Trump-philly Fitting Site For Final Member Golf Day
Players came from all corners of the Garden State on Monday, October 20, to attend the New Jersey State Golf Association’s final Member Golf Day of the 2014, fittingly at renowned Trump National Golf Club-Philadelphia, located in Pine Hill, N.J.
Golfers came from as far away as Bergen and Sussex counties in the north and Cape May County in the south.
The 11th Member Golf Day of the year attracted a field of 82, including 12 from the South Jersey Golf Association.
“They love coming to Trump National-Philadelphia. This course stands out,” said Rich Kennedy, NJSGA Director of Handicapping and Member Benefit Services. “It is a Tom Fazio-designed course, one of the top designer courses in the state.
“It’s nice to deliver this kind of venue to our membership. Having Member Golf Day here is a great way to round out the season. We are trying to do more here in South Jersey, so we invited members of the South Jersey Golf Association and that has added to the success of this day.”
Among those from the SJGA were Jane Mendendez, John Goshen, and Jeanne Leisner, all of whom live in Cape May, and Sue Bennett od Delaware.
“I went to high school near here (Clearview in Mullica Hill) and we used to have ski races here before it became a golf course,” Leisner said. “It’s become a beautiful golf course.”
“We’re excited to be here representing the SJGA,” said Bennett, who resides in Dagsboro, Del. “It will be a great day of golf here.”
The competition for the field was individual stroke play (net) with Stableford scoring.
“The Member Golf Day program keeps getting better each year. This year is better than 2013, not only in exposing the New Jersey golf community to these types of places, but also in the fact that is gratifying in giving them a chance to play courses they might not ever be able to,” Kennedy said.
Member Golf Days began with four outings in 2011, expanded to five in 2012 and six in 2013 before nearing doubling to 11 this year. The cost to participate is $125 which includes greens fee, cart, lunch, post-golf reception and awards.
“The obvious question is how many MGDs we will offer for next year. We think it will be between 10-to-12. We are already working on the schedule and contacting courses before we announce our plans early next spring,” he added.
Of the 11 events this summer, seven were sold out and nine had full fields.
“I came down for the venue,” said Rich Cutler, who drove two hours form Allendale in Bergen County. “I don’t know if I’d ever have the opportunity to play here. Rich (Kennedy) does a nice job getting these places. And the competition keeps you engaged. It’s a lot of fun.”
Fred Lee of Bergenfield also drove two hours for the event.
“I played here once before and it was the day Donald Trump was here to buy the course,” he remembered. “The course is in great condition. There are a lot of blind tee shots here. I heard about it from the NJSGA E-Bulletin emails.”
