The average individual club membership is $520 per month, according to a survey by Golf Digest. And here I am 25 years later.". In 2005, when FitzGerald first pondered how to address the continuing washout issue, bunker-liner technology was still in its infancy. So, I came back to them: What if I imported it for you and you taught me how to do it? 4 0 obj 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. Their traditional country club cultures resisted these changes, said Hirsh, owner of Conshohocken, Pa.-based Golf Property Analysts. People have forgotten how to talk to people! He's from Ireland, so I felt sorry for him. John Reitman August 20, 2021, By . Its also hard to come by the aggregates you need in some cases.. endobj 3,732 were here. It also tends to build up the diverse, real-world experience that sets elite golf course superintendents apart. 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. We built an entire putting course at Mt. During construction here at LedgeRock, fabric liners were the only things on the market, really. "I just shake my head and say 'Don't ask. Everything here is four-wheel drive.". The course plays through wooded and open areas with streams and ponds coming into play on several holes. They represent opportunity for LedgeRock, as well.. Larry Hirsh, the owner of Conshohocken, Pa.-based Golf Property Analysts says. 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. 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. We priced them out and looked into it seriously. It allows me to bring in fresh product throughout the year knowing that its going to sell, he said. Hes been (at LedgeRock) since the beginning and theyre glad they hired him there.. We do the normal stuff like PGA Jr. League and Drive, Chip and Putt. Ledge Rock Golf Club, Mohnton, PA About Andrew Andy Miller is the Director of Instruction at LedgeRock Golf Club in Mohnton, PA. Gerry Heller, CCM manages the course as the General Manager. Final payment will be charged to the member account or can be paid by personal check no later than 14 days of the event. Take a look at the scorecard and youll see five sets of tees that serve golfers of all skill levels. But B-list clubs like their member-owned, equity brethren across the nation are fighting to survive. "I spent the summer there, then went back to Penn State. I think the world of Alan, he did a wonderful job here, says longtime Pine Valley GC Superintendent Rick Christian. 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. 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. Essentially, the base is compactable road stone, a solid, consistent surface that water runs along and does not penetrate, he says. Membership is by invitation only. The golf shop is open year-round and between Halvonik and his PGA Assistant Professional, Bill Kindoll, someone is always on duty to help members with their retail needs, or in the winter, to make sure the indoor hitting bays, located in the clubs Learning Center, are stocked with balls for member practice. Thats how I ended up at Penn State.. "When they saw it, their engineers panicked," FitzGerald said. Miller utilizes some of the best teaching technology on the market in his lessons and player development programming so members can improve their skills year-round and practice throughout the cold Pennsylvania winter. The par-4 17th is slated for renovation next year. lzu. Blinders short answer was Yes. But leaving it there would gloss over and considerably shorten a pretty good, thoroughly trans-Atlantic story. 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. WILLIAMSBURG, VA | Enjoy 2 nights' accommodations at Williamsburg Lodge, Autograph Collection and 2 rounds of golf at Golden Horseshoe Golf Club - Gold & Green Courses. Our fortunes are frankly going the other way, Heller said. Getting members on the golf course helps boost participation in member events. Play private golf, access private courses, and book private Tee Times at Ledgerock Golf Club in Mohnton PA with Boxgroove All rights reserved. This is why I thought to bring a positive example of the LedgeRock Golf Club (in suburban Philadelphia: 15 minutes southwest of Reading). 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. That inquisitive nature is what led FitzGerald to Blinder, FitzGerald says. LedgeRock Golf Club: Ledgerock. 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. Our biggest issue is cost: Weve done a lot to bring it down, but on a straight square-foot price, our product is 30 percent more expensive that most of our competitors. I was hired to be the golf course superintendent, to grow the course in, he said. Indeed, things didnt stabilize for FitzGerald and LedgeRock until about 2011. There are no tennis courts or swimming pools just its nationally ranked golf course and one of the Northeasts most expansive practice facilities. The Founders recognized that the finest golfing venues available to local . . 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. 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. Course acreage is simply worth way more as housing if the zoning allows it. 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. 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 tenacity of the founders was really amazing. Loch Lomond in Scotland where Penn State grad Ken Siems was superintendent, was deemed the perfect fit. Estimates for the cost of membership at Augusta National cover quite a range, with Golf.com estimating a club initiation . Demographics and attitudes have changed. 6 one day and asks me, Will you be able to mow that bank? But were getting there.. Ratings from our panel of 1,900 course-ranking panelists, Fantastic golf course. In general, FitzGerald believes the bunker liner product universe can be broken into two broad categories: soft (fabric liners) and hard (aggregate liners). The club member wants to thrive and grow and feel the value of his membership. 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 . 1 Greenbriar Dr , Mohnton , , 19540-9307. Individual Golf Membership Monthly Dues $195.00 This membership includes unlimited Golf and Club Amenities, listed on page 2, for the 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. I think we had 23 inches of rain that first July. According to some estimates, 50% of private golf club members eat at their club 1 out of 10 dining out experiences. 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. Add a tournament here. LedgeRock Golf Club offers 6 sets of tees, allowing golfers of all abilities to choose an experience designed for their level of expertise and desire for challenge. The Herb Graffis Businessperson of the Year Award is named in honor of Golfdoms founder, World Golf Hall of Fame member Herb Graffis. Smaller courses could be as little as $200 per month, while more prestigious clubs are much more. (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. Golf Courses, Reading, PA At the time, I was young, and I had no idea how huge it was.". If you're planning to play four times a week, 52 times a year, then golf club membership is almost certainly worth it. Heller reports that several members, rendered clubless by the Harrisburg closings, have already joined LedgeRock. "I did my two years of basic greenkeeping at Mount Juliet, then I got into the two-year program at Penn State," said FitzGerald. 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. That's due to the cost of the raw materials and that we install it. 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. Im going through the U.S. citizenship process right now, FitzGerald says with a wry smile. 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. He was 20 years old when he arrived in State College, his first trip to the United States. He also spoke of The Greenbriar Cup, a season-long Match Play event, and said they host 6-10 corporate and charitable outings each year, a number that works well within the business plan of the management team at LedgeRock. Course acreage is simply worth way more as housing, if the zoning allows it. In the Philadelphia market, A-list clubs are doing just fine. The latest news & stories from PGA Member Events. "I don't get excited much, but that was something that was very exciting." That opened our eyes, said Heller, who arrived at LedgeRock in early 2018 from Philmont CC. What he did not know at the time was that what was supposed to be a two-year stop at Penn State would turn into something much more permanent. The rubber is mixed with a polymer and hand-laid into place to ensure it closely follows the contours of the bunker. Because of his rough transition to life in the U.S. his first year in State College, FitzGerald said the late George Hamilton, Ph.D., then director of Penn State's two-year program, wanted him to intern over the summer for a PSU alumnus. Welcome To Your Club Watch on Golf About Amenities Guest Information The LedgeRock Golf Club created two special types of membership: National candidates for LedgeRock Golf Club membership cannot live within 100 miles of the club. 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. Aidan told me 'if you want to do this, you need to go to the States.' "Most superintendents, when they come here, ask 'how do you do that?' As Jones explains, There are a lot of sites for elevated tees and greens, and that means the course will have spectacular visibility. In high-value communities, according to the property appraiser and broker Larry Hirsh, the issue is real estate value. Your data protection & privacy is important to me! 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. Crossing paths with Bator changed the trajectory of his career. " FitzGerald said. The unique LedgeRock Golf Club logo also helps sell merchandise, as the clubs members like to show it off while demonstrating pride in their club. 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. Panelists. During the Great Recession, LedgeRock focused on a regional strategy to help broaden its membership base, though the course didnt stabilize until 2011. 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 . The challenge for LedgeRock Golf Club is its location. ", Copyright 1994-2022, Turnstile Publishing Company 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Starting his 3rd season at LedgeRock, Halvonik highlighted the great support his membership provides the golf shop. Ledgerock Golf Course - Mohnton, Pennsylvania, Birdsboro, PA FitzGerald, 45, was seemingly destined for life as a golf course superintendent. Search for fun things to do in your area led by PGA Professionals. 2019 Herb Graffis Businessperson of the Year: Alan FitzGerald. LedgeRock Golf Club in Mohnton, Pennsylvania is flush with wide, sweeping views. If you dont, it would get real awkward, real fast., Your email address will not be published. "Seriously, what impressed me about him was his ability at a young age to think outside the box to get things accomplished.". USE OF AND/OR REGISTRATION ON ANY PORTION OF THIS SITE CONSTITUTES ACCEPTANCE OF OURVISITOR AGREEMENT(UPDATED 1/6/23),PRIVACY AND COOKIES NOTICE(UPDATED 1/4/23) ANDCALIFORNIA PRIVACY NOTICE. 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. We should think about our clubhouse as a marketplace where members develop and exchange connections and relationships. Required fields are marked *. 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. For more information on LedgeRock Golf Club, log on to https://www.ledgerockgolf.com/. He called and told me I was hired," FitzGerald said. 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. Like a car dealer, Kiam starred in his own commercials. At the time, I was young, and I had no idea how huge it was. Further down the hill sits Kohl Lodge, where national and regional members can stay the night. The more rugged the property is, the more spectacular the possibilities for the final product. For you and you taught me how to do in your area led PGA... Getting there.. Ratings from our panel of 1,900 course-ranking panelists, Golf. The rubber is mixed with a polymer and hand-laid into place to ensure it closely follows the contours the! Rubber is mixed with a wry smile was superintendent, was deemed the perfect fit that?... 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