These Aren’t Your Dad’s Munis
http://www.publinksgolfer.net/articles/360/1/These-Aren’t-Your-Dad’s-Munis/Page1.html
Sean Fitzsimmons
By Sean Fitzsimmons
Published on 06/25/2007
One of the most dramatic developments in the golf course industry over the past 10 to 15 years has been the increase in quality municipal courses.
No longer does the term “muni” imply a somewhat beaten up, homogenous layout that is affordable, yes, but lacking in challenge and comforts. Many of the new municipal tracks built within the past decade or so stand up against the glamorous high-end, privately-owned daily fee layouts and even private country clubs.
New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania have been recently graced by the opening of several superb municipal courses. These courses are well-maintained, offer interesting, approachable routings and are priced to suit the wallet and pocketbook of the average golfer.
To be sure, these aren’t your father’s munis. Let’s take a look at several of the best new municipal courses the Garden State and eastern Pennsylvania have to offer.
Architect Rick Jacobson lent his skills to designing one of the most unique golf courses in the Northeast, Makefield Highlands Golf Club, located in Yardley, Pa.
Opened in 2004, Makefield Highlands is a superb layout that offers a true “links” feel to its visitors. Tall fescue lines the rolling fairways, while strategically placed hazards make navigation a challenge. And when the breezes blow hard the course really bares its teeth.
“It’s a prairie style golf course,” said Meredith Danzig, director of sales and marketing for the club, which is managed by Chicago-based KemperSports, one of the premiere sports management companies in the country. “The course is meticulously groomed and there are some wonderful scenic views of Bucks County.”
The course is owned by Lower Makefield Township and is a public facility in the very best sense of the term. In addition to 18 very good, reasonably priced holes of golf there is an extensive practice facility, on-site golf instruction, summertime junior camps, an active golf association, a full-service pro shop and grill and a banquet facility for large gatherings and outings.
“We are very service oriented here,” said Danzig. “We cater to our customers and provide a unique experience for them, whether it is a foursome out to play golf or a large outing.”
Makefield Highlands, named by Golfing Magazine as a “Must Play Course,” is a strong test of playing ability, stretching to just over 7,000 yards from the tips. There are five sets of tees in all to meet the skills of each golfer.
The first five holes are excellent starters. Numbers one and two, which are par-fours measuring over 455 yards each, let you air the driver out, with a good, short 159-yard par-three followed by two short par fours--337 and 331 yards respectively. This variety of holes presents an early indication of the interesting demands Makefield Highlands places on both shot making ability and course management.
The backside offers a neat mix of holes, from the 284-yard par-four 13th that can be reached by big hitters off the tee to the 228-yard par-three 14th that is as good a short hole as you will find anywhere.
Says Danzig, “Our reputation has spread around the tri-state area and we are becoming well known as one of the best public courses around.”
Prices are kept on the modest side, $49 for non-residents and $36 for residents to walk during the weekdays and $74 for non-residents and $61 for residents (both prices include cart) on the weekends. The club also offers discounts for seniors and juniors and runs early bird and nine-hole specials.
The club has a stay-and-play package arrangement with a local Hampton Inn & Suites that offers discounted rates for visitors.
The managers of Lederach Golf Club in Harleysville, Pa., voted one of the “Top Ten Courses You Can Play” last year by Golf Magazine, could charge more for their golf course. It’s that good. But rather than appeal strictly to the well-healed and corporate clients, Lederach prefers to be a championship layout that all can sample, no matter what the demands are on a person’s budget.
The vision for Lederach was to create a top golf course, but also one that is affordable. The course is managed by Virginia-based Billy Casper Golf (another acclaimed golf course management company), and has won BCG’s “Best Service” award. High-end rates are around $75 and low end around $35, with a wide range of tiered fees in between.
Lederach has a decidedly open or “links” feel to it and was routed on somewhat hilly farmland. Yet it doesn’t feature the sidehill lies that many traditional mountainside courses present.
Architect Kelly Blake Moran used the natural terrain to flow the course and there are some elevated greens and a few approach shots to greens that are below the fairway or tee box.
There isn’t a lot of water on Lederach. But fairway moguls, well-positioned bunkers and some very undulating greens provide the course with its teeth.
You may think that once you are on the green you’ve got the hole beat. But a lot of times being on the green at Lederach is where the true test of ability comes into play. You have to negotiate the undulations to get the ball into or near the hole.
There is a pleasing mix of holes at Lederach--from brutish par-fours and par-threes to short four pars and a nice little par-three, the 145-yard 16th that plays tougher than it looks.
Lederach offers a unique design and has qualities you won’t see in some newer courses. It incorporates features one might see in some European courses as well as taking advantage of the beautiful Pennsylvania hillsides.
The ninth is a short par-four that measures just 328 yards from the tips. But a pond guards the entire left side of the hole, making a tee shot with driver dicey.
The 12th hole is a rambling, 654-yard par-five that bends ever so slightly to the right and had a large bunker guarding the center of the fairway.
Both the fifth and 14th holes are par-threes that play over 230 yards from the tips, and the 469-yard 15th is the longest par-four on the course.
Number 18, a 379-yard par-four, is a real solid finishing hole. It plays along the same pond that guards number nine, with the wet stuff protecting the right side this time. A true tee shot and the green, which is well guarded by bunkers, can be attacked with a short iron.
Lederach, in a nod to junior golfers, has a set of tees especially designed for young players that measures around 3,100 yards. It’s a nice touch. The club also has a bent grass practice area.
Every detail at Heron Glen Golf Club in Ringoes, N.J. points toward customer satisfaction.
“The course is in great shape and we are looking forward to another strong 2007 season with a lot of events,” says Steve Loomis, the general manager of the club which is managed by Kemper Sports. “We have a quality golf course that is a true championship layout. It is a fair golf course for all players, yet a challenging one for the better players.” Plans are in the works for a 6,000-square-foot clubhouse.
Heron Glen is indeed a very good golf course, one designed by Dan Schlegel.
“It really always comes down to the golf course and we have really matured the last four years,” says Loomis. “The fairways, tee boxes and greens are in excellent shape, and we get nothing but rave reviews. One thing we are able to do here is get carts off the paths quicker than other courses because the course drains so well.”
Heron Glen isn’t your feel-good, dumbed down municipal track. It plays to a rating of 74.3 and a slope of 135 from the back tees. But four other sets of tees allow the visitor to match his or her ability to a yardage.
Heron Glen is a relatively flat track that has an “American links” feel to it, although there are mature trees lining some of the fairways and moderate elevation changes.
Schlegel didn’t wait long to throw the meat of the course at the player. After the fairly uncomplicated 435-yard par-four first hole, dig your teeth into the course’s number one handicap hole, the monstrous 614-yard, par-five second. The tee shot must find the fairway in order to properly navigate a second shot through a maze of bunkers and natural grass areas that line the fairway. Par here is a very solid result.
The third hole is a 462-yard-par-four that plays into the prevailing winds. Get through the first three holes and you may be on your way to a great round.
Number 11 is a very good, short par-four measuring 331 yards from the tips. With the hole playing downwind on most days big hitters can get it close to the putting surface, although bunkers on both sides of the fairway may pose problems.
Number 14, a 432-yard par-four is known as perhaps the prettiest hole on the course, and the following 238-yard par-three is the longest three par on the layout. A hint: Bail out right and the ball will kick toward the green.
Number 18 is a strong finishing hole. The par-four plays 480 yards and has two ponds that come into play on the tee shot and approach. Miss the putting surface left and it’s a messy end to the round.
Says Loomis. “We are a county course and we are here to take care of our golfers and service them. We like to think we offer our customers a great golf course and a great experience.”
Eighteen-hole greens fees at Heron Glen range from $21 to $57 depending upon season, time of the week and other factors.
Golf course architect Mark Mungeam has deservedly won praise for the simple elegance and playability of his routings. A prime example of his philosophy can be found at High Bridge Hills Golf Club in High Bridge, N.J.
“I think High Bridge is one of Mark’s best designs,” says Jason Lenhart, regional manager for Billy Casper Golf, which oversees operations at High Bridge Hills. “I know he has a special fondness for the course and makes it a point to get back here and see the club whenever he is in the area.
High Bridge was designed in the classic British-Irish “links” tradition. The par-71-, 6,700-yard track is imbued with a sense of openness and set amidst wonderful terrain overlooking Spruce Run reservoir. There are a number of elevation changes, the most severe at the eighth hole. It’s an intimidating, 229-yard par-three that calls for a tee shot over a natural gorge.
Tall fescue lines most of the fairways, placing a stringent demand on accurate tee shots and approaches to the medium size, somewhat undulating greens.
There are no weak holes at High Bridge, which has five par-threes, three on the back side. They range from the deceptively dangerous short, 115-yard sixth to the above-mentioned monster at eight.
Number 15 may be the best par-five on the course. It measures just 505 yards and big hitters will be tempted to go for the green in two. But there’s a ridge above the green that makes precise club selection difficult.
Number 18 is a great finisher. The 434-yard par-four has four bunkers on the right side of the fairway landing area. The green is two-tiered and a deep bunker guards the front.
Pace of play is very good and the introduction of GPS in the golf carts has helped speed up play even more.
Says Lenhart, “We will continue to present our club as one of the finest conditioned courses in the region, and will conduct on-course improvements that include drainage to control springs on holes three and 15.”
McCullough’s Emerald Golf Links, located in Egg Harbor Township, N.J., offers a truly unique experience. The course, designed by noted golf course architect Stephen Kay, is a tribute to famed European layouts, such as St. Andrew’s Prestwick, Gleneagles and Turnberry, among others. McCullough’s 16th hole, for instance, is a replica of the “Postage Stamp” par-three hole at Scotland’s Royal Troon.
Rates for 18 holes at McCullough’s range from $23 to $73 depending upon season, time of the week and other factors.
McCullough’s presents a decidedly Irish-Scottish feel, with wide open fairways, tricky winds, grass mounds, bunkers, natural waste areas and undulating greens. The course is located only minutes from Atlantic City’s boardwalks, casinos and beaches.
“A lot of people who visit the area and come to play here don’t realize it is a municipal course,” says Tom Sullivan, general manager of McCullough’s, which is also managed by Billy Casper Golf. “Stephen Kay has designed other courses in the area that are demanding $125 and upwards for a round and our highest price is $85. Residents get discounted rates.”
McCullough’s Emerald Golf Links is a pleasingly playable track for all abilities, even though the slope from the back tees is 130. There is a nice mix of holes, from long par-fours, like the 464-yard seventh, to the short, 136-yard par-three 16th.
The front side has two par-fives, the 489-yard third and the 503-yard sixth, that are reachable in two for the big hitters. But there are also two par-threes, the second and fifth, that measure over 200 yards from the tournament tees. The fifth is a 236-yard beast.
One of the best holes on the course is the 341-yard par-four 11th, which is based on the great short par-four 12th at the King’s Course of Gleneagles in Scotland. The tee shot is up and over fairway bunkers. The green has only one bunker guarding its right side, allowing for a typical Scottish-Irish low run up shot.
The finisher is a 358-yard par-four that was based on the fourth hole at Scotland’s Prestwick. There is a creek and out of bounds on the right side and three dangerous fairway bunkers near the fairway landing area. You can cut the corner to the right and shorten the hole. But a deep bunker will cause problems if you miss. It’s a perfect risk/reward hole.
“We have a 100-foot elevation change throughout the course, which is rare for the area,” says Sullivan.
New Municipal Golf Courses Raise the Bar for Public Golf
One of the most dramatic developments in the golf course industry over the past 10 to 15 years has been the increase in quality municipal courses.
No longer does the term “muni” imply a somewhat beaten up, homogenous layout that is affordable, yes, but lacking in challenge and comforts. Many of the new municipal tracks built within the past decade or so stand up against the glamorous high-end, privately-owned daily fee layouts and even private country clubs.
New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania have been recently graced by the opening of several superb municipal courses. These courses are well-maintained, offer interesting, approachable routings and are priced to suit the wallet and pocketbook of the average golfer.
To be sure, these aren’t your father’s munis. Let’s take a look at several of the best new municipal courses the Garden State and eastern Pennsylvania have to offer.
Architect Rick Jacobson lent his skills to designing one of the most unique golf courses in the Northeast, Makefield Highlands Golf Club, located in Yardley, Pa.
Opened in 2004, Makefield Highlands is a superb layout that offers a true “links” feel to its visitors. Tall fescue lines the rolling fairways, while strategically placed hazards make navigation a challenge. And when the breezes blow hard the course really bares its teeth.
“It’s a prairie style golf course,” said Meredith Danzig, director of sales and marketing for the club, which is managed by Chicago-based KemperSports, one of the premiere sports management companies in the country. “The course is meticulously groomed and there are some wonderful scenic views of Bucks County.”
The course is owned by Lower Makefield Township and is a public facility in the very best sense of the term. In addition to 18 very good, reasonably priced holes of golf there is an extensive practice facility, on-site golf instruction, summertime junior camps, an active golf association, a full-service pro shop and grill and a banquet facility for large gatherings and outings.
“We are very service oriented here,” said Danzig. “We cater to our customers and provide a unique experience for them, whether it is a foursome out to play golf or a large outing.”
Makefield Highlands, named by Golfing Magazine as a “Must Play Course,” is a strong test of playing ability, stretching to just over 7,000 yards from the tips. There are five sets of tees in all to meet the skills of each golfer.
The first five holes are excellent starters. Numbers one and two, which are par-fours measuring over 455 yards each, let you air the driver out, with a good, short 159-yard par-three followed by two short par fours--337 and 331 yards respectively. This variety of holes presents an early indication of the interesting demands Makefield Highlands places on both shot making ability and course management.
The backside offers a neat mix of holes, from the 284-yard par-four 13th that can be reached by big hitters off the tee to the 228-yard par-three 14th that is as good a short hole as you will find anywhere.
Says Danzig, “Our reputation has spread around the tri-state area and we are becoming well known as one of the best public courses around.”
Prices are kept on the modest side, $49 for non-residents and $36 for residents to walk during the weekdays and $74 for non-residents and $61 for residents (both prices include cart) on the weekends. The club also offers discounts for seniors and juniors and runs early bird and nine-hole specials.
The club has a stay-and-play package arrangement with a local Hampton Inn & Suites that offers discounted rates for visitors.
The managers of Lederach Golf Club in Harleysville, Pa., voted one of the “Top Ten Courses You Can Play” last year by Golf Magazine, could charge more for their golf course. It’s that good. But rather than appeal strictly to the well-healed and corporate clients, Lederach prefers to be a championship layout that all can sample, no matter what the demands are on a person’s budget.
The vision for Lederach was to create a top golf course, but also one that is affordable. The course is managed by Virginia-based Billy Casper Golf (another acclaimed golf course management company), and has won BCG’s “Best Service” award. High-end rates are around $75 and low end around $35, with a wide range of tiered fees in between.
Lederach has a decidedly open or “links” feel to it and was routed on somewhat hilly farmland. Yet it doesn’t feature the sidehill lies that many traditional mountainside courses present.
Architect Kelly Blake Moran used the natural terrain to flow the course and there are some elevated greens and a few approach shots to greens that are below the fairway or tee box.
There isn’t a lot of water on Lederach. But fairway moguls, well-positioned bunkers and some very undulating greens provide the course with its teeth.
You may think that once you are on the green you’ve got the hole beat. But a lot of times being on the green at Lederach is where the true test of ability comes into play. You have to negotiate the undulations to get the ball into or near the hole.
There is a pleasing mix of holes at Lederach--from brutish par-fours and par-threes to short four pars and a nice little par-three, the 145-yard 16th that plays tougher than it looks.
Lederach offers a unique design and has qualities you won’t see in some newer courses. It incorporates features one might see in some European courses as well as taking advantage of the beautiful Pennsylvania hillsides.
The ninth is a short par-four that measures just 328 yards from the tips. But a pond guards the entire left side of the hole, making a tee shot with driver dicey.
The 12th hole is a rambling, 654-yard par-five that bends ever so slightly to the right and had a large bunker guarding the center of the fairway.
Both the fifth and 14th holes are par-threes that play over 230 yards from the tips, and the 469-yard 15th is the longest par-four on the course.
Number 18, a 379-yard par-four, is a real solid finishing hole. It plays along the same pond that guards number nine, with the wet stuff protecting the right side this time. A true tee shot and the green, which is well guarded by bunkers, can be attacked with a short iron.
Lederach, in a nod to junior golfers, has a set of tees especially designed for young players that measures around 3,100 yards. It’s a nice touch. The club also has a bent grass practice area.
Every detail at Heron Glen Golf Club in Ringoes, N.J. points toward customer satisfaction.
“The course is in great shape and we are looking forward to another strong 2007 season with a lot of events,” says Steve Loomis, the general manager of the club which is managed by Kemper Sports. “We have a quality golf course that is a true championship layout. It is a fair golf course for all players, yet a challenging one for the better players.” Plans are in the works for a 6,000-square-foot clubhouse.
Heron Glen is indeed a very good golf course, one designed by Dan Schlegel.
“It really always comes down to the golf course and we have really matured the last four years,” says Loomis. “The fairways, tee boxes and greens are in excellent shape, and we get nothing but rave reviews. One thing we are able to do here is get carts off the paths quicker than other courses because the course drains so well.”
Heron Glen isn’t your feel-good, dumbed down municipal track. It plays to a rating of 74.3 and a slope of 135 from the back tees. But four other sets of tees allow the visitor to match his or her ability to a yardage.
Heron Glen is a relatively flat track that has an “American links” feel to it, although there are mature trees lining some of the fairways and moderate elevation changes.
Schlegel didn’t wait long to throw the meat of the course at the player. After the fairly uncomplicated 435-yard par-four first hole, dig your teeth into the course’s number one handicap hole, the monstrous 614-yard, par-five second. The tee shot must find the fairway in order to properly navigate a second shot through a maze of bunkers and natural grass areas that line the fairway. Par here is a very solid result.
The third hole is a 462-yard-par-four that plays into the prevailing winds. Get through the first three holes and you may be on your way to a great round.
Number 11 is a very good, short par-four measuring 331 yards from the tips. With the hole playing downwind on most days big hitters can get it close to the putting surface, although bunkers on both sides of the fairway may pose problems.
Number 14, a 432-yard par-four is known as perhaps the prettiest hole on the course, and the following 238-yard par-three is the longest three par on the layout. A hint: Bail out right and the ball will kick toward the green.
Number 18 is a strong finishing hole. The par-four plays 480 yards and has two ponds that come into play on the tee shot and approach. Miss the putting surface left and it’s a messy end to the round.
Says Loomis. “We are a county course and we are here to take care of our golfers and service them. We like to think we offer our customers a great golf course and a great experience.”
Eighteen-hole greens fees at Heron Glen range from $21 to $57 depending upon season, time of the week and other factors.
Golf course architect Mark Mungeam has deservedly won praise for the simple elegance and playability of his routings. A prime example of his philosophy can be found at High Bridge Hills Golf Club in High Bridge, N.J.
“I think High Bridge is one of Mark’s best designs,” says Jason Lenhart, regional manager for Billy Casper Golf, which oversees operations at High Bridge Hills. “I know he has a special fondness for the course and makes it a point to get back here and see the club whenever he is in the area.
High Bridge was designed in the classic British-Irish “links” tradition. The par-71-, 6,700-yard track is imbued with a sense of openness and set amidst wonderful terrain overlooking Spruce Run reservoir. There are a number of elevation changes, the most severe at the eighth hole. It’s an intimidating, 229-yard par-three that calls for a tee shot over a natural gorge.
Tall fescue lines most of the fairways, placing a stringent demand on accurate tee shots and approaches to the medium size, somewhat undulating greens.
There are no weak holes at High Bridge, which has five par-threes, three on the back side. They range from the deceptively dangerous short, 115-yard sixth to the above-mentioned monster at eight.
Number 15 may be the best par-five on the course. It measures just 505 yards and big hitters will be tempted to go for the green in two. But there’s a ridge above the green that makes precise club selection difficult.
Number 18 is a great finisher. The 434-yard par-four has four bunkers on the right side of the fairway landing area. The green is two-tiered and a deep bunker guards the front.
Pace of play is very good and the introduction of GPS in the golf carts has helped speed up play even more.
Says Lenhart, “We will continue to present our club as one of the finest conditioned courses in the region, and will conduct on-course improvements that include drainage to control springs on holes three and 15.”
McCullough’s Emerald Golf Links, located in Egg Harbor Township, N.J., offers a truly unique experience. The course, designed by noted golf course architect Stephen Kay, is a tribute to famed European layouts, such as St. Andrew’s Prestwick, Gleneagles and Turnberry, among others. McCullough’s 16th hole, for instance, is a replica of the “Postage Stamp” par-three hole at Scotland’s Royal Troon.
Rates for 18 holes at McCullough’s range from $23 to $73 depending upon season, time of the week and other factors.
McCullough’s presents a decidedly Irish-Scottish feel, with wide open fairways, tricky winds, grass mounds, bunkers, natural waste areas and undulating greens. The course is located only minutes from Atlantic City’s boardwalks, casinos and beaches.
“A lot of people who visit the area and come to play here don’t realize it is a municipal course,” says Tom Sullivan, general manager of McCullough’s, which is also managed by Billy Casper Golf. “Stephen Kay has designed other courses in the area that are demanding $125 and upwards for a round and our highest price is $85. Residents get discounted rates.”
McCullough’s Emerald Golf Links is a pleasingly playable track for all abilities, even though the slope from the back tees is 130. There is a nice mix of holes, from long par-fours, like the 464-yard seventh, to the short, 136-yard par-three 16th.
The front side has two par-fives, the 489-yard third and the 503-yard sixth, that are reachable in two for the big hitters. But there are also two par-threes, the second and fifth, that measure over 200 yards from the tournament tees. The fifth is a 236-yard beast.
One of the best holes on the course is the 341-yard par-four 11th, which is based on the great short par-four 12th at the King’s Course of Gleneagles in Scotland. The tee shot is up and over fairway bunkers. The green has only one bunker guarding its right side, allowing for a typical Scottish-Irish low run up shot.
The finisher is a 358-yard par-four that was based on the fourth hole at Scotland’s Prestwick. There is a creek and out of bounds on the right side and three dangerous fairway bunkers near the fairway landing area. You can cut the corner to the right and shorten the hole. But a deep bunker will cause problems if you miss. It’s a perfect risk/reward hole.
“We have a 100-foot elevation change throughout the course, which is rare for the area,” says Sullivan.