Big City Greens For Shore

Big City Greens For Shore

A Philadelphia golf writer once made a light-hearted observation about the Atlantic shore: “It’s a place where families go to have fun in the sun, gorge on Boardwalk fries and return with boxes of saltwater taffy to every dentist’s delight.”

All this is basically true, in a broad sense, up and down the coast. But in the case of New Jersey’s Atlantic City, boardwalk beacons are just a starting point. With the destination’s grand downtown casinos combining with constantly evolving golf landscapes that permeate the outskirts of the city, visits to the “Las Vegas of the East” can be much more than a gum smacking, sun-burning family affair.

“There are very few casino meccas positioned on the beach,” says Matt Bachman, a Binghamton, New York native, who currently lives in New York City. “Add golf to the mix and you really do have a nice combination for escape.”

Each summer Bachman actually gets away from his somewhat confining Manhattan lifestyle to play at least one round of golf near his wife’s family retreat in the AC region. Today he’s taking on a stimulating layout (with the aptly applied name of Twisted Dune) for the first time having already experienced rounds at Ballamor, McCullough’s Emerald Links and Seaview Golf Club’s Bay Course (designed by the “Father of golf course architecture” Donald Ross) over the past few summers. After making the turn, he favorably compares his current challenge to that of a course he has played several times in the Sandhills of North Carolina, which by the way is considered one of the best ever creations by famed designer Michael Strantz.

“This is sort of a baby Tobacco Road [located in Sanford, North Carolina],” Bachman takes time out between shots to relate. “The sandy dirt cart paths throughout the course are especially cool as they preserve a natural feel. The par fives come in a bunch then you are done with them finishing with all threes and fours. This is definitely different then any of the other courses I have played in the area.”

And that’s the true beauty Atlantic City with its “Big City Greens.” The diversity of opportunities is unmatched and the variety is, well – kinda like the array of flavors you get from a deep dive into a box of saltwater taffy.

Take for instance a combination of playing a trio of courses in a stretch of three days. The itinerary begins with Ballamor, located near Twisted Dune in Egg Harbor Township, then ending with Vineyard National at Renault, the golf centerpiece for the property’s winery located on the other side of town in Egg Harbor City.

 

 

Day one consists of Ballamor, considered by some to be the “big dog” in the Atlantic City golf course arsenal as it is an immaculately manicured Ault, Clark and Associates (with Dan Schlegel serving as the project architect) core golf creation. The maze-like routing winds through pines in the space of four “pods.” Playing the course includes driving through trees and across bridges in the heart of the woods to get to where you tee off next. Despite Ballamor’s secluded nature (there are no houses to be found anywhere), the wind can be more of an influence here among the pod openings than one might think – not a bay breeze but one that, due to the layout’s revolving layout, has to be factored in.

 

 

Day two is Twisted Dune, not to be confused with Twisted Tea – though after downing a few of each may have a similar effect. This layout, as crafted by one-hit wonder Archie Struthers back at the turn of the century, has a true Irish ruggedness to it and is the most undulated of the three offerings. With tight lies, deep bunkers and heavy fescue right off the fairways, this course has taken full advantage of natural terrain unlike you’ll find anywhere else on the coast.

 

 

Day three is a trip up the road less than 20 minutes from fine and centrally located hotels (the Fairfield Inn by Marriott in Absecon ranks high on the list) to a much more forgiving but nonetheless inspiring and picturesque Vineyard National at Renault. On this design, set on slightly rolling terrain and featuring wide fairways and immaculate bunkers, you can play shots alongside and actually over a working grape vineyard on holes six and seven. Designed by Ed Shearon, this modern venue weaves it way through the Jersey pinelands next to one of the oldest continuously operated vineyards in the country. The vintage 2007 creation is truly vintage golf.

When told about it, Bachman himself immediately decided that he would plan on playing Vineyard National Golf to add another debut round on his next trip “down the shore.”

Of course, this trio of layouts is just a sampling of the golf offerings to be found in the Atlantic City region. Still, the small sample size truly shows the richness and uniqueness of the opportunities that are available. Other top-notch layouts to be played include names like Scotland Run (on the way into or away from the city), Shore Gate, Seaview Golf Club’s Bay and Pines courses, LBI National (sister course to Vineyards National), McCullough’s Emerald Links, Blue Heron Pines, Harbor Pines, Eagle Ridge and the always inviting Links at Brigantine Beach.

Of course, no trip to Atlantic City would be complete without taking in some of the glamour, glitz and gaming. There are a plethora of hotels and casino resorts from which to choose. Casino hotel restaurants include gourmet and casual dining and in some cases guests are treated to everything form tennis and swimming to state-of-the-art workout rooms.

As it always has been in the past and seeks to continue in the future, the Jersey shore around Atlantic City has taken its rightful place along with other traditional golf destinations such as Myrtle Beach, Pinehurst and Ocean City, Maryland. This makes it a premiere golf trip option.

So if you plan to go somewhere this fall, consider golfing your way to Atlantic City. The Big City’s greens (not unlike life in Forest Gump’s “box of chocolates,”) are like a box of taffy you, your golfing partners and (hopefully not) your dentist can enjoy until the final putt is holed out.