Time

We all look at the 24 hours we are given each day with a different perspective. There is no right or wrong when it comes to how we define the world we live in, there is only our own personal perspectives.

In 1989 a recent high school graduate took on the rigors of college with very little understanding of what was expected of him, and what he expected of himself. Deciding to attend college 2500 miles from his home was both liberating and uncontrolled. It was a short six months later that he realized that he may not have been up to the task. For years to follow he would reflect on the mistakes and lost opportunities that were provided him in his departure into the world of individuality and self sufficiency.

For years to follow, and even to this day, he feels that time is no longer on his side. The time that was wasted in earlier and younger years no longer seem fleeting, but instead a lost opportunity to take advantage of what the world had to offer him at such a young age.

Even only a year ago, 6 hours of sleep an night seemed like an eternity in his struggle to regain time that he had long since lost. Now with the nights growing shorter, 3-4 hours seems like time wasted. With days running into each other with only a daily fleeting glimpse of the sun to realize the passing of the hours, there is an understanding the he may not get caught up, and possibly, no one ever gets "caught up."

In the midst of all that a person can expect out of themselves, thoughts turn the philosophies of the golfing greats. Ben Hogan (your scribe believes it was) once said, "every day you don't play golf, is two days longer it will take you to get better." You scribe believes that good old Ben was an optimist, but he understood what it took to be one of the great ones.

Driving in the Rain

It must be noted that the year to date has seen an extremely favorable winter for southern New Jersey. The Atlantic City area has been blessed by the Golf Gods with relatively mild temperatures, just warm enough to play on a semi-regular basis. As it is mid-December at this point, and the temperatures are still in the 40-50 degree range, this has been a blessing indeed.

With an extreme shortage of time on my hands, and an unfortunately timed schedule, golf for the last couple of weeks has been an impossiblity. However, Olde Masters Driving Range, just down the street from our office, is open and sheltered (somewhat). With a little bit of time on my hands sporadically over the last couple of days, the driving range was an excellent choice (if the only choice at hand).

Rain has settled in to the area, and while a little cold doesn't bother me while golfing, a little cold with rain added, is a pretty uncomforatble situation. Olde Masters to the rescue. Their driving range is covered and actually has warmers/heaters overhead. The rain never touched the driving mats.

In addition, it was reasonably priced. $9 for a bucket of about 110 balls. That is certainly the most affordable price in the whole area. There was also a special deal that could be purchased: $25 for a $30 credit. A nice deal and significant savings.

Old Reliable

With the desire to play golf so regularly, it is important to have a few stand-by courses when your wallet isn't quite so full (or should I say empty). While there are actually a lot of quality courses under $50, which in some areas is unimaginable, for me there are times when $30 is a little more than I want to spend. If you are playing four to six days a week it can really burden you down.

Green Tree Golf Course

As an Atlantic County resident, the best deal going is Green Tree Golf Course in Mays Landing, NJ, about 30 minutes from Atlantic City. It is truly not a bad course, and what it lacks in length, it makes up for in tightness. Most of the fairways are only about 40 yards wide and lined heavily with trees. Green Tree Golf Course is a swampy course at its best, so think twice if it has been raining for a few days prior to your round.

It is a walkers paradise, and most of the locals do walk the course, aside from the obvious reasons (health and affordability/price savings), golf was meant to be walked. In the off-season, a round for a county resident with a card is only $12. The big down side is for the non-county residents. They pay a lot more, but even at that, it is extremely reasonably priced compared to almost every other course in the vicinity.

All in all, Green Tree is a quality little course for beginners and the price conscience golfer.

Frog Rock Country Club

In the same general price range (though it is not a county course so the rates are the same for everyone) is Frog Rock Country Club in Hammonton, NJ, the Blueberry capital of the world. Roughly 35 minutes from Atlantic City, it is a real price grabber but really not the best quality. What you will hate the most are the tee boxes. They could be the worst tee boxes I have ever played anywhere, ever.

For it's faults, Frog Rock is a diverse and challenging course, for both the experienced and beginning golfer. Over the years the course has changed hands routinely and in the days of olde, was only nine holes. Once called Hammonton Country Club, a new set of owners got their hands on the course and expanded it to 18 holes, and in doing so elicited a lot of grief from the Pinelands or Wetlands commissions. Nothing by way of land development happens in the Pinelands without their approval.

Ultimately, it was sold, and sold and now it is privately held and operated by Rocky, a genuinely good natured man who works the course himself, puts seemingly every dime he makes back into the course, and has resisted the urge to raise the rates for many years.

Because of the expansion, it is almost like two separate courses. 1-3 are from the old course, and are possibly the hardest three starting holes in Southern New Jersey (mostly because there is no way to warm up and the fact that they are really hard holes to begin with). Following the first three 4-11 are the new course. A completely different style. A more links style, wide open and well designed (and in a couple of cases poorly designed which actually makes it harder in many ways). And the you are back to the old course to finish out your round.

All in all, a challenging and affordable course for one and all.

New Arrival

On November 30, 2004, I had a tee-time to play the latest and greatest golf course that the Atlantic City Area has to offer, Vinyard Golf at Renault Winery. The website is simply a design knock-off of the PGA's 2004 Open Golf Championship website, and a poor one at that. However, the noon tee-time, would never be made.

Earlier in the morning, my wife, nine-months pregnant, started having stomach pains, and so I canceled with the pro-shop. As it was out first baby, she was unfamiliar with what early labor pains should feel like. An really, what does an apple taste like... And so it came to pass, at 5:07pm (just about the time I would have been leaving the pro-shop following my round), Adam was born. A beautiful and healthy baby boy, weighing in at 6 pounds 13 ounces came in to our lives and will someday adorn all the golf that the Atlantic City area has to offer.

I am certain that he was keenly aware of my wish to play the new Renault golf course, and he too wanted to go (and wasn't going to let me play it without him). So it came to pass that I will have to wait for another day to play South Jersey's latest golf course.