In a matter of two to three years, it felt like wed built pretty much every feature of a golf course. FitzGerald grew up in Castlecomer, in the southeast of Ireland. It just gets done.' View Website EXPLORE THE COURSE MAP. The average individual club membership is $520 per month, according to a survey by Golf Digest. We built an entire putting course at Mt. He is always willing to learn and is always doing his research.. Then LedgeRock, a private Rees Jones signature design just breaking ground south of Reading, Pa., called. Ratings from our panel of 1,900 course-ranking panelists. At the time, I was young, and I had no idea how huge it was. In that sense, the interaction was just the same: Can you send me a sample? That opened our eyes, said Heller, who arrived at LedgeRock in early 2018 from Philmont CC. That inquisitive nature is what led FitzGerald to Blinder, FitzGerald says. Its a big investment no matter what product you choose, so its got to last. Powered by Invision Community, Becoming a superintendent was always in the cards for LedgeRock's FitzGerald, Copyright 1994-2022, Turnstile Publishing Company. 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 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. But after some 15 years of research, test bunkers and cost-benefit analyses, he believes hes found the best bunker liner system out there. 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. For more information please contact Andrew Schoenblum, Membership and Communications Manager, at AndrewS@ledgerockgolf.com. I was going to my spiritual home," FitzGerald said. He was that guy.". 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. The course rating is 0.0 and it has a slope rating of 0 on Bent grass. The Club welcomes outside vendors to assist with enhancing your special event. 2023 North Coast Media LLC, All Rights Reserved. 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. 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. For city denizens, there are options across the Hudson River in New Jersey . Great layout that is very challenging. Enjoy some of the best golf in Pennsylvania throughout the season with one of our great membership opportunities. I think the world of Alan, he did a wonderful job here, says longtime Pine Valley GC Superintendent Rick Christian. Jake Straub, who first met FitzGerald at Penn State the day he walked off the airplane from Ireland, says that the reason FitzGerald has been so successful is because he is always asking, Why?, He didnt just want an answer, recalls Straub, now working for Performance Nutrition on the companys agriculture side. days before the event. With meeting space indoors and a spacious patio outdoors that overlooks the range, its a popular member gathering spot. Golf Courses, Denver, PA But golfers dont just stop playing because their club went public. Golf Range Association of America. He still asks Why? and as hes gotten older, he also asks Why not? And thats a great thing.. Hes been (at LedgeRock) since the beginning and theyre glad they hired him there.. <>>> During the Great Recession, LedgeRock focused on a regional strategy to help broaden its membership base, though the course didnt stabilize until 2011. Course has a ton of character. It was Aidan O'Hara who convinced FitzGerald of the importance of learning the turf management trade at an American turf school. Amenities 5.0 100.0% Recommend this course 1 out of 1 reviews Read Reviews About Holes 18 Type Private Par 72 Length 7245 yards Slope 153 Rating 75.6 Satellite Layout Tees Track Rounds Scorecard Course Details Year Built 2006 Fairways Bent Grass Greens Bent Grass Architect Rees Jones (2006) Keith Evans (2006) Rentals/Services Carts Yes Clubs Yes Alan Fitzgerald was really impressed with Blinders heavy, porous, seamless and flexible design. There has to be something in it for them. Demographics and attitudes have changed. endobj We priced them out and looked into it seriously. 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. 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 we havent lost any either. Mikls Breitner is a savvy, well-connected senior golf club marketing professional with extensive, All Rights Reserved By Golf Business Monitor Privacy Policy, Gauging the Impact of Private Club Trends. Welcome To Your Club Watch on Golf About Amenities Guest Information 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. National candidates for LedgeRock GC membership cannot live within 100 miles of the club. LedgeRock Golf Club in Mohnton, Pennsylvania is flush with wide, sweeping views. Even though the greens were just aerated last week, they still rolled pretty true and were very receptive to approach shots. In the Philadelphia market, A-list clubs are doing just fine. "Most superintendents, when they come here, ask 'how do you do that?' Mt. Search for fun things to do in your area led by PGA Professionals. So, I came back to them: What if I imported it for you and you taught me how to do it? 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. Gerry Heller, CCM manages the course as the General Manager. ". Call (610) 777-9705 for more information. "I just shake my head and say 'Don't ask. You'll discover it's more than just a golf lesson. According to FitzGerald, in 10 years and more than 1,000 bunkers, there have been zero failures. O'Hara, the superintendent at Mount Juliet Golf in Kilkenny, learned the Jack Nicklaus way of greenkeeping under Mike McBride at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin . 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. Add a tournament here. His short game schools and womens practice club are very popular and he plans on implementing a create your own clinic program in 2021, allowing members to customize their own instruction. Our fortunes are frankly going the other way, Heller said. The challenge for LedgeRock is its location. No local tournaments listed for this course. "The first year there was miserable, but then it became fun. 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. Golf Courses. Thats what I did with most of these companies selling the liner technologies, FitzGerald recalls. Its not about thriving. Please complete the following information below so that we can contact you regarding membership. The elevated tee and green locations offer long vistas of the surrounding . 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. A pair of golf experts are teaming up to lead one of Berks County, Pa.'s private golf clubs through its first major renovation, WFMZ 69 News out of Allentown/Reading, Pa. reported. These bunkers just do not fail, FitzGerald says. 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. 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. The latest news & stories from PGA Amateur Programs. Inhindsight, meeting Dick Bator was huge for me. 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. Thats ultimately why he was drawn to the Blinder product, which, in his opinion, creates an all-new third category with its heavy, porous, seamless and flexible design. The course plays through wooded and open areas with streams and ponds coming into play on several holes. But the benefits versus the costs didnt make it worthwhile, in my opinion, FitzGerald says. The secondary thing is, if the club said, No way, you have to be prepared for that and have a Plan B. Required fields are marked *. ", Copyright 1994-2022, Turnstile Publishing Company Golf Courses, Wernersville, PA Starting his 3rd season at LedgeRock, Halvonik highlighted the great support his membership provides the golf shop. Current member? The cost/benefit analysis I made back then is really the same analysis every superintendent must make today even 15 years later, with the development of so many additional technologies: fabric liners on their own, polymer-sprayed gravel, porous asphalt, concrete or Blinders flexible crumb-rubber/polymer mix. This is a very dramatic site topographically. <>/XObject<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/MediaBox[ 0 0 612 792] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>> 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. I asked him where one gets an LSU Tiger-themed cake in rural Pennsylvania and he credited the internet and some thoughtful planning for making the party an annual success. In fact, his signature pitch line made him a minor celebrity: I liked the shaver so much, I bought the company.. Would that work?. Further down the hill sits Kohl Lodge, where national and regional members can stay the night. . 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. 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. "I don't get excited much, but that was something that was very exciting." 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 . Essentially, the base is compactable road stone, a solid, consistent surface that water runs along and does not penetrate, he says. Your email address will not be published. This naturally builds up the old rsum. LedgeRock Golf Club opened in 2006 on 212 acres of terrain marked by striking elevation changes and riven by half a dozen roaring brooks. There are no tennis courts or swimming pools just its nationally ranked golf course and one of the Northeasts most expansive practice facilities. It reimagines the traditional country club model. Play is limited to members at this private facility. TUNKHANNOCK, PA | Enjoy 3 nights' accommodations at Shadowbrook Resort and 2 rounds of golf at Shadowbrook Golf Course. Required fields are marked *. How will that work for you? We had that kind of relationship. The bunkers here regularly washed from the time the sand went into them. Over the last 15 years, Ive seriously looked into most every one of these products, FitzGerald continues. He says his biggest sellers are TaylorMade, Callaway and PING, all quality brands to go with the impressive roster of apparel lines he highlighted. Member Login. Loch Lomond in Scotland where Penn State grad Ken Siems was superintendent, was deemed the perfect fit. In 2005, when FitzGerald first pondered how to address the continuing washout issue, bunker-liner technology was still in its infancy. They represent opportunity for LedgeRock, as well.. Membership is by invitation only. I wouldnt say Ive procrastinated on it, but I couldve done it sooner It was a handy excuse to get out of jury duty.. GOLF DIGEST MAY EARN A PORTION OF SALES FROM PRODUCTS THAT ARE PURCHASED THROUGH OUR SITE AS PART OF OUR AFFILIATE PARTNERSHIPS WITH RETAILERS. 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. Slopes are so severe that one hillside is named in honor of the Toro mowers used to keep it clipped. Welcome to one of the most beautiful golf courses along the East Coasttucked away as. 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. 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. ATLANTIC CITY, NJ | Enjoy 2 nights' accommodations at Seaview, A Dolce Hotel and 2 rounds of golf at Seaview Golf Club - Bay & Pines Courses. The Herb Graffis Businessperson of the Year Award is named in honor of Golfdoms founder, World Golf Hall of Fame member Herb Graffis. Get started on your journey with a PGA Coach who specializes in your experience and needs. LedgeRock is a Golf Club owned by its Members. 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. Not far from Mohnton, Ledgerock Golf Club offers terrific views and challenging play for golfers at every skill level. Every hole looks different. "He's from Ireland, so I felt sorry for him," Bator joked. John Reitman August 20, 2021, By That is as important today as growing grass., Jones notes FitzGeralds pedigree, but adds that having Pine Valley on ones rsum doesnt do any good unless that superintendent can deliver. It allows me to bring in fresh product throughout the year knowing that its going to sell, he said. 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. 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 bunkers at LedgeRock couldnt wait that long. Its also hard to come by the aggregates you need in some cases.. Miller sends video recaps with color commentary to add to the kids (and their parents) experience. It was a magnificent place to work. Seriously, what impressed me about him was his ability at a young age to think outside the box to get things accomplished. 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. What none of these clubs did was adjust proactively to what has become a new, broader, and still evolving market, one that includes more millennials, minorities and women. The most outstanding feature at Ledgerock is the dramatic topography. Favorite The Ledgerock Golf Club is a private 18 hole facility located near Reading, Pennsylvania. 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. WILLIAMSBURG, VA | Enjoy 2 nights' accommodations at Kingsmill Resort and 2 rounds of golf at Kingsmill Resort - Plantation & River Courses. Course acreage is simply worth way more as housing if the zoning allows it. 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. 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. 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. <> Its seamless, and being rubber, its just more flexible than anything else. 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. Juliet, 18 miniature USGA spec greens with gravity-powered water features! The Ledgerock Golf Club is a private 18 hole facility located near Reading, Pennsylvania. And, its our strong feeling that national and regional memberships are part of the reason why. With private club market in crisis, LedgeRock GC expands membership scope. All rights reserved. It was a big moment," said FitzGerald. The par-4 17th is slated for renovation next year. endobj Our premier event of the year, The Rock Member Guest, was an absolute blast! The course plays through wooded and open areas with streams and ponds coming into play on several holes. Play golf at Ledge Rock Golf Club, located at 1 Greenbriar Dr Mohnton, PA 19540-9307. Copyright 2023 GolfPass. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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