld and The Grille & Pub at Mountain Branch, and a 20 percent discount on merchandise in the Hartefeld and Mountain Branch golf shops. Plus, up to five additional associate designees may be added to the plan.

The Platiumum Plan includes unlimited use of the golf course, unlimited use of the practice facility, a hospitality party for up to 80 guests, a golf outing for up to 80 guests, 14-day advanced tee time reservation privileges, a 10 percent discount in The Grille & Pub at Hartefeld and The Grille & Pub at Mountain Branch, and a 20 percent discount on merchandise in the Hartefeld and Mountain Branch golf shops.  Platinum Plan members are permitted four unaccompanied guests per day at the member-guest rate.
“Companies can even mix and match various aspects of their memberships to create a plan that is made to measure,” says Hernandez. Call 610-268-8800 or visit www.hartefeld.com for more information.

Jersey City Range Renovated/Reopened

Lincoln Golf, the formerly run-down driving range on Route 1 & 9 in Jersey City, was recently renovated and reopened by the its new operator, the Hudson County Improvement Authority. After years of legal battles that still may not be completely resolved, the HCIA was able to evict the range’s former operator, Lincoln Golf and Amusements, on grounds that it had not upheld its agreement to properly maintain the facility (it’s located within the county’s Lincoln Park). Despite being only a few weeks into its 28-month management agreement, the county’s parks department has already cleared weeds, installed new artificial turf mats and applied fresh paint. The improvement plan may also include a nine-hole golf course, hiking trails and a dog run. Several politicians are also lobbying for two new soccer fields with a cricket field overlay.

Llanerch CC Completes Renovation


Golf course architect Stephen Kay of Stephen Kay/Doug Smith Golf Course Design restored and renovated the course at the historic Llanerch Country Club in Havertown, Pa. Now more than a century old, Llanerch is one of the Delaware Valley’s premier private clubs and site of the 1958 PGA Championship.

 Llanerch opened as Delaware County Country Club in 1902 and featured sand greens. The club then went through several name changes, becoming the Delaware County Field Club in 1904, the Philadelphia Athletic Club in 1911, the Bon Air Country Club in 1914 and, finally, Llanerch Country Club in 1919. In 1927, the entire course was redesigned by Alexander Findlay, who also added a third nine. In 1949 the club reverted to 18 holes, with J.B. McGovern, an associate of the famed Donald Ross, heading the redesign.

It took Kay and his team just ten months to complete the renovations despite reworking all 18 holes, rebuilding 90 bunkers, six tees, and laser leveling the other 12. He also reshaped fairways, modified two greens and removed trees that had grown too tall or shouldn’t have been planted at all as they ran counter to the course’s original design. The result was the opening up of several holes, thereby restoring playability and aesthetics.
 In addition for his noteworthy  restorations, including Winchester Country Club in Winchester, Mass., site of the 1996 Massachusetts Open and Hartford Golf Club in West Hartford, Conn., home of the 1996 USGA Mid-Amateur Championship, Kay is known for his celebrated original designs such as Blue Heron Pines West in Galloway Township, N.J., Scotland Run in Williamstown, N.J., the Architects Club in Phillipsburg, N.J., and The Links of North Dakota at Red Mike Resort. The latter was recognized by Golf Digest as one of the five best new courses in the nation for 1995 and ranked 53rd among Golf Digest’s Top 100 Public Courses in 2005.

Playboy ScramblesTo Philly


Raven’s Claw Golf Club, the new, upscale, daily-fee course in Limerick, Pa., hosted a Playboy Scramble local qualifying tournament in September. The Playboy Scramble is a series of local golf tournaments, played under scramble rules, which qualify teams for advancement to the semi-finals in Las Vegas, then a grand finale at the Playboy Mansion in California. Playboy Playmates make appearances at each stage of competition and the winning teams are honored during an elaborate party at the Playboy Mansion. “This is our first season and it’s an honor to be selected to be a part of a national tournament,” said Raven’s Claw owner Bob Davis. “Our new clubhouse opened in time for the tournament and we were proud to show it off.” This is the first time the Playboy Scramble has held a qualifier in the greater Philadelphia area. The Playboy Scramble semi-finals will take place from October 17-20, 2005 in Las Vegas at the Palms Casino Resort and The Revere Golf Club. The finals will be held March 15-20, 2006.

Lehigh Valley First Tee Expands

Currently housed in the Boys & Girls Club of Bethlehem, The Lehigh Valley chapter of The First Tee is expanding into a new facility at the Marvine public housing development. Originally planned as a $275,000 indoor learning center with chipping, putting and classroom space, the project will now see $500,000 invested into a 7,000 square-foot building with restrooms, a multipurpose room and spaces that can accommodate other sports such as basketball and volleyball. The facility will also include a three-hole golf course paid for by the United States Golf Association. The federally funded Bethlehem Hosing Authority, which is overseeing the project, voted to accept the low bid of $509,579 from Weiss Construction Inc., of Bethlehem Township.

Trump May Trump Himself


Local planning officials in Bedminster, N.J., began reviewing an application submitted by Donald Trump to build a second golf course along with a 16,000 square foot banquet facility, tennis courts, expanded parking area, residential units and other related structures at his Trump International Golf Club. The course would be designed by Tommy Fazio, Tom Fazio’s nephew, on nearly 240 acres of the more than 500 that comprise the former John DeLorean estate. Trump has kept no secrets about wanting to attract a major golf tournament to the site and adding a second course, parking, and overnight accommodations makes it that much more attractive to tournament officials.