A Look Around the Links

by Peter Proko | May 23, 2024
A Look Around the Links
The game of golf continues to experience increased interest and with so many folks now enjoying the sport, South Jersey’s best golf clubs are working hard to meet the demand. From noticeable course renovations to added amenities that help to enhance the overall experience, there’s seemingly never been a better time to play a round. Here we take a closer look at what’s new things are taking shape at golf clubs both locally and down the Shore.

 

Private Courses


Burlington County Country Club
As it marks its 95th anniversary this year, Burlington County Country Club continues its multiple-phase redesign that started back in 2022. The project is being led by Nicklaus Design Group and features a design style created by Chad Goetz, one of the company’s lead architects.

Laurel Creek Country Club
The club recently completed its golf course master plan, featuring a new short game area and redesigned tee boxes and bunkers. Members can also enjoy a new dining experience at Blu, an upscale steakhouse with an interactive private chef’s table. Further among the anticipated highlights is the opening of a heated pool on Memorial Day weekend.

The Legacy Club

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The Legacy Club has undergone a complete transformation that includes golf course upgrades to the greens and fairways. It has also opened Randall’s Restaurant, which offers a menu with American and Italian influences, al fresco dining and live music. There is also a new member’s lounge and patio area where players can linger after their round. Furthermore, the club welcomed Tina Paul as its new club manager, who has introduced a fresh lineup of upcoming social events.

Medford Village Country Club
On the course, additional tee work was completed in the offseason, including the renovation of the 14th tee, which has been lengthened while also widening the tee deck. As the club marks its 60th anniversary this year, it will host the Monster of Medford Challenge on June 29, giving members the opportunity to play the course in its original configuration. On July 22, the club will host the USGA Men’s Amateur Final Stage Qualifier, as local amateurs compete for the chance to head to Minnesota for the National Championship in August.

Merchantville Country Club
Merchantville has welcomed Laura Senatore as its new general manager. Over on the course, Doug Davis, golf course superintendent, has overseen the completion of the installation of the club’s new irrigation system. The club has also added a new Trackman 4 Simulator to its facility, offering members the opportunity to play, practice and take lessons year round.

Moorestown Field Club
Recently, the club installed two new championship tee boxes, and also added eight mature trees and more than 45 new bushes. Other activities include tennis and an active pickleball league on three new courts, not to mention bocce and a darts league.

Riverton Country Club
Riverton has embarked on a facility master plan project and during the first phase, the club expanded the footprint of the patio space (including adding covered and heated seating) to accommodate its growing membership. A new state-of-the-art golf center, pro shop and cigar lounge opened last August during phase two. What’s more, the club introduced a new heated, resort-style, zero-entry pool last summer. The pool facility features a café, a new bar, a covered dining space and more. A splash pad will be the final phase of the master plan, and will be completed ahead of summer.

 

Public Courses


Deerwood Country Club
Jason Fox, superintendent, spent two years working with various companies to devise a plan to install a new irrigation system to replace its aging one that was causing major issues with the course. Now that the new system is in place, Fox is looking forward to a season of optimal playing conditions.

Pitman Golf Course
After a season that saw Pitman get awarded the 2023 Golf Association of Philadelphia Youth on Course Partner of the Year Award, the club spent the offseason adding new trees throughout the course, with the most notable additions found on holes 3, 6 and 15.

Ramblewood Country Club
Ramblewood has added several new member-exclusive tournaments, including a member/guest, a member/member, a club championship and a Ryder Cup-style event named the RJG Cup. Meanwhile, several new hires have joined the club, including Brian Bayliss (general manager), Shawn Ross (superintendent) and Marquis Usher (tournament director). The club also recently added the Lion’s Den, a simulator room with Trackman technology that also features a full bar, attendant and conference space for meetings.

RiverWinds Golf & Tennis Club
This season, RiverWinds will host the 40th anniversary of the Ron Jaworski Celebrity Classic on June 7. The club has also unveiled its new food truck that offers daily food and drink specials. On the tennis side of things, the club is hosting several indoor and outdoor junior camps this summer.

Scotland Run Golf Club
Hole No. 2 at Scotland Run is unique in that it features two greens, one of which was fully renovated over the winter and is expected to be ready for play by late summer. For the non-golfer, the club is offering a social membership that allows member discounts on all food and drinks upon each visit.

Town & Country Golf Links
In addition to rebuilding and enlarging tee boxes on multiple holes, the club constructed a new 3,200-square-foot pavilion for hosting golf tournaments and other functions with a 200-person capacity. And golfers of all abilities have been enjoying the revamped driving range operated by Toptracer.

Valleybrook Country Club
Valleybrook continues to promote junior golf with six summer camps (two more than last year) and a learn-and-play series. It also will continue its Ladies Golf program, which offers 18-hole play, nine-hole play and a clinic series. Over on the driving range, golfers will notice new enhancements that include a new ball dispenser, new ball washer and new target flags.

 

The Shore


Avalon Golf Club
During the offseason, the club expanded and created a few tee boxes that needed to be resized. The 18th tee box was elevated 5 feet to create a more desirable look of the final hole. Over at the Avalon Links Restaurant, guests can enjoy a special Sunday night dinner offering. For $29, you can have your choice of prime rib, seafood noodle bowl or crab cakes.

Ballamor Golf Club
Members of Ballamor get to also enjoy playing rounds at its sister course, Scotland Run Golf Club in Williamstown. Members are also invited to take part in the club’s Thursday Men’s League featuring a shotgun start, two-man better ball Stableford format and a $100 team cash throwaway.

Blue Heron Pines Golf Club
Over the past few seasons, crews have been working extensively to try and improve playing conditions with updated drainage, tree work and bunker reconstruction. This past winter, more than 170 trees were removed to help with turf conditions, airflow and sunlight.

Harbor Pines Golf Club
The Gurwicz family, owners of the club, are completing the final phase of their three-phase renovation project. Recent additions include a new pro shop, a renovated events space and The Roost, a new pub and grill.

Hidden Creek Golf Club
Hidden Creek’s most recent updates include the renovation of its driving range and the introduction of three mansion-style houses that can each accommodate up to 16 people. And as the club is part of the Dormie Network, members who frequent Hidden Creek will now also be full and complete members of GrayBull Club in Maxwell, Nebraska.

LBI National Golf Club
This club, formerly Sea Oaks, has been rebranded and reimagined under the ownership of Vivamee Properties, which also oversees Vineyeard National at Renault Winery. The club’s restaurant, The Wickie Room, is open, as are its newly renovated hotel and ballroom space.

Vineyard National at Renault
Vineyard National is nearing the completion of its hotel renovation. This fall, it plans to open the new Exhale Spa for guests to enjoy before or after a round on the course.


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Published and copyrighted in South Jersey Magazine, Volume 21, Issue 1 (April 2024)

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Author: Peter Proko

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