stream "Then coming to Penn State was a culture shock because I was 20, and I couldn't get into bars. It was great to be so involved.. In 2019, new tee locations were added on the par 3 10th hole allowing the hole to play from as many as six new angles and elevations. Golf Courses, Sinking Spring, PA The average individual club membership is $520 per month, according to a survey by Golf Digest. Its perhaps no surprise that FitzGerald believes in the Blinder product; on some level, every entrepreneurial venture requires that belief. Its just an ideal piece of property for an old style course.. These are essential for both sides. Indeed, things didnt stabilize for FitzGerald and LedgeRock until about 2011. Its about engaging the young kids, often between 6 and 13 years of age, in a fun and supportive environment. With the programs that Miller has in place and the high level of service and selection in Halvoniks golf shop, the stage is set for the growth experienced in 2020 to continue well into the future. They may play up to 20 rounds of golf per year and have access to all club facilities, including overnights at Kohl Lodge, the club's on-site guest cottage . 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. Its also hard to come by the aggregates you need in some cases.. The Great Recession hit the following autumn, and private clubs started dropping like flies all over Pennsylvania and across the nation. We had a 100-year storm, then a 300-year storm (a) pattern that seemed to repeat all summer. Blinder has been operating in Europe for a decade, where, unlike in North America, its one of the most recognizable names in bunker liners. days before the event. No local tournaments listed for this course. For instance, kids will have to run forty yards, make a two-foot putt and run back. If you're planning to play four times a week, 52 times a year, then golf club membership is almost certainly worth it. Be it standard, regional or national, membership in LedgeRock Golf Club is offered by invitation only and remains subject to the board of managers approval. What you wont see on the primary scorecard is a nine-hole short course that measures 1,298 yards and has a scorecard of its own. According to some estimates, 50% of private golf club members eat at their club 1 out of 10 dining out experiences. "I spent the summer there, then went back to Penn State. By 1996, he was off to Penn State. He was around the game all his life but never considered a career in golf until he took a summer job at Mount Juliet, the Jack Nicklaus-designed resort a half-hour from his home. While Jones doesnt recall that exact moment from 15 years ago, he does remember how easy it was and still is to work with the Irishman. They represent opportunity for LedgeRock, as well.. We havent made any real money on this venture yet. 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. These bunkers just do not fail, FitzGerald says. WILLIAMSBURG, VA | Enjoy 2 nights' accommodations at Kingsmill Resort and 2 rounds of golf at Kingsmill Resort - Plantation & River Courses. Our premier event of the year, The Rock Member Guest, was an absolute blast! Their traditional country club cultures resisted these changes, said Hirsh, owner of Conshohocken, Pa.-based Golf Property Analysts. Loch Lomond in Scotland where Penn State grad Ken Siems was superintendent, was deemed the perfect fit. We have to do a lot more volume in order to make any real money. Even though the greens were just aerated last week, they still rolled pretty true and were very receptive to approach shots. 4 0 obj 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. 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. Each one has their strong and weak points. John Reitman August 20, 2021, By "The first year there was miserable, but then it became fun. So, I came back to them: What if I imported it for you and you taught me how to do it? Hes personable, and a hard worker thats why he is where he is today. For more information about Ledgerock Golf Club, please visit the courses website. The young Irishman, newly married, would eventually spend six years at Pine Valley. The events are fun for the kids because they are not highly-focused on golf skills. Read the latest feature stories from the PGA of America to learn how the game is growing on and off the course. Required fields are marked *. But I got the assistant's job at Pine Valley, and that made me stay. Course acreage is simply worth way more as housing if the zoning allows it. ". But as a regional club, its market actually extends well past Harrisburg, north of Reading, south to Lancaster and all the way into the western Main Line suburbs. I wouldnt say Ive procrastinated on it, but I couldve done it sooner It was a handy excuse to get out of jury duty.. Hes outside the box. 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. The exacerbating factor is often club debt, much of it accrued prior to the 2008 recession. TheGolfMembershipSpot directory includes thousands of golf & country clubs offering regional, national and corporate golf membership opportunities. This is a very dramatic site topographically. All rights reserved. Ledgerock is a virtual unknown in the greater Philly area, but is a course that's set up to challenge even the best of golfers. 2023 North Coast Media LLC, All Rights Reserved. 4.4 If you want to hit all the clubs in your bag play here.". Gerry Heller, CCM manages the course as the General Manager. The golf course at LedgeRock GC was designed by architect Rees Jones. 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. I had a much better year. The award includes a Golfdom cover story celebrating the honorees accomplishments, as well as expenses-paid trips to the Golfdom Summit and the Golf Industry Show. 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 . 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. Well see how this new market reacts. But golfers dont just stop playing because their club went public. Ohio. During the Great Recession, LedgeRock focused on a regional strategy to help broaden its membership base, though the course didnt stabilize until 2011. (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. That's an extreme case but you will need to do some sums to . Whats more, he didnt buy Blinder Bunker International. FitzGerald calls the workload back in those early days completely nuts, as the project manager left for a different project, and the weather refused to cooperate. Panelists. People have forgotten how to talk to people! Essentially, the base is compactable road stone, a solid, consistent surface that water runs along and does not penetrate, he says. Alan Fitzgerald was really impressed with Blinders heavy, porous, seamless and flexible design. 2023 North Coast Media LLC, All Rights Reserved. The par-4 17th is slated for renovation next year. This trend is not limited to the Hamptons. Well see how this new market reacts.. Welcome To Your Club Watch on Golf About Amenities Guest Information "He called me, and told me to expect a phone call from Rick. How will that work for you? We had that kind of relationship. 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. At the time, I was young, and I had no idea how huge it was.". "He was a Penn State grad, I had friends there and my dad's family was from around there. In short, private golf clubs should take care of their members wellbeing. But here again, LedgeRocks founders showed great tenacity. Seriously, what impressed me about him was his ability at a young age to think outside the box to get things accomplished. Member Login. (Photo: Larry Lambrecht), I wasnt hired as any sort of construction superintendent. Their dues and initiation fees are slightly higher full membership is more expensive still but regional member may play up to 50 rounds a year. Thats so important in todays world. Every hole looks different. Request Membership Information Membership at LedgeRock Golf Club is by invitation only. "Most superintendents, when they come here, ask 'how do you do that?' But after some 15 years of research, test bunkers and cost-benefit analyses, he believes hes found the best bunker liner system out there. With lodging here and our unique golf-only approach, weve recognized our niche and folks are eager to buy in., Your email address will not be published. Registered previously? Im going through the U.S. citizenship process right now, FitzGerald says with a wry smile. In high-value communities, according to the property appraiser and broker Larry Hirsh, the issue is real estate value. Designed by Rees Jones, ASGCA, the Ledgerock golf course opened in 2006. FitzGerald grew up in Castlecomer, in the southeast of Ireland. % The big thing, obviously, is to be sure the club is on board. Larry Hirsh, the owner of Conshohocken, Pa.-based Golf Property Analysts says. Current member? LedgeRock provides a sanctuary for golfers of all ages and . 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. Heller reports that several members, rendered clubless by the Harrisburg closings, have already joined LedgeRock. Categories of Membership, For the Avid Golfer, For the Traveling Golfer, Culinary . "I just shake my head and say 'Don't ask. But we havent lost any either. Slopes are so severe that one hillside is named in honor of the Toro mowers used to keep it clipped. This membership includes unlimited Golf and Club Amenities, listed on page 2, for the primary Member, spouse and any children under the age of 23 who are living at home or a full-time student. The Ledgerock Golf Club is a private 18 hole facility located near Reading, Pennsylvania. Its awful to see clubs closing. At the time, I was young, and I had no idea how huge it was. <> They stayed with it, so thats what we did as well.. Welcome To Your Club Watch on Golf About Amenities Guest Information The course plays through wooded and open areas with streams and ponds coming into play on several holes. Alan really knows how to relate to people, Jones says. It also tends to build up the diverse, real-world experience that sets elite golf course superintendents apart. tennis courts, swimming pools, spa & wellness services, fitness, etc.). Please know that it is the responsibility of the host to advise the vendor of our club policies. And he remains philosophical about how this outside business project plays into his natural ability to multitask a trait most superintendents develop early in their careers. If I were a private golf clubs manager in addition to investing in customer experience development, I would also try to create a sense of community. At first, I just wanted to get it done, but when I did it, it was very emotional. Ledgerock Golf Club. 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. The most outstanding feature at Ledgerock is the dramatic topography. 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. But were getting there.. All rights reserved. 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