3 0 obj WILLIAMSBURG, VA | Enjoy 2 nights' accommodations at Kingsmill Resort and 2 rounds of golf at Kingsmill Resort - Plantation & River Courses. 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. 1 Greenbriar Dr , Mohnton , , 19540-9307. The secondary thing is, if the club said, No way, you have to be prepared for that and have a Plan B. "When they saw it, their engineers panicked," FitzGerald said. Getting members on the golf course helps boost participation in member events. But after some 15 years of research, test bunkers and cost-benefit analyses, he believes hes found the best bunker liner system out there. When it comes to golf, members practice year-round on the indoor putting and chipping green. 2023 North Coast Media LLC, All Rights Reserved. I have a soft spot for foreign guys who can stick it out. 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 before, I will share with you some ideas that can help you if your golf club is in a similar situation to the LedgeRock Golf Club. The challenge for LedgeRock is its location. This trend is not limited to the Hamptons. Wed fix everything after a storm and everything would just wash out again, FitzGerald says with a shrug. "Most superintendents, when they come here, ask 'how do you do that?' The 18-hole Ledgerock course at the LedgeRock Golf Club facility in Mohnton, features 7,191 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 72. The 18-hole "Ledgerock" course at the LedgeRock Golf Club facility in Mohnton, Pennsylvania features 7,191 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 72. Gerry Heller, CCM manages the course as the General Manager. He's from Ireland, so I felt sorry for him. According to FitzGerald, in 10 years and more than 1,000 bunkers, there have been zero failures. Two years ago, he made his extended stay permanent when he became a U.S. citizen. But costs could climb above $1000 per month when you add in various fees such as storage and golf cart fees. There has to be something in it for them. Designed by Rees Jones, ASGCA, the Ledgerock golf course opened in 2006. 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. Well see how this new market reacts.. LedgeRock was designed by Rees Jones and captures the essence of a classic old style course with scenic beauty and original landscapes. GOLF DIGEST MAY EARN A PORTION OF SALES FROM PRODUCTS THAT ARE PURCHASED THROUGH OUR SITE AS PART OF OUR AFFILIATE PARTNERSHIPS WITH RETAILERS. It just gets done.' 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. We havent made any real money on this venture yet. Loch Lomond in Scotland where Penn State grad Ken Siems was superintendent, was deemed the perfect fit. The tenacity of the founders was really amazing. Aidan told me 'if you want to do this, you need to go to the States.' Read the latest feature stories from the PGA of America to learn how the game is growing on and off the course. . Page content. Smaller courses could be as little as $200 per month, while more prestigious clubs are much more. 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. 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. On the uphill, par 4 17th hole, the cross bunker was removed so the hole would be more playable for every caliber player and the landing area was significantly widened and regraded. Golf Courses, Denver, PA 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. Im going through the U.S. citizenship process right now, FitzGerald says with a wry smile. Miller says the building offers meeting rooms with technical and presentation systems and is Wi-Fi enabled for everyones convenience. Estimates for the cost of membership at Augusta National cover quite a range, with Golf.com estimating a club initiation . Heller reports that several members, rendered clubless by the Harrisburg closings, have already joined LedgeRock. He wanted to make it to the top and make himself better at the same time. LedgeRock is a Golf Club owned by its Members. 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 . Crossing paths with Bator changed the trajectory of his career. Blinders short answer was Yes. But leaving it there would gloss over and considerably shorten a pretty good, thoroughly trans-Atlantic story. I was of age and able to enjoy college life more.". We priced them out and looked into it seriously. 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. With his foresight, Graffis helped advance the game in numerous ways, from founding the National Golf Foundation and the Club Managers Association of America to his work advocating on behalf of superintendents and elevating their profile. More. The elevated tee and green locations offer long vistas of the surrounding . Golf Courses, Wernersville, PA 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 . Please know that it is the responsibility of the host to advise the vendor of our club policies. In a matter of two to three years, it felt like wed built pretty much every feature of a golf course. More surprising, perhaps, is his full-time employers belief in the venture. 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. With private club market in crisis, LedgeRock GC expands membership scope. For city denizens, there are options across the Hudson River in New Jersey . Your email address will not be published. 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. 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. endobj <> Designed by Rees Jones, ASGCA, the Ledgerock golf course opened in 2006. Take a look at the scorecard and youll see five sets of tees that serve golfers of all skill levels. Registered previously? "He's from Ireland, so I felt sorry for him," Bator joked. 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. 1 Greenbriar Dr. Mohnton, PA 19540-9307. 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. We built an entire putting course at Mt. Hes personable, and a hard worker thats why he is where he is today. It was Aidan O'Hara who convinced FitzGerald of the importance of learning the turf management trade at an American turf school. For more information please contact Andrew Schoenblum, Membership and Communications Manager, at [email protected]. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. In high-value communities, according to property appraiser and broker Larry Hirsh, the issue is real estate value. "Inhindsight, meeting Dick Bator was huge for me. Its not about thriving. 4 0 obj Over the last 15 years, Ive seriously looked into most every one of these products, FitzGerald continues. 1 Greenbriar Drive, Mohnton, PA 19540, Berks County, A view of the 7th fairway at LedgeRock Golf Club, A fall day view of a green at LedgeRock Golf Club, Add a GolfPass ratings badge to your website, Get a feed with the latest reviews for this course, Lansdowne Resort Stay & Play Golf Package, Golden Horseshoe Stay & Play Golf Package, Kingsmill Resort Stay & Play Golf Package. With 60 men in their Wednesday league, and frequent Nine and Dines and Couple events, Halvonik is successfully promoting their Food & Beverage services as part of these special events. Panelists. Alan really knows how to relate to people, Jones says. During the Great Recession, LedgeRock focused on a regional strategy to help broaden its membership base, though the course didnt stabilize until 2011. How will that work for you? We had that kind of relationship. LedgeRock Golf Club offers several categories of membership to fit your needs. "Coming to New York City from Kilkenny was a culture shock," he said. With brands like Peter Millar, Polo, Straight Down and Donald Ross, Halvonik ensures the highest quality in mens and womens apparel, and keeps the golf shop looking fresh and new by frequently updating displays and enhancing his visual merchandising efforts. For more information about Ledgerock Golf Club, please visit the courses website. 1 track on the planet. The elevated tee and green locations offer long vistas of the surrounding countryside and enhance the playability of this outstanding venue. 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. 2020 was fraught with challenges, of course, but as has been the case with golf facilities across the country, LedgeRock added 95 new members to its ranks and still has room to grow. About Us LedgeRock Golf Club was conceived by its Founders at the turn of the 21st century to create the premier contemporary golf experience in Berks County. Ratings from our panel of 1,900 course-ranking panelists. Each one has their strong and weak points. At the time, I was young, and I had no idea how huge it was.". 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. 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. Thats what I did with most of these companies selling the liner technologies, FitzGerald recalls. Golf Courses. The Rees Jones design has top-to-bottom elevation changes of some 80 feet and severe slopes at every turn that make mowing a real-life adventure. 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. 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. LedgeRock Golf Club: Ledgerock. I will tell you right away, how the LedgeRock Golf Club has thrived by doubling down on golf itself. The approach is sound. But B-list clubs like their member-owned, equity brethren across the nation are fighting like the dickens to survive. 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