COUNTRY CLUB
PHOTO BY BRYCE WENDLER
Ifyouvisitthewebsiteofalmostanycountryclub,you’llseephraseslike“richin tradition”,“rootedinhistory”,and“legacy-driven”.Inmanycases,thesephrases revolvearoundgolfhistory–thelegendaryplayers,iconictournaments,and championshipmoments.ButatConestogaCountryClub,ourtraditionisrootedin somethingevendeeper:ourfoundingandthevaluesthatdefineustoday.
OneofthethingsIlovemostabouttheclubindustryisthedeephistory,traditions, andcustomsthatmakeeachclubunique.Ialsobelieveit’stheresponsibilityof clubboards,managers,andmemberstonotonlyknowtheirclub’shistorybutto celebrate,teach,andpreservetheveryfoundationonwhichitwasbuilt.
ConestogaCountryClubhasanincrediblestory,onethathasshapedthevalues andcultureweallenjoytoday.Frommyveryfirstweekhere,Icouldsensethatour clubhadadistinctandspecialcharacter.Iheardtermslike“workingman’sclub”, “bluecollar”,and“volunteerism”.Butwhatstoodoutevenmorewasseeingthese valuesinaction.Memberslendingahandwithouthesitation,welcomingnewfaces withopenarms,andtreatingeachotherlikefamily.Itwasclearthattheseweren’t justwords;theywereawayoflife.
Then,asIlearnedmore,Idiscoveredthe75thAnniversaryvideoandthe remarkablestoryoftheRockPickers.Ireadthearticledisplayedinourlobby “TheyMadeTheirOwnCountryClub”andgainedadeeperappreciationforthe determinationandvisionofourfounders.Theseearlymembers,theRockPickers, didn’tjustdreamofaclub,theybuiltitwiththeirownhands.Theirvision,resilience, andperseverancelaidthefoundationfortheConestogaCountryClubwecherish today.
Thevaluesembeddedinourhistoryhavecarriedusthroughchallenges,shaped ouridentity,andstrengthenedourcommunity.Iamincrediblyproudtobepartof thisspecialplace.
Withthatinmind,Iamexcitedtointroduceanewsectioninournewsletter:“Rock PickersCorner”aspacededicatedtosharingandcelebratingtherichtraditions andhistoryofConestogaCountryClub.
Ihopeeachofyoufeelsthesameprideinourclub’slegacyasIdo,andIlook forwardtopreservingandsharingtheincrediblestorythatmakesConestoga CountryClubsospecial.
28dayssureflewby!Thiswinterweatherkeptourcourseclosedmuch longerthanusual.AfterbattlingsnowcoversinceDecember,wefinally reopenedonFebruary22.
We’vebeenbusytrimmingtrees,edgingbunkers,pickingupbranches, andmore.Despitethenumerouswindydaysthiswinter,thegolfcourse isingreatshape.AsIwritethis,thegreenshavefinallythawed,allowing ustobeginchangingcupsandrollingthegreens.
Wehaveafewmaintenanceplanstokeepyouinformedaboutfor March.OnMarch31st,acontractorwillaeratethefairways,whichwillbe completedinoneday.They’llaerate,dragtheplugs,andblowoffthe thatch.We’llalsobeaeratingtheteesin-housesometimeduringMarch.
Getyourgolfclubsreadytogo!Marchcanbeveryunpredictableat timeswithtemperaturesinthe20supto70s.
Seeyouonthecourse!
ROCK PICKERS CORNER
How Determination Built a Golf Course Landis, B - Chapter One: The First 60 Years (this is a summary)
Intheearly1930s,golfenthusiastsinLancasterCountydreamedofcreating thesportiestandtoughesttestofgolfinthearea.Atthetime,onlythree regulationcoursesexisted,andthisambitiousgrouphadnomoneytobuild theirown.
Undeterred,theyformedtheOverlookCountryClubin1933,initiallyrentinga roomatOverlookGolfCoursefor$1peryear.Whilecompetingin tournaments,theyalsobuiltcamaraderiethroughbowling,cardgames, dances,andpicnics.WhenOverlook’sownerofferedtosellthemthecourse, theyjumpedatthechancebutlackedthefunds.
Seekingarevenuesource,theydiscoveredLancasterneededabowling center.Throughmemberdonationsof$100each,theyraised$10,000,enough foradownpaymentona22-lanefacilityindowntownLancaster.TheOverlook RecreationCenterthrived,andby1947,theirloanwasfullyrepaid.However, theiroriginaldreamofpurchasingOverlookGolfCoursehadfadedwhenitwas soldtoanotherbuyer.
Refusingtogiveup,theyshiftedgears,iftheycouldn’tbuyacourse,they wouldbuildone.In1946,theypurchaseda97-acrefarminManorTownship, laterexpandingto118acresthroughcreativefundraising:sellingcrops, buildings,andevenparcelsofland.Thefinalcost?Just$11,000.
Withlandsecured,theyturnedtorenownedgolfcoursearchitectWilliam Gordon.Whileafulldesignandbuildwouldtypicallycost$150,000,Gordon, impressedbytheirdetermination,agreedtocreatealayoutforjust$5,000. Underhisguidance,theclub’smembers--volunteerswithnopriorcourse constructionexperience,workedtirelesslyfor15months,clearingbrush, movingearth,andshapingfairways.
Finally,inJune1948,theirlaboroflovebecameareality.AsGordonsurveyed thecompletedcourse,hecalledtheachievementnothingshortofincredible.
Theirdream,oncedeemedimpossible,becamealastingtestamentto perseverance,passion,andcommunityspirit.
Photograph by Bryce Wendler
Here’s an overview of the 2025 CCC Event Calendar. Any updates regarding event dates or times will be shared promptly. For your convenience, all events, including golf, are now accessible on our website’s club calendar.
Conestoga Golf 2025 Season Updates:
Asweenterthe2025season,wewanttomakeeveryoneawareoftheMonday golfpolicies.
OnlyGolfMembersmayplayonMondays. Playisafter12pmonly,nothinginthemorning. NoguestsarepermittedatanytimeonMonday. Monday’sarewalkingonly. PleasesigninonthesheetlocatedattheProShopentrance.
Wearepleasedtoannouncethatanewfleetof2023golfcartswillbearrivinga justafewweeks.Wenegotiatedfavorabletermsona3yearleasewhichwill providenewer,moreefficientcarswithafewextraaccessories,including4USB chargersandcoolers.
All2025tournamentsareavailableontheGolfGeniussite.Alleventswillopen forregistration30dayspriortotheevent.Pleasecheckthelistingandmarkyour calendarsfortheeventsyouplanonplayingin.
Thisyear’sMGATournamentdueswillbe$200andmaybepaidbycheckmade payabletoCCCMGA.MailtoCCCMGA/RobertLeemanat1950StoneMillRoad Lancaster,PA17603ordropoffintheProShop.MGAduesmoneyprovidesthe prizepoolsforallMGAeventsandcoversthecostofallbreakfastsassociated withanyoftheevents.100%eachyearispaidtotheeventwinners.MGADues MUSTbepaidpriortoopeningDay,iftheyarepaidafterOpeningDaytheFee goesto$225.
WeareintheprocessoffinalizingFittingDaysforthiscomingspring.Asofnow, thefollowingdatesbelowhavebeenscheduled. CallawayFittingDayMay1st12-4 <linkcomingsoon
<clickheretoreserveyourspot
<linkcomingsoon
Goodlucktoallparticipantsinthisyear’seventsandweappreciateyour understandingandcooperationregardingourpolicies!
2025 Crocs Swim Team Information Registration Opens
March 17th!
WhoCanJoin?
Allchildrenandgrandchildrenofcurrentmembers(exceptdining members). Allclubemployees.
Participantsmustbeabletoswim25metersindeepwater,unassistedand withoutstopping. Mustbe5yearsorolder.
PracticeSchedule:
Monday-Thursdaywithanoptional"FunFriday"practice. 11andolder:
Preseason:May20-June7,5:30-6:30pm
June10-endofseason:8:30-9:30am 10andunder:
Preseason:May20-June7,4:30-5:30pm
June10-endofseason:9:30-10:30am
AdditionalSwimClinic/Lessons:
OfferedbyrequestonTuesdaysandThursdaysforswimmersnotyet readyfortheteam. Pleasecontactthepoolmanagerfordetails.
WhatDoesaTypicalPracticeLookLike?
Allpracticeslastonehour,withFridayspotentiallyadjustedbasedon attendance. Whileattendanceisencouraged,itisnotmandatory.
PracticeStructure: Warm-up Technique MainSet Cooldown
Swimmerswillbeginwithfreestyletechniqueandprogressto masteringallfourstrokes:Freestyle,Backstroke,Breaststroke,and Butterfly.
Ourseasonincludes7dualmeets,withthescheduleavailableuponregistration viapapercopyandtheTeamUnify/OnDeckapp.Swimmerscompeteinage groups:8&under,10&under,12&under,14&under,andopen.Dualmeets,held onTuesdaysandThursdaysat6:15pm,typicallylastabout2½hours. Swimmerscancompeteinupto3eventspermeet.Inadditiontodualmeets, therewillbeopportunitiestoparticipateininvitationalmeets,includingthe DivisionalsChampionshipandtheLeagueMeetforthosewhoqualify.
Iamlookingforwardtoafunandrewardingseason!Pleaseneverhesitateto reachouttomeatccccrocsswimteam@gmail.com.
Photograph
Photograph by Bryce Wendler