Upper Montclair Member Golf Day Delights 143 Golfers
In the five-year history of the NJSGA Member Golf Day, players have been coming from far and wide to take part in the Association’s most popular member benefit.
But not as far and wide as Tom Haslam, a native Australian, or Jerry, Maher, a son of jolly old England. They were part of the 143 golfers to take part in the third of 11 NJSGA Member Golf Days at esteemed Upper Montclair Country Club in Clifton, N.J.
This Member Golf Day sold out in less than one week. The competition at Upper Montclair was Better-Ball-of-Partners with Stableford scoring.
Once again, New Jersey golfers have the opportunity to play some of the state’s most challenging private courses this upcoming golf season at a very reasonable cost thanks to the highly popular Member Golf Days.
The 2015 Member Golf Day Schedule includes more outstanding venues throughout the state: July 13, Echo Lake C.C. in Westfield; July 20, Ridge at Back Brook in Ringoes; July 23, Trump National G.C. in Bedminster; July 28, Laurel Creek C.C. in Mount Laurel; August 11, Metuchen G. & C.C.; August 18, Hawk Pointe G.C., October 6, Hidden Creek H.C. in Egg Harbor Township and October 15 at Alpine C.C. in Demarest.
The events at Echo Lake, Ridge at Back Brook and Trump National-Bedminster are sold out. Metuchen and Laurel Creek are quickly filling up.
On Wednesday, August 5 at 9 a.m., the NJSGA will open registration for Hidden Creek and Alpine.
Haslam was one of six golfers from the Bergen County area playing in their first MGD. Haslam has resided in the states for 15 years and works for KPMG, the audit, tax and advisory firm that sponsors Phil Mickelson. Haslam has yet to meet the pro but enjoys New Jersey courses like Skyview and Crystal Springs.
Maher, a member at Forsgate Country Club, has played n NJSGA events such as the Mid-Amateur qualifier and hopes to compete in this year’s Four-Ball Championship. He was part of a Forsgate foursome that also included Cliff Bohling, Rich Malouf and Nor Ramos.
Mike Vena, a security specialist with the USGA in Far Hills, remarked:
“I found out about Member Golf Days at the NJSGA website. I think it’s great. The courses we have access to is tremendous.”
Vena and Shawn McGowan, who oversees support services for the USGA, will play in the NJSGA Better-Ball-Of-Four Championship this year at Rock Spring. They teamed up last year at Trump National-Colts Neck.
John Ward of Point Pleasant, a former member of Spring Lake and Metedeconk National, has joined the South Jersey Golf Association thanks to its alliance with the NJSGA that allows NJSGA members to play in SJGA events. He signed up for events at Wildwood and Atlantic City last year. He played in the MGD two weeks ago in Rumson and will also golf at Hidden Creek later in the season.
“I love coming here to an older Tillinghast course like Upper Montclair,” said Ward, who played in five MGDs in 2014. “You really don’t get a chance to play these types of courses and I thank the NJSGA for making this possible.”
“I’m really looking forward to playing here on a tight, fast and fairly long golf course,” said Matt Grum, who lives at the Jersey Shore in Middletown. He and partner William Browne of Hoboken are also signed up for Trump National-Bedminster and are likely to sign up for Alpine and Hidden Creek.
