FitzGerald, 45, was seemingly destined for life as a golf course superintendent. Powered by Invision Community, Becoming a superintendent was always in the cards for LedgeRock's FitzGerald, Copyright 1994-2022, Turnstile Publishing Company. 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. So, I came back to them: What if I imported it for you and you taught me how to do it? Its seamless, and being rubber, its just more flexible than anything else. ", Copyright 1994-2022, Turnstile Publishing Company Jones and his associates were in Mohnton all year revamping the par-3 10th. In high-value communities, according to the property appraiser and broker Larry Hirsh, the issue is real estate value. "When they saw it, their engineers panicked," FitzGerald said. He wanted to make it to the top and make himself better at the same time. 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. 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. Sign in. Membership is by invitation only. 3,732 were here. I was going to my spiritual home," FitzGerald said. Thats how I ended up at Penn State.. "I just shake my head and say 'Don't ask. More. LedgeRock is a Golf Club owned by its Members. All rights reserved. . My standing joke has been, The members here have never played in brand-new bunkers.. Larry Hirsh, the owner of Conshohocken, Pa.-based Golf Property Analysts says. 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. The bunkers here regularly washed from the time the sand went into them. Its a big investment no matter what product you choose, so its got to last. Its awful to see clubs closing. The rubber is mixed with a polymer and hand-laid into place to ensure it closely follows the contours of the bunker. He is asking $550,000 for basic membership. 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 was of age and able to enjoy college life more.". How do I get it here? Thats why so many clubs are closing or selling out to corporate ownership or going public.. Coming from a place like Pine Valley, theres an expectation and hes fulfilled those expectations, because LedgeRock is as good as Pine Valley. "I'm supposed to say I met my wife at Penn State, and that's why I stayed in the States. endobj He was 20 years old when he arrived in State College, his first trip to the United States. Miller plans ahead and prepares a season-ending party with cakes and party products of the teams represented in the competition. For more information on LedgeRock Golf Club, log on to https://www.ledgerockgolf.com/. 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. "It isn't an easy process. Its just an ideal piece of property for an old style course.. (Photo: Larry Lambrecht), I wasnt hired as any sort of construction superintendent. Regional, or nonresident members may not own or rent property within 35 miles of the club. Add a tournament here. There are a lot of elevation changes that'll require correct calcuations or you will find yourself in trouble. Our premier event of the year, The Rock Member Guest, was an absolute blast! About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features Press Copyright Contact us Creators . I have a soft spot for foreign guys who can stick it out. With private club market in crisis, LedgeRock GC expands membership scope. The young Irishman, newly married, would eventually spend six years at Pine Valley. FitzGerald grew up in Castlecomer, in the southeast of Ireland. How will that work for you? We had that kind of relationship. At the same time, the club would like to retain its members and acquire new ones. "They told me when they designed their machines they never would run on a hill like this. 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. And quite honestly, there are a lot of folks out there whose clubs are housing developments today. In a matter of two to three years, it felt like wed built pretty much every feature of a golf course. 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. 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. Indeed, things didnt stabilize for FitzGerald and LedgeRock until about 2011. Gerry Heller, CCM manages the course as the General Manager. 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. Alan FitzGerald (Photo courtesy of Alan Fitzgerald). 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. John Reitman Whats more, he didnt buy Blinder Bunker International. They stayed with it, so thats what we did as well.. Slopes are so severe that one hillside is named in honor of the Toro mowers used to keep it clipped. Ohio. Alan Fitzgerald was really impressed with Blinders heavy, porous, seamless and flexible design. But here again, LedgeRocks founders showed great tenacity. . 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. 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. The course plays through wooded and open areas with streams and ponds coming into play on several holes. Im going through the U.S. citizenship process right now, FitzGerald says with a wry smile. 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. It also tends to build up the diverse, real-world experience that sets elite golf course superintendents apart. 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. That debt burden is the reason so many clubs have, in last decade, sold out to corporate management companies. LedgeRock captures the essence of a classic, old style course by maintaining the scenic beauty and elegant rustic nature of the original landscape. Call (610) 777-9705 for more information. He says his biggest sellers are TaylorMade, Callaway and PING, all quality brands to go with the impressive roster of apparel lines he highlighted. 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 has received numerous accolades throughout his career. Even though the greens were just aerated last week, they still rolled pretty true and were very receptive to approach shots. Eventually, he would earn a two-year turfgrass science degree under the watchful eye of George Hamilton, Ph.D. and meet his Pocono-bred future wife, Jamie. It was awkward the first few months, but then I settled in.". 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. Getting members on the golf course helps boost participation in member events. For more information please contact Andrew Schoenblum, Membership and Communications Manager, at AndrewS@ledgerockgolf.com. 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. But B-list clubs like their member-owned, equity brethren across the nation are fighting like the dickens to survive. In fact, his signature pitch line made him a minor celebrity: I liked the shaver so much, I bought the company.. 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. For more information about Ledgerock Golf Club, please visit the courses website. While private clubs regionally and nationally struggle, LedgeRock is reinvesting. Blinders short answer was Yes. But leaving it there would gloss over and considerably shorten a pretty good, thoroughly trans-Atlantic story. Blinder has been operating in Europe for a decade, where, unlike in North America, its one of the most recognizable names in bunker liners. National candidates for LedgeRock GC membership cannot live within 100 miles of the club. During the Great Recession, LedgeRock focused on a regional strategy to help broaden its membership base, though the course didnt stabilize until 2011. We priced them out and looked into it seriously. 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. For more information please contact Andrew Schoenblum, Membership and Communications Manager, at AndrewS@ledgerockgolf.com. The Club welcomes outside vendors to assist with enhancing your special event. Play is limited to members at this private facility. In general, FitzGerald believes the bunker liner product universe can be broken into two broad categories: soft (fabric liners) and hard (aggregate liners). TUNKHANNOCK, PA | Enjoy 3 nights' accommodations at Shadowbrook Resort and 2 rounds of golf at Shadowbrook Golf Course. With meeting space indoors and a spacious patio outdoors that overlooks the range, its a popular member gathering spot. 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. The short course caters to juniors and beginners who want to take the skills they learn on the range out to the golf course. Thats due to the cost of the raw materials and that we install it. "He's from Ireland, so I felt sorry for him," Bator joked. 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. With those seven years of relative chaos behind them, the superintendent knew it was time to address two issues of primary importance: the clubs perennially contaminated bunkers and his pending dual citizenship. Membership is by invitation only. Thats what the club gets out of it, and we see that as a pretty good deal., Most recently, Blinder outfitted all the bunkers at Skippack GC in Eastern Pennsylvania, but FitzGerald is clear-eyed about the challenges ahead. 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. 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 . 1 Greenbriar Dr, Mohnton, PA 19540 Required fields are marked *. 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. Take a look at the scorecard and youll see five sets of tees that serve golfers of all skill levels. 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. 4.4 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. The success of the LedgeRock Golf Club is really interesting as they only offer: As we can see the LedgeRock Golf Club is not offering those services that are available at the leading private golf clubs (e.g. 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. Weve had people switch clubs to take advantage of our junior golf program or join LedgeRock in addition to their original club, Miller mentioned. Further down the hill sits Kohl Lodge, where national and regional members can stay the night. Even though it is within tolerance, they never thought they would be used to mow anything like this.". Golf Courses, Wernersville, PA Not a boring course to play. We built an entire putting course at Mt. LedgeRock provides a sanctuary for golfers of all ages and . Posted By Play golf at Ledge Rock Golf Club, located at 1 Greenbriar Dr Mohnton, PA 19540-9307. 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. The Founders recognized that the finest golfing venues available to local . The Blinder business accounts for the other 3 percent, but because its all above board, fielding a Blinder call in the middle of the day is seamless and unremarkable, to be honest. "Our biggest issue is cost: We've 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. 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. "I did my two years of basic greenkeeping at Mount Juliet, then I got into the two-year program at Penn State," said FitzGerald. WILLIAMSBURG, VA | Enjoy 2 nights' accommodations at Williamsburg Lodge, Autograph Collection and 2 rounds of golf at Golden Horseshoe Golf Club - Gold & Green Courses. It was great to be so involved.. These bunkers just do not fail, FitzGerald says. It just gets done.' The latest news & stories from PGA Member Events. I emailed (Blinder) out of the blue. stream 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. But I also do something called Fall Junior Team Golf, which Ive done presentations about during [Philadelphia PGA] Section meetings, Miller added. Two years ago, he made his extended stay permanent when he became a U.S. citizen. "The first year there was miserable, but then it became fun. Its also hard to come by the aggregates you need in some cases.. The exacerbating factor is often club debt, much of it accrued prior to 2008 recession. And, its our strong feeling that national and regional memberships are part of the reason why. "He had a lot of staying power," Bator 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. 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. LedgeRock General Manager Gerry Heller, a 25-year golf hospitality veteran, recognizes that the arrangement with FitzGerald and Blinder is unique. Golf Courses, Sinking Spring, PA But the benefits versus the costs didnt make it worthwhile, in my opinion, FitzGerald says. Miller sends video recaps with color commentary to add to the kids (and their parents) experience. Would that work?. In that sense, the interaction was just the same: Can you send me a sample? 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. Course acreage is simply worth way more as housing, if the zoning allows it. The most outstanding feature at Ledgerock is the dramatic topography. 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. The challenge for LedgeRock is its location. Indeed, it is a hidden gem among the many fine courses in southeastern Pennsylvania. Not far from Mohnton, Ledgerock Golf Club offers terrific views and challenging play for golfers at every skill level. But I got the assistant's job at Pine Valley, and that made me stay. . 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