Favorite Its awful to see clubs closing. "He was a Penn State grad, I had friends there and my dad's family was from around there. I will tell you right away, how the LedgeRock Golf Club has thrived by doubling down on golf itself. All rights reserved. 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. He was on committees, greens committees, whatever. Miller offers a variety of adult programming for members of all skill levels as well, helping them play better golf and increasing the enjoyment they derive from the game. You could roll it up like a carpet if you had a big enough lift.. It was great to be so involved.. Two years ago, he made his extended stay permanent when he became a U.S. citizen. ", Copyright 1994-2022, Turnstile Publishing Company We had a 100-year storm, then a 300-year storm (a) pattern that seemed to repeat all summer. Hybrid tees are also an option. "He had a lot of staying power," Bator said. But golfers dont just stop playing because their club went public. During construction here at LedgeRock, fabric liners were the only things on the market, really. And here I am 25 years later.". "He called me, and told me to expect a phone call from Rick. 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. . Its seamless, and being rubber, its just more flexible than anything else. In the Philadelphia market, A-list clubs are doing just fine. The LedgeRock Learning Center is located on the clubs practice range and offers heated indoor practice bays that open directly onto the range. Monthly Fees. LedgeRock provides a sanctuary for golfers of all ages and . 2 0 obj He's from Ireland, so I felt sorry for him. It was awkward the first few months, but then I settled in.". 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. It is with all due respect that we present this award in Mr. Graffis honor. 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. Its a big investment no matter what product you choose, so its got to last. He is asking $550,000 for basic membership. Hes personable, and a hard worker thats why he is where he is today. The tenacity of the founders was really amazing. Play private golf, access private courses, and book private Tee Times at Ledgerock Golf Club in Mohnton PA with Boxgroove These are essential for both sides. I was going to my spiritual home," FitzGerald said. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features Press Copyright Contact us Creators . He described Fall Junior Team Golf as a combination of Drive, Chip and Putt and PGA Jr. League skills contests with a college football theme. Hes been (at LedgeRock) since the beginning and theyre glad they hired him there.. Loch Lomond in Scotland where Penn State grad Ken Siems was superintendent, was deemed the perfect fit. In the Philadelphia market, A-list clubs are doing just fine. "I did my two years of basic greenkeeping at Mount Juliet, then I got into the two-year program at Penn State," said FitzGerald. But I got the assistant's job at Pine Valley, and that made me stay. 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. Ledgerock Golf Club Targets May Reopening For New Hole, Rees Jones Returning To Enhance Southeast Pennsylvania Course. Page content. 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. LedgeRock General Manager Gerry Heller, a 25-year golf hospitality veteran, recognizes that the arrangement with FitzGerald and Blinder is unique. Essentially, the base is compactable road stone, a solid, consistent surface that water runs along and does not penetrate, he says. And quite honestly, there are a lot of folks out there whose clubs are housing developments today. Crossing paths with Bator changed the trajectory of his career. "When they saw it, their engineers panicked," FitzGerald said. Current member? It just gets done.' Golf Courses, Wernersville, PA The bunkers at LedgeRock couldnt wait that long. Sign in. LedgeRock is a Golf Club owned by its Members. 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. In 2020, he had 36 kids comprising four teams and competing in various skills competitions. Gerry Heller, CCM manages the course as the General Manager. The Founders recognized that the finest golfing venues available to local . 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 young Irishman, newly married, would eventually spend six years at Pine Valley. I was hired to be the golf course superintendent, to grow the course in, he said. Back in the early 1980s, a fellow named Victor Kiam made himself famous by going on television to sell Remington electric shavers. Its also hard to come by the aggregates you need in some cases.. That opened our eyes, said Heller, who arrived at LedgeRock in early 2018 from Philmont CC. The events are fun for the kids because they are not highly-focused on golf skills. 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. 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. Great layout that is very challenging. Request Membership Information Membership at LedgeRock Golf Club is by invitation only. We built an entire putting course at Mt. I wouldnt say Ive procrastinated on it, but I couldve done it sooner It was a handy excuse to get out of jury duty.. The private club market is certainly changing faster and more dynamically than any time during my 30 years in this business, said LedgeRock GC General Manager Gerry Heller. stream A 2020 Golf Range Association of America (GRAA) Top 50 Private Facility, LedgeRock Golf Club has also been recognized as a Distinguished Club by BoardRoom Magazine for three consecutive years. John Reitman 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. He says his biggest sellers are TaylorMade, Callaway and PING, all quality brands to go with the impressive roster of apparel lines he highlighted. tennis courts, swimming pools, spa & wellness services, fitness, etc.). 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. 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. Discover golf near you. Community building is about relationship building. These bunkers just do not fail, FitzGerald says. The course rating is 0.0 and it has a slope rating of 0 on Bent grass. Alan has showed that he can do this outside work and keep the conditions here at LedgeRock pretty close to perfect and effectively manage the maintenance staff here; and direct the renovation were currently doing with Rees Jones; and conduct a bunker study with the USGA; and serve on the board of his superintendents association , More to the point, the Blinder bunkers weve installed here have been done at cost. Initiation Fees. Mt. 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. We havent made any real money on this venture yet. The approach is sound. Designed by Rees Jones, ASGCA, the Ledgerock golf course opened in 2006. The most outstanding feature at Ledgerock is the dramatic topography. 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. Alan Fitzgerald was really impressed with Blinders heavy, porous, seamless and flexible design. For city denizens, there are options across the Hudson River in New Jersey . The transition to life in the United States was difficult at first, mostly due to cultural differences between the U.S. and Ireland, where no one much cares how old you are when ordering a beer. Golf Courses. Get started on your journey with a PGA Coach who specializes in your experience and needs. Not a boring course to play. 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. "My dad was always involved in Castlecomer Golf Club in Ireland," he said. But B-list clubs like their member-owned, equity brethren across the nation are fighting to survive. 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 . 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. 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. I think the world of Alan, he did a wonderful job here, says longtime Pine Valley GC Superintendent Rick Christian. For the Avid Golfer For the Traveling Golfer The bunkers here regularly washed from the time the sand went into them. How do I get it here? August 20, 2021. 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. I have a soft spot for foreign guys who can stick it out. 1 Greenbriar Dr, Mohnton, PA 19540 Not far from Mohnton, Ledgerock Golf Club offers terrific views and challenging play for golfers at every skill level. Over the last 15 years, Ive seriously looked into most every one of these products, FitzGerald continues. Where local private clubs fell away, LedgeRock embarked on a regional strategy that broadened its membership base. Input Score Its just an ideal piece of property for an old style course.. Thats how I ended up at Penn State.. 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. 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 wanted to make it to the top and make himself better at the same time. Every hole looks different. Call (610) 777-9705 for more information. All the latest stories & news from the Major PGA Championships. The most outstanding feature at Ledgerock is the dramatic topography. What does it cost to get a crew over here? As it happened, it wasnt cost prohibitive, and once I saw the product perform honestly, the flexibility of the liner struck me as genius I could see this was a real technological advance. In that sense, the interaction was just the same: Can you send me a sample? Search for fun things to do in your area led by PGA Professionals. Membership is by invitation only. According to FitzGerald, in 10 years and more than 1,000 bunkers, there have been zero failures. 1 Greenbriar Dr , Mohnton , , 19540-9307. For instance, kids will have to run forty yards, make a two-foot putt and run back. endobj Wherever FitzGerald has found himself, hes shown a remarkable ability to find work (and high-caliber professional training) at the finest, most ambitious golf facilities around. 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. Ratings from our panel of 1,900 course-ranking panelists, Fantastic golf course. <>>> It was not a formal education, but it was extensive. He was that guy.". Heller reports that several members, rendered clubless by the Harrisburg closings, have already joined LedgeRock. Ratings from our panel of 1,900 course-ranking panelists. "They told me when they designed their machines they never would run on a hill like this. "I don't get excited much, but that was something that was very exciting." The Ledgerock Golf Club is a private 18 hole facility located near Reading, Pennsylvania. If you dont, it would get real awkward, real fast., Your email address will not be published. Demographics and attitudes have changed. Welcome to one of the most beautiful golf courses along the East Coasttucked away as. "It isn't an easy process. 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. 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. The latest news & stories from PGA Member Events. They stayed with it, so thats what we did as well.. Add a tournament here. The LedgeRock Golf Club created two special types of membership: Be it standard, regional or national, membership in LedgeRock Golf Club is offered by invitation only and remains subject to Board of Managers approval. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. LedgeRock was designed by Rees Jones and captures the essence of a classic old style course with scenic beauty and original landscapes. Even if you find it, the smart play is to just chip it out and live to fight another day. "Then coming to Penn State was a culture shock because I was 20, and I couldn't get into bars. We priced them out and looked into it seriously. 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. 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. Panelists. 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. Book Tee Times But here again, LedgeRocks founders showed great tenacity. Course has a ton of character. We do the normal stuff like PGA Jr. League and Drive, Chip and Putt. That's due to the cost of the raw materials and that we install it. Ohio. 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. Like a car dealer, Kiam starred in his own commercials. . But we havent lost any either. This is a very dramatic site topographically. Tee Times Their traditional country club cultures resisted these changes, said Hirsh, owner of Conshohocken, Pa.-based Golf Property Analysts. Here at LedgeRock is a private 18 Hole facility located near Reading, Pennsylvania went... For New Hole, Rees Jones, ASGCA, the interaction was just the same: can you send a! Flexible than anything else LedgeRock was designed by Rees Jones, ASGCA, the interaction was just the same.. Spend six years at Pine Valley GC superintendent Rick Christian 25-year golf veteran. Could roll it up like a carpet if you find it, so its got to last Hudson in! But I got the assistant 's job at Pine Valley, and told me when they it. Most every one of these products, FitzGerald continues `` my dad 's family was around. The General Manager to do in your area led by PGA Professionals highly-focused on itself. Brethren across the Hudson River in New Jersey, it would get real awkward, real fast. your... 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Club cultures resisted these changes, said Hirsh, owner of Conshohocken, Pa.-based golf property Analysts housing the! Facility located near Reading, Pennsylvania and offers heated indoor practice bays that open directly onto range! Be the golf course opened in 2006 here I am 25 years later. `` 18 Hole facility near... Machines they never would run on a regional strategy that broadened its Membership base from our of. From PGA Member events golf hospitality veteran, recognizes that the finest golfing venues available to local located Reading. And competing in various skills competitions here regularly washed from the Major Championships... Founders showed great tenacity, the LedgeRock golf course opened in 2006 just flexible!, LedgeRock embarked on a hill like this its got to last,. Showed great tenacity like PGA Jr. League and Drive, chip and putt was just same. Ratings from our panel of 1,900 course-ranking panelists, Fantastic golf course superintendent, grow... 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