Del Valley Golf News

Time for my annual “Rose Factor“awards, given to those golfers in the region who have distinguished themselves in both local and national tournaments, and represented the game as gentlemen in the tradition of the game.

Let me start with the Downtown Michael Brown Award – given in honor of my 950 ESPN Radio co-host Michael Brown, former GAP Philly Open Champion and all around great guy. The winner – Michael Brown – no, not my “Brownie” from Old York Road CC, but the one who plays publinks golf in the area. That other Michael Brown had a big year, winning the GAP Mid Amateur in May, qualified and made match play at the USGA Public Links in June, had a top 10 at the GAP Philly Open in July, and qualified for the USGA Mid Am in August. If the flow continues into September, Mike should do very well at the Mid Am at Kiawah Island.

How many strokes do you waste on the green? If you’re like most, the answer is too many. One company helping thousands improve their stroke is Boccieri Golf: Maker of the Heavy Putter.

The inventor of Heavy Putter Stephen Boccieri – previously a nuclear engineer by week, scratch golfer by weekend – spent his free time evaluating equipment from all manufacturers, finding structural inconsistencies across the board. Boccieri began modifying the equipment to improve performance.

If you are a member of a golf club or are thinking of joining a club, there’s a new trend in private golf clubs, as they endeavor to stay alive in this very tough golf economy. Changes in demographics, aging golf population, more family activities, less disposable income, you name it, many private clubs are in trouble.

The Rose Factor
By Mike Rose

Over the years, many of you have told me how much you’ve enjoyed my golf travel diaries. I’ve been to Scotland three times, playing in the British Amateur at Muirfield, the British Mid Am at Royal Troon, and the British Senior Am at Blairgowrie.

I’ve been to England twice, including great links golf at the British Am at Formby (where 18 year old Jose Maria Olazabal defeated 19 year old Colin Montgomerie) and the best of parkland golf at Woodhall Spa for the Senior Am. But as great as these trips have been, everyone tells me that Ireland is better.

BLUE BELL, Pa - For the third consecutive year the members of Meadowlands CC in Blue Bell are opening the doors of their private club to returning veterans from the military campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan. Known as Armed Forces Appreciation Day, this event is run in cooperation with the Willow Grove Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base.

With members and volunteers from the staff providing all services, from unloading bags, greeting and directing the guests, and serving as forecaddies, to flipping hamburgers and dishing out ice cream, the event has become a source of enormous pride and gratification for the club. 

The Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau has announced that the Mount Airy Casino Resort Golf Club has re-opened.

The course had been temporarily closed for two seasons due to construction of the new resort, which features a mix of more than 2,500 of the latest slot machines, including the newest themed video slots, electronic table games, as well as progressive jackpots. 

After taking part in a recent online survey, amateur golfers have weighed in, and the results confirm that copying a professional golfer's swing doesn't work for them. 

Teens don’t find basics on how professionals do it. Seniors can’t relate to current professional’s swing speeds. Women are seeking distance, but can’t find it. A lack of basic golf learning techniques has stagnated amateur scoring. Overall, growth Of the game is effected. The findings are gleaned from more than ten years of ongoing personal discussion, surveys and debate.

On the golf course, a few feet can be the difference between finding a hazard and landing in a safe spot with a good angle to attack the pin, and club selection is often an integral component in reducing distances to the cup if you're able to find the putting surface.

GreenFinder Golf GPS , a system that utilizes already-exisiting global positioning systems on your iPhone or Blackberry to calculate the distance from the golfer to various targets on the course, is a simple, convenient and affordable way to improve your golf game by having the right club in your hand and the information necessary to make the right play.

Home to a classic course annually listed as one of the world’s best and host of multiple U.S. Open championships, the state of New Jersey is no stranger to world-class golf venues.

Featuring more than a dozen upscale public golf courses, Atlantic City is adding another dimension to golf in the Garden State, bringing avid golfers from all over the country with the promise of unmatched “Stay and Play” opportunities.

Buoyed by its success operating multi-course portfolios in and around major metropolitan cities, Billy Casper Golf has been selected by the City of Philadelphia to manage five golf assets.

Under the long-term agreement, Billy Capser Golf will direct all activities at Cobb's Creek Golf Club (Olde and Karakung courses), FDR Golf Club, John F. Byrne Golf Course and City Line Sports Center. The company operated the courses in 2008 under an interim contract.