August Is National Golf Month

Our Community feature by Holly Stupak

Photos courtesy of Paxon Hollow Country Club

Summertime calls for celebrations and our Marple Friends & Neighbors certainly know how to do that! From the 4th of July parade to firing up your grills for National Grilling Month, July was sizzling!

We’re keeping the party outdoors this August by celebrating National Golf Month. As if avid golfers need another excuse to hit the links, players this month are encouraged to introduce new golfers to the game by sharing their experiences and advice.

National Golf Month was founded in 1993 by The Professional Golfers’ Association of America (PGA) in an effort to make the sport more diverse, equitable and inclusive. This month-long initiative stems from the PGA’s own annual charity event that promotes golf as a sport that is accessible to all genders and ages no matter their skill level.

The plans for the original 27 holes at Paxon Hollow Golf Club

So, what can we do to celebrate and share our love of the greens? Take a trip over to Paxon Hollow Country Club (PHCC) for starters. Owned by Marple Township since the late 60s, PHCC is a classically designed course that has enriched the golf tradition in Delaware County by holding numerous amateur and professional tournaments over the past 50 years. It’s been home to a men's league that plays every Sunday and also has the largest ladies golf league in Philadelphia with over 160 members.

Since it opened in 1926 as a private club, PHCC had various owners throughout the years until Marple Township purchased it in 1967 from Delaware County builder Ralph Bodek, who had renovated it and changed it to a public facility.

PGA Professional Dan Malley is the Director of Golf Operations for PHCC, handling everything from golf outings, clinics and lessons to making sure golfers are outfitted properly. “I get to wear many hats in my role,” said Dan. “The most rewarding role is teaching people of all ages how to play golf.”

The golf course at Paxon Hollow Country Club

After a round of golf, take your friends or family over to Anthony’s at Paxon Restaurant and Patio Deck for a delicious Italian meal and views that overlook the greens, fairways and fountains on the 18th hole.

Since it was remodeled in 2013 and then again in 2018, the restaurant has added value to both the club and the community,” said Jon Walsh, Head Chef/ Partner and General Manager of Anthony’s at Paxon. “We’ve also been able to hold many fundraisers, helping raise money for people in our community.” “Having the restaurant here has really added to the ambiance,” added Dan Malley. “It’s the perfect place to go for large groups after golf outings.

Marple Township is also home to the headquarters of the Golf Association of Philadelphia (GAP), the oldest state or regional golf association in the country. Founded in 1897, GAP now has 78,000 members and 300 member clubs in the tri-state area. As a local voice of the United States Golf Association, their goal is to preserve golf’s values by sponsoring amateur tournaments and providing educational opportunities.

One of those educational opportunities is the J. Wood Platt Scholarship — named for J. Wood Platt, who won six Philadelphia amateur championships and advocated for caddies. Applicants must be regular caddies and, on average, recipients are awarded $8,000-10,000 towards annual college tuition. In the 2020-21 academic year, 145 caddies received more than $1.2 million. The scholarship is more than just a financial reward, it also offers a resource base of contacts for students.

For the past 124 years, GAP’s initiatives like the scholarship have created opportunities across the region and promoted the game of golf. And having GAP right here in our hometown certainly brings some extra prestige to the Broomall area.

Marple township is by far one of the best townships in the Philly suburbs and also has a lot of history about golf,” said Blake Barstar, a GAP Communications Intern. “This area has some of the best courses in the region!

For local new or seasoned golfers, there are plenty of private clubs in Delaware County to choose from including Aronimink, Rolling Green, Merion and Overbrook Golf Clubs. How and where you celebrate National Golf Month is up to you! Whether you head to the driving range, practice greens, minigolf or play a round of 18, many places offer discounts during the month of August so you can take advantage of the deals.

There you have it. Consider this your official permission slip to take the day off, grab some friends and hit the course. Spread your love for the game even further by capturing the moment using #NationalGolfMonth to share on social media.