A $2,700 fine was levied after the contaminants filtered into the Little Cedar Creek during excavation and tree-cutting work. Allentown, Pa., was slapped this year with a $2,700 fine for excavation and tree-cutting work at the Allentown Municipal Golf Course that allowed sediment and pollutants to filter into the Little Cedar Creek, the Allentown Morning…
New Certified Club Managers Announced
Thirty-eight club management professionals have achieved the CCM designation after completing the required course of study and training and demonstrating a dedication to proficiency and expertise in club management.
High School Golfer Scores Two Aces in Single Round at Iron Lakes CC
In a feat that the National Hole-in-One Registry says is 67 million to 1, Ben Tetzlaff, 17, aced the second and sixth holes while playing a round of nine at the Allentown, Pa., property on September 18. When his second hole in one fell Monday afternoon, Ben Tetzlaff fell to the ground, saying, “What the heck…
New Owner of Shepherd Hills GC Offers to Sell Development Rights
Robert Ashford, who will take over full ownership of the Wescosville, Pa., club in December, said he would rather save the golf course than sell it for residential development. To make the endeavor worthwhile, he’s asking Lower Macungie Township to chip in $700,000 for development rights to preserve the property as open space even if the club fails in the future.
Tech Entrepreneur Makes Offer on Valley CC
Anthony Salvaggio, President and CEO of an international IT services and solutions firm, wants to buy the Sugarloaf, Pa., club and its assets. Though the purchase price and specific plans for the property have not been revealed, Salvaggio said he wants to make “rather dramatic enhancements.”
Municipalities Revisit Golf Course Strategies
Cities, towns and villages in Pennsylvania, Alabama, Oregon, Illinois, Georgia, Iowa, and California are devising new ways to make municipal golf courses profitable or at least stop losing money. Officials in Allentown, Pa., plan to reduce the negative balance in the city golf fund by developing a business plan rather than relying on a third-party management firm.
City Rejects “Cookie-Cutter” Proposals for Allentown (Pa.) Municipal GC
Three months after soliciting proposals to operate the municipal golf course, the city has opted to keep all aspects of the golf course operation in-house, despite a struggle over the last few years to cover expenses. Three bidders submitted lease proposals in November.
Residents Get Vocal About Planned Allentown (Pa.) Municipal GC Lease
Some residents are angry about the plan to lease the municipal golf course after five parties responded to the city’s request for proposals, blaming the city for the property’s financial mismanagement. Any lease of the golf course still is “in the infancy stages—it’s not a done deal,” said Ray O’Connell, president of City Council, at a public meeting.
Assistant Superintendent at Linville GC Wins Top Scholar Award from GCSAA
Scott Watson, who has been pursuing a turfgrass management degree at Rutgers University while working at the North Carolina club, earned the top prize of $6,000 from the program, which awards a total of $30,000 to turfgrass management students.
Golf Wildlife Roundup: Eagles, Honeybees and Goats
A proposed golf course in Tappahannock, Va., could displace a popular habitat for eagles, while Allentown (Pa.) Municipal GC works to restore the honeybee population through Operation Pollinator, and George Wright GC in Hyde Park, Mass., employs goats to chew through weeds.
Lehigh CC “Strongly Objects” to Zoning Change
A group of Allentown, Pa., residents wants to rezone approximately 700 acres, 140 of which are owned by the club, from semi-rural to rural. The club argues that the value of its acreage, which includes its golf course, would be dramatically decreased by the change.
Six Restaurants Vie for Allentown (Pa.) Municipal GC Spot
The restaurant space has been vacant since March, and city officials hope to select a new operator by May 1, with a minimum bid of $25,000 annually. “We need an operator who is able to draw a crowd even in the dead of winter, and who is able to be successful in a unique setting,” said the chairman of the city council’s budget and finance committee.
GCSAA Announces Melrose Leadership Academy Class
The second class of 16 GCSAA Class A members has been selected to participate in the Academy to be conducted at the 2014 Golf Industry Show in Orlando, February 1-6. Class members earned an all-expenses-paid trip to the show through an application process based on financial need, volunteerism, and career ambition.