"Coming to New York City from Kilkenny was a culture shock," he said. Coming from a place like Pine Valley, theres an expectation and hes fulfilled those expectations, because LedgeRock is as good as Pine Valley. I was hired to be the golf course superintendent, to grow the course in, he said. More surprising, perhaps, is his full-time employers belief in the venture. 6 one day and asks me, Will you be able to mow that bank? Great layout that is very challenging. Current member? You could roll it up like a carpet if you had a big enough lift.. Slopes are so severe that one hillside is named in honor of the Toro mowers used to keep it clipped. Hes personable, and a hard worker thats why he is where he is today. The course plays through wooded and open areas with streams and ponds coming into play on several holes. WILLIAMSBURG, VA | Enjoy 2 nights' accommodations at Williamsburg Lodge, Autograph Collection and 2 rounds of golf at Golden Horseshoe Golf Club - Gold & Green Courses. ", Copyright 1994-2022, Turnstile Publishing Company If you want to hit all the clubs in your bag play here.". "He had a lot of staying power," Bator said. 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. I wouldnt say Ive procrastinated on it, but I couldve done it sooner It was a handy excuse to get out of jury duty.. If you dont, it would get real awkward, real fast., Your email address will not be published. I emailed (Blinder) out of the blue. During construction here at LedgeRock, fabric liners were the only things on the market, really. 2 0 obj "Then coming to Penn State was a culture shock because I was 20, and I couldn't get into bars. 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. By 1996, he was off to Penn State. That's when I decided I wanted to do this as a career. Its awful to see clubs closing. Tee Times Its seamless, and being rubber, its just more flexible than anything else. The challenge for LedgeRock is its location. View Website EXPLORE THE COURSE MAP. We do the normal stuff like PGA Jr. League and Drive, Chip and Putt. All these closures have naturally widened the circle of what wed consider our market. Welcome To Your Club Watch on Golf About Amenities Guest Information Members kick back and watch golf or football, have a snack or even set up their home office, especially now that so many individuals are working from home. 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. He still asks Why? and as hes gotten older, he also asks Why not? And thats a great thing.. There has to be something in it for them. 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. The average individual club membership is $520 per month, according to a survey by Golf Digest. Miller highlighted the special programs he offers, especially the junior golf opportunities. 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. The home hole at the soon-to-be opened Sebonack Golf Club in Southampton, New York, is a natural beauty, a par 5 that dips, rolls and rises atop a cliff overlooking Peconic Bay. We havent made any real money on this venture yet. He's been on one almost for as long as he can remember and pretty much grew up on the golf course named for his hometown. And here I am 25 years later.". Its not about thriving. Alan was totally upfront with us about this, and we frankly viewed it as an opportunity for him as a valued employee and for us as a club, Heller says. But after some 15 years of research, test bunkers and cost-benefit analyses, he believes hes found the best bunker liner system out there. When it comes to golf, members practice year-round on the indoor putting and chipping green. Its FitzGeralds desire to keep LedgeRock looking pristine while also striving to make Blinder a success in the American market that has earned him the 2019 Herb Graffis Businessperson of the Year Award, awarded annually for eight years by Golfdom. 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. During the Great Recession, LedgeRock focused on a regional strategy to help broaden its membership base, though the course didnt stabilize until 2011. LedgeRock was designed by Rees Jones and captures the essence of a classic old style course with scenic beauty and original landscapes. The more rugged the property is, the more spectacular the possibilities for the final product. And quite honestly, there are a lot of folks out there whose clubs are housing developments today. The short course caters to juniors and beginners who want to take the skills they learn on the range out to the golf course. If we want to build a community in our private golf club and not just manage a private golf club then we have to help our members to build relationships with each other. I had a much better year. LedgeRock General Manager Gerry Heller, a 25-year golf hospitality veteran, recognizes that the arrangement with FitzGerald and Blinder is unique. In 2020, he had 36 kids comprising four teams and competing in various skills competitions. LedgeRock Golf Club | 549 followers on LinkedIn. While Jones doesnt recall that exact moment from 15 years ago, he does remember how easy it was and still is to work with the Irishman. <> At first, I just wanted to get it done, but when I did it, it was very emotional. Well-groomed fairways and greens keep Ledgerock Golf Club difficult yet friendly, and the staff can offer tips and tricks for playing your best round. And, its our strong feeling that national and regional memberships are part of the reason why. How will that work for you? We had that kind of relationship. Enjoy the great view of 16, 17, 18, and 1 as you sit on the patio enjoying a post round drink or meal. We had a 100-year storm, then a 300-year storm (a) pattern that seemed to repeat all summer. Thats why so many clubs are closing or selling out to corporate ownership or going public.. It was awkward the first few months, but then I settled in.". Inhindsight, meeting Dick Bator was huge for me. 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. days before the event. 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 . . For more information please contact Andrew Schoenblum, Membership and Communications Manager, at [email protected]. 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. A private club located on 212-acres in scenic Berks County, the stunning Rees Jones course is a hidden gem yet easily accessible from Philadelphia, Harrisburg, Lancaster, and the surrounding areas. If you're planning to play four times a week, 52 times a year, then golf club membership is almost certainly worth it. <> Wed fix everything after a storm and everything would just wash out again, FitzGerald says with a shrug. At the time, I was young, and I had no idea how huge it was. endobj He wanted to make it to the top and make himself better at the same time. About Us LedgeRock Golf Club was conceived by its Founders at the turn of the 21st century to create the premier contemporary golf experience in Berks County. Hybrid tees are also an option. Be it standard, regional or national, membership in LedgeRock Golf Club is offered by invitation only and remains subject to the board of managers approval. endobj FitzGerald, a native of Castlecomer, a small town in the southeast of Ireland near Kilkenny, came to the U.S. in 1996 to attend Penn State. "Seriously, what impressed me about him was his ability at a young age to think outside the box to get things accomplished.". 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. This is a very dramatic site topographically. If the green fee at the course is, say, 75 - that would work out at 15,600 annually - It's likely the annual subs could be 10 times cheaper than that. "Dad was always there. In a matter of two to three years, it felt like wed built pretty much every feature of a golf course. 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. But here again, LedgeRocks founders showed great tenacity. . Copyright 2023 GolfPass. Golf Courses, Sinking Spring, PA 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. But the benefits versus the costs didnt make it worthwhile, in my opinion, FitzGerald says. But costs could climb above $1000 per month when you add in various fees such as storage and golf cart fees. Mt. The most outstanding feature at Ledgerock is the dramatic topography. Member Login. 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. ". Alan really knows how to relate to people, Jones says. Powered by Invision Community, Becoming a superintendent was always in the cards for LedgeRock's FitzGerald, Copyright 1994-2022, Turnstile Publishing Company. LedgeRock is a Golf Club owned by its Members. Two years ago, he made his extended stay permanent when he became a U.S. citizen. Further down the hill sits Kohl Lodge, where national and regional members can stay the night. 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. Regional, or nonresident members may not own or rent property within 35 miles of the club. 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. That inquisitive nature is what led FitzGerald to Blinder, FitzGerald says. Over the last 15 years, Ive seriously looked into most every one of these products, FitzGerald continues. As you know, private golf clubs are closing, redeveloping and converting to public play in record numbers. This membership includes unlimited Golf and Club Amenities, listed on page 2, for the primary Member, spouse and any children under the age of 23 who are living at home or a full-time student. Its just an ideal piece of property for an old style course.. 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