Ultimate Team Event Set For Upper Montclair This August

Historic and prestigious Upper Montclair Country Club will serve as the venue for the New Jersey State Golf Association’s second Ultimate Team Event which takes place Monday, August 29, 2016, at the Clifton-based club.

The Ultimate Team Event offers NJSGA member clubs from throughout the State of New Jersey, to participate, pitting twosomes representing each club in a unique 27-hole format. Twosomes are designated by their clubs to participate in a variety of ways, some by winning qualifying tournaments.

In the event, the teams will play in three nine-hole different formats over the 27 holes in a series of three shotgun starts. One set of nine holes are played in four-ball format, with each partner playing his own ball and counting the low ball on each hole. A second set of nine holes is in a Pinehurst format, with each member teeing off, then playing the other’s second shot, and then playing the best shot the rest of the way.

The third set of nine holes is played in a Shamble format, with each member teeing off, selecting the better second shot, and then each partner playing a separate ball from that point the rest of the way. Teams differ in the order of play of each nine-hole set

The Ultimate Team Event will utilize Upper Montclair’s 27 holes. In last year’s inaugural event at Metedeconk National Golf Club in Jackson, 65 teams from member clubs participated. A full-field of 72 teams is expected to play in 2016.

“The NJSGA is very pleased to have as our host a club with the type of cache that Upper Montclair possesses. It is one of true classic courses in New Jersey. Our members will have a great time playing there in the Ultimate Team Event. It will present a challenge for the golfers who are entered into the event,” said Rich Kennedy, the NJSGA Director of Handicapping and Member Services.

“In 2015, Metedeconk served as a wonderful host. It was really nice to see the competitors in the event, their enthusiasm and camaraderie and interaction with the other teams. That basically told the NJSGA officers who witnessed it that this is an event we need to continue to grow. It’s an event that’s unique and fun.”

Dan LaVecchia and Larry Hannon of Trump National at Bedminster won the inaugural Ultimate Team Event as net champions. Manasquan River’s Peter Green and Gary Lembo took the gross title.

“For Year Two of the Ultimate Team Event, we already have a date in January so this will enable clubs to become involved and informed in advance so they can select their two-man teams at some point this summer.

“It’s great to have the logistics out of the way. Last year we didn’t firm up the date and venue until May and that made it a little difficult for clubs to enter their teams. This year we’re way out in front and hope to get enthusiasm to increase,” Kennedy said.

“This is a great opportunity for clubs to get behind their two-man teams to represent them in a unique 27-hole, multi-format net and gross event at a premium historical venue. It will be a great way to close out the summer.”

The event is scored using Stableford (points) scoring for the entire event which is one point for Net Bogey, two points for Net Par, three points for Net Birdie and four points for Net Eagle and a hole-in-one on a Par 3.

“A lot of member clubs are conducting similar events, and they are very popular,” said Kennedy.

“We think it will be really exciting to have an event like this on a statewide basis, incorporating this type of format. This format is far different from any tournament the NJSGA conducts to crown a champion team,” Kennedy concluded.