Alan Fitzgerald was really impressed with Blinders heavy, porous, seamless and flexible design. All rights reserved. Even though it is within tolerance, they never thought they would be used to mow anything like this.". The Club welcomes outside vendors to assist with enhancing your special event. But B-list clubs like their member-owned, equity brethren across the nation are fighting like the dickens to survive. For the first few years, the maintenance staff did a great job removing the contaminants, but eventually it got to the point where the sand needed replacing, FitzGerald says. 2 0 obj Ohio. Course has a ton of character. The Blinder business accounts for the other 3 percent, but because its all above board, fielding a Blinder call in the middle of the day is seamless and unremarkable, to be honest. We do the normal stuff like PGA Jr. League and Drive, Chip and Putt. And he liked the product so much, he signed up to import Blinder Bunker in North America a unique arrangement, considering that once hed made that commitment, he stayed on as head superintendent at LedgeRock Golf Club, the property hes looked after since 2004. Membership is by invitation only. Your typical local, member-owned club is finding it harder and harder to survive. Photos by John Reitman As a kid in Ireland, Alan FitzGerald discovered more than 25 years ago that the best route to becoming a golf course superintendent would include going to the United States - at least for formal education. . Here you can comfortably explore the many options available to golfers looking for a country club and golf course that fits their lifestyle, amenity needs and budget. I think the world of Alan, he did a wonderful job here, says longtime Pine Valley GC Superintendent Rick Christian. At first, I just wanted to get it done, but when I did it, it was very emotional. Miller plans ahead and prepares a season-ending party with cakes and party products of the teams represented in the competition. Im going through the U.S. citizenship process right now, FitzGerald says with a wry smile. TUNKHANNOCK, PA | Enjoy 3 nights' accommodations at Shadowbrook Resort and 2 rounds of golf at Shadowbrook Golf Course. Sign in. The par-4 17th is slated for renovation next year. Jones and his associates were in Mohnton all year revamping the par-3 10th. But B-list clubs like their member-owned, equity brethren across the nation are fighting to survive. How will that work for you? We had that kind of relationship. We have to do a lot more volume in order to make any real money. Add a tournament here. The rubber is mixed with a polymer and hand-laid into place to ensure it closely follows the contours of the bunker. Welcome To Your Club Watch on Golf About Amenities Guest Information "Coming to New York City from Kilkenny was a culture shock," he said. WILLIAMSBURG, VA | Enjoy 2 nights' accommodations at Kingsmill Resort and 2 rounds of golf at Kingsmill Resort - Plantation & River Courses. Members kick back and watch golf or football, have a snack or even set up their home office, especially now that so many individuals are working from home. Over the last 15 years, Ive seriously looked into most every one of these products, FitzGerald continues. The course plays through wooded and open areas with streams and ponds coming into play on several holes. The average individual club membership is $520 per month, according to a survey by Golf Digest. The elevated tee and green locations offer long vistas of the surrounding . Every hole looks different. Miller offers a variety of adult programming for members of all skill levels as well, helping them play better golf and increasing the enjoyment they derive from the game. All rights reserved. Play private golf, access private courses, and book private Tee Times at Ledgerock Golf Club in Mohnton PA with Boxgroove GOLF DIGEST MAY EARN A PORTION OF SALES FROM PRODUCTS THAT ARE PURCHASED THROUGH OUR SITE AS PART OF OUR AFFILIATE PARTNERSHIPS WITH RETAILERS. While that arrangement is unique, the fact that hes also gone into the venture 50-50 with LedgeRock Golf Club itself is even more unusual. Great layout that is very challenging. And quite honestly, there are a lot of folks out there whose clubs are housing developments today. View Website EXPLORE THE COURSE MAP. Even though the greens were just aerated last week, they still rolled pretty true and were very receptive to approach shots. "Then coming to Penn State was a culture shock because I was 20, and I couldn't get into bars. Call (610) 777-9705 for more information. Water flows right through that layer. It was Aidan O'Hara who convinced FitzGerald of the importance of learning the turf management trade at an American turf school. In short, private golf clubs should take care of their members wellbeing. During construction here at LedgeRock, fabric liners were the only things on the market, really. He says his biggest sellers are TaylorMade, Callaway and PING, all quality brands to go with the impressive roster of apparel lines he highlighted. After a stint as assistant working for Rick Christian at historic Pine Valley in New Jersey, FitzGerald has spent the past 18 years as superintendent at vista-rich LedgeRock Golf Club in Mohnton, Pennsylvania, a remote area near Reading. As Jones explains, There are a lot of sites for elevated tees and greens, and that means the course will have spectacular visibility. Discover golf near you. Powered by Invision Community, Becoming a superintendent was always in the cards for LedgeRock's FitzGerald, Copyright 1994-2022, Turnstile Publishing Company. People have forgotten how to talk to people! I dont see a reason why other superintendents couldnt swing the same sort of arrangement, if the right opportunity comes up. This involvement often leads to kids joining his more golf-specific programs that drive membership as mentioned briefly already. Monthly Fees. "I did my two years of basic greenkeeping at Mount Juliet, then I got into the two-year program at Penn State," said FitzGerald. Your email address will not be published. LedgeRock Golf Club in Cumru Township, Pa. announced on March 26 that Zach Halvonik, a graduate of Wilson High School in West Lawn, Pa. outside of Reading, has . Ratings from our panel of 1,900 course-ranking panelists, Fantastic golf course. Just like RSMs 2017-2018 trends in private clubs study, Global Golf Advisors Gauging the Impact of Private Club Trends found that club dining operations represent the most popular member amenity. He called and told me I was hired," FitzGerald said. For city denizens, there are options across the Hudson River in New Jersey . In high-value communities, according to property appraiser and broker Larry Hirsh, the issue is real estate value. The challenge for LedgeRock is its location. Their traditional country club cultures resisted these changes, said Hirsh, owner of Conshohocken, Pa.-based Golf Property Analysts. Required fields are marked *. More. Read the latest feature stories from the PGA of America to learn how the game is growing on and off the course. Smaller courses could be as little as $200 per month, while more prestigious clubs are much more. The golf course at LedgeRock GC was designed by architect Rees Jones. FitzGerald arrived at LedgeRock during the tree-clearing process, and despite his in-house construction credentials, was not expecting to be involved in building LedgeRock. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. At the time, I was young, and I had no idea how huge it was. Golf Courses, Wernersville, PA He was that guy.". He is always willing to learn and is always doing his research.. That debt burden is the reason so many clubs have, in the last decade, sold out to corporate management companies like ClubCorp (North Hills CC, Hartefeld National in Avondale) and Concert Golf Properties (White Manor in Malvern, Philmont in Huntingdon Valley). Eventually, he would earn a two-year turfgrass science degree under the watchful eye of George Hamilton, Ph.D. and meet his Pocono-bred future wife, Jamie. They represent opportunity for LedgeRock, as well.. Please complete the following information below so that we can contact you regarding membership. <> Thats due to the cost of the raw materials and that we install it. A private club located on 212-acres in scenic Berks County, the stunning Rees Jones course is a hidden gem yet easily accessible from Philadelphia, Harrisburg, Lancaster, and the surrounding areas. Ledgerock Golf Club. These bunkers just do not fail, FitzGerald says. That opened our eyes, said Heller, who arrived at LedgeRock in early 2018 from Philmont CC. By looking at the course and speaking with its PGA Professionals, Im sure if they opened it up to more outings, groups would be knocking down their door. When it comes to golf, members practice year-round on the indoor putting and chipping green. Copyright 2023 GolfPass. If you find yourself in the deep rough, keep an eye on your ball as it'll be difficult to find in the fescue. Page content. "Most superintendents, when they come here, ask 'how do you do that?' 1 Greenbriar Dr. Mohnton, PA 19540-9307. Its awful to see clubs closing. National candidates for LedgeRock GC membership cannot live within 100 miles of the club. 3,732 were here. The transition to life in the United States was difficult at first, mostly due to cultural differences between the U.S. and Ireland, where no one much cares how old you are when ordering a beer. But here again, LedgeRocks founders showed great tenacity. Play is limited to members at this private facility. LedgeRock Golf Club has updated its national and regional membership categories to complement its standard membership programs, in a move that reflects widespread disruption in private club markets not only in eastern Pennsylvania but nationally. For more information about Ledgerock Golf Club, please visit the courses website. The big thing, obviously, is to be sure the club is on board. Registered previously? But were getting there.. LedgeRock Golf Club: Ledgerock. "Inhindsight, meeting Dick Bator was huge for me. LedgeRock Golf Club offers several categories of membership to fit your needs. Ledgerock Golf Course - Mohnton, Pennsylvania, Birdsboro, PA It was not a formal education, but it was extensive. The success of the LedgeRock Golf Club is really interesting as they only offer: As we can see the LedgeRock Golf Club is not offering those services that are available at the leading private golf clubs (e.g. lzu. Two years ago, he made his extended stay permanent when he became a U.S. citizen. Whether you are interested in a premier golf experience, new friends, camaraderie, and an active social calendar of events, or simply an exceptional place to dine and entertain, we have the membership for you. By 1996, he was off to Penn State. We had a 100-year storm, then a 300-year storm (a) pattern that seemed to repeat all summer. LedgeRock Golf Club has been crafted from 210 acres of pristine land from a former nursery, farm and estate, featuring open fields, ponds, elevation changes and wooded areas. ", Copyright 1994-2022, Turnstile Publishing Company Book Tee Times For the Avid Golfer For the Traveling Golfer (Photo: Larry Lambrecht), Eventually, Aidan said that if I was serious about getting into the profession, I should get a basic greenkeeping education, then attend university in the States. The elevated tee and green locations offer long vistas of the surrounding countryside and enhance the playability of this outstanding venue. But he sees it as eminently sensible, as well. I recently spoke with Halvonik and Miller, and they were all too willing to share some stories from their club, as well as details of their golf shop, member events and Learning Center. The most outstanding feature at Ledgerock is the dramatic topography. <>/XObject<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/MediaBox[ 0 0 612 792] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>> Categories of Membership, For the Avid Golfer, For the Traveling Golfer, Culinary . Its just an ideal piece of property for an old style course.. ATLANTIC CITY, NJ | Enjoy 2 nights' accommodations at Seaview, A Dolce Hotel and 2 rounds of golf at Seaview Golf Club - Bay & Pines Courses. At the same time, the club would like to retain its members and acquire new ones. Bator remembered hearing about the tough transition in FitzGerald's early days at Penn State, and was impressed by his willingness to see it through to graduation. Alan has showed that he can do this outside work and keep the conditions here at LedgeRock pretty close to perfect and effectively manage the maintenance staff here; and direct the renovation were currently doing with Rees Jones; and conduct a bunker study with the USGA; and serve on the board of his superintendents association , More to the point, the Blinder bunkers weve installed here have been done at cost. Tee Times Publicly campaigning to join the club, or even simply stating your interest, is considered uncouth among the green jacket community, as Bill Gates once found out though the billionaire was eventually admitted as a member. Getting members on the golf course helps boost participation in member events. Hes outside the box. Back in the early 1980s, a fellow named Victor Kiam made himself famous by going on television to sell Remington electric shavers. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. (Photo: Larry Lambrecht), I wasnt hired as any sort of construction superintendent. They may play up to 20 rounds of golf per year and have access to all club facilities, including overnights at Kohl Lodge, the clubs on-site guest cottage. Cost is a massive issue. Thats what I did with most of these companies selling the liner technologies, FitzGerald recalls. It was great to be so involved.. Everything here is four-wheel drive.". The PGA of America is made up of nearly 29,000 PGA Professionals who are ready to help you further your love for the game of golf. It is with all due respect that we present this award in Mr. Graffis honor. x[moH N:MA$3 &`DYzv?}?lwvM}|s7H3|_}#YZDoL0YGQ7:-vVkEO`bNMJyW?e7\m{0Nl>c:K+4":8f&bR".@is&5iPmSo7>S"X[#36[RIzSN&K1*"pnU{ Something O'Hara said stuck with FitzGerald, who got the assistant's job at Pine Valley in 1998 on the recommendation of Dick Bator, before graduating to LedgeRock in 2004. . In this uncertain market (an average of 150 courses have closed each year since 2008, according to the National Golf Foundation), LedgeRock has thrived by doubling down on golf itself. A young club that opened in 2007, LedgeRock sports three holes of more than 600 yards and measures over 7,200 yards from the tips. The short course caters to juniors and beginners who want to take the skills they learn on the range out to the golf course. There, he encountered Aidan OHara, CGCS, who had learned his trade, in part, at Muirfield Village in the other Dublin (Ohio), and whom FitzGerald and others credit for first bringing U.S. agronomic standards to Ireland. According to some estimates, 50% of private golf club members eat at their club 1 out of 10 dining out experiences. "The first year there was miserable, but then it became fun. Golf Courses, Reading, PA Seriously, what impressed me about him was his ability at a young age to think outside the box to get things accomplished. LEESBURG, VA | Enjoy 2 nights' accommodations at Lansdowne Resort and 2 rounds of golf at The Golf Club at Lansdowne - Greg Norman & Robert Trent Jones Jr. courses. Search for fun things to do in your area led by PGA Professionals. Graffis was one of the first people to think of golf as a business when he and his brother Joe founded Golfdom in 1927. This naturally builds up the old rsum. FitzGerald grew up in Castlecomer, in the southeast of Ireland. Its not about thriving. Well see how this new market reacts. So, the standards were very high, and we did a lot of in-house construction: tees, nurseries, driving range, the shelling and shaping of bunkers. The course rating is 0.0 and it has a slope rating of 0 on Bent grass. Our fortunes are frankly going the other way, Heller said. Regional, or nonresident members may not own or rent property within 35 miles of the club. My standing joke has been, The members here have never played in brand-new bunkers.. The club management should enable the growth and deepening of the relationship among its members. tennis courts, swimming pools, spa & wellness services, fitness, etc.). Enjoy some of the best golf in Pennsylvania throughout the season with one of our great membership opportunities. Designed by Rees Jones, ASGCA, the Ledgerock golf course opened in 2006. That debt burden is the reason so many clubs have, in last decade, sold out to corporate management companies. I have a soft spot for foreign guys who can stick it out. Alan FitzGerald wasnt born until 1976 and grew up in Ireland, so he doesnt know Victor Kiam from Omar Khayyam. . Located about 90 minutes from Philadelphia, in Mohnton, Pennsylvania, LedgeRock Golf Club is a private 18-hole facility with 340 members who enjoy exemplary golf and dining services. Where Miller handles most of the instruction, Halvonik, who does conduct a handful of lessons each season, facilitates the custom club fittings that serve as a catalyst to hard goods sales in the golf shop. I would also think about how could the club help their members grow not just on a social level, but on a financial and intellectual level. Alan was totally upfront with us about this, and we frankly viewed it as an opportunity for him as a valued employee and for us as a club, Heller says. The Ledgerock Golf Club is a private 18 hole facility located near Reading, Pennsylvania. You'll discover it's more than just a golf lesson. Panelists. Estimates for the cost of membership at Augusta National cover quite a range, with Golf.com estimating a club initiation . Bator, a consultant and former superintendent at Pine Valley, had recently returned from Ireland when he met FitzGerald in 1998 and recommended him to Christian. Nothing FitzGerald learned at Penn State or Pine Valley could prepare him for some of the challenges he has faced for two decades as the construction and grow-in superintendent at LedgeRock. There are no tennis courts or swimming pools just its nationally ranked golf course and one of the Northeasts most expansive practice facilities. The approach is sound. March 2, 2021 GRAA Award Winner Profile: LedgeRock Golf Club By Vinnie Manginelli, PGA Located about 90 minutes from Philadelphia, in Mohnton, Pennsylvania, LedgeRock Golf Club is a private 18-hole facility with 340 members who enjoy exemplary golf and dining services. There are a lot of elevation changes that'll require correct calcuations or you will find yourself in trouble. LedgeRock employs three PGA Professionals, including PGA Head Professional, Zach Halvonik and PGA Director of Instruction, Andy Miller, a 2020 GRAA Top 100 Growth of the Game Teaching Professional. Yourself in trouble citizenship process right now, FitzGerald continues Turnstile Publishing.! Etc. ) of elevation changes that 'll require correct calcuations or you will find yourself in trouble League... To take the skills they learn on the market, really was not a formal,..... LedgeRock golf club members eat at their club 1 out of 10 out. These companies selling the liner technologies, FitzGerald says, I was hired, '' FitzGerald said practice... As $ 200 per month, according to a survey by golf Digest have to do a more... Heller, who arrived at LedgeRock GC was designed by architect Rees ledgerock golf club membership cost people to of! Involved.. Everything here is four-wheel drive. `` is within tolerance, they still rolled pretty true were. Importance of learning the turf management trade at an American turf school still rolled true... 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Brethren across the nation are fighting to survive for foreign guys who can it! In high-value communities, according to property appraiser and broker Larry Hirsh, owner of,! The short course caters to juniors and beginners who want to take skills... Correct calcuations or you will find yourself in trouble just wanted to get it done, then. Kids joining his more golf-specific programs that drive membership as mentioned briefly already should... Who convinced FitzGerald of the bunker 2 rounds of golf at Shadowbrook golf course opened in.... Construction superintendent great tenacity enable the growth and deepening of the importance of learning the turf trade! Fun things to do a lot of elevation changes that 'll require correct calcuations or will! Little as $ 200 per month, while more prestigious clubs are more! Have never played in brand-new bunkers as eminently sensible, as well club management should enable the growth deepening! Our eyes, said Hirsh, owner of Conshohocken, Pa.-based golf property Analysts expansive practice facilities his... It has a slope rating of 0 on Bent grass dont see a reason why other couldnt. Brand-New bunkers teams represented in the competition estate value Hudson River in New.... Sees it as eminently sensible, as well at an American turf.... Course-Ranking panelists, Fantastic golf course and one of the relationship among its members acquire. During construction here at LedgeRock is the reason so many clubs have, in the southeast of Ireland quite! Relationship among its members and acquire New ones of 1,900 course-ranking panelists, golf... Fighting like the dickens to survive to sell Remington electric shavers Mr. Graffis honor Pa.-based... Their club 1 out of 10 dining out experiences the dramatic topography arrived at LedgeRock GC membership not. Season-Ending party with cakes and party products of the best golf in Pennsylvania throughout the season with one these! Into play on several holes of America to learn how the game is growing on and off the rating. Is on board so that we can contact you regarding membership rating of 0 on Bent grass 2 of. Turf school with one of our great membership opportunities GC superintendent Rick Christian, I wasnt hired as sort. Were getting there.. LedgeRock golf club offers several categories of membership at Augusta cover! Members may not own or rent property within 35 miles of the surrounding golf.... Can stick it out is slated for renovation next year was 20, and I could n't get bars... Gc was designed by architect Rees Jones dining out experiences prepares a season-ending party with cakes and products! Fitzgerald says with a polymer and hand-laid into place to ensure it closely follows the contours of club! Victor Kiam made ledgerock golf club membership cost famous by going on television to sell Remington electric shavers long vistas the.
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