Dogleg Left, Not Right

After a trip around the block today, the Atlantic City Gofler learned that parking for the ShopRite LPGA Classic has moved to Stockton from the Galloway Township Municipal Building. Instead of making a right off the Garden State Parkway, make a left. Follow this about a mile look for the big sign on the right for Stockton. There are also lots of LPGA signs too.

Memorial Day Weekend

Atlantic City's primary source of revenue is derived from tourism and as such, holiday weekends are where Atlantic City thrives. As a result, golf can be a timely proposition during the holidays. Memorial Day weekend is notoriously the start of the summer tourist season, and for many travelers coming to Atlantic City, it is often their first round of the year. It is remarkable how few golfers take the time to do any practicing what-so-ever.

Combine this with the challenging array of Atlantic City Golf Courses, and as wonderful as this weekend has been, which will continue to be right through the picnics tomorrow, it is a bad weekend to play golf (picky prick isn't he). Most courses will designate a round to be timed at 4 hours 15 minutes, yet only the most hoity-toity courses will enforce such a limit (and even they will be lenient). The Atlantic City Golfer assumes that the courses simply don't want to offend or interrupt many tourists rounds by a course marshal for fear of losing business (this is just a guess).

However, little regard is given to the golfers who would like to finish their round in less than 6 hours. How many golfers are offended and annoyed by this fact? The reality of a 4.25 hour round versus a 6 hour round is that far more rounds can be played making the course more profitable during this busy time frame. This reality seems not to be figured into the equation.

And so it will be that the Atlantic City Golfer will take the holidays off and spend the time with family. To this end, yesterday was spent riding bikes at the Atlantic County Park in Estell Manor. It is without question the best place to make a day of hiking or riding bikes in the Atlantic City Area. At this location are playgrounds, trails galore, parks and more. In addition, the veterans' cemetery is there and we stopped by my grandfather's grave to wish him well on this weekend dedicated to him and other fallen veterans.

Only downfall to this weekend was the arrival of the May flies. They are only here for about 3-weeks, but it makes for trouble when you stop and get off your bike. These pesky varmint are also the reason I steer clear of the Atlantic County Public golf course Green Tree this time of year. It is only a 3-week time frame, but a tough one at that.

To all veterans (even my mother-in-law), the Atlantic City Golfer salutes you and the ultimate sacrifices that have been made by so many. Happy Memorial Day!

Course Correction

Almost as fast as the Atlantic City Golfer wrote the post on a blustery week ahead for Atlantic City Golf, the forecast has changed, and in dramatic fashion. The outlook for the start of the ShopRite LPGA Classic looks much as it did at last year's event; warm/hot, sticky and greatly subsiding winds. With a quick couple hundred balls at Blue Heron today, it was clear that the climate here has changed dramatically. Spring felt over, at least for the moment.

To open the ShopRite LPGA Classic's ceremonies on March 23rd, a "Women's Forum" was held. I know not yet the details for this event, but they will be forthcoming. So, the next couple of days are prep for the volunteers and the arrival of the players. Monday is the start of the qualifying round and practice rounds for the players who have already qualified. Excitement squared!

A Blustery Week Ahead

Ever true of Atlantic City Golf in the spring, the wind is gusting and the temperatures cool. With the start of the Atlantic City ShopRite LPGA Classic coming up in the next couple of days, the wind could certainly be a factor.

The ladies will be teeing it up on the Bay Course at Seaview which overlooks Atlantic City and as you might expect, the bay (Reeds Bay and Absecon Bay to be exact). The forecast for the weekend is expected to be in the 60-75 degree range but it will play cooler on the bay and even more so if the current 10-20 mph winds continue.

There is however, truly great news about the blustery conditions. With these gusts, the bugs will not be a factor. The wind will simply carry them away. If I had my choice between wind or a cocktail of bugs hounding me through a round, there is no doubt which way I would go. During the final two rounds of last year's LPGA Classic, the bugs were considerably more than I was prepared for. But unlike last year, we have had a relatively dry spring which puts a damper on the bug party.

Given the event activities starting at Seaview this week, I will steer clear of Absecon all together (until the ACGolfer attends the event that is). Parking for the event really couldnt be any easier or more convenient for locals and travelers alike. (Get off the Parkway at Jimmy Leads Road and turn right. It will be hard to miss). Visitors to the event won't be parking anywhere near Seaview, but the shuttle service is fast and convenient.

As for today . . . The ACGolfer is working on a couple of new ideas for the website and spent most of the morning working on them. We will have a series of interviews on the way and possibly some great video to accompany the interviews. But as for golf, it is off to the practice range to hit balls. Tomorrow it is looking like a Vineyards Golf at Renault Winery.

Just A Reminder

Can you believe it? The Atlantic City ShopRite LPGA Classic is this week. If you haven't gotten your tickets, take a minute to get them now.

This great event raised $1.8 million for local area charities. Help continue these charitable efforts that make a tangible contribution to the Greater Atlantic City Area. You can purchase your tickets online from their secure website at: http://www.shopritelpga.org. You can also call an order your tickets at 609-383-8330.

ACGolfer Gets a Makeover

As you may or may not have noticed, the Atlantic City Golf website is in the process of a makeover. This has taken all of his time and has left you short on new posts. But, the main shell in place now with much still left to come. The ACGolfer will get back to posting new entries tomorrow and is expected to make an appearance at an Atlantic City Golf Course on Wednesday. Stay tuned there is some great new content on the way.

A Bottle of Wine With Your Round

One of the Atlantic City area's newest golf courses is Vineyard Golf at Renault Winery, located in Egg Harbor City, NJ, about 30 minutes from Atlantic City. The course was built surrounding the winery and the golfer has the chance to actually gaze at the vineyards while they play (but not as much as you might think). When I was younger, most of this area was back woods trails where we would ride our mountain bikes. The area was pristine then, and it still is today, but in a different way.

As a young course, it will have years of growing in to itself before it is in full bloom. When the season ended last year, they were still installing the pavement for the golf carts and a separate clubhouse. The clubhouse was nearly done at the time but was not open and the cart paths had a ways to go. At any rate, the course is ready and waiting to be played.

The Vineyards is a very nice golf course and from the tips has some real teeth (measuring over 7,000 yards). It has a smooth, clean design and should be enjoyable by any level of golfer. Because of its newness, some of the holes on the back-nine surrounding the clubhouse area were a little rough around the edges. But this is an inevitable part of a new course. Overall, it was always enjoyable to play.

Aside from the golf course, there are two fantastic attractions to be had at the Vineyards that makes this certainly one of the great Atlantic City Golf attractions. The first is Renault Winery. A full service winery with tours and a wonderful restaurant that is a local favorite for Sunday brunches and an elegant location for lunch and dinner. After your round, you can have a tour of the winery, a wine tasting and then hit the gift shop and purchase a wide selection of Renault wines at excellent prices. Our family favorite is the Blueberry Champagne.

To accompany the Vineyards golf course, the Tuscany House was built. This is a fantastically designed hotel and restaurant modeled in an authentic Italian theme. Joseph's Restaurant has an elegant but inviting atmosphere with live music on the weekends and a truly one-of-a-kind bar. My family goes about 2-3 times a year and it is always excellent. I have heard often that when Mr. Milza takes on a project, he does it right and that is certainly the case here.

The Vineyard Golf Course at Renault will be ACGolfer's next round. The Atlantic City area got a well needed shower last night and there might be some lingering showers left before the day is done. We will look to play the course in the next couple of days, which are forecast to be beautiful.

Atlantic City Country Club Goes Public

Atlantic City Country Club is situated on the bay overlooking Atlantic City in Northfield, NJ. The location is certainly pristine, and is in part, the reason it has earned its prestigious reputation. Of special note, Atlantic City Country Club, "proudly carries the distinctions of "The Birthplace of the Birdie," as well as being the site where the term '"Eagle' was coined." A bold admission to say the least.

As long as I can remember, Atlantic City Country Club has been private. Recently, with little or no fan fair, it went public and can now be played by anyone with a bankroll on their hip. Established in 1897, the course has been the location of six USGA Major Championship events. For the last several years, the course has been privately owned by Harrah's Hotel & Casino and was only available to high-rollers and the hotel/casino patrons staying at Harrah's, Caesars, Bally's or Showboat.

To date, the ACGolfer has not played Atlantic City Golf's most famous course, and at these rates, it might still be some time.

Atlantic City Country Club Rates

• May - September
• Monday thru Thursday - $176.20
• Friday, Saturday, Sunday & Holiday's - $201.20
• Rates include green fees, cart, taxes and are subject to change without notice.

While the course has gone public, these prices will certainly limit the number of rounds played at the course by the general public. High prices are not unusual for famous golf courses around the world, but in this case, they make Atlantic City Country Club the most expensive public course in the area, by quite a margin.

Mays Landing Golf Club Under Development

Mays Landing Golf Club is an old time Atlantic City Golf favorite. Historically, this was one of the most played courses by the casino tourists and well-to-do locals. Over the last ten years so many golf high-end golf courses have cropped up in the Atlantic City area, Mays Landing has lost some of its luster and prominence.

If you haven't played Mays Landing in a while you will notice a multitude of housing developments that have been added surrounding the course. And today, you will see even more development under way. Mostly a retirement based community surrounding the course, the near vicinity has sprouted many family oriented communities. Even now, there are even more houses being added. The unfortunate part is that attention to the course could be enhanced. Granted, it is mid-May, and the course is just now recovering from a core-punching, but the course plays much as it did more than 20 years ago.

With the ever evolving quality of courses the area has to offer, Mays Landing needs to really jump start some improvements to once again be known as a must play in the Atlantic City Golf arena. In my humble opinion, a resodding of the first hole really didn't do much to change the course, in a good or bad way. If you are lucky to hit the first fairway, you now will be greeted with new sod. But the remainder of the course could use a facelift.

Over the years the one aspect that was added was a new clubhouse for events. Mays Landing has been a great location for weddings, outings and events. The new clubhouse visible from the 10th fairway is a very nice facility for an event.

But don't get me wrong, Mays Landing is a good and challenging course. It can be on the slow side with my last round lasting well over 5 hours, but the time of day you play is critical. I generally will play after 1pm when the rates subside, and there is an inevitable rush at that time. Noted as the "best Birdie For The Buck", it is a great value and because of this, the course can be crowded.

As my scorecard shows, the ACGolfer's game is still struggling with consistency and endurance. I started off weak on the first hole, then played a solid middle round only to finish on a 6, 6, 6 note. Never a good finish score or good set of numbers from a superstitious perspective. At any rate, it wasn't a bad round and fun was had by the entire group.

I had the opportunity to play with a retired doctor (pediatrician) and his wife (both well in to their 70's). I can only hope that I can make 18 holes when I am in my seventies, or much less be playing golf at all. Her golf swing was reminiscent of Jim Furyk with less distance. However, she would hit every ball 100 yards down the middle of the fairway. It was indeed a pleasure to watch her routinely make double bogey, a great score every hole.

2005 LPGA ShopRite Classic Memories

The 2005 Atlantic City ShopRite LPGA Classic was a hot one. We chose the 2005 Season Clubhouse Pass for the family. This gave us access to the Seaview Clubhouse and the event for the entire week. It was a great perk having access to the clubhouse to sit, eat, cool off and to get a welcomed respite from a somewhat buggy affair. Since I went almost every day, it was a great value to boot.

The ShopRite LPGA Classic is for sure, the biggest event in Atlantic City Golf all year long. Aside from bringing the biggest names in the LPGA, it provides a needed competitive, professional environment to New Jersey Golf (or more specifically, Southern New Jersey golf).

I am anxious to see the roster for this year's event, but as of yet, this information doesn't seem to be on the Atlantic City ShopRite LPGA Classic's website, or on the LPGA's website. There is of course a qualifying round to be run early in the event, but there should be some information regarding the players that have already qualified and committed to the event.

It would seem likely that the defending champ Annika Sorenstam will be there to defend her title. But what about the likes of Michelle Wie? If Michelle makes her Atlantic City Golf debut at the LPGA ShopRite Classic, it would no doubt make some waves and a more dramatic event.

A fond memory of last year was bringing my son, at the time 6 months, to the Tournament. We had luckily positioned ourselves in perfect spot to see Annika as she finished her final round and would head back to the Clubhouse. For a brief moment as she passed, she saw Adam and gave him a big smile. I can only hope that in that fleeting moment, she imparted some magical thought to Adam.

The women at the LPGA events just seem more real than the men. They are more approachable and sociable. After going yearly to the (formerly) Buick Open in New York, the men never have the same atmosphere. I'm excited to watch the women play again this year and I hope for another exciting finish.

ShopRite LPGA Classic News

Golf Course News May 3, 2006
Seaview Resort & Spa announces re-routing of Bay Course
"Seaview Resort & Spa, A Marriott Resort, announced that the Bay Course, one of the two Championship courses on property and host of the 2006 ShopRite LPGA Classic, has been strategically re-routed. The new layout for the Bay Course will enable Seaview’s golf management team to . . ."

Daily Journal May 2, 2006
New layout doesn't worry defending champ
"Organizers of the ShopRite LPGA Classic assured the crowd at the Seaview Marriott Resort Monday that defending champion and world No. 1 Annika Sorenstam . . ."

Asbury Park Press Online March 16, 2006
Area fans getting a fine viewing schedule
"If you love watching golf in person, then the 2006 season is the one you've been waiting for."

Long Drive

After considering several options yesterday, I decided on an old reliable course, McCullough's Emerald Golf Links. They had a scheduled outing that for one reason or another, didn't make it, so the course was open. After getting there and THEN asking the price, $60 I decided to move on down the street to Harbor Pines. It would have cost $109, but thankfully I didn't have to turn them down since they too were having an outing. My third choice was Mays Landing Golf Club, who it turned out was also having and outing. So, after driving all over the Atlantic City area, I settled on The Atlantic County Green Tree Golf Course. The price simply couldn't be beat.

Initially, I was fortunate enough to pair up with a fellow Titleist fan from Atlantic City, but after he quit early, I paired up with a very nice gentleman who does Garage Doors in the Atlantic City area (Gabriel Garage Doors). It was a good paring and he was light hearted, good spirited and very approachable. We later paired up with the Atlantic City High School Golf Coach and a fellow Gym teacher. I, being my early-in-the-season-lazy-self, road while he walked. $28 for a county resident to ride :-)

Green Tree Golf Course is a municipal course where county residents get a discount. It is a great course for the beginner to learn golf and to a large extent, is mostly walkers. It is a woodsy course that doesn't necessarily need a driver. There is a great deal of strategically place swampy water that provides most of the difficulty on the course. The course can be very wet if there has been a lot of rain, but since we are in something of a drought, the course was dry in and in good condition. The greens were slow with little break, but there were plenty of tough pin placements to make it a challenge.

Because a series of four-somes went off before I arrived, and no one showed up to pair with, I started on the back nine and shot an opening 41 (but played better than that). The slow greens were difficult to adjust to after frequent practice sessions at the lightning fast Seaview Resort & Spa practice facility (The Nick Faldo Golf Institute). I proceeded back to the first tee where I paired up with Gabriel. I finished the back nine with a 38 which brought me in at 79. Had I been able to better judge the green speed on the front nine, it would have been a much better round.

Green Tree is located on Sommers Point - Mays Landing Road (this road, as you might have guessed) connects Sommers Point, NJ and Mays Landing, NJ and takes about 30 minutes from AC, making this a great Atlantic City Golf option. The course provides a challenge for all skill levels and for travelers who are not county residents, the price is still extremely competitive. It is predominantly a locals course and lots of walkers (but there are plenty of riders too). However, I always seem to get paired up with good people (a big plus).

Fantastic Friday

We seem to have gotten a reprieve from a storm that was heading east and it will be yet another fine day for Altantic City Golf. My first thought for the day is to play Buena Vista Country Club. It sounds like a record label for a latin group, but here in Southern New Jersey it is a fine golf course located about 40 minutes from Atlantic City. As nice as it is, I seem to rarely find myself playing the course. At $39 before 1pm, it is a good deal to boot.

Not a particularly hard course, it is a traditional tree-lined course that is relatively strait forward. I forgot to ask if they had core-punch the greens, as it would seem that most courses are doing that this time of year. This may contribute to the lower rates given the weather. At any rate, it is a part of the game this time of year and you will be hard pressed to find an Altantic City Golf Course that is pristine right now.

Short and Sweet

It is another fine day for Atlantic City Golf. It has been some time since we have had a day like today. However, I won't be playing today; practice instead. I have little dude for the afternoon, so it is off to our secret practice area/playground for Adam. There are few things I like more than practicing while he romps around the practice area.

Something Is Missing

I didn't have a chance to play White Oaks today. It just didn't work out. Instead, it was 200 balls on the practice range at Blue Heron Pines (Map). It seems these days that I spend more time at the range than on the course. There is something missing in this equasion.

What is it that golfers look forward to each time they go out? Many of us who play are constantly trying to improve and strengthen our games. But what for? I think all of us who play golf have a burning desire to play competitively at some level. Whether it is with your buddies in a foursome, a Wednesday night scramble, a league or even more, golfers need something to work towards.

I often feel in this area, and it may not be localized to the Atlantic City Area, that there is no culmination or event that we work towards. Perhaps it could be the club championship, should I decide to join one again. It simply seems that I am working towards my next round and I never know where that will be until shortly before I tee off. This doesn't provide a mental framework from with to build upon each experience to truly grow and refine your game.

I feel as though there needs to be yet another, more local level of golf competition. It may be time to start something new. A club championship doesn't work, because that is limited to the members of a specific course. If I am going to continue to live in the Atlantic City Area, we need something more than a few 9-hole scrambles with dinner. There needs to be an ongoing competition at multiple levels that culminates with a finale some time in the fall. Nobody is probably reading this, but I would love your ideas.

Full Sun Ahead

Southern New Jersey has escaped from the windy conditions that have plagued us for the last several weeks (at least temporarily). With an expected 70 degrees and considerably less wind, playing conditions for Atlantic City Golf are at its finest. The only question is, "where to play today?" As is so often the case, it will be tough to escape the pressures of the office, but where there is a will, there is a way.

My initial thought for this fine afternoon in Atlantic City is to try Seaview Marriott Resort & Spa. The only problem with Seaview is that they too know how beautiful a day it is and price their rounds accordingly. $99 before 3:00pm is too steep for me. The always affordable, challenging and poorly maintained Frog Rock Golf Course in Hammonton, NJ is an option, but it is not the greatest course for a single to pair up. The most affordable option would have to be Green Tree, an Atlantic County Public Course. This course simply isn't a challenge and a committed golfer will quickly grow out of this short course.

An old favorite some 40 minutes from Atlantic City is Pinelands Golf Course which is a nice old course at an unbelievable rate ($25 after noon). This is a good price for a decent course. Their address claims to be in Mays Landing, but that is a stretch. From the heart of Mays Landing it is at least a 15 minute drive.

Even further west towards Philadelphia is White Oaks. After a quick call, this is clearly the best golf at the most affordable price. This course can be wet at times, but with little rain, it should be in great shape. The 17th is their signature hole. This 200+ yard par-3 is a beauty. From the tips, it will play over 230 yards. It is a great way to close out a nice course. Notoriously slow, but where else would you want to be?

Chip In To Win

Why aren't our rounds this exciting? Because we aren't good enough to make shots like that under those conditions...

Sunday was entirely too busy to watch the conclusion of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans so I had a chance last night to watch it on video. The passion and frustration was apparent in Chris Couch's eyes as he came into the closing holes on Sunday. I had not seen that level of desire in a competitor's eyes in a long time. The intensity in his eyes when he holed out that chip-shot to win, after he had seemingly lost his chance to win outright, was exhilarating. The frustration was equally noticeable in Charles' eyes when he made that shot. And how could you not feel for Fred, who possibly lost one of his last chances at glory on the PGA Tour. We know there will be much more to come from Fred on the Senior Tour, but there is no comparing the two tours.

These smaller events truly give the lesser players a fighting chance to make a name for themselves. But was this really a smaller event? It had the defending Master's champ (fellow lefty Phil) in the lineup and most of other notable names to boot. Chris really stepped up and took the bull in this round. It was a finish to behold with a roller-coaster of emotions. You would have been hard-pressed to cut the tension with a chainsaw.

My trouble-spot what his unorthodox (an understatement) grip. I will admit that I wasn't familiar with Chris Couch, and this grip threw me for a loop. I couldn't see or think of an advantage for this type of grip. How do you get past the teaching pros, high school and college coaches with a grip like that? How do you win on the PGA Tour with a grip like that?

Locally, there are several quality Atlantic City Golf pros of notable mention who I think would probably frown if a student arrived with this grip. While I have never attended them, there are two of notable mention. The better facility is the Nick Faldo Golf Institute at Seaview Marriott Resort. The training area at Seaview is remarkable as is the course(s).

The second is Bob Lennon at Blue Heron Pines. From what I hear, he is probably the best golf teaching pro in the area. He maintains a website http://www.acgolf.com that offers up some great information on Atlantic City Golf for women, juniors and adults alike.

A sincere congrats to Chris Couch for a long and hard fought win.

Blustery Friday at McCullough's

Anyone living in the northeast the last couple of weeks are well aware of the blustery conditions facing us. However, the weather has been beautiful. Days in the 60's with sun that won't stop and only a rare, sporadic event of rain over the last several weeks. These conditions make any golfer yearn for the course. When you add the wind factor, you realize just how much this changes the desire to be out on the course. Steady 15-35 mph winds have made Atlantic City Golf an even greater challenge than normal.

Friday it was off to McCullough's Emerald Golf Links (Map) for a jaunt around the course. I got a late start and there was an outing, which made it even more difficult to get out. After slumming around the clubhouse, they modified me of a three-some that is about to go off on the third hole. I raced out and without any warmup I was teeing off.

To say the wind was a factor on Friday is a monumental understatement. Clad in thermals, turtle-neck and a solid windbreaker, it was bearable, even with a 65 degree day in our midst. When playing the Emerald Links in Egg Harbor Township, NJ, always assume it will be at least 10 degrees colder than what it is forecast to be. Seeing people on the course in shorts and collared t-shirt freezing made this piece of local knowledge all the more valuable.

McCullough's retains the honor of having the high-point of Atlantic County. As such, the wind is always more of a factor. The course itself is still in winter mode for the most part. The tall grasses and reeds that frame the holes were still cut short but overall the course was in good condition.

Friday's are usually tough for me with a late start. Every Friday is dinner with my parents. This is one of the most enjoyable parts of my week. My wife and I pack-up my son and off to a restaurant we have been going to for almost 20 years. This 6:00 pm event cut my round short and with a late start, I was only able to squeeze in 11 holes. It was truly a shame, since one of my favorite holes in Southern New Jersey was still to come in the round, but I had to go.

The 15th hole is a short par-4 that is cut behind the trees on the right. You could call this a dog-leg right, but that wouldn't be a great description, but it is none-the-less accurate. This is a drivable hole, but for a lefty, it is quite a challenge. For first-timers to this hole, it is worth laying up in the fairway, just to see the hole from down in the valley.

Every hole at McCullough's Emerald Golf Links is designed after a famous hole located around the world, and this hole is modeled after the Royal Dornoch No. 5 in Scotland. This beautiful hole is always a lot of fun and it gives you a choice of how to play it. At any rate, we will have to leave this hole for another day to play.