Thursday, August 27, 2009

Pine Valley - America's Golfing Heaven

By Chad W. Ashern

Early on the history of the venerable Pine Valley Golf Course of Camden New Jersey rode a golfing legend of lore. A most experienced golfer from the isles of Scotland strolled out onto the greens, from the Pine Valley clubhouse and actually expected to mingle with North American buffalos on the greens. You might expect this up at the Narrows in Manitoba he was told, but not here at the Pines, well at least not today. So the golfing legend goes.

A few years ago a number of elderly gentleman from golfing lore, from around the globe, gathered at Pine Valley Golf Club to compete in a tournament that had been planned to promote good relations as well as create deep friendships among golfers and golfing enthusiasts. One of the players a Canadian from Manitoba, strode briskly from the clubhouse towards the first tee and turned to look down the fairway. An expression of amazement froze his face. Stretching out before him for some 170 yards was a jumble of sand and underbrush that appeared to be more like the untamed seaside of Scotland than a parcel of the garden State of the Colonies. Beyond the sandy wastes was a lush fairway, closely protected on each side by tall pines. The fairway turned right and disappeared between the trees. There was nothing else in sight.

Yet this avid golfer stayed and played and even immigrated to America as a result.

Variety is endless at this heaven on the golfing tour, adding both to each golfers pleasure or ultimate frustrations. No two tees turn to the same point on the compass and almost every single hole and vantage offers a scenic view that resembles any place but suburban Philadelphia. There are no unnatural hazards, no out of bounds and no hidden bunkers. Every bit of trouble is alarmingly, in view, just as Mother Nature, in her most devilish and beguiling mood might and would have placed it.

It is precisely these tough but fair qualities that have made Pine Valley a most renowned as well as revered course, being a great collection and rare collection of great golf holes itself. It is rare that the name Pine Valley is often spoke of with great reverence among the worlds most experienced and avid golf nuts and enthusiasts.

One of the earliest one-liners dating back to the clubs first decade had been repeated time and time again and applied to holes all over the golf and golfing world. It seemed that an awestruck newcomer finally reached the seventh tee and staring out at par 5 meekly asked Do you play this or take a picture of it on your cell phone ?

Lastly when it comes to variety and challenges one of the most surprising comments by many is that on completing the round is that rakes in the sand bunkers are conspicuously missing, yet the sand is as pockmarked as the moon itself. And on top of that there are other signs of golfers shame gouges where they were someone unable to pick up their golfing balls cleanly off the sand. It seems that somehow footprints and gashes seem to attract golf balls like powerful magnets themselves.

About the Author:

0 comments:

Post a Comment