In the high-stakes world of Atlantic City golf, the best keep getting better
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (March 2015) – Featuring more than a dozen of New Jersey’s highest ranked golf courses – including categories like “Top Public Courses,” “Favorite Golf Professional” and “Top Customer Service” – Atlantic City and the Jersey Shore are growing by leaps and bounds, and quickly becoming one of the East Coast’s premier golf destinations.
Not content with resting on their laurels, however, Atlantic City area courses have numerous improvements and upgrades planned for 2015. Below are a just a handful of the many things going on around the Boardwalk this spring:
• The Ottinger Family of golf courses that include Atlantic City Country Club, Ballamor Golf Club and Scotland Run Golf Club are completing major construction and renovation projects. Atlantic City Country Club, the historic, 117 year old club and birthplace of the birdie, is renovating and restoring all greenside bunkers on Holes 4, 6, 8, 12, 15 and 17. A halfway house is being built and will open in time for the golf season. Equally significant clubhouse renovations include a complete makeover to the entryway and lobby, John J. McDermott Room, James “Sonny” Fraser Room, Leo Fraser Library, Grand Ballroom, two private dining rooms, restrooms and corridors. In addition, an all-new bridal suite overlooking the golf course with breathtaking views of the Atlantic City skyline will be completed and equipped with every imaginable amenity. An impressive new exterior façade will be designed providing the clubhouse with a much more stately entrance. Meanwhile, Scotland Run will also undergo bunker renovations. Both Atlantic City Country Club and Scotland Run Golf Club will remain open during these enhancements.
• At Blue Heron Pines, the popular Ron Jaworski Celebrity Golf Challenge is scheduled June 14-15. In preparation, more than 200 trees were taken down around the golf course to improve play and turf conditions around this Stephen Kay design.
• The news at Brigantine Golf Links is … well … the name “Brigantine Golf Links.” Formerly The Links at Brigantine Beach, along with a new name, the club is sporting a new fleet of YAMAHA golf cars, a new set of family golf tees and some new senior tees, as well as an enhanced Foot Golf course.
• Eagle Ridge Golf Club is the newest Atlantic City golf offering in 2015. Located only minutes off the Garden State Parkway near Toms River, Eagle Ridge features a stunning 27-hole championship golf course designed by Brian Ault. Opened in 1999, it is nestled within the lush natural pines of Northern Ocean County and feels more like playing in the Carolinas than Central Jersey. Renowned for its exceptional conditions, the course is just minutes from the Jersey Shore and centrally located an hour from New York City, Philadelphia and Atlantic City.
• Harbor Pines Golf Club remains one of the top conditioned courses in New Jersey and recently 15 bunker upgrades were completed in time for the 2015 golf season, including new drainage and premium white sand. Harbor Pines welcomed new Executive Chef Joe DiLuzio, who will appear in an upcoming episode of “Chopped” on the Food Network. In addition, the Golf Tournament Association of America has recently certified Debbie Stevenson in “Golf Tournament Planning.” She is the only certified tournament planner in South Jersey.
• Mays Landing Golf & Country Club will select a Sunday each month for a “Golf Appreciation Day” and charge only the twilight rate for tee times the entire day. Celebrating its 55th anniversary, Mays Landing hosts an “Ultimate Demo Day” to demo just about anything from golf clubs, balls and other golf-related items to others like vehicles, RVs, tractors and cell phones.
• McCullough’s Emerald Golf Links now offers online Golf Vacation Packages for the Atlantic City and South Jersey Region. Golfers can choose from hundreds of discounted combinations of accommodations and courses. McCullough’s recently completed an enclosed deck to accommodate up to 120 golfers – ideal for large outings and enjoying a post-round beverage overlooking the 18th hole. Onsite Library III, a decades-old landmark steakhouse, continues to serve up its well-known steak and king crab menu, salad bar, books, cooks and wait staff.
• Sea Oaks Country Club recently received a new fleet of 2015 golf carts that house on-cart coolers and a USB port for those golfers that just can’t be without their devices. Sea Oaks has also recently expanded its outdoor veranda patio area overlooking the 18th green. The Grill Room added five new TVs (totaling nine) so golfers can see any game from any area. In addition, Sea Oaks implemented the PGA Initiative “Tee It Forward” by adding a sixth teeing area – a green tee box between the gold tee and the most forward red tee box.
• Shore Gate Golf Club will continue its “Play 12 after 12” program this season. The popular 12-hole round is played in about three hours. Even David Fay, the former Executive Director of the United States Golf Association who played numerous 12 hole rounds at Shore Gate, commented “this is the type of innovative thinking we need to grow the game.”
• Over the winter months at Stockton Seaview Hotel & Golf Club the resort performed a tee box and cosmetic renovation on its Pines Course. The renovations included stripping of all sod on the current tee boxes, re-shaping of tee boxes to maximize playable areas, laser leveling of new boxes and laying of new sod. Seaview also performed a complete cosmetic renovation as well, which included all new tee markers, tee signs, history wall, new flags, flagpoles and bunker rakes. A Sam Snead plaque was placed on the 16th hole to commemorate his 1942 PGA Championship victory. The event had nine holes played on the Bay and nine on the Pines. The 16th hole – then the 8th hole on the Pines Course and 17th for the Championship – was where Snead chipped in to defeat Jim Turnesa 2 & 1 and capture his first major championship.
The word is quickly getting out that golf groups can visit Atlantic City and expect top-rated golf courses, hotels and casinos options, along with the best nightlife and fantastic restaurants. Learn more about all 17 Atlantic City courses and book your golf getaway at www.PlayACGolf.com.
PlayAC Golf in 2015
For all the glitz and glimmer of the high-rise gambling casinos that light up the night across this unique Atlantic Ocean-side city, there’s another side to the destination – a daylight version beyond the reimagined world-famous boardwalk and beaches. An easy drive from the major metropolitan areas along the East Coast, Atlantic City caters to golfers with a wide variety of accommodations from economy rooms to full-scale suites, casinos, more than 150 restaurants and bars, world-class spas, top name concerts and comedy shows, innovative nightlife, designer shopping, the beach, the boardwalk and pulsating casino games. These layouts range from links style to parkland style to classic gems to out-of-control modern marvels. Whatever your passion, every golf course within the Atlantic City arsenal has been ordered to deliver an experience that you will not soon forget.
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Contact:
Martin Armes, 919-608-7260, martin@marketinggolf.com
Brad King, 336-306-9219, brad@marketinggolf.com
