Atlantic City Country Club, Northfield
Known for: The place where the term “birdie” was coined in 1903.
What’s new: The club has invested in a fleet of new golf carts, dining room tables and chairs in the Taproom Bar & Grille.
Socially speaking: Check out live entertainment on the back patio every Thursday night, not to mention bi-monthly wine dinners.
(609) 236-4401, ACCountryClub.com
Avalon Golf Club, Cape May Court House
Known for: Being accessible to golfers at all levels thanks to four accommodating sets of tees.
What’s new: A new lunch menu and a $13.99 early bird dinner option from 4 to 5:30 p.m.
Added value: A Wednesday special starting in June runs $59.95 and includes greens fees, a cart and lunch coupon.
1 (800)-643-4766, AvalonGolfClub.net
Ballamor Golf Club (pictured), Egg Harbor Township
Known for: Named the fourth best public course in the state by Golf Magazine in 2010, and No. 6 on Golfweek’s 2011 list of best courses you can play.
Added value: Members here can also enjoy rounds of golf at sister course Scotland Run Golf Club in Williamstown.
(609) 601-6220, Ballamor.com
Blue Heron Pines Golf Club, Egg Harbor City
Known for: Ranked 34 out of 6,800 courses in the country by Golf World.
What’s new: Keep an eye out for a slew of new social events like beginner 9 and dine events and clinics for women running every Wednesday, starting in mid-April. Better hurry: The new twilight membership ($550) offers golf seven days a week after 3 p.m.
(609) 965-1800, BlueHeronPines.com
Cape May National Golf Club, Erma
Known for: Nicknamed “The Natural,” this course is built around a 50-acre private bird sanctuary.
What’s new: Keeping in tune with its environmentally friendly ways, the course’s “major solar project” will provide all of the electricity for the course and power the irrigation system and golf carts as well.
Stay the course: Rates here remain the same as they did 10 years ago.
(609) 884-1563, CMNGC.com
Galloway National Golf Club, Galloway
What’s new: A fairway bunker renovation that began last fall will extend into the 2012 season.
Event watch: The course will host its first USGA national event, the Men’s State Team Championship, Sept. 19-21.
(609) 748-1000, GallowayNationalGolf.com
Greate Bay Country Club, Somers Point
Known for: Attracting notables like Pat Croce and Dick Vermeil.
Socially speaking: Greate Bay’s pub is the kind of place where members come before, after or even when they aren’t golfing a round. Cigar dinners, martini tastings and the piano bar are all attractions here.
Say I do: TheKnot.com selected the club as one of its 2012 picks for best wedding venue.
(609) 927-5071, GreateBay.com
Harbor Pines Golf Club, Egg Harbor Township
Known for: Named a “Place to Play” by Golf Digest, currently holding a four-star ranking.
Bring the kids: Widely regarded as one of the best junior-friendly courses thanks to expanded fairways and greens; the club also hosts a golf academy run by a Class A PGA professional.
Highlight: Six levels of membership available, from one to seven days a week.
(609) 927-0006, HarborPines.com
Hidden Creek Golf Club, Egg Harbor Township
Known for: The area’s only Bill Coore-Ben Crenshaw designed course was voted the 13th best course in the country by Golf World readers in 2010.
What’s new: A new set of members’ tees: At 6,150 yards, the new tees are designed to provide a more enjoyable experience for mid-to-high handicappers, especially seniors. The practice tee will also be expanded.
(609) 909-2990, HiddenCreekClub.com
The Links at Brigantine Beach, Brigantine
Known for: The closest course to A.C., located just across the bridge from the casinos and boardwalk.
What’s new: After a decade-long, multi-million dollar restoration, the club-house has been upgraded and now features the Links Bar & Grille, a full-service restaurant open to the public.
Highlight: This is the only course in Atlantic County to offer the GPS yardage system on all carts.
(609) 266-1388, BrigantineGolf.com
Linwood Country Club, Linwood
What’s new: For the 2012 season, Linwood is offering a limited amount of buy one, get one free deals, where members can pay for this year and get 2013 free.
Socially speaking: Look out for a lot of live entertainment at the club on Friday and Saturday nights, including the popular band Don’t Call Me Francis.
(609) 927-6134, LinwoodCountryClub.com
Mays Landing Golf & Country Club, Mays Landing
Known for: The “Best Birdie for your Buck,” seven-day memberships are listed at just $299, including greens fees for one year and require only a cart fee of $19 per round.
What’s new: Guests can take pointers from the new head golf pro with a package of five lessons for $100.
(609) 641-4411, MaysLandingGolf.com
McCullough’s Emerald Golf Links, Egg Harbor Township
Known for: The Stephen Kay-designed course built on a landfill will mark its 10th anniversary in June.
What’s new: The Library Pub & Grille enters its first full golf season, open for lunch and dinner seven days a week. Also, novice golfers can take advantage of a 10-week Tuesday clinic ($350).
For the ladies: Tuesday is ladies’ day here, where women pay $46 for greens fees and a cart.
(609) 926-3900, McCulloughsGolf.com
Sand Barrens Golf Club, Swainton
What’s new: The 27-hole course has been completely redone, with all the greens and fairways restored. The practice area is also being restored with new target greens and bunkers.
Join the club: The new Corporate Sponsor Membership and Sand Pass Package is loaded with incentives like 10 percent discounts in the pro shop, reduced greens fees for guests, full-page advertisement on the carts’ GPS system and advanced tee times up to 60 days.
(609) 465-3555, SandBarrensGolf.com
Sea Oaks Golf Club, Little Egg Harbor
Known for: Being one of the only clubs in South Jersey to offer onsite lodging, courtesy of a 31-room inn that also features a fitness room, free Internet and complimentary breakfast.
What’s new: The club is now offering a Player’s Booklet for 2012. The booklet includes 10 rounds of golf at discounted rates between 35 and 40 percent for both prime time and twilight rounds as well as various discounts at the club’s Legacy Restaurant.
(609) 296-2656, SeaOaksCC.com
Shore Gate Golf Club, Ocean View
Known for: The course was one of only two public facilities to be included among Golf Digest’s 2011-2012 top courses in New Jersey, ranking No. 20.
Highlight: Each hole is unique with natural elevation changes, making this one of the more challenging courses around, but your best chance for a birdie can be found on No. 14, an otherwise short 144-yard par 3.
(609) 624-8337, ShoreGateGolf.com
Stone Harbor Golf Club, Cape May Court House
Known for: An upscale private facility with an even higher level of personal service.
What’s new: Junior executive memberships ($2,400) are being offered for golfers between ages 22 and 29, while junior golfers under 22 can play the year for
$1,200.
Socially speaking: Look out for new menus this year as well as specials like a Sunday 9 and dine, which features reduced greens fees for Sunday afternoons paired with
a small plates menu afterward.
(609) 465-9270, StoneHarborGolf.com
Twisted Dune Golf Club, Egg Harbor Township
Known for: Being a Scottish links course with dramatic elevation changes and picturesque views.
Added value: Being a member here allows you access to sister courses in Jackson and Basking Ridge as well as two more in New York.
(609) 653-8019, TwistedDune.com
Wildwood Golf & Country Club, Cape May Court House
Known for: Led by two PGA pros, the club boasts one of the Shore’s top teaching programs, featuring an all-grass driving range, two practice holes and five practice greens.
What’s new: Rates have been reduced and one of the many appealing options includes the associate membership for $1,072.
(609) 465-7824, WildwoodGolf.com
Vineyard Golf at Renault Winery, Egg Harbor City
Known for: More than just a golf course, you’ll also find a hotel, two restaurants and a winery on site.
What’s new: This year, the club is offering a twilight membership ($595), good for golf 3 p.m. or later, seven days a week, through December.
(609) 965-2111, VineyardGolfatRenault.com
Published (and copyrighted) in South Jersey Magazine, Volume 9, Issue 1 (April, 2012).
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