Tsg spring 2014 by Nate Oxman

THE MOST READ PUBLICATION IN THE TRI-STATE AREA

SPRING 2014

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Bulle Rock–Better Than Ever Shouldn’t You Be Playing Here? FOUR DIFFERENT FREQUENT PLAYER PACKAGES AVAILABLE AT GREAT RATES

A TOP 100 GOLF COURSE YOU CAN PLAY “One of America’s 75 Toughest Golf Courses” Golf Digest, January ‘12 “Maryland’s Course of the Year” Golf Styles Magazine, May ‘11 “Americas 100 Greatest Public Golf Courses” Ranked 78th Golf Digest, ‘05, ‘06, ‘07, ‘09, ‘11, ‘13 “Top 100 Courses You Can Play” Ranked 41st Golf Magazine, ‘00, ‘02, ‘04, ‘06, ‘08, ‘09, ‘12, ‘13 Ranked #1 in Maryland, ‘12

“Best Courses in the State of Maryland” Ranked 5th, Golf Digest, ‘03, ‘06, ‘07, ‘09, ‘11, ‘13 Readers Choice Awards Ranked 19th in the Top 50 Golf World ‘10 10th Ranked Nationally Zagat Survey, ‘09 10 Greatest Closing Holes Bulle Rock par 4, 485 yards Golf Styles ‘08

Bulle Rock | P.O. Box 506 | 320 Blenheim Lane | Havre De Grace, MD 21078

Phone (410) 939-8887 | golf@bullerock.com | bullerock.com

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE â&#x20AC;˘ SPRING 2014

Play some of the best holes in the world

magazine PUBLISHER

JOE BURKHARDT ADVERTISING SALES (Eastern PA / NJ / DE / MD)

JOE BURKHARDT 610.755.8767 tristategolf@gmail.com

GREATER ATLANTIC CITY GOLF ASSOCIATION Offering more ways to play than any other golf vacation

STAFF WRITER

NATE OXMAN

PHILADELPHIA PUBLINKS 2014 Schedule

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

MATT BIONDI STEVE HABEL MARK HOGAN HELENE A. MALIKO-ABRAHAM ED TRAVIS

IJUNIORGOLF APP Over 100 video lessons in the palm of your hand

GRAPHIC DESIGN/ART DIRECTION

GARO YEPREMIAN JR.

GAROJRDESIGN.COM

GOLF INSTRUCTION Tips from Golf Instructor Bernard Sheridan

CONTRIBUTING ASSOCIATIONS

BIONDI MEDIA GOLFINGJERSEYGIRL.COM GOLFWEEK AMATEUR TOUR GOLFGURLS.COM PHILADELPHIA PUBLINKS PSSA TOUR NORTH COAST GOLF SHOW USGA

RECREATION Golf and grub in Atlantic City

TRAVEL Wynn Golf Club, Las Vegas

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PO BOX 341 DREXEL HILL, PA 19026

GREAT BEAR GOLF CLUB Announcing new Golf Pro, Christopher Wagner

Tri-State Golfer is published quarterly with issues in January, April, July, and October. Tri-State Golfer is a complimentary magazine available at public and private courses, hotels, and restaurants throughout the tri-state area. Any opinions expressed in this magazine are those of the writers and do not necessarily represent the views of the publisher or Tri-State Golfer Magazine. 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.

Royal Portrush Nairn Turnberry Royal Troon Biarritz St. Andrews Royal Dornoch Waterville Gleneagles Southport & Ainsdale Royal County Down Prestwick

All within minutes to Atlantic City and Ocean City, NJ

TSG NEWS TICKER Golf news, rumors and happenings

TALAMORE FAMILY OF CLUBS Announcing new member benefits and privileges

609.926.3900 mcculloughsgolf.com 3016 Ocean Heights Ave Egg Harbor Twp, NJ 08234

Voted 2014 Golf Course of the Year by Pennsylvania Golf Course Owners Association

COVER STORY

GREATER

ATLANTIC CITY GOLF ASSOCIATION Y

ou don’t know just how good you have it. Golfers all over the globe save all winter long or take out second mortgages to book golf vacations at world-class destinations that require extensive, irritating travel and outrageous price tags. Tri-state area golfers looking for an ideal golf vacation need only to hop in the car and head down the shore. The Jersey Shore has brought generations of tri-state area residents to its tranquil

tri-state golfer | Spring 2014

By Nate Oxman, Staff Writer setting along the Atlantic for more than a century. However, while these vacationers fill their agendas with beach bumming, boardwalk strolling, sunset watching and seafood dining, they should be trading in their beach blankets for golf gear. Boasting 19 courses in its diverse, award-winning umbrella, the Greater Atlantic City Golf Association (GACGA) gives golfers much more than they could ever ask for. From a superbly-appointed resort left shining courtesy of a head to toe makeover in the Stockton Seaview Hotel & Golf Club, to time-honored tracks like Atlantic City Country Club and Wildwood Golf & Country Club, to modern-age marvels like Twisted Dune GC, Ballamor GC, and Shore Gate GC, GACGA’s got it all. Via its website PlayACGolf.com, golfers may plan customizable golf trips that fit any budget and include golf as well as lodging at luxury and moderately priced

Aerial view of Twisted Dune Golf Club

casinos and hotels as well as economy options. Golfers may also book tee times for everyday play. With casinos, nightclubs, concert venues, fine dining, shopping, and of course miles of sandy beaches only minutes away, Atlantic City is an ideal host both for golf trips of all varieties and those precious rounds you’re able to squeeze in while on vacation. As mentioned above, what makes the Atlantic City area such an impressive destination for golf is its versatility. It can satisfy the desires of all golfers. “Atlantic City offers more ways to play than any other golf vacation,” said GACGA President Tom Sullivan. “Golfers especially enjoy the great variety of courses and off-the-course activities.” Those who relish tradition can tee it up at the famed Atlantic City Country Club. Located in Northfield, about 5 miles to the west of Atlantic City, the club, which dates to 1897, has hosted USGA national championships, beginning with the 1901 U.S. Amateur won by Walter Travis, who went on to become one of the great golf course architects designing renowned courses such as Garden City GC, Westchester Country Club and the Country Club of Scranton. Johnny McDermott, then the golf professional at Atlantic City CC, became the

Atlantic City Country Club’s hole #15

first American - and at age 19 the youngest ever - to win the U.S. Open in 1911. He won it again in 1912. The incomparable Babe Didrikson Zaharias, a 10-time major winner, claimed the U.S. Women’s Open at Atlantic City CC in 1948. Don January won the inaugural Champions Tour event at the club in 1980. World Golf Hall of Famer Carol Semple Thompson won the 1997 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur, one of her seven USGA titles, at Atlantic City CC. While the club’s history as host of prestigious amateur and professional tournaments is well known, Atlantic City CC’s most significant contribution to golf came during a casual round, albeit one by some pretty important figures. In the winter of 1899, George Crump, who went on to design Pine Valley GC, A.W. Tillinghast, designer of a laundry list of the game’s great venues including courses at Winged Foot, Baltusrol, Baltimore CC, Bethpage Black, and San Francisco GC, were two members of a foursome along with brothers Abner and William Smith. On Atlantic City CC’s 12th hole,

Ballamor Golf Club’s hole #1

one member of the group, some source say it was Abner Smith, some say it was Crump, hit a splendid shot or as he said in admiration “a bird of a shot.” The “bird of a shot,” morphed into the birdie. Sometime later, the term “eagle” arose at Atlantic City CC as well. There’s just as much history off the course at Atlantic City CC as the club’s famed and newly renovated Taproom Bar & Grille hosted not only the aforementioned greats of the game like Sam Snead, but celebrities such as Bob Hope and Mickey Mantle as well. Today, both golfers and the general public alike can enjoy the famous Bloody Marys and Sunday Brunch while perusing the walls filled with awesome photos from the club’s past. Nearly rivaling Atlantic City CC in tradition, the Stockton Seaview Hotel & Golf Club, with its storied Bay Course, annual home to the ShopRite LPGA Classic, designed by Hugh Wilson and Donald Ross and its stately Pines Course penned by William Flynn, has enough amenities onsite to host your entire golf vacation. The

two tremendous golf courses, the Bay Course with its picturesque holes abutting Reed’s Bay and offering views of the Atlantic City skyline will see enhancement work, including rebuilt tees (and a few new ones), completed this spring. The Pines Course, with its gentle doglegs framed by towering pines, was renovated in 2011. A composite course featuring holes from both the Bay and Pines courses at Seaview hosted the 1942 PGA Championship, where Sam Snead holed a 60foot chip to secure a 2 and 1 win over Jim Turnesa for his first major championship. Snead reported to the U.S. Navy for service the following day. Seaview’s 296-room, 16-suite hotel, which has hosted Presidents Warren Harding and Dwight Eisenhower, Grace Kelly, Bob Dylan and The Rolling Stones, has also been completely updated to continue to offer its guests very best. Amenities include the Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spa, indoor and outdoor pools, a 24-hour fitness center, three tennis courts, multiple dining options, and the Turtle Course, a Spring 2014 | tri-state golfer

COVER STORY Atlantic City Country Club’s front entrance

nine-hole putting course that was unveiled in 2013. Other GACGA venues with golf and accommodations on site are Sea Oaks Golf Club with a Ray Hearn designed golf course and the 31-room Inn at Sea Oaks located in Little Egg Harbor Township and Renault Winery Resort & Golf in Egg Harbor City. Other classic GACGA courses include the private Wildwood Golf & Country Club, a Stiles & Van Kleek gem that’s always in outstanding condition and is available to the public through golf packages at PlayACGolf.com and The Links at Brigantine Beach, another Stiles & Van Kleek design that opened in 1927, is the closest course to Atlantic City and, like Atlantic City CC and Seaview’s Bay Course, offers a soothing bayside setting. Owned by the city of Brigantine, the club has completed a $4.5 million facelift including a restoration to the golf course and an upgrade to the full-service Links Bar & Grille. For those looking to add some modern flare to their golf menu, GACGA has plenty of enticing options. Shore Gate Golf Club,

tri-state golfer | Spring 2014

Twisted Dune Golf Club’s hole #9

just west of the shore favorite town of Sea Isle City in Ocean View, has wowed golfers with a Ron Fream design that is both spectacular and demanding since opening in 2002. Twisted Dune is another dynamic design where Archie Struthers moved 2 million cubic tons of earth to create a Scottish-links feel in Egg Harbor Township, a town outside the shore that also includes Ballamor Golf Club, a former private club that prides itself on providing pristine conditions on a daily basis, Harbor Pines Golf Club, a Stephen Kay design featuring a unique sand creek slithering up the par-5 7th and McCullough’s Emerald Golf Links, one of the most unique venues in the entire tri-state area. McCullough’s is another design by Stephen Kay, who modeled each hole after one of the greats across the pond. The 27 holes at Sand Barrens Golf Club in Swainton are dotted with sand bunkers and waste areas that will dazzle the eye and demand a sharp recovery game. The 50acre private bird sanctuary at the center of Cape May National Golf Club’s is also an ever present hazard that’s equally ideal for snapping photos and snaring errant shots

as is the sand quarry at Williamstown’s fabulous Scotland Run Golf Club, a popular spot to stop on the drive down to the shore from across the bridge. Two more enjoyable layouts are Ron Jaworski’s Blue Heron Pines Golf Club and Running Deer Golf Club. From Atlantic City CC at No. 1, GACGA courses occupy seven of the 10 spots on Golfweek’s Best Courses You Can Play in the state of New Jersey for 2013. Twisted Dune (No. 3), Sand Barrens (No. 6), Shore Gate (No. 7), Scotland Run (No. 8), Seaview’s Bay Course (No. 9) and Ballamor (No. 10) round out the list. Whatever whets your appetite, the GACGA courses are sure to please and with an abundance of activities accompanying the golf portion of your vacation, one really can find it all in Atlantic City. For a vacation quote, to book a tee time, or for more information, visit PLAYACGOLF.COM or call 844.475.2922

Philadelphia Publinks 2014 Schedule

www.phillypublinks.com

PPGA Spring Scramble

Kimberton GC

April 5

Publinks Better-Ball Championship

Turtle Creek GC

May 13

PPGA Match Play Championship

Qualifying May 10, 11 or 13

47th Philadelphia Better-Ball Championship

Cobbs Creek GC

June 6, 7 & 8

Publinks Championship

Jeffersonville GC

June 23

42nd Philadelphia Open Amateur Championship

Cobbs Creek CC

July 11,12 & 13

PPGA Mid-Amateur Championship

The Bucks Club

August 4

The Norristown Area Better-Ball Championship

Jeffersonville GC

August 23 & 24

Philadelphia Senior Open Amateur Championship

Downingtown CC

September 9

PPGA Fall Classic

Jeffersonville GC

October 10

Atlantic Publinks Challenge

Cobbs Creek GC

TBD

Committee Appreciation Day

TBD

October 19

PPGA Scholarship Fundraiser Tournament

Stonewall

October 20

PPGA Alternate Shot/Better-Ball Championship

TBD

TBD Spring 2014 | tri-state golfer

PGA teaching pro launches the iJuniorGolf App A parent’s guide to junior golf instruction, putting over 100 video lessons in the palm of your hand. Southern California PGA teaching professional Nick Kumpis announces the immediate availability of the iJuniorGolf application for iPhone or iPad.

Indoor/Outdoor Lessons Bernard Sheridan Year Round

JuniorGolf was created for kids of all ages and skill levels, really anyone interested in the game, with the goal of introducing kids to golf early and instilling a love of the game. Because kids absorb information differently than adults, this app helps them learn visually and improve quickly with fun drills, games and trick shots. iJuniorGolf purposely avoids technical golf-speak, which can be difficult to understand and leads quickly to boredom with younger kids. “One of the big challenges for golf is getting kids to develop an early love for the game, when we are competing with structured programs like AYSO or Little League that start them very young. I often see parents who want to bring their kids to the course or range, but aren’t sure where to start. “I came up with the concept for iJuniorGolf when I realized juniors needed a fun way to learn and parents wanted to teach their kids with the help of a PGA professional, but couldn’t always do private lessons,” said company founder Nick Kumpis. “These are the same drills and games I teach during junior lessons and camps, as well as to my own daughter.” iJuniorGolf gives parents a game plan when it comes to helping their kids, putting over 100 video lessons in the palm of their hand. With short, manageable lessons, iJuniorGolf helps the parent be consistent and prevents “over-teaching.” Each lesson provides the parent with specific focus, so the student can work on one thing at a time. Most importantly, iJuniorGolf gives parents the confidence and ability to teach golf fundamentals correctly. The iJuniorGolf app is organized by shot type (putting, chipping, driver, etc.), emphasizing solid fundamentals, with each category providing visual demonstrations of the golf skills necessary to make each shot, including grip, setup and swing. The app also includes sections addressing Common Faults, as well as Motor Skills to improve overall athleticism benefitting the golf swing. In addition, the lessons include tips for adjusting for skill level. One of the best things about iJunorGolf is you don’t have to be a golf pro to teach your child. Just follow the videos to learn each skill. Many of the techniques in iJuniorGolf are applicable to adults, and the app is also a useful tool for golf professionals looking to supplement their own junior programs. iJuniorGolf is available now for $4.99 on iTunes. For more information, visit IJUNIORGOLF.COM

tri-state golfer | Spring 2014

215-518-0435

Located in Golf USA, Limerick, PA 3D Swing Analysis • Adult Golf Schools Junior Golf Camps • Playing Lessons

Balance your swing to play your best By Bernard Sheridan

he key to great performance in all sports is balance. Without it we lose control and cannot perform to the best of our ability level. The best way to find good balance starts with stance and posture. First we need to create a solid base. This means our joints are stacked one above the other. In other words ankles , knees, hips, arm sockets. All of these should line up in a neutral position. This is a solid starting point and lets the joint and muscles move in any direction easily. I see many players get wider than this thinking that they are creating a more solid base but when the ankles are outside the hips the player will have to slide before they can turn. This can throw the upper and lower body out of sync. The result will be jerky movements and lose of a fluid free movement in the swing. Next is posture and the best way to find your perfect posture is to stand tall and let your hands rest on the

front of your thighs. Begin to slide your hand down by pushing your tail bone back as you would to squat until your finger tips touch the top of your knees. This will get you to bend over so you are now in balance from heel to toe. Your weight should feel like it is over your instep. Now the body can move in any direction and maintain its balance. This will let the upper and lower body work as a unit and make it easier to swing to a full finish. The last key is the speed or tempo of your swing. I like my students to swing as hard as they can and not lose their balance at the finish. If they do then they have to slow the pace until they are at the max and still come to a balanced finish. They should also be able to hold that finish until the ball lands. Remember that without a controlled balanced swing no amount of power will help us play our best and control where we want the ball to go.

Bernard Sheridan is the founder and director of of Par Breakers Golf Academy and Breaking Par Weekly Golf Instruction Podcast on iTunes He is certified in the following: Golf Channel Swing Fix Instructor, Impact Zone Golf Certified, US Kids Golf Certified, Putting Zone certified Coach, Eyeline Golf 4 Elements, Fit Golf Body Balance Fitness. For more great tips follow Bernard on social media on the following site below.

Spring 2014 | tri-state golfer

RECREATION

Golf and grub in Atlantic City

s much as the mysterious game of golf can confound the mind, it also has the ability to accentuate the senses: The sound of a ball falling into the cup, the feel of a brand-new grip, the coolness of a late-day summer breeze on a charge up No. 18. But the thing that a day on the course does best of all, perhaps, is stoke up an appetite — not just for more golf, but for fine food and beverage. And that’s where a destination like Atlantic City can deliver like no other. Already famous for its White House Subs, Atlantic City is becoming equally renowned for its golf courses and array of dining establishments. Dynamic Duo There’s nothing more disappointing than finishing up a late-day round of golf, returning to the clubhouse and finding little or nothing to eat or drink. A long drive to the nearest watering hole is the last thing you want to find on the menu. At McCullough’s Emerald Golf Links, that’s just not going to happen. That’s because Library III, a decades-old landmark steakhouse that operated for more than 40 years across town on Black Horse Pike, recently relocated to the former Clubhouse Bar and Grille at McCullough’s. Along with it came Library III’s well-known steak and king crab menu, salad bar, books, cooks and wait staff. The use of “bookshelf” wallpaper has nicely improved the ambiance of the former grillroom space and intimate lighting has increased richness and refinement. A wall now separates the bar from the dining area and the pub serves soups and sandwiches for lunch. Just outside the window is a wonderful Stephen Kay-designed link-style layout, complete with undulating greens, gentle rolling fairways, large grass mounds, small bunkers, scenic water hazards and elevation changes of 100 feet or more. Fine as Wine Like so many areas along the New Jersey coast, the sleepy little vineyard hardly knows itself anymore. Indeed, much has changed since the first vines — brought to America by Louis Nicolas Renault — were planted in the rich New Jersey soil to form the Renault Winery. The French immigrant transported original vinifera grapes from his native country. That was back in 1864, prior to the conclusion of the Civil War. Those very vineyards would eventually pave the way for golf to prosper along the New Jersey coast’s serene interior. Vineyard Golf at Renault, celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2014, seems to age like a bottle of vintage wine with a sound cork. Nestled away from the pounding waves of the Atlantic, the resort’s highly regarded 18-hole golf course remains a favorite among discriminating golfers. The unique 7,200-yard championship golf course designed by architect Ed Shearon features majes-

tic views of the vineyards as it meanders subtly through South Jersey’s Pinelands. The meticulously maintained tees, wide fairways, bunkers, greens and ponds accentuate the high quality of play embedded in Renault’s original plan. In addition to the small, European-style hotel, Vineyard Golf at Renault features a gourmet restaurant, a historic winery building offering tours, lavish banquet rooms for weddings and celebrations and, of course, a golf course that is as fine as the wine. Table Manners As the “crown jewel in Ron Jaworski’s golf holdings,” Running Deer Golf Club, located in historic Pittsgrove, is the place for serene golf. Word is also getting out that the facility’s Antlers Pub is another reason why Running Deer is the most “complete” golf and grub experience in the area. Whether you want a full meal, a snack, a cold beer or just a glass of water after a round, Antlers Pub is the perfect place to relax. Its beautiful dark wood appointments and stunning view of the 10th hole give Antlers a special ambience you won’t find anywhere else. Add in its friendly staff, great food and wide drink selection and you will be pining for more. No matter what size your group, Antlers has plenty of room. A large, beautiful wrap-around bar has seating for 30 people and the surrounding tables can accommodate up to 40. Out on course, you will find a wonderful display of holes. Best of all, Running Deer offers one thing that every golfer can appreciate: serenity. The course is set back among the trees, a world away from the hectic pace of everyday life. Even the holes themselves are set apart, conveying the sense that it is just you, your partner(s), the game…and a developing appetite. A bit closer to AC, sister course Blue Heron Pines Golf Club announces the March 15 grand opening of its 7 Tap & Tavern. The name of the new establishment originates from Jaworski’s jersey number worn during his long and distinguished NFL career with the Philadelphia Eagles. The friendly neighborhood tavern features craft beers, an exciting menu and an abundance of large screen televisions. Rooms with a View Golfers can step back in time to where classic golf, fantastic food and a relaxing atmosphere are always on tap at the prestigious Atlantic City Country Club. Founded in 1897, ACCC features its freshly renovated Tap Room Bar & Grille where breakfast, lunch and dinner are served with views to the lush fairways, tranquil bay and stunning Atlantic City skyline. “The focus of upgrading the bar was to enhance the club atmosphere and introduce our

new bar to the community,” said ACCC General Manager Charles Fahy. “The Tap Room has old ship-deck flooring with an amazing nostalgic feel and has been ranked among the Top 50 19th holes by Golf Digest magazine. We wanted to keep the old and historic look of the bar top, but we upgraded it and made it look new with a custom cherry-wood top and a Chicago rail. Best of all, we now serve the freshest and coldest beer in South Jersey.” At ACCC, state-of-the-art chilling and gas mixing tap systems — with a staff specially trained to properly use them — were added to keep the beers chilled at precisely 37 degrees and served with the perfect pour. The architecture and the décor reflect the style of when the building was constructed and history is preserved throughout its elegant rooms and especially in the Leo Fraser Library. ACCC is a local favorite for all the holidays and special occasions, not to mention boasting the region’s “Best Brunch” according to Philadelphia Magazine. Downtown Delights To the world, the term “White House” has meaning – power, politics and prestige. To the folks of Atlantic City, it means good, old-fashioned submarines. There’s no better place to turn to for a belly buster than with an original. The White House Sub Shop, located in the heart of downtown Atlantic City on Arctic Avenue, began operation in October 1946. Under the leadership of Anthony Basile, his aunt Basilia and uncle Fritz Sacco, the store became one of the most popular sub shops in the country. It has been family owned and operated for more than 60 years. Not much has changed for the thriving establishment since the day it began satisfying the appetites of locals and visitors alike. It is still known for its A-list celebrities who often frequent the establishment. And like the sign out front says, it’s still “Famous for Submarines.” Additional AC mainstays include Angeloni’s II, Dock’s Oyster House, Knife & Fork Inn and Tony’s Baltimore Grill, plus newer independents like Ducktown Tavern and Tony Boloney’s. Learn more about all 18 Atlantic City courses and book your 2014 golf getaway at PLAYACGOLF.COM Spring 2014 | tri-state golfer

TRAVEL

Wynn GC embodies The Strip’s grandiosity

pend enough time in this oasis of a town and you’ll end up thinking it’s for real. Or so it seems – which is pretty good for a faux city that has erased the line between nature and culture, between artifice and substance. A round at Wynn Golf Club, just off the Las Vegas strip, should be enough to convince anyone that given unlimited imagination, money and nerve, you basically can create something out of nothing. In this case, a Tom Fazio layout, ranked No. 16 on Golfweek’s Best Casino Courses list, that’s good enough to draw 17,000 rounds per year at a green fee that runs $300 to $500, depending upon the season, plus caddie. If that seems expensive, and it is, my advice is to just go elsewhere. There are plenty of other places to play golf in Las Vegas – but none that evokes quite the creative sensibility that animates life and death along the Vegas Strip. Out here, anything is possible and acceptable. The recipe for this city is not that complicated. Take the uncompromising ambition of Howard Roark, the barely fictional architect in Ayn Rand’s “The Fountainhead,” pump him up to a steroidal

tri-state golfer | Spring 2014

mania and then build whatever schemes he comes up with, regardless of cost, and you’ll end up with something like this city. This is, after all, an arid, barren, deadflat landscape where 1.2 million residents get by on 4 inches of annual rainfall – plus whatever they can siphon from Rocky Mountain snowpack hundreds of miles away. Fifty years ago, this town was little

more than a few tawdry casino hotels necklaced with neon lights. Now it’s a jangling architectural pastiche that includes towering glass palaces, an Eiffel Tower, Statue of Liberty, Egyptian pyramid and 1,000 Elvis impersonators. Having elevated kitsch to the level of fine art, Las Vegas is now regarded as the epitome of the profoundly superficial. The

critical appreciation started with Robert Venturi’s fawning 1972 treatise, “Learning from Las Vegas,” a book that celebrated the effort of feckless investors capitalizing on sheer spectacle. With Wynn GC, it’s time to recognize how golf design, like building architecture, can itself become performance art. There’s plenty of room elsewhere for those traditionalists who prefer the ground game of naturalistic linksland. Here in the Mojave Desert, if golf were really natural, it could never be played at all. The tone was set by Shadow Creek Golf Club in North Las Vegas, Steve Wynn’s golf mirage designed by Fazio and opened in 1990 (Shadow Creek ranks No. 1 among our Best Casino Courses). It was essentially a three-dimensional diorama writ large, where the depth perception was created by bulldozers, 21,000 trees (at $1,000 apiece) and the deep backdrop of neighboring mountains. Wynn GC takes that depth of layering to a whole new level of art. Because the course sits amid urban chaos and a lessthan-pleasing skyline, the design strategy was to build up a densely textured playing surface and frame while neutralizing the city’s backdrop. When Wynn bought the old Desert Inn in 2000, he sought to make the parcel – on the east side of Las Vegas Boulevard – a showcase for his grand imagination. Eventually, he created twin hotel towers, called Wynn (620 feet high) and Encore (632 feet), joined to form a luxurious casino, restaurant and entertainment complex that has 2,716 guest rooms and suites. The

stark, bronze-toned towers look like giant mica chips. “They are actually inverted arcs to each other,” said DeRuyter O. Butler, executive vice president for architecture at Wynn Development, the in-house design firm that planned the resort complex. “We think of them as dancing with each other in the skyline, and as you see them from many angles as you approach, they constantly change their relationship and perspective.” That’s especially the case as you walk the golf course and watch the spacing and shadows of those buildings play themselves out in the bright daylight. The old golf ground, affectionately called the “D.I.” by locals, was famous only for its location, certainly not for its desultory routing and tired routine of palm trees. Wynn plowed it all under and had Fazio build a layout that filled a 137-acre envelope that virtually brushes up against surrounding streetscape and buildings without the golfer having the slightest awareness of their proximity. The trees, creeks, lakes, ornamental shrubbery beds and 60 feet of elevation change were all created from a featureless site. “Normally you put a golf course into an environment,” Fazio said. “At Steve Wynn’s suggestion, we created an environment first and put a golf course in it.” I first saw the golf course from a backstage vantage point during a ride on the Las Vegas Monorail, a four-mile elevated commuter link. The stretch from the Harrah’s/ Imperial Palace Station to the Las Vegas

Convention Center Station wraps around the east side of Wynn GC and offers a tantalizing view of what looks like a miniature park. But things look and feel totally different when you arrive, as I did, via taxi, and walk along what felt like miles of dazzling casino space. The first moment of calm comes at the pro shop, which director of golf Brian Hawthorne keeps in quiet light and muted tones – more evocative of a contemplative spa than of a modern golf resort. And when you walk out by the patio overlooking the course and step onto the first tee, it’s as if a whole new landscape universe suddenly has been unrolled and placed at your personal disposal. And with it, the city lights dims, the cacophony of Vegas hype stills, and you have this meticulously tended garden to peruse at your whim for the next four hours. The bermudagrass tees, fairways and rough, overseeded for winter play, feel like an immaculate carpet. There’s color bursting everywhere from ornamental flower beds and perennial shrubs. The full scope of the mounding is obscured by the thousands of mature pines and palms that fill the site – making you forget you’re playing golf on a city block. It’s like a complex amusement ride, and one of the best shows in town. Article courtesy of Golfweek/Bradley S. Klein

For more information and to book tee times, visit WYNNLASVEGAS.COM or call 702.770.4653 Spring 2014 | tri-state golfer

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Great Bear Golf Club hires new golf pro

fter an extensive candidate search and comprehensive interview process, Great Bear Golf Club announces that the search is over and has appointed ChristoChristopher Wagner pher Wegner as the club’s new Head Golf Professional. “We are pleased to announce the hiring of Christopher Wegner as our new Head Golf Professional,” said Rob Howell, General Manager. “Chris brings 16 years of golf pro and club management experience, specializing in membership growth and retention, operations and management.” Prior to joining Great Bear, Chris was General Manager at the 101-year-old Donald Ross designed LuLu Country Club in North Hills, Pennsylvania. Before that, Chris was the Head Golf Professional and General Manager at the historic 1926 A.W. Tillinghast designed Suneagles Golf Club

tri-state golfer | Spring 2014

in Fort Monmouth, New Jersey. Chris also spent three seasons as Head Golf Professional at Architects Golf Club in Phillipsburg, NJ. On his new position, Chris says. “I am excited to be joining the Great Bear family and working toward the goal of growing into a private membership club. I am especially looking forward to connecting and building long lasting relationships with the current members. I will come to work daily intending to provide a fun and quality golfing experience while we continue to develop Great Bear as the premier private facility in the region.” Chris is an active class “A” member of the Professional Golf Association of America, and has served on many committees including the NJPGA’s Education Committee and was a member of the NJPGA Assistants Board. Chris grew up in New Jersey’s Hunterdon County in Raritan Township. He learned to play golf and started his golf career in Somerset County, later attend-

Baywood Greens

32267 Clubhouse Way • Long Neck, DE www.baywoodgreens.com 888.844.2254 • 302.947.9800

TSG NEWS TICKER ing Hunterdon Central High School then College in Boston (Wentworth Institute of Technology). Chris and his wife Cheryl have two beautiful little girls (Abigail 5 and Charlotte 3).

We’re surely not the only ones here in the tri-state area who were worried we might not stick the first tee in the ground until May this

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

TSG s ne w

season. After all we suffered through this winter, let’s make up for it by squeezing in as much golf as possible in 2014. The Philadelphia Publinks Golf Association has expanded its schedule to include the PPGA Spring Scramble, the Norristown Area Better-Ball Championship and the PPGA Alternate Shot/Better-Ball Championship. The PPGA runs first-class events, many featuring both gross and net divisions, at some of the top daily-fee venues in the area. Visit www.phillypublinks.com for more info. … Another excellent option for those eager to see how their games hold up in competition is the Golfweek Amateur Tour Philly Metro. The tour features five divisions based on ability and stages events at prestigious private clubs like The Ridge at

Great Bear Golf Club will be hosting a “Meet the Pro” event at the Golf Club on Sunday, March 16th from 1 pm to 3 pm.

Back Brook, Philmont Country Club and Hartefeld National Golf Club and first-class daily-fee sites such as Shawnee CC and

For more information about the event, Chris or Great Bear Golf Club, please contact Rob Howell, General Manager at 570.223.2000 or GREATBEARGC.COM

season sees new faces in new places. For 2014 these include new head PGA professional Mike Mitchell at Blue Bell Country

Seaview Golf Resort. Your tour membership includes a one-year subscription to Golfweek, a GWAT hat, t-shirt and bag tag, and a USGA-recognized handicap index. Check out amateurgolftour.net/philly_tour_pages for more info. … Each new golf Club. Mitchell has spent time at Ridgemont CC in Rochester, N.Y., the Carnegie Abbey Club in Rhode Island, and most recently, Indian Pond CC in Massachusetts. Chris Wegner takes the reigns at Great Bear Golf Club in East Stroudsburg, Pa. following a stint as general manager at LuLu CC in North Hills and Hugh Matthis, a former Pine Valley GC assistant, takes over at Tavistock Contry Club in Haddonfield, N.J. —TSG Spring 2014 | tri-state golfer

Talamore Announces Spectacular New Member Benefits & Privileges Flash Summary of Our Member’s Access & Privileges to Premier Local Clubs, Dining & Entertainment

By Nate Oxman STAFF WRITER

he Talamore Family of Clubs continues to lead the charge in providing an innovative, everexpanding membership package. Most recently, Talamore added to this arsenal by joining ClubCorp and its “My Community Clubs” program. Beginning in 2014, members at both Talamore Country Club in Ambler, Pa. and Applecross Country Club in Downingtown, Pa. will gain access to over 150 golf and country clubs, business clubs and athletic clubs in 25 states and two foreign countries. Local members of the ClubCorp network are Hartefeld National, a decorated Tom Fazio design in Avondale, Pa., and Cherry Valley Country Club and its Rees Jonesdesigned golf course in Skillman, N.J. near Princeton. Notable members of the ClubCorp family nationwide include Firestone Country Club’s 54 holes in Akron. Oh., home to the PGA Tour’s World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational, Southern California’s Indian Wells Country Club (36 holes),

which was home to the Bob Hope Classic for over 40 years, and Mission Hills Country Club (54 holes), annual site of an LPGA major - the Kraft Nabisco Championship, Southern Trace Country Club in Shreveport, La., which hosted the Web.com Tour’s Southern Open from 1990-2002, and Wind Watch Golf & Country Club and The Hamlet Golf & Country Club on Long Island. “We think this new benefit is extraordinary,” said Talamore CC General Manager Jon Hazelwood. “When our members are traveling they don’t miss a beat. They continue to enjoy access, including golf, to private country clubs, fitness studios, spas, city and business clubs and the finest accommodations throughout the United States. We are excited and proud to be able to provide this amazing opportunity for an expanded membership.” Members of the Talamore Family of Clubs may also book accommodations at luxury resorts like La Costa Resort & Spa in San Diego, Barton Creek Resort & Spa in Austin, Tx., The Homestead in Hot Springs, Va., and Vail Mountain

Lodge & Spa in Vail, Co. and utilize a special concierge benefit to purchase tickets for sporting events, theater and concerts. Members of Talamore Country Club enjoy membership privileges at Applecross Country Club and vice versa, and also have access to the 36hole Talamore Resort in Pinehurst, N.C. which features the Rees Jones-designed Talamore Resort Course and the Arnold Palmer-designed Mid South Club.

Golf & Country Club Facilities

Play is available at the following facilities 2x a month for a cart fee only. Additional Rounds available at posted guest rates. Certain Tee Time restrictions apply. Dining available. §

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Hartefeld National

http://www.clubcorp.com/Clubs/Hartefeld-National A Tom Fazio masterpiece in the Kennett Square area

Cherry Valley

http://www.clubcorp.com/Clubs/Cherry-Valley-Country-Club A Rees Jones gem near Princeton NJ

Dining & Entertainment For more information about the

§

Talamore Family of Clubs, including an array of affordable membership options, visit TALAMORECC.COM

CLUBCORP.COM

An acclaimed Private Dining Club in Center City located atop the Mellon Bank Building Special Complementary entrée program available one visit per month. Additional visits at posted dining rates.

§ The Foundation Room at the House of Blues

http://www.houseofblues.com/venues/clubvenues/atlanticcity/foundationroom.php Membership includes access to this renowned Atlantic City dining and theater destination.

and for more information about ClubCorp, visit

Pyramid Club http://www.clubcorp.com/Clubs/Pyramid-Club

§

Capital Grille www.capitalgrille.com

King of Prussia, Philadelphia and Cherry Hill locally. Other locations worldwide VIP access may include an available table for last minute reservations, special recognition as a Member and some locations may offer a complementary amenity.

Preferred access to world class resorts such as:

tri-state golfer | Spring 2014

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Pinehurst www.pinehurst.com

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La Costa www.lacosta.com

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Barton Creek www.bartoncreek.com

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The Homestead www.thehomestead.com

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Hotel Del Coronado www.hoteldel.com

One of the world’s finest golf resorts featuring 8 Championship golf courses and home to the 2014 Men’s and Ladies US Open Championships Southern California’s ultimate destination for guest who appreciate a luxury retreat Legendary Austin Texas Golf Resort and Spa A historic Virginia Resort and Canyon Ranch Spa Iconic San Diego Beach Resort and Spa

Spring 2014 | tri-state golfer

Congratulations to the 2013 Philadelphia Publinks Golf Association Winners

Philadelphia Publinks 2014 Tournament Changes PPGA Spring Scramble The inaugural PPGA Spring Scramble will take place Saturday, April 5 at the Kimberton GC. The tournament is two-person teams competing in a scramble format. There will also be senior and super-senior divisions. Player of the Year points will be awarded for this championship. Match Play Championship

2013 PPGA PLAYER OF THE YEAR Mike Brown

2013 PPGA SENIOR PLAYER OF THE YEAR Mike Owsik

2013 PPGA “ATLANTIC PUBLINKS CHALLENGE” TEAM MEMBERS Sitting, Chris Fieger, Sr., Jim Prendergast, Mike Harms, Jason Loehrs. Standing, Luis Diaz, Sean Clifford, Scott McNeil, Steve Owens, Jr., Dave Shields, David Kimbley, Mike Carr, Chris Thude, Brian Fisher, Ken Mangin, Mike Brown

2013 PPGA FALL CLASSIC CHAMPIONS Scott McNeil and Jason Loehrs

2013 PPGA FALL CLASSIC SENIOR CHAMPIONS Jay Davidson and Ansley Jessup

Special Thanks to the committee members that made the trip to Baltimore to help with the matches: Travis Gahman, Rob Tredinnick, Chris Hunger, Bill Turner, Bob Valesky and Jim Durante

The rules will be the same as the previous year with qualifying set for either Saturday or Sunday, the 10th and 11th of May as well as during the PPGA Better-Ball Championship, May 13. All qualifying will be at Turtle Creek GC. Each entrant is guaranteed at least one match regardless of qualifying score. The championship flight will consist of the top 32 qualifiers. Subsequent flights will be used depending on the number of participants. Everyone turning in a qualifying score will be placed in the appropriate bracket based on score. Players will be responsible for coordinating their match with their opponent and will have four weeks to complete their match. A complete set of rules, including deadline dates, can be found on the Match Play Championship page. Philadelphia Better-Ball Championship The 47th edition of the Philadelphia Better-Ball Championship will be decided by Match Play in the Championship Flight. Friday’s round will serve as the qualifying round with the top 16 teams qualifying for Match Play. The teams that do not qualify for the Championship Flight will compete in stroke play in their flight over the final two days, (same as in the past). The Championship Flight will tee off first Saturday morning with the winners of the morning matches playing again in the afternoon. The semi-final matches will be Sunday morning with the championship match being played in the afternoon. The 12 teams in the Championship Flight that are eliminated from Match Play on Saturday will play an 18-hole flight shoot-out on Sunday.

Senior Divisions The PPGA will again have senior divisions in all championships this year except the Mid-Amateur Championship. The senior divisions are for players 50 years of age or older and will be contested from a forward set of tees. There will also be a super senior division for players 60 and older if there are enough entrants. Middle-Amateur Championship The PPGA introduced the Middle-Amateur Championship in 2010 and this event continues to get bigger and better. In 2014 the championship moves to The Bucks Club and will be contested on Monday, August 4. This Championship is for players 25 years of age and older as of August 4, 2014. There will also be a net division in the Mid-Am Championship. To be eligible to participate in the net division players must have an active GHIN handicap. The Norristown Area Better-Ball Championship The Norristown Area Better-Ball Championship is a 36-hole medal play event and will take place Saturday, August 23 and Sunday, August 24 at Jeffersonville GC. Saturday’s round will be a 1:00 shotgun start with food and beverages provided after the round. The field will be flighted after Saturday’s round and the final round will be contested in flights on Sunday using morning starting times. As with all other PPGA events, this event is open at all amateur golfers (not just people living in the Norristown area). There will also be a senior and super-senior divisions which will also be flighted for the final round. PPGA Senior Championship The PPGA Senior Championship will be moving to Downingtown CC and will be contested on September 9. The Senior Championship is for players 50 years of age or older as of September 9, 2014. There will also be a net division in the Senior Championship. To be eligible to participate in the net division players must have an active GHIN handicap. Atlantic Publinks Challenge The “Atlantic Publinks Challenge” was unveiled in 2011 with great success. The PPGA emerged victorious in in all three editions of

the challenge, taking the first two by a single point each. The competition moves back to Philadelphia and Cobbs Creek GC this year. This is a team competition pitting players from the PPGA against a team of top players from the Baltimore area. The top finishers on the PPGA POY Points list qualify for the event and will represent the PPGA team. PPGA Scholarship Fund Raiser Tournament The new date for the tournament is moved earlier in the season to October 20 which should bring better weather. Stonewall which will host the 2016 United States Mid-Amateur Championship, will remain the host venue. The format however had changed significantly. The format will no longer be a shamble format, and instead competitors will be able to choose whether they want to play a 4-person team scramble or play their own ball for the entire 18 holes. For those that want to play a low stress round and rely on their teammates and have a good time, the 4-person scramble is the perfect format. For those who want to test their skills against the golf course for the entire round, they can play in the individual gross and net division. Prizes will be awarded in the team scramble division, the gross division and the net division. Players can sign-up if groups even if they are playing in the individual division so you can still play with friends, family, clients, etc. PPGA Alternate-Shot/ Better-Ball Championship The PPGA enters the “silly season” with this fun format to wrap-up the 2014 golf season. Details are still being ironed out to secure a date and host venue but the target date is Sunday, November 16 with a 9:00 shotgun start. Teams are comprised of two individuals playing alternate shot with both balls in play the entire hole. The score for the team for each hole will be the lower of the two scores. Player of the Year POY points are awarded to ALL participants in PPGA tournaments. The highest player for both the POY and SPOY who has their handicap with the PPGA will be the PPGA representative in the GAP Tournament of Champions. The POY and SPOY races will also be used to determine the qualifiers to represent the PPGA team in the “Atlantic Publinks Challenge” matches against a team from Baltimore. Spring 2014 | tri-state golfer

KIDS/FAMILY NIGHT $20.00 PER PERSON WITH CART Sunday only, after 5pm

610.495.8455

pgakleck@aol.com • 66 Church Rd, Linfield, PA 19468