Entering its 3rd season in the Philadelphia Metro area, the GOLFWEEK Amateur Tour (Philly Metro) announced their 2013 tournament schedule with events between April 27th and September 28th, 2013. The tournament schedule includes 12 different events, 1 of which is a 2-day tournament. The schedule features 3 joint-events with the GOLFWEEK Amateur Tour (Metro NY), including a season-ending 27-hole Ryder Cup format tournament that players must qualify for in order to be included in the field.
Philly Metro Tour Director Jeff A. Brodsky said: “Once again, we are playing some great courses in the tri-state area in 2013. My goal is to include many different styles and types of golf courses in the schedule. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to play 6 different private courses this season, as well as some of the premier public-access golf courses in the region, all during prime-time weekend hours” said Brodsky.
Members of the GOLFWEEK Amateur Tour are flighted into one of 5 different divisions (CHAMP, A, B, C, and D Flights) based upon a pre-determined tour handicap; members play only against other golfers with the same skill level. Within each flight, competitors play for the lowest total gross score to win VISA gift-cards and crystal trophies; gift card amounts are based upon the number of competitors in each flight during that week’s tournament. Tour handicaps are closely monitored by the Tour Director to ensure a fair competition.
Each event also includes a separate ‘Skins Game’, Closest To The Pin competitions on all Par 3 holes, and a 50/50 drawing in support of the GOLFWEEK Amateur Tour’s charity partner, Stand Up 2 Cancer. Points are accumulated each week towards qualification for the National Championships in Hilton Head, SC. Tour membership allows play in any of over 600 tournaments nationwide, simply for the individual event fee.
The GOLFWEEK Amateur Tour (Philly Metro) will kick off its 3rd season with a trip to the Scotland Run Golf Club in Williamstown, NJ on Saturday, April 27th. Scotland Run, opened in 1999 and designed by Stephen Kay, is an 18 hole course built on an old sand quarry, providing a blend of wooded, quarry, and links-style holes. Scotland Run was twice named one of the Top 50 public courses in the country, as well as the #1 public golf course in the Philadelphia area. The season-opener is a joint-event with the GOLFWEEK Amateur Tour (Metro NY).
The 2nd tournament of the season takes the tour to Newark, DE for a great event at the Deerfield Golf & Country Club, on Saturday May 11th. This William Gordon design features many dramatic elevationchanges and scenic vistas. The Par 70 course plays quite a bit longer than the stated yardage of 6,323 yards from the tips. Deerfield features a memorable mix of golf holes – each one distinctive from the next. The golf course is set on a beautiful wooded undeveloped property alongside the scenic White Clay Creek State Park.
Our next event on Saturday May 25th takes the tour “down the shore” on Memorial Day weekend to the Blue Heron Pines Golf Club in Egg Harbor City, NJ. Built in 1993, and designed by Stephen Kay, the course has matured over 20 years into one of the finest public golf facilities in the area. It takes advantage of the natural beauty of the local pineland forests, with majestic tree lines framing the golf holes and natural hazards. Blue Heron Pines hosted the US Amateur Public Links Championship in 2003 and has recently been named among the best public golf courses in New Jersey.
Our 4th tournament of the season on Saturday June 8th brings the tour to one of the finest public golf courses in the country, the fabulous Bulle Rock Golf Club in Havre de Grace, MD. Designed by Pete Dye and opened in 1998, the course hosted the LPGA Championship from 2005 to 2009. Each hole is unique and different and the course will surely test your game. Many holes, particularly on the back-nine, are isolated from each-other with the natural beauty of the Maryland countryside as the setting.
The Philly Metro tour returns to the private Philmont Country Club (North) on Saturday June 29th for a third time. This classic William S. Flynn design opened in 1924, and has hosted many USGA qualifiers as well as the Nike (now Web.Com) Tour. The course features some of the fastest green complexes in our area and many strategic holes. It has become a member’s favorite, always in excellent condition.
The 2013 season’s Two-Day Major tournament takes the Philly Metro Tour back to Radley Run Country Club in beautiful rural West Chester, PA on Saturday July 13th and Sunday July 14th. This exclusive private country club has opened their doors for us to play their lovely course two days in a row! The rolling terrain coupled with two ponds and a meandering stream provides a challenging round of golf here, with water in play on half of the holes. This event is sure to be one of the highlights of the season.
Our next stop on Saturday July 27th is a semi-private course, the Running Deer Golf Club in Pittsgrove, NJ. Designed by Ed Carman, and opened in 2000 as a private club, the course now welcomes limited public play. The golf holes at Running Deer are set-back amongst the trees, surrounded by woodlands. Each hole at Running Deer is unique and different. From the tips at over 7,000 yards, Running Deer can play extremely long and difficult, with many natural hazards in play.
On Saturday August 3rd we once again join the GOLFWEEK Amateur Tour (Metro NY) for an event on the Palmer Course at the private Forsgate Country Club in Monroe Twp., NJ. Originally designed by Hal Purdy in 1961, the course was redesigned by the Arnold Palmer Group in 1995, and has since been updated by Stephen Kay in 2007. The Forsgate Country Club was once a large country estate, and now includes two distinctly different golf courses on the property. The Palmer course, although not overly long, is known for its challenging holes, which require precision shot making, and scenic views of the New Jersey countryside.
The fun doesn’t end there, as the Philly Metro Tour continues to stop at some of the best private courses in the area for the final three local events. The next tour stop on Saturday August 17th at the Manufacturers Golf & Country Club in Ft. Washington, PA may be the highlight of the season. Founded as a private club in 1887, the golf course dates from 1925 and was designed and built by Howard Toomey & William S. Flynn. The Sandy Run Creek runs through the golf course providing a constant challenge. The course features many elevationchanges, challenging tee shots, and challenging putting surfaces. GOLFWEEK Magazine has twice selected Manufacturers as one of the Top 100 Classical Courses in the USA.
Next up on Saturday September 7th is the lovely Woodstone Country Club near Danielsville, PA. A private course in the foothills of the bucolic Blue Mountains., Woodstone was designed and constructed by the owner’s group headed by Bruce Lack, a successful local businessman, and opened for play in 2000. Woodstone features challenging, well-manicured fairways and large undulating greens. Each hole offers inspiring scenic views of the surrounding woods and countryside. This strategic course is a delight to play! A beautiful lodge is available onsite for those who wish to stay overnight.
The Local Finals will end the season at the prestigious Hartefeld National Golf Club in Avondale, PA on Saturday September 21st. Opened in 1995, this Tom Fazio designed course has received many accolades over the years for its naturalistic design set in the rolling farmland. The course has hosted both Champions Tour and PGA Tour players over the years. "For the final event of the season, there are few courses better than Hartefeld National Golf Club to host the Philly Metro Local Finals; our members will be treated to a truly great course" says Brodsky. This will be a double-points event.
The following weekend, on Saturday September 28th, pre-qualified members of both the Philly Metro and Metro NY GOLFWEEK Amateur Tours will meet in a Ryder Cup style event at the Neshanic Valley Golf Club in Neshanic Station, NJ. Participants will play head-to-head team and individual matches in 3 different formats (fourballs, foursomes, and singles). Neshanic Valley Golf Club, designed by Michael Hurdzan & Dana Fry and opened in 2005, has been consistently ranked as one of the best public golf courses in the region and has hosted USGA events. Tour members qualify for this event through a season long points list; points are earned at each event throughout the season based upon each player’s final gross score in their own flight.
The GOLFWEEK Amateur Tour National Championship will head to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina from October 18t th to the 20 th, 2013. This 54 hole tournament culminates the season and welcomes the top points qualifiers from each tour around the country. 2012 welcomed almost 700 golfers from 43 tour cities and awarded over $15,000 in prizes. Anticipation has begun for the 2013 Tour Championship as expectations are high and player participation will be on the rise.
"We are truly excited about the upcoming season, as we believe it will be our best season yet. Our tournament lineup is impressive; we look forward to visiting some of the best public and private courses the Philly Metro area has to offer" said Brodsky.
Visit www.amateurgolftour.net or call Tour Director, Jeff A. Brodsky at 610-642-7890 to learn how you can become part of the fastest growing amateur tour in our area – The GOLFWEEK Amateur Tour.