Del Valley Golf Course Scene

“Golf is deceptively simple, yet endlessly complicated.” – Arnold Palmer

“It’s a 3-club wind, maybe 4,” Kurt said as his well struck 6-iron landed oefully short of the green. A 4-club wind? What the heck is that? Stunned for a moment, I turned to the overpriced yardage book. He was right, he shot that normally called for a smooth 9-iron hadn’t nearly reached its target, having been terminally wounded by the 35-mph gusts off the Pacific Ocean. I’d come to expect this, a new challenge to my Lake Woebegon average golf game. This was Pacific Dunes in Oregon’s Bandon Dunes complex, the top course in Golf Digests’ “100 You Can Play” and the fifth course in six days that started with Chambers Bay, near Seattle, Washington. Sandwiched between were some of the most beautiful and challenging courses that you’d ever want to play. At 50, I’d finally learned the true meaning of the term “grinding.”

What could be better than a day at White Clay Creek Country Club at Delaware Park? Championship golf with GPS equipped carts, great food and amenities in their beautiful clubhouse and then across the street there’s Delaware Park for thoroughbred racing and a chance at the slots.

White Clay Creek Country Club at Delaware Park is the perfect choice for your next group event. With 7,007 yards of trimmed green and natural rough, this course is challenging enough for the low handicapper, yet playable for the novice. The Arthur Hills/Steve Forrestdesigned, Par-72 course offers five sets of tees, with water coming into play on all 18 holes.

Our professional staff has over 25 years of experience with corporate outings, charity events, Pro-Ams, and many other events. Every aspect of your affair will be coordinated by us, including: set up, format, prizes, food and beverage, scoring and presentation of awards. You are sure to have a grand experience at White Clay Creek Country Club.

It was an unlikely place to meet a legend, but there he was, the Black Knight – Gary Player – gracing the practice tee at the picturesque Skippack Golf Club at Evanston State Park.

He came across the Bowstring Truss Bridge in an unassuming golf cart with several of his grandkids aboard, but to the 100 or so genuinely excited patrons who attended this charity clinic, it might just have well been the Hogan Bridge at Augusta. 

Mr. Player, who according to Darryl Lock, one of the new owners of Skippack Golf Club, “hits balls at the club whenever he is in town,” put on a clinic that was one part golf instruction, one part motivational speaking and two parts “preaching the gospel of exercise, nutrition and education.”

With Makefield Highlands Golf Club entering its fifth season, regular golfers will tell you that the course has never looked better.

As the tri-state area’s only true links-style course continues to mature, Makefield Highlands Golf Club maintains a sharp focus on “redefining public golf” by offering the amenities of a private country club with the accessibility and pricing of municipal courses.

Rated as the Reader’s Choice Best New Course in 2006 by Northeast Golf Magazine, the value of this high-quality municipal course has never been more clear with competitive daily fees, full grass practice facility, full-service Golf Shop, five sets of tees, on-site PGA Professionals, junior clinics, an active golf association, scenic views, and over 7,000 yards of meticulously groomed course.

Bella Vista in Gilbertsville, Pennsylvania has evolved over its six year history to become an exceptional choice for daily fee golf. Designed by local architect Jim Blaukovitch, the course opened for play in 2002. Throughout its evolution, Bella Vista Golf Course has become a prominent venue for golfers in Montgomery County and the surrounding counties of Philadelphia, Delaware and the Lehigh Valley.

Nominated to Golf Digest’s Best Places To Play and awarded a 4-Star Rating, the par-70 golf course is known for its consistent and excellently maintained bentgrass playing conditions from tee to green. Well appointed and groomed bunkers, five water hazards including the island green par-3 14th hole and gently rolling terrain add to the charm and challenge of a round of golf at Bella Vista.

The layout includes four sets of tees, allowing the course to be playable for all skill levels with yardage from 4,786 from the front tees to 6,474 from the championship back tees. 

Whitemarsh Valley Country Club is celebrating its 100th year with a host of activities to mark the occasion. It started on April 5th with a Centenial Gala, attended by more than 500 members and guests, with noted golf historian Jim Finegan as the guest speaker. The club will be host to this year’s GAP Amateur Championship, the week of June 10-14, the 14th time that WVCC has been chosen as the venue.

On June 24th, a special day is planned, as Champions Tour stars and former IVB Classic winners Tom Kite, Hubert Green, Tom Jenkins and Doug Tewell will return to the site of their tour wins to put on an exhibition and play a 9-hole Skins Game for the members. On June 29, there will be a picnic and fireworks. The culmination of the year’s celebration will be the annual Christmas Ball, where members will receive a special commemerative Centenial Book, with the foreword written by the IVB’s first winner Arnold Palmer.

Whitemarsh has always been one of my favorite courses in the region, a classic design by George Thomas, famous for his work at Bel Aire CC, Riviera CC and Los Angeles Country Club. Over the past 40 years, I’ve had some memorable experiences and rounds, and had the chance to play with and meet some of the best players in the world. I’ll set the time machine to the early 1960’s as we return to the good old days of the PGA Tour in Philadelphia and the IVB Classic.

It’s Friday October 5th and I’m enjoying a leisurely round of golf with friends at Commonwealth National. I think I’ve found my swing, again, and am on my way to a solid 73 from the back tees. I’ve got a couple of tournaments left on my schedule – the North Hills Inv. on Oct 11, followed by the Bud Lewis Inv. at Manufacturers the 12th and 13th – and am hoping to finish a disappointing season on a high note.

While on the back nine, my cell phone rings, and on the line is long-time friend Larry Harrison from Atlantic City. It seems that his regular better-ball partner Billy Care is not available to play in an event the next week. Am I available to play with him Sunday October 7 to Wednesday the 10th, in the Jack Nicklaus Cup at Muirfield Village?

It didn’t take me very long to respond. “Are you kidding, count me in!!” I’d have to see if I could get a flight to Columbus on Sunday. No problem. How about a place to stay? No problem again, as Larry had already booked rooms for us at the luxurious Lodge at Muirfield, just off the first fairway, a short walk from the clubhouse. It was time to get ready for seven rounds in seven days, bad back and all. 

Once private for more than 50 years, Deerfield Golf & Tennis Club is now open for all to enjoy. Under the ownership of the State of Delaware and professionally managed by Forewinds Hospitality, Deerfield has become a hit with area golfers who for so long couldn’t play the course as a private club previously owned by DuPont and MBNA.

The facility features a tremendous public golf course that has hosted a variety of state and regional tournaments during the past five decades. Secluded within the peaceful confines of White Clay Creek State Park, Deerfield offers the golfers of the Brandywine and Delaware Valleys a true escape – tree lined fairways, rolling terrain and not a house or backyard to be seen over 18-holes.

At almost 6,400 yards, this par 70 masterpiece is deceivingly long and a great test of golf. Four sets of tees and a well-marked network of yardages ensure that the golf is challenging and fair. 

Check out the Philadelphia Chapter of ASGA Local Outings and National Trips

Informal Meeting/Happy Hours the 2nd Wed. of the Month (Mar-Nov) Non-golfing social events throughout the year (but concentrated in the non-golfing season).

Watch out for our Annual Kick-Off Meeting in April 2008 and 2008 Local Golf Outings to start in April.

For more information about ASGA, call 800-477-8787 or check out the Philadelphia Chapter at www.singlesgolf.com

Day 1 – We enjoy a terrific Sunday morning drive south on Interstate 5 across Route 38 (gorgeous pine forests, rivers, and elk sightings) and then down the Pacific Coast Highway with great early morning scenery. But all eight of us are very anxious for our first glimpse at Bandon Dunes. No one is disappointed as we pull up to the Bandon Dunes clubhouse (The Lodge) which is the main building at the resort along with the check-in area for the Bandon Dunes course.

Both Pacific Dunes and Bandon Trials have their own clubhouses, though Bandon Dunes is more impressive. The first tee is just steps from the drop-off area and beyond the tee we see only mounds, sea, and blue sky! Admittedly my heart is racing somewhat as I begin to soak in the atmosphere.

The view from each tee is truly postcard quality, but we are struck by the approach shot to #4. A straight drive will allow you to take comfortable walk down the fairway, until the mounds to the right no longer frame the fairway. At that point the hole turns to the right and you see nothing but the Pacific Ocean from an elevation of 150 feet. What a spectacular sight on this clear blue Sunday morning!