By Steve Gordon
I made my
annual trip from Lower Bucks County to Atlantic City Country Club to play golf
on November 11th. The Ottinger Group which owns ACCC as well as Ballamor
and Scotland Run offer free golf on all three courses for veterans on Veteran’s
Day. It’s worth the drive to play such an historic course for just a cart fee.
Established
in 1897 and having the original John Reid layout tweaked by Willie Park, Jr.
(1915), Howard Toomey and William Flynn (1925) and Tom Doak (1999) it’s a must
play. It’s the home of the terms birdie and eagle and it has seen the likes of
the greats of not only golf but of the world walk the fairways.
While Arnold
Palmer and Fred Couples among others have lockers with their names on them they
keep lockers for Willie Mays, Al Capone and other recognizable names. The men’s
locker room is also a comfortable place to relax before or after a round, a place to escape to for cards with friends or to just sit in
front of a warm fire on a cold day.
The first
tee is on the putting green. It’s an unusual sight to be practice putting and
maybe 30 feet away have players teeing off on the 450 yard (blue tees) first
hole. However that isn’t so uncommon on older courses like the old course at
the Philadelphia Cricket Club which maintains 9 holes of the course that hosted
the 1907 and 1910 US Opens.
ACCC has had
its share of championships as well like the first Senior Tour even in 1980 won
by Don January, the first intercollegiate Ivy League Championship won by
Harvard in 1901, and the 1975 U.S. Women’s Open that marked the first time the
tournament was held three times at the same venue. In all the course has hosted
six major U.S.G.A. championships.
 |
| Logo landscaped behind 18th green |
There are
four sets of tees which range from the Back tees at 6577 yards to the Forward
tees at 5228 yards. While for the top players and the distances they hit the
ball today the yardage doesn’t seem long but make no mistake that this course
is not a pushover.
Starting
with a par 4 of 428 yards from the Middle tees (371 Gold tees) there is no
easing into the round. There are only two holes handicapped higher than this
opener. Two short par 4’s take you to the 131 yard (middle tee) fourth hole however
the yardage on the scorecard doesn’t quite give an accurate view of this
stretch of holes. The green complexes with deep bunkering and heavily tilted
and contoured greens provide the challenge.
There are
only three par 5 holes on this par 70 track and each will test your game and shot
making ability. The sixth named “Far” plays 592 from the Back tees and 561 from
the Middle tees. At 498 yards from the Gold tees it is no walk in the park for
seniors. Bunkers are well positioned including one that fronts 2/3’s of the
green.
The tenth is
the most interesting at 484 yards from the Middle tee and listed as only four
yards longer from the Back tee. The problem is a lake that is on play on the
second shot. The options are a safe layup, blasting it over the water to the
green or playing around it bringing a bunker complex right of the green into
play. It is called the “Birdie” hole. Perhaps not a given if the wind is in
your face.
The third of
the three shot holes is just straight and long at 541 and 553 from the Middle
and Back tees respectively and the 4th rated handicap hole on the
course. All three are a test.
Perhaps the
most dramatic of the par 4 holes are 14th and 16th sandwiching
a tough 172 yard par 3 all set out on the edge of the Bay across from Atlantic
City. Don’t get distracted by the great view because these holes demand full
attention.
 |
| 14th and 15th greens looking toward Atlantic City |
Fourteen
cards a yardage of 333 yards from the Middle tees but clearing the marsh and
avoiding trees on the left and a bunker on the right of the landing area is
essential unless you can blast it over and past that trouble. It’s dramatic and
you won’t see too many holes anywhere like it. Fifteen plays 172 yards back out
into the marsh surrounding the green. Sixteen at 353 yards borders the wetlands
entirely on the right then presents a bunker complex on the left to miss.
Yardage isn’t a factor, accuracy is.
Eighteen of
course finishes heading into the classic clubhouse and the seclusion of the
locker room or to get a beverage and a nice meal. A stroll around inside the clubhouse will also reveal a collection of memorabilia and photos of the history of the game and the course.
 |
| 18th green with clubhouse in the background |
Not to be lost in this is the celebration to honor active military and veterans who wrote a blank check to their country to give their all to protect it against all odds and give the ultimate sacrifice if necessary. I salute all fellow veterans and acknowledge this offer by not only the Ottinger Group but all organizations who do likewise.
