Tri-State Golfer Magazine

tri-state golfer magazine

The Most Read Golf Publication In The Tri-State Area • Philadelphia – Southern NJ – Northern DE • Spring 2021

THRIVING IN A PANDEMIC

With little else to do in 2020, the game of golf took off at Inniscrone

®

During times like these, home is not just where we hang our hats—it’s the center of our lives.

Even when the world outside of Dunwoody Village gets a little smaller, our apartments, country houses and carriage homes are bright and airy. We have units for every lifestyle, and we encourage residents to make them their own with custom upgrades and renovations. Most homes have outdoor space, and our beautiful grounds encompass walking trails, a wildlife preserve, and a dog park for animal companions. Add to that our hardworking and friendly staff—providing services from healthcare to dining to housekeeping—and a truly kind and supportive community, and you’ll see why we’ve been a top continuing care retirement choice for more than four decades.

You, too, can call Dunwoody Village home—contact us today.

­ ­

Limited number of newly renovated 1 Bedroom Apartments available Pet Friendly

CONVENIENT TO MAIN LINE GOLF COURSES!

GOLF RESORT & DESTINATION MAGAZINE by tri-state golfer

FROM THE PUBLISHER

GREEN GRASS ACCOUNTS JOE BURKHARDT ADVERTISING SALES (PA / NJ / DE / NATIONAL)

JOE BURKHARDT 610.755.8767 tristategolf@gmail.com ART DIRECTOR

GARO YEPREMIAN JR. GAROJRDESIGN.COM

STAFF WRITER

NATE OXMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

INSIDE THIS ISSUE • SPRING 2021

10 Talamore & Applecross

Talamore’s Family Of Clubs 12 Thriving In A Pandemic With Little Else To Do In 2020, The Game Of Golf Took Off At Inniscrone 16 Dunwoody Village Decidedly Different® Retirement 20 Course News Forsgate Country Club Hires Tony R. Perla As Director Of Instruction 24 Golf Travel Treat Yourself – In Alabama On The Golf & Spa Trails

29 Golf Equipment

Towel Tag Selects The Media Group To Manage Its Public Relations Efforts 22 Talamore Golf Resort The Talamore Way

MATT BIONDI DAVE DAUBERT MARK HOGAN MIKE MAY WAYNE MILLS TOM MCNICHOL AL RYDING GARO YEPREMIAN JR.

CONTRIBUTING ASSOCIATIONS

BIONDI MEDIA GOLF NEWS NETWORK KEVIN FRISCH PR LET’S GO GOLF TRAVEL NETWORK LPGA PGA OF AMERICA USGA tristategolfer.com

PO BOX 341 DREXEL HILL, PA 19026 Any opinions expressed in this magazine are those of the writers and do not necessarily represent the views of the publisher or Golf Resort & Destination Magazine by Tri-State Golfer. The information in this issue was accurate at the time of publication. All should be confirmed with the golf facility before making tee times and reservations.

Inniscrone Golf Club

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Waves lapping. Warm coastal breezes. The swing of a club. A first hole-inone. When you’re ready, come experience the sights, sounds and scents of the Alabama Gulf Coast. We’ve missed you.

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GulfShores.com/Golf

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GILBERTSVILLE GOLF CLUB

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tri-state golfer | Spring 2021

• Visit our Website for upcoming events and to book tee times and best rates

Book your league, outing or permanent tee time NOW! For more information, contact Jason at golflandiscreekgc@gmail.com

Visit Landis Creek GC – the One Stop Shop for Everything Golf, Entertainment, and Banquets.

610.495.6945 • LandisCreekGolfClub.com 765 North Lewis Road • Limerick, PA 19468

Spring 2021 | tri-state golfer

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tri-state golfer | Spring 2021

Please visit our new website for amazing imagery, www.baywoodgreens.com and please visit our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/baywoodgreens

Come Play The Links

McCullough’s Emerald Golf Links Home to one of the ‘18 Most Fun Holes in America’ –Golf Digest

Located just outside of Atlantic City!

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Spring 2021 | tri-state golfer

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Talamore’s ACC - Hole 9

Variety is the very spice of life.”

“

- from the poem by William Cowper in 1785

aking that mantra to the Private Club industry, the Talamore Family has certainly kicked it up a notch! Members enjoy four Talamore owned Clubs with Talamore and Applecross in the Philadelphia area and the Talamore Golf Resort and Mid South Club in the venerable Pinehurst area of North Carolina. Add into the mix a special relationship with Club Corp whereby Talamore’s Philly area Members can enjoy special privileges close by at Hartefeld National, Cherry Valley, North Hills, French Creek and the Pyramid Club. Bam!

The collection of world class golf is matched by exceptional dining facilities.

Talamore in Ambler features multiple dining options including the ACC GOLF CLUBHOUSE OPEN! mixed grill “Bogeys,” an adult bar/lounge called “Bunkers,” a family friendly zone with At Applecross, Members can find an X Box called “Mckean’s” and “La their own comfortable spot with Cave” for that special dining expedining options including the “Earience complete with Member wine gle’s Nest” for an adult themed bar lockers. Apres golf... It’s time for and lounge, “Tregos” for “Club 19” overlooking the 18th hole family dining and and its majestic pond adorned with private Wine Golden Weeping Willow trees.

Room, and

New

Talamore’s Members that travel are treated to a dizzying array of Private Clubs and resort options. From Firestone CC to Barton Creek as well as a slate of Clubs in the Pacific Links network (that includes many TPC Clubs) there are high end private Clubs throughout the country and around the world for Talamore Members to enjoy.

Affiliate

Bam Bam!

Hartefeld National - Avondale, PA

North Hills Country Club -

Family of Clubs TCC - Hole 18

the “Oasis” poolside bar and grill.

And there’s more! World class amenities include fitness, tennis, basketball, indoor and outdoor pools, crossfit, yoga, pilates and even Zumba! A year round series of Social events tailored for every generation spans the gamut from Scarecrow making and Pumpkin painting, pass-punt-kick, putt put, T-Rex birdie ball, Brunch with Santa and of course high end Wine Dinners. A traditional slate of Member golfing events including Member Guests, Men’s and Ladies Golf Leagues, 9 and Dine and a Ryder Cup between Clubs finishes the

Clubs

- Glenside, PA

active member calendar.

Amazingly, the Talamore Family delivers all these Clubs and services at dues rates significantly less than its peers. Longtime Members often note...

“It’s amazing how the Talamore organization has been able to navigate the challenging waters of the Private Club industry.

Where other Clubs are faltering, Talamore is continually moving forward. Every time we turn around there’s more in store at Talamore.”

Variety is the Spice of Membership!

Membership Inquiries: Steve Natalie Applecross Country Club Membership Director 484-692-1010 ext. 110 steve@applecrosscc.com

Cherry Valley - Skillman, NJ

Brian Peterson Talamore Country Club Membership Director 215.641.1300 ext. 127 brian.peterson@talamorefamily.com

Pyramid Club - Philadelphia, PA

THRIVING IN A PANDEMIC

With Little Else To Do In 2020, The Game Of Golf Took Off At Inniscrone

By Tom McNichol, Contributing Writer

I

t was St. Patrick’s Day of 2020 when the starter at Inniscrone Golf Club, the Gil Hanse design in southern Chester County’s London Grove Township, would send out the last golfers with a tee time for a while.

The coronavirus pandemic had made its presence felt and the world was suddenly shutting down. Inniscrone was no different.

“Even our staff here was getting sort of anxious about the virus,” Tom Bolko Jr., Inniscrone’s 53-year-old general manager and

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golf superintendent, said as he thought back to the early days of shutdowns and lockdowns nearly a year earlier. “I was in touch with (London Grove Township manager) Ken Battin. We had tee times already for Monday and Tuesday and he said he thought we could probably honor them, but after that we’d have to shut it down.”

It was always going to be a year of transition at Inniscrone. London Grove Township had taken over as the owner of the golf course in 2009 and Bolko, in partnership

with Heathland Hospitality Group, had won a bid to run the course in 2011. But on Jan. 1, 2020, the partnership with Heathland was severed and Bolko and the three other fulltime staffers at Inniscrone became employees of London Grove Township.

By mid-March there was nothing but uncertainty, for Bolko at Inniscrone, for Battin and London Grove Township, for all of us.

Nothing that any of us had ever experienced could prepare us for the challenges that the pandemic of 2020 would present

People lost their jobs, people worked from home while their kids went to school at home. Bars and restaurants were closed.

There were no sporting events to attend, no movie theaters to escape to, all the annual rites of spring and summer were postponed or cancelled altogether.

As public health officials slowly started to develop a response to this unseen killer, the protocols shifted from week to week, sometimes from day to day and from state to state. Well, what about golf? That was

maybe something you could do safely. It was outdoors, where the virus didn’t seem to spread as successfully.

The protocols on cart use were a little dicey at first, but you could certainly walk, right? By May 1, the state of Pennsylvania agreed, yeah, looks like golf ’s OK. And a funny thing happened. People started to realize that not only was golf something you could do safely, it was one of the only things you could do safely. More than 27,000 rounds later – and that’s with a six-week shutdown in March and April – it was all kind of a blur to Bolko, but golf, at Inniscrone and everywhere else, had not only survived the pandemic, it had thrived.

“We opened it and they were beating down the doors,” Bolko said.

Not that there weren’t challenges. It was only one golfer to a cart in the beginning and with just a 63-cart fleet, not everybody was going to be able to ride and, as Bolko readily concedes, Inniscrone, 6,611 yards and par 70 from the tips, is not really a walking course.

Still, they came.

“We followed the letter of the law when we were shut down,” Bolko said. “A couple of our staffers have breathing issues to begin with, so we sort of formed our own little bubble. We did as much busy work as we could on the inside, fixed up some things that we had been putting off. Some of our indoor people eventually got out and learned how to ride the mower and how to rake the bunkers.

I think they gained a new appreciation for the work the greenkeeping crew does, being outside when the weather isn’t the greatest.”

The pro shop would be shut down, which it still is a year later. You can get into the rest rooms.

But the epicenter of the Inniscrone operation is and has been the once humble “ice cream window.” Bolko set up a credit card machine at the window and that’s where you pay your green fees, buy golf balls and tees, buy food and drink. It all happens there.

“When it was nice, we were able to set up some merchandise outside,” Bolko said.

None of it mattered. There was nothing else to do and, with working from home and the kids home, golf became an escape.

More importantly, from Bolko’s point of view, people who hadn’t played in a while or had never played at all were showing up. It is what anybody who runs a public golf facility hopes for: Just give us a shot.

Tee times, usually at 12-minute intervals, were stretched to 15 minutes apart. The

goal in just about everything Bolko did was to make it as contactless an experience as possible.

“There was nothing to do,” Bolko said. “it was the only sport that was out there that you could do as a group. I know I looked around a couple of times and thought, there are a lot of new bodies out here. Even in bad weather, people were like, ‘we’re playing.’

“The party would begin at 6:30 and it would last until the last car left the parking lot in the dark, it was non-stop.”

Bolko arrived in Chester County as an assistant superintendent at Coatesville Country Club and eventually rose to the general manager job there before making the move to Inniscrone. At heart, he’s a greenkeeper. The pandemic boon of 2020 sometimes hurt the condition of the golf course a little because it allowed precious little time to tend to the tee boxes, the fairways, the bunkers, the greens The expanded relationship with the township helped when, in the aftermath of Hurricane Isaias, London Grove was able to send over some of its public works crews to remove some downed trees.

With the limit of one player to a cart, Bolko was forced to carve out some walkingonly tee times. The state finally lifted the one-player-to-a-cart protocol July 1 and that opened things up quite a bit. And from the beginning, Bolko knew he had to keep the carts clean.

“I hired 12 kids and the minute a cart came off the golf course, they would clean out the trash and sanitize every inch of it,” Bolko said. “People appreciated their efforts, they did pretty good on tips stuffed into the cupholders.”

Bolko was a general manager at a private country club for 20 years. He has played at many of the great private clubs that are seemingly everywhere in the Philadelphia region. He knows that what happens there and what happens with the pros who play on TV each week have very little do with Spring 2021 | tri-state golfer

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what he’s trying to accomplish at Inniscrone.

It’s golf, but beyond that, it’s a whole different ballgame.

“We were getting a lot of new people this year,” Bolko said. “People were coming down from Lancaster, Reading. Our price is right, we’re competitively priced. We have nice carts and a pretty golf course.”

Hanse, one of the biggest names in golf course design, built Inniscrone to be a challenging private course that the people who brought the high-priced homes that surrounded the course would play. The real estate part of the deal never quite materialized as it was envisioned. Still, there is a thriving over-55 community and the sewage treatment plant that was built along with Inniscrone is one of the reasons the property attracted the interest of the township.

When Bolko arrived at Inniscrone, he had to make some tweaks to the layout to make it a little more playable for the average publiccourse golfer. The people to whom golf course architecture is akin to religion were aghast, but Hanse still put together a pretty neat golf course amid the rolling terrain of southern Chester County.

Battin, the London Grove Township manager, had a lot on his plate in 2020.

The township had made a commitment to Inniscrone by making the people who work there township employees. In the middle of March, whatever calculations that had gone into the decision suddenly no longer applied.

“I presented it to the board of supervisors that it just made sense to do it in-house rather than through a third party,” Battin said.

“Especially with Tom (Bolko), he’s a big piece of the puzzle at Inniscrone. Things got a little scary in the first quarter, but after it reopened, it was nice to drive by there and see so many people out there playing. The amount of play was almost crazy.

“By the fourth quarter, I think everybody felt pretty good about it. It was an easy transition and we saved money when we were able to send our public works people over there to help out rather than going outside for a contractor.”

Some of the changes that came as a result of the pandemic will continue in 2021. The 15-minute intervals between tee times will continue with the exception of weekend mornings when 12-minute intervals will return. Bolko found out that the extra three minutes between tee times somehow translated into shorter rounds. And since nobody likes a five-hour round, that’s made

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Inniscrone a more attractive place to play.

The longer Bolko works at a public golf course, the more he realizes that the most important thing he can do to promote the game and therefore Inniscrone is to make sure people have fun.

“If you want to play music out there and it’s not bothering anybody else, that’s OK,” Bolko said. “If you’re wearing jean shorts, I’m not going to kick you off the golf course.

People were just looking for a release and something fun to do. Last year, golf became more recreation than a sport.”

There will be improvements, some capital replacements for equipment. Some bunkers will be touched up, some will probably be removed altogether. Bolko is hoping for some new carts in 2023.

Bolko believes that many of the new golfers who visited Inniscrone for the first time in 2020 will be back in 2021 and beyond.

The pandemic made people realize that a few hours on the golf course can, for a brief time, get you away from the problems of a world that a global pandemic had changed in ways you couldn’t possibly have imagined.

Had a guy call me up late one afternoon asking if he could tee off at 6 (p.m.),” Bolko said. “Said he might have five. I was like, sure, the tee will be clear. He showed up with seven, a couple of kids and three women. He had one set of clubs. We were back to renting

clubs again by that point, so we cleaned up a couple of sets. They got food, drinks, snacks and off they went.

“They got in six holes before it got dark. The guy comes in and says to me, ‘We’ll be back.’”

And so will golf at Inniscrone in 2021. TSG

DYNAMIC PRICING If you’re looking for rates, go to the website, inniscronegolfclub.com, and, if you book your starting time on-line, you get the rate for the time and date you’re looking for. Rates are adjusted, both higher and lower, in real time, based on demand, availability and other changing factors, including weather.

The rates are the same whether you take a cart or walk. There are lower rates after 2 p.m. and after 4 p.m.

If you’re making a tee time using a Group Golf Voucher, Tee Time Golf Pass or Victory Book, call the pro shop at 484-720-8442.

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DUNWOODY VILLAGE DECIDEDLY DIFFERENT RETIREMENT ®

Article copy furnished by Dunwoody Village

O

ne of the first things visitors notice about Dunwoody Village is t he war mt h emanat ing from every smile and handshake. That friendliness and affection isn’t for show— it’s the genuine spirit of the place.

Many residents arrive already knowing people who live there and value that familiarity, but just as often people come and discover new friends in no time at all. New residents are welcomed by the Hospitality Committee with a full schedule of activities and programs. There’s always an opportunity to talk to fellow neighbors and nurture mutual interests.

Longtime Board member and Past President of the Dunwoody Village Residents’ Association Chuck Ladner

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credits the true community feel to the not-for-profit structure of the organization, in which profit is never put above people, and the residents can develop a deep sense of trust because, as he says, “we’re all in this together.”

“There is a tangible sense of security here. Our residents understand this because, as anyone can observe, they are thoughtful, highly intelligent people who have done their homework and selected Dunwoody out of an abundance of enlightened self-interest. And it is this quality that I think explains why Dunwoody and its residents so famously get along together,” Chuck says.

It’s not just residents’ relationships with one another but resident and staff

interactions that define Dunwoody’s goodhearted atmosphere. In a workplace with low turnover, there’s a shared history of experience between staff and residents.

Residents encounter administrative, market ing , dining , hous eke eping , maintenance and nursing staff on a daily basis. These individuals work hard, not just to make Dunwoody run seamlessly, but also to make it feel like home.

“I see daily examples of staff members going above and beyond in order to provide our residents with the best possible service,” says Kathy Barton, Director of Operations. “From having residents’ favorite cocktails ready as they enter the lounge, to chatting with residents they see in the hallways, our

staff genuinely care about the residents and are intentional about getting to know them.”

Living well and living fully are fundamental to the Dunwoody experience.

That’s why Dunwoody provides a wealth of activities that keep residents comfortably fit, intellectually and creatively enthralled and socially engaged. “All of these things are important parts of independent living.

They promote health, happiness, and safety and they contribute to overall wellness,” says Therkauf Wellness Manager Kim LaFountain.

Residents are encouraged to take advantage of the pool, fitness center, and exercise classes. “The pool is great because it’s gentle on your joints and you can do so much in the water to stay fit,” says Aquatics Instructor and Lifeguard Betty Mensch.

“I’ve seen many people find pain relief, camaraderie and improved self-esteem in the pool.”

Encouraging a bit of friendly competition is another way Dunwoody’s residents embrace wellness. Pickleball, golf putting, pool, ping pong and shuffleboard are some of the activities in which contenders participate throughout the year with their eyes on the coveted awards at year-end.

Dunwoody also nourishes the soul with access to the arts, including organized concerts, outings, and do-it-yourself activities onsite. With over twenty active committees of the Residents’ Association, residents can get in touch with their creative side through arts and crafts, or pursue scholarly interests through lectures and discussion groups.

Of course, just like everywhere else, the COVID-19 outbreak required modifications in order to keep residents safe. From the earliest days in March, 2020, Dunwoody Village took swift, decisive action across its continuum of care: they restricted guests, instituted round-the-clock screening of non-residents and paid special attention to increased housekeeping and sanitization.

With a 5-star rated health care team already trained in crisis management and infection control protocols, residents in the care center as well as those in independent-living apartments, country houses and carriage homes had the peace of mind that living at Dunwoody Village offers.

Amidst the COVID crisis, the sense of (continued) Spring 2021 | tri-state golfer

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community among Dunwoody’s residents and between residents and staff was heightened. Everyone found creative ways to adapt services and programs so that residents could still enjoy the benefits and comforts afforded by a retirement community without jeopardizing one another’s safety.

Temporar y modifications that were implemented due to COVID included meals being delivered to residents’ homes as well as exercise classes, musical performances and lectures being broadcast on Dunwoody’s closed-circuit television channel. When weather permitted, Dunwoody’s 83 acres provided a plethora of walking or biking opportunities, and socially-distanced seating under shade trees offered the perfect place for residents to do yoga together. Many residents expanded their technical savvy as they explored platforms such as FaceTime and Zoom in order to stay connected with family and friends and other residents.

“Even though our residents were sheltering in place like everyone else, there was the added peace of mind knowing that their needs were being met,” says Elaine Kaiser, Dunwoody Village’s Marketing Director.

“Residents and staff have the cohesive feeling of everyone being in this together.”

Whether exploring new interests or rekindling past hobbies, residents can create the retirement lifestyle that most appeals to them. That lifestyle, together with an inherent sense of community and camaraderie, makes Dunwoody Village a Decidedly Different® choice. TSG

Dunwoody Village is a five-star quality rated Continuing Care Retirement Community located in a suburban setting on 83 picturesque acres in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania that offers residents Independent Living, Personal Care, Skilled Nursing, and Memory Support, as well as Rehabilitation and Home Care to both residents and the outside community.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

DUNWOODY VILLAGE 610.359.4400

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DUNWOODY.ORG

COURSE NEWS

Kimberton Golf Club

Built In 1961 By Famous Golf Architect George Fazio– First Design, Par 70 Newly Renovated Roundhouse Bar & Grill

Book Your 2021 Banquets, Outings, Leagues, Memberships NOW! Present this ad to receive a free Coke & hot dog w/18-hole purchase!

Find Rates And Book Your Tee Time Online:

kimbertongolfclub.com 610 933 8836

162 Ridge Rd, Phoenixville, PA 19460 (Located just 20 minutes from King Of Prussia)

Forsgate Country Club Hires Tony R. Perla As Director Of Instruction Forsgate Country Club named Tony Perla as the new Director of Instruction for the Forsgate Golf Academy. He joins the club’s elite team of Teaching Professionals the week of April 5.

Prior to his staff appointment at Forsgate, Perla was the Golf Teaching Professional & Junior Golf Coordinator at New Jersey’s Canoe Brook Country Club where he built and maintained an active junior golf Tony Perla academy, organized junior golf camps and was a popular instructor with the club’s 700 golf members. Perla’s success at Canoe Brook earned him a nomination for the New Jersey PGA Section’s Teacher of the Year in 2020.

“We are fortunate to have such an experienced and talented teaching professional join our staff,” said Carolyn McKenzie Andrews, Forsgate’s Director of Golf. “Tony is personable, relates well with members and also has extensive tournament operations knowledge and is dedicated to growing the game. He’s had great success working with golfers of all ages and skill levels and he’ll be an asset to our instructional programs here at Forsgate.”

Perla’s impressive resume also includes a golf and teaching professional position at the Philadelphia Cricket Club.

As a competitive golfer, he’s earned prestigious professional state titles in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and he qualified three times for the Professional National Championship.

Forsgate Country Club is an exclusive, full service, familyoriented private country club located in the heart of New Jersey. Forsgate offers golf, sports and social memberships for individuals, families and corporations. Established in 1931, Forsgate Country Club features 36 holes of world-class golf, including the renowned Banks Course, designed to recreate historic holes throughout Europe, and the Palmer Course, a traditional American design with challenging water hazards on ten of its scenic holes. The country club also offers facilities for banquet events and corporate meetings as well as a sports complex that includes a fitness center, pool and cabana cafe. Forsgate Country Club, which is located midway between New York City and Philadelphia at Exit 8A of the NJ Turnpike, is operated by the Metropolitan Golf Group. For more information visit www.forsgatecc.com or call (732) 521-0070.

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The Talamore Way

As seen in the article: “Pinehurst: The Talamore Way”

by Rob Spellman of the Golf Aficionado “Talamore ended up really being a blessing in disguise, for less than I would have paid for a hotel room at Pinehurst Resort I had a two bedroom condo with all the accommodations of home.

After spending four days in a row on Mid South as my daughter’s caddy during the 2018 Teen World Championships, I fell in love with the course. In fact, when we left town it felt like breaking up with a girlfriend, and boy she was a hottie! Mid South is an Arnold Palmer design still fresh off a complete renovation in 2017.

Mid South was only 25 years young when Talamore decided it was time to renovate. The renovation was managed in-house and the team at Talamore did an amazing job. Having walked every inch of the course I can

tell you they didn’t leave a stone unturned. The course is in meticulous condition and the greens are back to their original size when the course opened in 1993.

Compared to other courses in the Pinehurst area, the terrain at Mid South is much more diverse.

Having played Pinehurst No 2. during the trip, I would say compared to Mid South, Pinehurst No. 2 is as flat as a pancake. It’s not just the terrain at Mid South but the course has a perfect mix of bunkers and water hazards that heighten the challenge while rounding out a world-class design.

The accommodation details include Villas at Talamore and the Lodges at Mid South.

w w w. ta l a m or e g ol f r e s ort. com

Each unit features a full kitchen, laundry room, 2 bedrooms (4 queen beds), 2 full bathrooms, dining room, living room, and balcony with lake or golf course views depending on the unit.

The daily breakfast included; make your own waffles, fresh fruit, baked goods, a large selection of cereal, several hot items like eggs, bacon, and sausage. Waking up every morning knowing breakfast was ready, made for a lowstress start to every day.

Just when I thought the staff at Talamore couldn’t do anything more, they did. During the summer every Thursday night

Exceptional

Talamore host an authenticate Carolina Pig Pickin! Help yourself to drinks and as much Carolina BBQ as you can eat, I guarantee you won’t leave hungry. You will not only enjoy the food but get to meet other guests and spend time with some of the resort staff, we had a great time and the Pig Pickin was one of the highlights of our trip to Pinehurst.”

golf packages in the village of pinehurst area

BOOK TODAY! 1-800-552-6292

www.talamoregolfresort.com

Midland Road

Masters Package

4/6/21-5/6/21 weekday - $954 per person weekend - $1099 per person

Signature

Package

4/6/21-5/6/21 weekday - $515 per person weekend - $628 per person

STAY 3 Nights in a luxurious 2-bedroom / 2-bath Mid South Lodge PLAY 1 round at each: The New Course at Talamore, The King’s Course at Mid South, Mid Pines & Pine Needles

STAY 2 Nights in a spacious 2-bedroom / 2-bath Talamore Villa PLAY 3 rounds of golf: 2 rounds at The New Course at Talamore, & 1 round at The King’s Course at Mid South

*Package rate is based on quad occupancy and included ALL lodging fees, green fees, cart fees, and applicable taxes. Offer is subject to availability.

Offer cannot be combined with any other promotions or offers, and does not apply to existing bookings. Advance reservations are required.

GOLF TRAVEL

TREAT YOURSELF IN ALABAMA ON THE GOLF & SPA TRAILS

W

ell, I finally got to check off one the top ten items on my golf bucket list. I recently played the amazing Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail in Alabama. Although it was just a few of the more than 468 holes at eleven different sites distributed throughout the state, the diversity of holes and layouts I did play tells me the rest of the Trail must be an experience like no other.

We arrived at the Huntsville airport on a Monday morning and headed to the Robert Tent Jones Golf Trail at Hampton Cove, a 54-hole facility with two drastically different championship caliber courses and an 18-hole, par-3 short course. The Highlands Course is a Scottish links design complete with flowing fescue bordering the fairways with two dynamic finishing holes.

Highlands stretches out to 7,428 yards and has four sets of tees to make your links

Fighting Joe #18 at The Shoals

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By Dave Daubert, eSouthernGolf.com experience both enjoyable and memorable.

There is a photo op on the 5th hole- an old mule-barn saved from destruction during the build-out of the course. In complete contrast, The River Course, laid out on a former soybean farm in the flood plain of the Flint River, enjoys 16 holes with water that comes into play at the most inopportune times. Its saving grace - zero bunkers. That’s right. Not a single speck of sand. The River is a throwback to the bygone days when very little dirt was moved to construct a golf course. The short course is 18 par 3s with just as much thought and design from the RTJ team as its big brothers. Short is not the right word.

Captivating is better. This astounding work of art will give you as much golf pleasure as any 7,000-yarder.

Our next stop was the Robert Tent Jones Golf Trail at The Shoals in Florence,

about 80 miles west of Huntsville with two monster 8,000-yard golf courses, Fighting Joe and the Schoolmaster. The golf was spectacular. Fighting Joe is just plain tough. First the length, then 12 holes with water in play, and if that isn’t enough, the rough is 3 feet tall fescue. If you play safe and stay in the short grass, you can score well. My playing partner was a singledigit handicapper trying to beat up on Joe playing from the stones, but he found the jungle 10 times. He lost. The par 3s were my favorite holes, while challenging and aesthetically fantastic, I could reach them in regulation. The Kodak moment here was the par 3, 18th green overlooking the Tennessee River with the clubhouse sitting on a bluff to the left.

The Schoolmaster, named for President Woodrow Wilson, is almost as long as Fighting Joe, with narrower tree-lined

GOLF TRAVEL fairways but plays easier. With less water in play and normal rough, the course seemed to blend into the countryside. Playing to the open side of the fairway provides good shots into large greens, and with a little study you can master this one. Once again, the 18th hole, an uphill par 4 with a grand view of Lake Wilson is a scenic finish.

We took a pampering respite from playing while staying at the Marriott Shoals Hotel & Spa, a member of the RTJ Golf Trail Resort Collection. Along with a soothing pedicure and foot rub, my deep tissue massage was an almost sinful delight.

My therapist used her magic hands to work on the various muscle groups until I was totally relaxed. The Spa at the Shoals is a 6,000 square foot complete facility with makeup, hair and nail services along with numerous personal treatments. After your service you can use the steam room, whirlpool and enjoy some serenity in the quiet room. What a perfect afternoon after fighting with Joe. Dining at the Marriott was a real treat. The tallest attraction in Alabama is the Renaissance Tower connected to the Marriott with their Four Diamond rotating restaurant, 360º Grille, 26 stories high. This fine dining experience was complemented by the views of the Wilson Dam (part of the TVA) over the Tennessee River and the surrounding countryside. What a perfect

Grand National Lake #8

evening for this gourmand!

The next day we traveled down to Auburn-Opelika to play at the Robert Tent Jones Golf Trail at Grand National, another 54-hole complex and my personal favorite.

With 12 holes hugging the shore of 600acre Lake Saugahatchee, the Lake Course is the most scenic with a quartet of par threes as good as any in the country. The 230yard, 15th is considered the prettiest hole

on the Trail. The cornerstone is the Links Course which is without a single weakness.

The Par-4 finishing hole is considered the strongest on the Trail where your drive must carry a corner of the lake and your approach is played to a shallow, pedestal green shored up by boulders. Although we did not get to play the Short Course, we toured it, and what a beauty, with more than half the holes touching the lake, and

Spring 2021 | tri-state golfer

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GOLF TRAVEL believe me, one of the best par 3 courses in the country.

All of the Trail clubhouses are similar in style and amenities. They are spacious brick buildings with a leisure sitting area, comfortable bar and grill with very good service and food and a well-stocked pro shop. They all have outdoor seating usually overlooking the closing holes.

The impeccable service from the staff makes golfers feel that “Sweet Home Alabama” hospitality.

Our final night of lodging was at the on-site Marriott Resort & Spa at Grand National which was named the #1 location for public golf in the country by

Hampton Cove River #7

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tri-state golfer | Spring 2021

GolfWorld readers. Once again, we were treated to heavenly massages in the 3-story, 20,000-square foot Spa and Fitness facility.

What a treat. After a soothing, total body massage, we had the use of a steam room, sauna and huge whirlpool while relaxing in the quiet lounge. The RTJ Spa Trail currently has 6 locations and the Trail offers 8 total hotels.

My whirlwind tour was over much too quickly, as we departed from the Atlanta airport, only 90 miles from AuburnOpelika. I can’t wait to go back and play the other Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail courses.

It is truly amazing what Alabama offers in golf. It was all made possible by a visionary

by the name of Dr. David Bronner the CEO of the Retirement Systems of Alabama. He embraced the idea of “if you build it, they will come,” but the Trail had to encompass the entire state so there had to be courses throughout. He started out with eight then grew to the current 11 locations with 26 courses on the Trail, nearly 300 miles long from the Gulf of Mexico to the Tennessee border. You’ve gotta go play the Trail! TSG For more information on all Alabama golf destinations: GOLFALABAMA.ORG

With award-winning dining experiences, a booming craft beer scene and exceptional year-round golf on courses along the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, plus Jerry Pate’s Kiva Dunes and Arnold Palmer’s Craft Farms in Gulf Shores, from the mountains to the coast, you can take it all in.

www.GolfAlabama.org Daily Non-Stop Flights on American to Birmingham (BHM) and near Gulf Shores (PNS) from Philadelphia (PHL)

Renaissance Ross Bridge Golf Resort & Spa on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, Birmingham

HERO AND SENIORS RATES! Central Bucks Location 1-1/2 miles from Rt 263 & York Road Intersection 440 Almshouse Rd, Jamison, PA 18929

www.neshaminygolf.com • 215.343.6930

Meat Market

Deli & Full Service Catering SPECIALTY BUTCHER ON SITE FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK WEEKLY COUPONS IN CLIPPER MAGAZINE CHECK OUT OUR CATERING MENU AND OUR WEEKLY SPECIALS ONLINE: WWW.ORGCOLONIAL.COM

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GOLF EQUIPMENT

Towel Tag Selects The Media Group To Manage Its Public Relations Efforts

Hickory Valley

Golf Club

Pennsylvania’s Best 36 Holes

Towel Tag announced today that they’ve selected The Media Group, a golf specific PR/Communications firm based out of Chicago, to manage its Public Relations efforts for 2021.

The innovative Towel Tag utilizes “Pull-Thru Technology” to create an entirely new generation of functional bag tags. Towel Tag is designed to temporarily secure your golf towel without the use of grommets or hooks. Each tag is manufactured using two separate compounds to create a functional bag tag with exceptional durability. They are ideal for temporary storage of golf towels, head covers, rain gear, outdoor and layered clothing. Towel Tag uses the latest printing technology to create a customized Towel Tag suited for every golfer, team, organization, or golf event.

“For me, creating the Towel Tag arose out of my frustration to access my golf towel during a round of play,” said Craig Holub, Founder and President of Towel Tag. “Specifically, there wasn’t a simple way to temporarily secure your golf towel and to quickly release it and take my towel with me to the green from the golf bag or golf cart.”

Prior to the Towel Tag, most golf towels were secured to the golf bag by means of a standard grommet and hook like those used on a shower curtain. This traditional attachment made it very difficult to easily release the towel when required, for example as a player walks to the golf green to spot, lift and clean their golf ball after reaching the green and prior to lining up your putt.

“I decided to combine the simple features of the traditional bag tag and an accessible towel holder,” said Holub, “and then we figured out a way to personalize it and make it unique for the golfer and unlike anything else currently available on the market.”

For more information on Towel Tag visit their website www.

TowelTag.com Spring 2021 | tri-state golfer

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610.754.7733

1921 Ludwig Rd Gilbertsville, PA 19525

HickoryValley.com

Lets Golf Travel 7.75x10.25.qxp_Layout 1 3/31/21 11:45 AM Page 1

Plan to GET AWAY in 2021 to a Let's Golf® Southern destination.

Catch up with our latest DESTINATIONS guide, featuring these golfing hot spots: Alabama/RTJ Golf Trail • Auburn-Opelika, AL • Gulf Shores-Orange Beach, AL • Mobile, AL Martin County/Stuart, FL • Louisiana's Audubon Golf Trail Visit Mississippi • Beau Rivage/Coastal Missississippi NC's Brunswick Islands • Maggie Valley/NC Mountains Visit our website for all the information on our destinations at LetsGolfTravel.com

REGISTER TO WIN A TRIP FOR YOUR FOURSOME TO BEAUTIFUL AND EXCITING COASTAL MISSISSIPPI AT WWW.LETSGOLF.COM/REGISTER The prize package will include: -4 nights (2 rooms) stay at The View Casino Resort in Gulfport -2 rounds of golf for 4 golfers at Windance Country Club and 1 round for 4 golfers at Shell Landing Golf Club (includes cart rental for all) -1 Spa treatment for 4 people (gratuity is extra) -$100 Gas Card Must be a US citizen, 21 years or older to qualify. Drawing held May 31, 2021.

Trip valid through the end of 2021, based on availability. Giveaway sponsored by Crossroads Marketing, Inc. Not valid where prohibited by law.

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT OUR OTHER GOLF DESTINATIONS, GOLF SPECIALS AND MORE GIVEAWAYS @LETSGOLFTRAVEL

Spring 2021 | tri-state golfer

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Stone is always in season.

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GRANITE COUNTERTOP SPECIAL*

Turn your kitchen into a gathering place. Create a home that perfectly reflects you, with stone countertops that spark conversation and surround you with inspiration. At Colonial Marble & Granite, we’re proud to bring you the nation’s largest selection of extraordinary stones from around the world, at prices you may find hard to believe.

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KING OF PRUSSIA SHOWROOM | 475 SOUTH HENDERSON ROAD | KING OF PRUSSIA, PA 19406 | 610.994.2222 ADDITIONAL SHOWROOMS | PHILADELPHIA, PA | NEW CUMBERLAND, PA | NEW CASTLE, DE | OPEN 7 DAYS

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*Fully installed up to 50 sq ft, on any promotional granite. **On purchases of $1999 or more. $29 account activation fee will apply. Visit ColonialMarble.net for details. tri-state golfer | Spring 2021 LIC# PA 040713 | LIC# NJ 13VH06363500 | LIC# DE 2011604522 | LIC# MD 115930