FACILITIES: Really didn’t utilize the facilities this time around (no time). The chipping and putting greens are adjacent to the driving range.
I played Medford Lakes Country Club again, just two weeks from my first crack at this private club located in Medford Lakes. I have gone to the range numerous times with my kids, played down in Bear Trap Dunes and purchased the driver I used at Bear Trap since my last visit to Medford Lakes. I arrived 35 minutes before our tee time and actually didn’t run around like an idiot. I headed out to the driving range to find zero balls, when back to the pro shop and asked the cranky manager for balls, ‘$3.00 please’. Are you kidding me, the members here have to pay for range balls!! I reluctantly gave him $3 bucks and left for the range. Hit 75% of the mini bag of dirty balls they gave me and off we went to the first tee. I shot an 18 hole score of 91 (102 two weeks ago) on an perfect sunny day in the high 70’s with 7 pars, hitting 7 fairways, 5 greens in regulation and lost 1 ball. My driving is getting better and better with the new Nike SQ Dymo driver with the regular flex shaft. My mid and short iron game was average, my second shots were killing me. My putting was pretty good considering they must have recently aerated the greens since my last visit. Zero - 3 putts, two – 1 putts on the dry / bumpy/top dressed greens. After the round, it felt really nice to have made up 11 strokes from the previous round.
Merion Golf Club – East Course
450 Ardmore Avenue, Ardmore, PA 19003
Yards: 6,103, Par 70 (Middle Tees)
Course Architect: Hugh Wilson
Built/Open: 1896
Website: http://www.meriongolfclub.com/
Course Ranking: 7th – America’s 100 Greatest (Golf Digest Rankings 2009-2010)
Course Ranking: 2nd in Pennsylvania (Golf Digest State Rankings 2009-2010)
Score: 112 (59 out – 53 in)
Date: May 20, 2009
I had the great privilege of playing at Merion Golf Club, the East course, an ultra-private golf club with over 100+ years of golf history. I played with three nice guys, one being Wayne Player, Gary Player’s son. I headed out to Merion with intentions to just have fun and enjoy this historic course, walking the same fairways as the golfing greats. With a goal of posting a score under 120 and to par at least one hole, I achieved my goal. After playing a few rounds before arriving at the 7th ranked course in the country, I was feeling pretty good about my game until the second hole, (See below). I shot an 18 hole score of 112 on a picture perfect, warm sunny day in the low 80’s with 3 pars, hitting 5 fairways, 1 green in regulation and lost 4 balls. My driving was average, I hit 5 fairways out of 14, which means 9 of the drives ended up in the 4 to 5 inch rough. It was so thick, I hit the ball as hard as I possibly could and advancing it only 10 or so yards at a time. I tried everything, sand wedge, 8 or 9 iron and my rescue clubs to get it out of the rough with no real positive outcome. I asked the caddie, ‘What do you suggest?’, ‘Hit it in the fairway!’, he said, smart #@!$. My mid and short iron game was average as well hitting only one green in regulation, I was not hitting the ball real clean since I was hitting out of the rough most of the time. My chipping was awful, I was off on all my distances, chipping it short most of the time with a few chunks as well. My putting was pretty good only three - 3 putts, the fast greens keep the ball rolling to the hole and not short as usual. I really liked the basket pin ‘flags’ a signature symbol at Merion Golf Club – East Course. The idea behind the baskets pins was to make golfers think about wind directions without help from a traditional pin flag.
The Wayne Player experience: Before the round, I had the opportunity to have lunch with Wayne, as you sit and talk, you instantly recognize he is a great person, very friendly, good spirited and has great passion for the game. Playing golf with Wayne was a great thrill, he is very friendly, helps you with your game, has lots and lots of jokes and told some great stores about his and his father’s travels around the world. One of the most interesting topics of the day was how Wayne tees his ball. On the first tee, he pulled out a broken off iron handle with a tee in the end of the handle and stuck it in the ground. He placed his ball on top of this 12 to 14 inch high ‘tee’ and crushed his tee shot, he used this technique on every hole he hit driver. I thought it was an ice breaker on the first hole, but that is how he tees his ball every time. He said it makes for a flatter more consistent swing and it works for Wayne. On the 18th hole, after hacking my way out of the jungle like rough, I stood just behind the Ben Hogan plaque in the fairway where he hit his famous 1 iron at the 1950 US Open, Wayne was standing by his tee shot which was about 75 yards further down the fairway then Ben’s shot. Check out Wayne’s website at: http://www.wayneplayer.com/. Great person, great golfer, great experience!
FROM THE WEB SITE: Championship golf and champion golfers have long been intertwined with the mystique of Merion Golf Club’s East and West Courses. Designed by Hugh Wilson, Merion’s East Course has played host to more USGA Championships than any course in America and is home to some of its greatest moments. From Robert Tyre Jones, Jr.'s completion of golf’s elusive Grand Slam at the 1930 U.S. Amateur held at Merion to Ben Hogan’s awe inspiring performance and now legendary one-iron on the 72nd hole during the 1950 U.S. Open, the sculpted greens, fairways, and treacherous bunkers of Merion have shaped the game. Merion continues to not only challenge the world’s best, but identify them as well. 
COURSE CONDITION: The course is playing in championship caliber condition, every square inch of the course. The teeing areas were lush green, the fairways were cut short which made the ball get a little extra roll. The rough on the other hand was 4 to 5 inches high, which I seemed to be playing out of a lot. The undulating greens were cut tight and rolling fast and slippery. The course is ready to host the Walker Cup and the US Open now.
FACILITIES: Top notch practice facilities (driving range, putting and chipping greens), dinning, pro shop and staff.
SHOT (HOLE) OF THE DAY: Hole 1, Par 4, 333 Yards. Before the round, having lunch with my playing partners, they asked me my handicap. I told them I was a high handicapper and was here for the experience, to have fun and I wouldn’t slow them down. With that said, the club house is a 100+ year old farm house with a huge outside dinning area overlooking the course. The first tee is directly adjacent to the main dinning area, the back tees are next to the dinning area, literally 3 to 4 feet away. Luckily the middle tees are about 10 feet past the main dinning area but in clear view of everyone eating. There was a women’s outing that just finished and both outside dinning areas were full with a few 100 people. Standing on the tee, the first player pushes his tee shot way off line in the right rough, the second player pulls his tee shot in to the left rough. The third player hits his shot down the middle, watching the first two shots end up in the rough, and one from a golf pro, my nerves calmed down slightly. I loaded up and smoked one down the middle of the fairway past the other ball in the fairway. My second shot was a 9 iron onto the green then a 20 foot lag putt to about 14 inches. Short putt for PAR! I pared the first hole at Merion!! Everyone looked at me with the sandbagger look, and then I proceeded to shot a 10, 7 and 9 on the next three holes.
SUGGESTIONS AND COMMENTS: This course is tight and preparing for the Walker Cup in the fall, so the rough is 4 to 5 inches high. The ball nestles down deep in the dense rough and if you don’t watch where it goes, you will never find it. Don’t EVER pass on an opportunity to play here! Check out the facilities and if you have time, have lunch or dinner on the outdoor patio over looking this gorgeous course.
GOLFNERDNESS: This place is awesome, I hope to get another chance to play the East Course and maybe the West Course!
GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT: Keep the ball out of the 4 to 5 inch rough and watch where it goes into the rough! I played Bethpage last fall, this course is much harder for the high handicapper.
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Kresson Golf Course
Kresson-Gibbsboro Road
Kresson (Voorhees), New Jersey
Yards: 4800, Par 68 (Out 2705, In 2095 – Men’s Tees)
Course Architect:
Built/Open:
Website: None
Score: 90 (46 out, 44 in)
Date: May 18, 2009
I played Kresson Golf Club as a warm up and practice round before my golf outing at Merion Golf Club – East Course. We played the men’s tees which at any other golf course would be the kids’ tees, measuring a total of 4800. First off, way over priced for the conditions of the course, the score cards have not been updated in over 15 years, all the yardages are incorrect on the score card, the teeing areas and fairways are typical grass and the greens are like a thick carpet with huge aeration holes. With all that said, I shot a round of 90 on a beautiful sunny day. My driving was good, only spraying a few tee shots off line. My approach shots are getting better, I am slowly hitting the ball a little better each time out. Chipping was average and my putting completely sucked due to the #@!$ poor greens, the ball was hopping all over the place and super slow which cost me a few strokes.
FROM THE WEB SITE: Yea right, website.
COURSE CONDITION: Course maintenance is weak, my lawn at home is nicer. As stated above… the teeing areas and fairways are typical grass and the greens are like a thick carpet and are very slow with almost no break. There are no diagrams of the holes (except for stick figure like diagrams on scorecard), no yardage markers anywhere, yardages are incorrect on the score card, leaves you wondering about yardages on most of the holes.
FACILITIES: They have a so called club house, no amenities really at all just a small putting green. This is an easy course to walk, 90% of the golfers walk this course.
SHOT OF THE DAY: First hole, drove it within 20 yards of the green.
SUGGESTIONS and COMMENTS: Good course for beginners, kids and really slow players. That’s about it, not much else to say.
GOLFNERDNESS: It is called weed killer, buy some.
GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT: Play a different course.
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GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT: Keep the ball out of the water and you will score!
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I was invited to play at The Peninsula Golf and Country Club (thanks to Carmen and Walt!), an ultra-private country club with every luxury amenity you can thing of, pro shop, fitness center, grill room, formal dinning room (members only), tennis facilities, two pools (one with real sand beach), nature trails. Not expecting miracles my first 18 hole round of the year with no practice before showing up, I shot an 18 hole round of 99 on a brisk, high 40’s, but real windy day. My driving was average, I hit about half of the fairways, more towards the end of the round. When my tee shot was not in the fairway, it was just off the fairway in play, a few of my approach shots were long, over shooting the green a few times. My mid and short iron game is still off since I tweaked my swing, I am hitting the ball further with my irons and have to adjust my distances and aim. My chipping was good and my putting was better since the hard/fast greens keep the ball moving past the hole.
Bethpage State Park – The Black Course
99 Quaker Meeting House Road
Farmingdale, New York 11735
Yards: 6684, Par 71 (White Tees)
Course Architect: A.W. Tillinghast
Website: http://nysparks.state.ny.us/golf/info. asp?golfID=12
Score: 109 (56 out, 53 in)
Date: October 30, 2008
After two failed attempts to play the black course (#1 attempt: no tee times available upon an unscheduled visit, played 12 holes of the Green Course, #2 attempt: drove up from South Jersey, it was warn and sunny, it rained the day before so they decided to close the entire park), I finally got the chance to play the famed Black Course. Leaving the South Jersey area around 3:45 AM and at times driving excessively over the speed limit, arrived at the course at 5:55. Driving into Bethpage, the first thing you notice is the grand scale of the place. This State Park is massive, and it's really undulating, wooded and rolling. Seems like the perfect place for a golf course (or five). We got in line, just as I put me car seat back for a little rest, the vehicle line started to move toward the state worker handing out the lottery tickets for your tee time reservation. We were 14th in line, drove up and parked at the club house and got in line at the ticket booth to get out tee time. We received the 8:12 AM tee time on the Black Course, now 6:30, we headed back to the car for some rest.
When the sun came up, we headed over to the driving range, nice and cold, 38 degrees at 7:15 AM. We hit a bucket of balls (felt like rocks) then headed over to the first tee for our 20 minutes sign-in requirement prior to teeing off. As you wait and see others teeing off, you are watching from a balcony where everyone stands directly behind the first tee and watches golfers tee off on the first hole. As you wait for your chance on the tee box, more and more people show up to watch, you start getting more and more nervous, your stomach starts doing flips, your brain just keeps saying, don’t chunk it, whiff or banana slice it onto the first fairway of the Green Course. In addition, as you stand there fully knowing as a high handicapper, you really do not belong on this course, there is a sign confirming it.
Our 8:12 tee time was called and there were 4 people already on the tee box, not knowing two are hired caddies, another golfer in the foursome behind us started complaining to the starter, welcome to New York. We walked down onto the tees area and apologized for the arrogant NY golfer behind us who was complaining. Before teeing off, I told our two playing partners, we were only out here to have a good time, subliminal message, we suck and will stay out of your way as much as possible and not slow you down.
Standing on the tee box, you just look out and see a 40 to 50 yard drop on the first hole and the beauty of the surroundings, then I sliced the ball right of the fairway, here we go. The Black Course was as tough as I thought it was going to be, walking and pulling the golf cart up and down this very hilly course was burtal and very exhausting. On a beautiful sunny but cold day, I shot a round of 109 (7 lost balls) with a few mulligans, come on it is a US Open Course! With 5 layers of cloths on, I wasn’t hitting the ball straight or solid off the tee which makes this extremely long course, even longer and more difficult. The course is very demanding off the tee, you MUST hit it straight. My approach shots were peels off as well, landing in the rough which ate up balls even if you saw exactly where the ball landed. I lost three balls in the high grass and I knew where the ball landed within a few feet. My chipping was pretty good, getting the ball to stick on the green was fairly easy since the greens were not very fast and a little soft. My putting was average, the greens were very slow being a US Open course, I was expecting super fast greens, they were a little faster after exposed to the sun for a while, but not lighting fast like Galloway National Golf Club was two weeks before.
Designed by A.W. Tillinghast, Bethpage opened in May of 1936. The course was given 3 million from the USGA and was renovated from 1997-1998 by Reese Jones. The atmosphere walking up to the first tee could not get any better, especially with the signature Bethpage Sign which reads. "The Black Course is an extremely difficult course which we recommend only for highly skilled golfers." Right from the start you know that this course will test your game in every faucet. As you might expect with a top-notch course, it is immaculate. From the tee box to the greens you will not be disappointed with the maintenance of the golf course. The rough is long and thick, but still fair for the average golfer. The course is extremely long with narrow fairways and extremely large and in some areas deep bunkers. There is only one hole where water actually comes into play. Because of the length you will be hitting a variety of irons into moderate sized greens, surrounded by large bunkers. All of your tee shots will demand a great deal of accuracy and power. 
Overall it is a world-class establishment and no golfer will walk away being disappointed. With the US Open Championship returning in 2009, you know that the course will be in great shape no matter what time of year.
After the round, we walked around the club house looking at all the pictures, etc... and hit the extensive pro shop.
Getting on the course (found this on the net): As for the "how," you have a couple options: 1) use Bethpage's tee time reservation system, 2) go the infamous route of trying to walk-on at the crack of dawn, which often involves camping out in your car, or 3) pay a huge premium to a little-known company that may be able to get you a tee time on your preferred day of play (This option was used by our playing partners).
Before anyone can use Bethpage's reservation system, they must become a registered user. To register, you have to fax a copy of your driver's license AND write or type out all of the information that appears on the front of it, plus your telephone number (an email address would help, too), in case the image is unreadable via the fax.
If you're not a New York resident, you are also encouraged to include your Social Security number, which will become your reservation system account number. It's not required (they'll assign you a number, otherwise), but it will expedite processing. It usually takes between one and three days before you're officially "in" the system. 
Again, out-of-state residents can only make tee times two days in advance of the intended date of play. (Note that when Bethpage says "two days," it means you can begin calling at 7 p.m. two days before you'd like to play. So, for instance, if you plan to play on a Saturday morning, you have to wait until 7 p.m. on Thursday night to make a reservation.) New York residents can reserve seven days out. Sometimes, it's good to call the night before you wish to play because there are often cancellations.
In addition to a $4 reservation fee, the green fee is:
Weekdays: $50 (NY residents) $100 (non-residents)
Weekends: $60 (NY residents) $120 (non-residents)
Your second option for getting on Bethpage Black, as mentioned above, is to try and walk on, as all of the first hour's tee times (which begin at 6:30 am), and one slot per hour thereafter, are made available on a first-come, first-served basis, according to the Bethpage brass.
Walk-on hopefuls typically arrive at Bethpage in the afternoon or early evening the day before they wish to play, backing their cars into the designated and numbered "overnight" parking spaces. At about 6:00 pm, a Bethpage official hands out wrist bands, one per car, which confirms the order for the next morning's ticket dispersement.
It is these tickets, handed out between 4-4:30 am, which allow you to purchase your round of golf. It used to be that only one player in the group needed a ticket, but now every person has to have their own ticket. [Note: If you want a caddie ($60 plus tip) or locker room use for the day ($10), pay for them at the same time as your green fee as you probably won't have time to get through the long cashier line again.]
Overnighters should consider bringing a tent or sleeping bag, too. Cars aren't conducive to sleeping, and, if you choose to bed down on the root-laden grassy area near the parking lot, you'll need more than your golf towel to stay warm and comfortable.
Better yet, get a hotel room nearby. Remember, only your car has to stay put to maintain your place in line. As long as you're back before the tickets are handed out in the morning, you're golden.
From our experience and stories from people we know, if you're one of the first few cars in line, you'll likely get out in the morning. Later arrivals will likely get out, too, but it probably won't be until the afternoon. Either way, if you go this route to get on Bethpage Black, you'll be spending a good deal of time just waiting around, so bring a good book and/or some good beer.
Finally, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention one other option for getting on Bethpage Black, though it's better suited to those for whom money is not an object. An un-named company sells Bethpage Black packages that include the green fee and round-trip transportation from Manhattan for $750 ($400 per person for a foursome). At 15 times the in-state green fee, it is a huge premium, but convenience does have its price.
FROM THE WEB SITE: Bethpage State Park, a mecca for public golf featuring five 18-hole regulation golf courses including the world-renowned Black Course which was the site of the United States Open in 2002, will again host the U.S. Open in 2009. Bethpage State Park was developed from an estate owned by the Yoakum family and other properties. The Yoakum family leased their estate to the Lenox Hills Corporation which subsequently used the property to build the Lenox Hills Country Club. In the early 1930s, the Bethpage Park Authority purchased the Lenox Hills Country Club and other adjacent properties to build what we now know as Bethpage State Park. Famed golf course architect A.W. Tillinghast was hired to design and oversee construction of three new golf courses (Black, Red and Blue) as well as modify the Lenox Hills Course which became the Green Course. Due to the increased demand for golf, the Yellow Course designed by Alfred Tull was opened in 1958. Approximately 300,000 rounds are played annually on the five courses at Bethpage, all of which start from the Clubhouse area.
The Black Course is a difficult and challenging course that should be played only by low-handicap golfers. The course is for walkers only and its slope rating is one of the highest in the northeast. This was one of the last courses designed by master golf course architect A.W. Tillinghast, and is said by many to be his finest work. The Black Course served as the site of the 102nd U.S. Open Championship in 2002. Our National Championship will again return to the Black in 2009. The narrow fairways, high roughs, well placed bunkers and small greens help to make this an extremely difficult course.The Black Course is closed Mondays for course maintenance except holidays.
COURSE CONDITION: The course was in excellent shape, and except for a few areas of dead fescue grass, they are ready for the 2009 US Open now. No divots in the tee boxes or fairways, no pitch marks on the greens, but the greens were rolling slowly.
FACILITIES: Bethpage State Park provides top notch practice facilities, pro shop, locker room, restaurant, tennis courts, hiking trails, bridle path and picnic area.
SHOT OF THE DAY: Hole #8, Par 3, 191 Yards: Tee box sits 60 to 70 feet above the tee box with a pond front left of the green and a hill to the right of the green at the same elevation as the tee box covered with fescue grass. Take out my 18 degree rescue club, hit it on top of the hill on the right. I trek up the hill and find my ball deep in the 12” grass. I open up my 9 iron and swing through the grass, hitting a high shot. The ball hits the base of the slope of the hill and rolls to about 2 feet from the pin, one putt for par.
SUGGESTIONS AND COMMENTS: If you get a chance to play the Black Course, no matter your handicap, go and do it. I read numerous blogs and articles on the Black Course, warning golfers how hard it is and only highly skilled golfers should play it. Well, I’m a 20 handicap and loved it, and will play it again. Do you need your A+ game and extra balls, yes, if you love golf, you will love this course and want to play it again. And remember, walking only, NO CARTS. Did I get a physical and mental beating, hell yea, and it was worth it! There is a half way house between holes 5 and 6 which also can be accessed half way down fairway #11 on the left side.
GOLFNERDNESS: Walking only, no carts on the Black Course. Go play it, don’t worry about your handicap, just keep pace. The two guys we played with were better than us and on the back nine we keep waiting for them and their caddies to find their golf balls. Walk and play the links of past champion, Tiger Woods!
GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT: I found this online the week before I left and it was very helpful so I decided to post it here:
Hole #1, Par 4, 429 Yards: Take 3 wood (1st hole) tee it up high so you don’t top it. This hole should be a 3 wood & 5 iron.
Hole #2, Par 4, 354 Yards: 3 wood and 6/7 iron... whatever you think your 2nd shot yardage is its one extra club... over the green & left is safe. So play it that direction.
Hole #3, Par 3, 158 Yards: Depending where the tee is (up / down) will dictate which club you pull... NO MATTER WHAT- PLAY TO THE FAT PART OF THE GREEN - IE - THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE GREEN.
Hole #4, Par 5, 461 Yards: Pull driver- aim center of the fairway- don’t try to play left - just hit the fairway is fine. The remainder of the whole... just make sure you play up the right side (don’t be scared) aim off the part of the glacier bunker (on the right side of the bunker) that looks like a pair of nuts (no joke), and continue to play along the right side the whole hole.
Hole #5, Par 4, 423 Yards: This one is not as long as it looks. Just poke Driver / 3W out over the center of the waste bunker (don’t try and clear it along the right side) - and take one extra club on your 2nd shot. Back of green is safe here!, so play it long.
Refreshment House, stock up here, there is no half way house after nine holes!
Hole #6, Par 4, 386 Yards: If you’re hitting driver straight - hit driver. If not hit 3 wood, if not hit 4 iron. Just make sure you are straight on this one. The hole really opens up nicely once you get up the hill- you’ll have to dial in your irons on this one... THIS TIME TAKE ONE CLUB LESS!!!! it plays down hill and with the wind... back of the green is big trouble.
Hole #7, Par 5, 502 Yards: A harmless par of 5 - except for the 3 acre wide glacier bunker. Just play it center of the bunker and get in the fair way. Than you can hit 3w, 4 or even 5 as your lay up.don’t go over the green, to the right and short is safer than left and long.
Hole #8, Par 3, 191 Yards: A long and beautiful par 3. It plays MUCH longer than it looks. It’s either 3 w or 4 iron. - the green is about 30 yards deep, so use the whole green. Don’t worry about over, short is where the trouble is.
Hole #9, Par 4, 385 Yards: Driver definitely, wide open fairway - do not go left. Should be a 9 iron / 8 iron in.
Hole #10, Par 4, 434 Yards: You have to hit driver if you want to have a chance at getting to the green in 2. This is a long par 4. Make sure you pick a club that will get you to the green on the 2nd shot. - bunkers in the front, false back in the rear.
Hole #11, Par 4, 421 Yards: Should be driver then mid iron, just make sure you stay out of the fescue on the right. Take 3 w on tee if you’ve been hitting it straight.
Refreshment House half way up the 11 fairway of the left side.
Hole #12, Par 4, 432 Yards: You can clear the bunker - go for it.
Hole #13, Par 5, 480 Yards: You won’t reach the 1st bunker on your first shot, and on your second shot you should be able to clear the 2nd bunker on left. 2nd shot- aim to the left side of the fairway - easy chip for your 3rd shot.
Hole #14, Par 3, 151 Yards: Take one extra club... it should be a 7 iron, NOT AN 8, the green is huge, you will not overshoot it w/ a 7 iron.
Hole #15, Par 4, 430 Yards: Play this one as a par 5- its a driver then 3w /4iron hole. Just make sure you club up to get it up to the green.
Hole #16, Par 4, 457 Yards: Take 3 wood or long iron for this one... but driver will be more fun. Make sure you commit to a yardage on 2nd shot, left of green is bad, right of green is bad - short ok.
Hole #17, Par 3, 195 Yards: Club up- aim back left - its the only bail out spot, make sure you get it there.
Hole #18, Par 4, 394 Yards: Take Drive or 3 wood. Club up to get it on to the elevated green - long is good here - so make sure you club up!
This is by far the hardest course I have ever played, makes Galloway National Golf Club (my previous hardest course ever played) look like a playground.
Some information contained within this blog post was taken from outside sources, blogs, websites, etc..
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Galloway National Golf Club
270 South New York Road
Galloway, New Jersey 08205
Yards: 6274, Par 71 (Blue Tees)
Course Architect: Tom Fazio
Score: 108 (55 out, 53 in)
Date: October 8, 2008
Three of my golfing buddies and I had the privilege of playing the ultra-private, 74th ranked golf course in America: Galloway National Golf Club. This course has some natural elevations changes, a few holes with forced carries, super fast greens, bunkers guarding the greens on numerous holes, trees, water, bugs, and meadows ready to wreak havoc on wayward shots on every hole. This is by far the hardest course I have ever played.
I have played this course about 6 times in the past, and the course still amazes me every time I play there, I love playing this course. On a beautiful sunny day, I shot a round of 108 (4 lost balls), best round yet since my goal of the day was to break 110, which is a few strokes lower than my previous rounds played here. I wasn’t hitting the ball fairly straight off the tee which makes this long course, even longer and more difficult. My chipping was pretty good this day, I was getting the ball to stick to the slick greens since I hit the ball real high on all my shots. My putting was pretty good since I like fast greens, on a few holes my playing partners putting off the green a few times on the same hole.
After the front nine, we stopped in the club house for a drink and late lunch. The club house is modern and sleek with lots of picturesque views, the employees could not be more helpful, the food was excellent, the drinks were cold, and the views of the course and Atlantic City skyline are unforgettable!
FROM THE WEB SITE: Galloway National Golf Club is a private, world-class, 18-hole championship golf course designed for the serious golfer. World renowned architect Tom Fazio, meticulously crafted Galloway National’s 6900 yards out of a 200 acre tract of heavily wooded, gently sloping bayside property. “Galloway is one of my best ever,” said Fazio. It is a dramatic and fair golf course designed to bring joy to the serious golfer. Natural contour changes, pine forest, sand and water are the “tools.” Tees with breathtaking views, inviting fairways, challenging hazards, and beautifully situated greens are your reward.
The inspiration behind Galloway National Golf Club originated with a group of dedicated golfers who share a deep sense of commitment to the game. Management of the Club is being approached in the same way. Our facilities rival the finest in the world and are designed to enhance not detract from your unique golf experience. Our members enjoy an elegant, yet understated ambiance of quiet comfort. Golf Digest recently named Galloway one of America’s best private golf clubs.
COURSE CONDITION: The course was in excellent shape, as usual. No divots in the tee boxes or fairways, no pitch marks on the greens, and the greens were rolling super-super fast, like putting on glass.
FACILITIES: Galloway National Golf Club provides top notch practice facilities, pro shop, fore-caddies, locker room and restaurant.
SHOT OF THE DAY: Nothing real exciting, hit two of the long par three greens with my rescue wood.
SUGGESTIONS AND COMMENTS: If you get a chance to play this South Jersey gem, do not pass on this course! Bring you’re A+ game and extra balls, anything less – hang on and try to enjoy the ride and count on a good old fashion beating. There are refreshment stations between every few holes filled with free refreshments and snacks, very nice touch!
GOLFNERDNESS: I participated in the Stark and Stark golf outing a few weeks back, one of the golfers in our foursome has played everywhere, Pine Valley, Merion East, etc… real good golfer. I told him I was playing Galloway in a few weeks, his response was, and I quote, ‘I f%&@ing hate that place, way to hard, and the club house is ugly’. That is some funny stuff, not the response I expected.
Bear Trap Dunes Golf Club
7 Clubhouse Drive, Ocean View, DE 19970
Yards: 5817, Par 72 (Kodiak / Black Bear - Club Tees)
Course Architect: Rick Jacobson
Built/Open: 1999
Score: 91 (45 out, 46 in)
Date: August 31, 2008
I played Bear Trap Dunes Golf Club over the holiday weekend without any type of practice in the last few weeks. Not expecting miricals, I shot a round of 91 on a beautiful sunny, calm breezy day. My driving was a little better on the front nine hitting 3 fairways but making the green in regulation on 5 holes, the back nine I hit 3 fairways but only 3 greens in regulation. My short game is still off since I have tweaked my swing, I am hitting the ball further with my irons, as a result, I over shot a few greens, not usually a problem. My chipping was good and my putting improved after I got my 3 putt out of the way.
From the web site 'Bear Trap Dunes Golf Club offers one of the area’s most unique and memorable golf experiences on the Eastern Shore. Winding bent grass fairways lined with native wetland grasses drift into natural sand dunes. Impeccably groomed oversized greens and four strategically placed sets of tees beckon golfers of every skill level.'
Course Condition: The course was in great shape, a few minor dead patches of grass on the edges of the fairways. The tee boxes were a little beat which is understandable considering it is the end of the season and on a holiday weekend, the fairways were in nice shape and the greens were in good shape but rolling a little slow.
Facilities: Really didn’t utilize the facilities this time around (no time), but usually the range is in good shape with lots of room for players to hit balls off of real grass, the chipping and putting greens are adjacent to the driving range.
Shot of the Day: Hole 2 on Kodiak, Par 4, 349 Yards. Hooked my drive into the rough about 130 yards from the green behind a large mound. Hit an 8 iron over the mount, over the pin to about 35’+/- behind the pin. Took a good look at the putt, hoping to lag it close and watched the ball track into the center of the cup for birdie.
Shot of the Day #2: Hole 1 on Black Bear, Par 4, 288 Yards. Hit my drive to the right on top of a low sloping hill in the first cut. Hit a 7 iron to the front of the green and watched the ball roll all the way to the back of the green. Again, took a good look at the 25’+/- putt, hoping to lag it close and watched the ball dive into the left side of the hole for my second birdie of the day. I should have gone home after that hole, next three holes: +2, +3, +2,.
Suggestions and Comments: If you are playing here early, bring drinks and a snack, the refreshment cart was no where to be seen, except when we were a hole from the clubhouse.
Golfnerdness: When partners are hitting, watch their ball!
