HomeMy WebLinkAbout20131129-KDale letter to CC re SHGC objection_20140404121029005710 East Sixth Avenue #300 Conshohocken, PA 19428 610-397-1818 www.golfprop.com
Date: November 27, 2013
To: Glenn Wood, Esq., Kevin Dale, Esq., Sankaty Head GC
Cc: File 2130035
From: Laurence A. Hirsh, CRE, MAI, SGA, FRICS & Bradley S. Klein, Ph.D.
RE: Sankaty Head Golf Club
On November 13, 2013, Bradley Klein and Laurence A. Hirsh visited
Sankaty Head Golf Club (SHGC) for the purpose of evaluating the potential impact
of the proposed road behind the 5th green and adjacent to the left (east) side of
the 5th fairway.
Klein returned
on November
20, 2013, to
take further
measurements.
As a
result of our
investigation,
we believe that
such a road
configuration
would have
significant
consequences
for the golf club and for golf‐related visits to Nantucket. Furthermore, it is
Consulting Report Sankaty Head Golf Club
November 20, 2013
Page | 2
possible that with the additional risk environment that would be created, there
could be a devastating financial risk if an accident were to occur, which we believe
is quite possible.
The par‐4 5th hole of Sankaty Head GC is an iconic landform – legendary
throughout the Cape and Islands region for its beauty, natural shaping and
photogeneic quality. As such, it is the most recgonizable single golf hole in the
Cape and Islands region. It is also the brand or “signature” for the most highly
rated golf courses in the region by Golfweek Magazine. And it is a brand and iconic
image for the golf trade in the whole region. So it not only the signature hole of a
widely regarded golf course but it is also a marker, a brand, for golf and outdoor
recreation generally, for Nantucklet as a whole. As such, any tinkering or
deterioration in its form or function would have serious consequences for the
health of the club and for golf throughout the region.
The purpose of this analysis is to determine the physical, logistical, safety
and economic impacts of the proposed access road, Easement Area “B” Loop
Road, terminal to the end of Baxter Road. It is acknowledged that erosion of the
coastal bank (bluff) on the eastern shore of Nantucket adjacent to the beach is
causing an ever increasing danger to the road accessing the Sankaty Head
Lighthouse – a structure that is currently situated on club property, having been
relocated in October 2007. The Town seeks to preserve access and has proposed
the construction of a road traversing the area behind the 5th green and turning
north along the east (left) side of the 5th fairway. Also critical is access to homes
on Baxter Road, in addition to access to the lighthouse.
The proposed path and the road needed to traverse that path would have
a significant negative safety impact on pedestrian, bicycle, automobile and bus
traffic and vehicular, bringing users of the path into direct contact with the line of
fire of typically wayward golf shots played from Sankaty Head’s 5th hole.
Sankaty Head Golf Club is a legendary links‐style golf course, regularly
regarded among the “top‐100 classic golf courses in the U.S. by Golfweek
magazine. For a 90‐year old course, its design is very forward thinking in terms
of expanse, preservation of native vegetation, and the ease and flow of its
sequence of holes. The most iconic and recognizable hole on the golf course is
the par‐4 5th hole, named “Light A’port,” 423 yards downhill and running due
south along a fairway that tumbles towards the green and to the right, with a
Consulting Report Sankaty Head Golf Club
November 20, 2013
Page | 3
beautiful, semi‐punchbowl green that sits in a natural low area. It is the hole
closest to the ocean and to the lighthouse. In fact, it is the hole on the entire island
of Nantucket that sits closest to the water. It is the only hole on the course with
direct and unobstructed water views of the Atlantic Ocean.
A proposed taking of a parcel of land along the lower left side of the 5th
hole by the Town of Nantucket for purposes of Baxter Road Extension would have
not only endanger public safety; it would also have a significant negative impact
upon the operation of the golf club. While municipal planning to this point is
vague as to details, any such road based on the concept presented so far, as built
out would danger public safety. Moreover, any efforts made to mitigate the
threat to public safety would have a crippling effect on the golf operations of the
club.
There is an assumed risk among golfers about the dangers inherent in a
game played with a hard ball traveling at over 100 miles per hour, often along
unexpected paths and from unseen or unusual launch points. Golfers by self‐
selection of their presence on the golf course tend to be aware of such potential
risks. Moreover, it’s the job of professional golf course designers and consultants
to understand proper safety margins and to reduce as much as possible the
likelihood of wayward shots coming into contact with peripheral buildings,
structures or unsuspecting people. Thus far Sankaty Head’s 5th hole functions well
within basic safety margins. The proposed land taking, road extension and likely
build out of the new paved surface (“Bracken Plan”) would alter that, needlessly
endangering public safety in the process.
To be sure, there is no absolute formula or magic number guaranteeing
safety in golf. But there are reasonable standards widely used in the golf industry,
for creating an envelope for the game to proceed within – to the exclusion of
other, non‐golf activity, whether home sites, traffic, or pedestrians. In the late
1970s the influential Urban Land Institute issued design guidelines for golf
courses calling for 150‐foot setbacks from fairway centerlines to perimeter
structures and activity. That would entail a safety corridor of 300 feet across in
the main drive zone. But back then good amateurs drove the ball 225 yards and
the average drive on the PGA Tour was 257 yards (as first officially measured in
1981). Architects used 250‐yards as a “turn point” for doglegs and for
assumptions about landing areas. Today, due to significant advancements in
Consulting Report Sankaty Head Golf Club
November 20, 2013
Page | 4
equipment (golf balls and clubs) and swing mechanics (instruction, fitness), the
average drive on the PGA Tour is 290 yards. Architects now use 300 yards as their
turn points. Many good amateur golfers drive the ball 270 yards while many mid‐
handicap amateurs playing from the middle tees drive the ball 230 yards.
Moreover, the original ULI proposal was static, not giving due
consideration to local factors such as wind, elevation changes or the topography
of approach shots – all of which, when properly evaluated, suggest the need for
greater flexibility as to safety corridors. In short, the 300‐foot margin was a
starting point, though a rigid one – and it has since long been bypassed.
Today, leading safety advocates define the margin in terms of angles and
probabilities – and in terms of wider envelopes than the URL did. The Royal &
Ancient Golf Society of St. Andrews, the association that administers golf outside
the U.S. and Mexico, argues for a safety margin that starts with a 14‐degree
vector off centerline and includes both sides – right and left of that ideal line. At
a distance of 270‐yards off the tee, that would mean a safety envelope about 400‐
feet across. And the R&A calculates that only 90‐percent of all shots would fall
within that, meaning that 10‐percent of shots would fall outside.
The leading American expert on course safety, course designer Michael J.
Hurdzan, Ph.D., argues for a 15‐dgree vector, and advises that even with that
more expansive safety envelope (420‐feet across at 270‐yards), “only” 92 percent
of shots would fall within it, meaning 8‐percent falling outside. That’s why he also
recommends an additional set back on either side of 50‐feet for fixed structures
such as houses or apartments from the line.
For a course such as Sankaty Head that registers roughly 16,000 rounds a
year, statistical probability would indicate a likelihood of 1,280 wayward drives
landing outside the indicated safety envelope, or 640‐shots per side (left and
right).
In the following illustration we illustrate 15‐degree vectors off centerline
for drives traveling 230 yards from the regular (“white”) tees and 270‐yard drives
from the back (‘black”) tees. We also indicate a standard approach shot into the
green from 180‐yards out and measure an ideal safety envelope as measured
from the centerline. The problem, as will become evident, is that while tee shots
are played from relatively fixed positions (i.e. teeing grounds), second shots
Consulting Report Sankaty Head Golf Club
November 20, 2013
Page | 5
approaching the green are played from all over, including left and right, so that
what might look like a simple safety envelope is in fact more complicated and less
predictable than for tee shots. What also needs to be pointed out is what might
have been an acceptable standard of safety envelope 35 or 75 yards ago is no
longer acceptable. That’s why most golf course architects today are looking for
closer to 400‐450 feet across the fairway center line – 200 to 225 from the middle.
Sankaty Head GC, Hole # 5 (with vectors)
When mapped out for both drives and likely second shots, we can measure
what would be a reasonable envelope for play – including the likelihood of
wayward shots. The lighthouse itself is now closer to the line of golf safety when
it was moved in October 2007, to a point that brings it within 144 feet of the
center line and well within reach of shots pulled left. But the main area of concern
here is that the proposed road extension down towards the 5th green, in the area
to the left (east) of the approach zone, occupies a high impact area with
considerable risk of wayward shots.
The setting for this iconic golf hole suggests why a single engineering
model does not exhaustively cover consideration of safety. Even with the 15‐
degree angle of play and a 400‐foot distance across the center line in the main
drive zone, several factors compound the safety issues along the left side from
Consulting Report Sankaty Head Golf Club
November 20, 2013
Page | 6
tee to green and make it more likely to receive wayward shots. For one thing, the
tee‐to‐green drop, of some 40 feet in elevation, makes golf balls fly longer than
at ground level, adding distance to the equation. Then there is the prevailing
wind, on average out of the southwest at 14 miles per hour, for ten months out
of the year, including February through October, thus covering the golf season
(data as per www.windfinder.com). The effect is to steer the ball left, a factor
made all the more considerable because of the appearance of the ridge when
viewed from the tee, which slopes from left‐to‐right. While the majority of golfers
(95 percent of American players) are right handed and tend to play with a left‐to‐
right bias on tee shots, that factor is mitigated to an extent given the slope of the
ground and the prevailing wind. In short, the left side is more heavily the scene
of play, including wayward shots, than would normally be the case. Moreover,
there is a standard tendency even for right handed golfers who fade the ball on
tee shots to hit their second shots (iron shots) left under pressure, as the
tendency is to get strong and quick, with the right hand taking over, thus causing
missed iron shots to go farther left than a normal or well‐struck iron shot.
The area left of the 5th fairway is largely covered by a 10‐12‐foot high
canopy of scrub oaks – about all the tree coverage the soil and climate will allow
for. Such tree coverage is scant and does not knock down wayward shots or
provide much coverage along the perimeter. So it is no surprise that in the course
of a 20‐minute search along the area 60‐140 yards short left of the green, in the
area of scrub oaks lining both side of the old walking trail, we found four old golf
balls, ranging from 105 to 150‐feet off center line, at the margin or beyond of a
standard safety envelope.
Consulting Report Sankaty Head Golf Club
November 20, 2013
Page | 7
More revealing was that in a subsequent hour‐long search of the scrub oak
covered area short and left of the center of the green, Klein found 16 golf balls,
almost all of them of recent vintage and of high quality (Titleist, Callaway) that
suggests they were played by proficient golfers – and yet these 16 golf balls all
fell in an area 160 to 183 feet left of green center – thus well outside what might
seem to be a standard safety envelope. And if, as would be necessary to develop
that proposed Easement “B” into a formal road bed for traffic and the scrub oak
were removed so that the road was actually built out, that protective layer would
be gone and the resulting road bed would become well within the path of
wayward golf shots.
And if, as anticipated, the road were engineered in such a way as to
negotiate the slope with a turning radius adequate to accommodate motor
vehicles, the impact would be far more intrusive – on the golf course proper and
on safety for road users. See the illustration below, indicating the plan developed
by engineer Don Bracken (i.e. “Bracken Plan”) showing how a road built to meet
what the town has suggested would dramatically impose itself upon Sankaty
Head’s 5th hole and severely compromise public safety. The road itself would be
directly in the normal flight path of second shots and frequently subjected to
bombardment. There would also be considerable structural intrusion upon the
flow of golf traffic (carts and walking golfers) as well as significant drainage
diversion that could only be mitigated through costly renovation work – all while
destroying the integrity of the golf hole and ruining the reputation of the island’s
iconic landmark. The resulting impact on golf operations, the club’s performance
and the tourism trade generally would be devastating.
Consulting Report Sankaty Head Golf Club
November 20, 2013
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Construction of such a road (i.e. “the Bracken Plan”) would have a major
structural impact on the 5th hole. The considerable earth moving needed and
imported fill, and the resulting mounding would destroy exiting drainage patterns
and threaten the hole with considerable run‐off that could only be partially offset
through extensive – and expensive – drainage work, on the order of $100,000, or
more though in any case any underground drainage inlets would not be able to
handle the onrush of surface water from a modest rain event. The hole would be
subject to recurrent sogginess if not outright flooding.
As for the considerable safety exposure to users of the road, any such
moves made to reduce exposure would be inadequate, costly, and introduce a
whole new cycle of consequences. It might seem possible to mitigate the
increased risks of such a road – though only at exorbitant cost, with no assurance
of success, and in ways that would unacceptable to the public while creating a
succession of problems that would make things worse all around.
Netting is possible to intercept wayward shots along the endangered left
side. The exact configuration would have to be engineered in the field. It is not a
simple matter to align a safety intercept for projectiles flying 60‐100 feet in the
air. At a minimum the net would have to be 80 feet high, mounted on poles 90‐
95 feet high, and run for 25 to 100 yards along the left side. Estimates for such
Consulting Report Sankaty Head Golf Club
November 20, 2013
Page | 9
netting start at a minimum of $40,000 and could run as high as $125,000.
However, the poles would be unsightly, likely in violation of Nantucket zoning and
historic codes, and there would be significant interference with wildlife,
especially bird flight. Reportedly, the subject area is a mapped habitat for the
Northern Harrier, a low flying, native Hawk species. This is according to the
Massachusetts Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program. And there
would be no guarantee that the nets would successfully catch all wayward shots;
such measures catch a high percentage, but inevitably, some shots get over,
around or through. In any case, such a structure would be an eyesore for the
community and a blight on the club’s reputation on aesthetic grounds. It is quite
rare to find such structures located on Top‐100 courses and always negatively
impacts their ranking.
It might even seem feasible to propose picking up the 5th hole and moving
it westward, out of the way of the new road. Estimated costs of this would start
at $1 million for fairway regrading, new tees, bunker and green, plus
displacement of the irrigation line. However, that would have a calamitous
impact on adjoining holes – a domino effect on the golf envelopes occupied by
the adjoining 6th, 7th and 8th holes, all of which would also have to be moved, at a
cost of about $500,000 for the 6th hole and another $1 million each for holes 7
and 8 ‐‐ in the process completely compromising safety, destroying the heritage
of the golf
course design,
to the
significant
decay of the
club’s
reputation
and,
ultimately,
economic
performance
as a classic gem
and as a viable entity. The result, after all, would be to turn the front nine of
Sankaty Head GC into a dangerous cross‐fire zone – not a sustainable entity.
Consulting Report Sankaty Head Golf Club
November 20, 2013
Page | 10
There is also the matter of increased liability. Economically, the impact
from the proposed road could come from increased liability risk, increased
insurance cost and the cost to the club of trying to mitigate that risk. Thus, there
could be additional capital expenditures to prevent potential accidents and
additional operating costs relating to annual insurance premiums.
SHGC is a private, upscale golf club with 550 members, of which 150 are
social members of the club. Entrance fees are $50,000 and annual dues are
$6,400 for golf members and $3,400 for social members. The club is a member‐
owned, non–equity club governed by a board of directors.
The club maintains a hefty waiting list for prospective members of
approximately 250, which is quite uncommon in the present private club
environment. The club charges $100 for a golf guest fee and $25 for an 18‐hole
cart fee.
During the last 3 years (2010‐2012) annual rounds of golf at the club were
as follows:
Course Activity
2012 2011 2010
Total # of Rounds 16,350 15,895 14,786
Total # of Cart Rounds N/A N/A N/A
% of Member Rounds 9,514 9,066 8,287
% of Guest Rounds 6,536 6,829 6,500
As demonstrated by the adjacent graph, rounds played have increased
during recent seasons by
more than 10%, indicating
that the potential danger may
be increasing each year.
Consulting Report Sankaty Head Golf Club
November 20, 2013
Page | 11
Facilities include an 18‐hole golf course designed by Eugene Armstrong
and opened in 1923, a clubhouse, and maintenance facility, camp facility for
caddies and lodging facilities for employees. There is also a beach club which was
not observed by Golf Property Analysts (GPA). There is reportedly 250± acres of
land, which is zoned LUG‐3 (Limited Use General ‐ 3) by the Town of Nantucket.
The property is served by municipal water, has private sewer, bottled (private)
gas service and public electric and telephone.
A summary of the facility is below:
The club has consistently produced between $5.4 million and $5.6 million
in annual revenues from 2009 through 2012, and is considered to be a healthy
club. Total annual real estate taxes were $57,355.48. The club was established
and golf course opened for play in 1923. The club has been recognized for its
caddie camp program as well as its golf course, which has been ranked 85th by
Facility Summary – Sankaty Head Golf Cub
Facility Type: PR Year Opened:1923
No. Holes: 18 Architect: Eugene Armstrong
Course Design: Links Course Layout: Core
Practice Range: Yes Green
Construction:
Native Soil, Push Up
Practice Green: Yes Grassing:
Putting Green Yes Tees: Bent/Poa Annua &
Fescue
Amenities: Greens: Bent/Poa Annua
Clubhouse: 6,000 (est.) SF Fairways: Bent/Poa Annua &
Fescue
Pro Shop: Yes Roughs Fescue & Ryegrass
Dining Room: Yes
Locker Rooms: Yes Additional
Facilities:
Caddie camp, lodging
facilities for staff (50),
beach club Snack Bar: Yes @ Beach
Fitness Center: No
Swimming: Yes Cart Paths: Yes
Tennis: Yes 4 Path
Coverage:
<25%
Maintenance Bldg: 3,200 SF Path
Material
Gravel
Cart Storage: Yes Path Condition Good
Consulting Report Sankaty Head Golf Club
November 20, 2013
Page | 12
Golfweek Magazine among America’s “Classic” Courses. The course measures
6,711 yards from the back tees and plays to a par of 72. The course rating is 72.7
and the slope is 127. A scorecard is included herein.
The course, considered a links style course, is generally in good to excellent
condition. Holes 2 through 8 generally loop clockwise around the portion of the
site situated on the northeast side of Polpis Road and Holes 1 and 9 through 18
for 2 loops, one clockwise (10 through 15) and one counter clockwise (16 through
18) on the southwest side of Polpis Road.
The golf course is maintained by a full‐time crew of 9 and 15 additional
seasonal employees based on the following schedule:
Turf & Mowing Schedule
Greens Tees Fairways Roughs Bunkers
# of: 20 43 18 70
Size (acreage) Unknown
Type of grassing Bent/Poa
Annua
Combination ‐Specify
Combination ‐ Specify Bent/Poa/Fescue
Combination ‐ Specify
Frequency Daily 3/week 3/week 2/week Daily
Equipment used Walk Behind
Mowers
Riding Greens
Mowers
Lightweight 5
Gang Fairway
Unit
Rotary
Mowers
Hand Rake ‐
Metal
The 2013 maintenance expenditures are summarized below:
Maintenance Budget
2013 Annual Budget? $1.1 million Equipment Budget: $120,000
Labor budget: $650,000 Water Costs (if any) NONE
Chemicals budget: $50,000
Consulting Report Sankaty Head Golf Club
November 20, 2013
Page | 13
Insurance Risk
On November 19, 2013,
Hirsh interviewed by phone
Michael McCoy, president of
Arthur J. Gallagher Insurance, plan
administrator for the insurance
program of the National Golf
Course Owners Association.
McCoy is well known in the golf
industry, both for his insurance
practice and as a player. He is the
2013 USGA Mid‐Amateur
Champion.
During this interview,
McCoy suggested several possible
impacts from a design such as that
proposed adjacent to the 5th
fairway at Sankaty Head. Though he has not seen the property or a plan
thereof, Hirsh described the situation to him and inquired of the potential
insurance ramifications. The possible impacts mentioned by McCoy are as
follows:
No impact on premiums, until an accident occurs
A nominal impact of 10%‐20% increase in premiums
A requirement to erect a protective barrier (net, etc.)
If an accident occurs or if there is significant publicity about the
safety hazard, either cancellation of a policy or refusal to renew or
cover the “new” risk created by the road
The potential cost of any damage done by wayward shots or
lawsuits from injuries that may occur
There is no doubt that either the visual impact form the road or any potential
barrier to protect same would diminish the desirability of the 5th hole, which is
Consulting Report Sankaty Head Golf Club
November 20, 2013
Page | 14
generally acknowledged as the course’s “signature” hole, and the golf
experience in general.
Conclusion
In conclusion, as previously stated, we have very serious concerns about
the danger posed to public safety by the proposed extension of Baxter Road via
the Easement Area “B” loop road. We also believe that such a road configuration
would have significant consequences for the golf club and for golf‐related visits
to Nantucket. Furthermore, it is possible that with the additional risk
environment that would be created, there could be a devastating financial risk if
an accident were to occur, which we believe is quite possible.
aurence A. Hirsh,
CRE, MAI, SGA, FRICS
is the president of Golf
Property Analysts and a member
of the following organizations:
Memberships
Counselors of Real Estate
(CRE)
Appraisal Institute (MAI)
Royal Institute of Chartered
Surveyors (FRICS)
Society of Golf Appraisers
(SGA) – President, 1992 ‘93
National Golf Foundation
Golf Course Superintendents
Association
Natl. Golf Course Owners
Association
National Club Association
Urban Land Institute
Golf Digest “100 Greatest”
Panel – 1993-2004
Golfweek “America’s Best”
Course Rating Panelist, 2004
– pres.
USGA Green Section
Committee – 1998 - 2001
LAURENCE A. HIRSH, CRE, MAI, SGA, FRICS
EXPERIENCE
Appraisal and Consulting Experience has involved most types of
real estate, including commercial, industrial, single and multi-family
residential and many special purpose properties. Major areas of
concentration have been retail, office, distribution and lodging
properties with a specialty in the valuation and analysis of golf
course properties. Additional experience has been developed in
the area of recreational properties, development consulting analysis
and appraisal review. Geographic areas served include 45 US
states, the Caribbean and Canada. Completed over 2,500 golf
property assignments. Clients include financial institutions, law
firms, accounting firms, clubs, individuals and corporations. Has
been president of Hirsh Valuation Group or its predecessors since
1980 and employed in the real estate appraisal profession since
1978. Finalist for Central Pennsylvania “Entrepreneur of the Year”
award for 1992 in Real Estate Category. Additional real estate
investment and development experience is outlined below.
Developer of Wren Dale GC, first private golf club
in Harrisburg, PA in 40+ years, designed by
Hurdzan-Fry and built by Landscapes Unlimited
Centre Square Office Building. 15,000 SF office
building, Lemoyne, Pennsylvania
Prospect Plaza Shopping Center. 18,000 SF strip
shopping center in York, Pennsylvania
Cherry Lane II. Historic Rehab of 7,000 SF office/retail
project in York, Pennsylvania
Blue Mountain Place. 5.25 acres, development plan &
land flip
Prospect Common Office Center. 10,000 SF office
near Columbia, Pennsylvania
Oakview Office Campus. three-building 36,000 SF
office in suburban Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Northwood Office Center 4,000± SF office
condominium in suburban Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Certified in the following states:
PA, FL, GA, SC, NY, MD, MI, VA, OH, NJ, AZ (Also temp. in NC,
TX)
Licensed Broker in PA, MD, VA, NY, DE, FL – Responsible for
sale of over $100 million in golf property sales transactions,
including:
L
Blue Mountain GC, PA Links at Challedon, MD
Fairfax National GC, VA Bear Creek GC, MD
Diamond Run GC, PA River Downs GC, MD
Stone Harbor GC, NJ Springwood GC, PA
Pebble Creek GC, SC Whitetail GC, PA
Greystone GC, TN Tattersall GC, PA
Augustine GC, VA Blue Heron Pines GC, NJ
Broad Run GC, PA Madison Green GC, FL
Hollow Brook GC, NY Running Deer GC, NJ
Olde Stonewall GC (PA)
LAURENCE A. HIRSH, CRE, MAI, SGA, FRICS, QUALIFICATIONS, (continued)
Continuing Education
Buying or Leasing a Golf Facility (PGA of America) Golf Course Real Estate Development (Crittenden)
Golf Course Design & Construction (PGA of America) Golf Course Development & Financing - Institute
for International Research Forum on Public Golf (Golf Course News)
Eminent Domain (ALI/ABA) “Winning RE Tax Assessment Cases” (PBI)
“Leisure Time in the year 2005” - (CRE) 100+ hrs. from Society of Golf Appraisers (SGA)
Conservation Easement Cert. Program, offered by Appraisal Institute, September, 2009
Many additional courses and seminars attended, offered by Appraisal Institute, Society of Golf Appraisers, ULI, NGCOA
and others
Publications
ASGCA "By Design" - "How Golf Supports its
Communities", Winter 2010-2011
NGCOA – How to Buy and Sell a Golf Course
(appraisal and market analysis chapters (2009)
American Bankruptcy Institute (ABI) Journal –
“Restructuring Golf Courses & Country Clubs”
Club Director (NCA) - “Membership Success, It’s all
about Value” (March/April, 2009)
Journal of Property Tax Assessment &
Administration - “Private Club Memberships, Real
Property or Personal Property”, 2008
Club Managers Association of America –
Management Series – “The True Cost of
Renovations” (2008)
My PhillyGolfer.com - 2010, “Want to Grow the
Game?”
The Board Room, 10-99, “Long Range Planning”
Urban Land, 8-99, “The Value of Signature
Architects”
Golf Market Today, 2-95, “Seven Ways to Add Value
to Your Golf Course”
The Appraisal Journal, 4-94, “Private Equity Country
Club Communities - Issues & Answers”
Carolina Business, 4-94, “What Are Golf Courses
Worth?”
New England Real Estate Journal, 3-25-94, “Golf
Course Values Depend on I.G.P.”
San Diego Business Journal, 4-94, “Wall Street hits
ace with golf investments”
Golf Course News, March, 1994, “Tis the Season for
Tax Tips”
Club Director, November, 1993, “What Is Your Club
Worth and Why Should You Know?”
Park/Grounds Management, Nov., 1993, “Consider
a Golf Course as a Revenue Producer”
Public Management, June, 1993, “Par for the
Course”
American City & County, April, 1993, “Golf Courses
Offer Cash Flow Alternatives”
Pennsylvania Township News, January, 1993, “Well
Planned Golf Course Can Be Excellent Revenue
Opportunity for Townships”
The Appraisal Journal, January,’91, Golf Courses:
Valuation & Evaluation
Editorial Review Board for Golf Courses & Country
Clubs: A Guide to Appraisal, Market Analysis,
Development and Financing
Co-Author for Urban Land Institute Book –
Residential Golf Community Development
Lecturer/Teacher
Golf Course Superintendents
Assn. of America, 2-25-95, 2-
96,
Pennsylvania Golf Course
Owners Association, April 21,
1994, and 10-03 and 02-09
Crittenden Conferences on
Golf Development, multiple
sites and dates
University of Florida, Rho
Epsilon, April 4, 1991.
Natl. Assn. State Tax Court
Judges Conference, Harvard
Law School, 9-26-91
PGA of America, several
seminars, incl. 2-08, 2-09 and 2-10.
American Society of Golf
Course Architects (ASGCA ) –
May, 2009, Seattle WA
University of Wisconsin, Real
Estate Club, February 6, 1992.
National Golf Course Owners
Assn., Several dates and
topics, incl. 2-08, 2-10 & 2-11
CMAA (Club Managers) World
Conference 2011, Phila
Chapter, 2010
Golf Association of
Philadelphia - Presidents
Meeting, March, 2011
Pennsylvania Assessors
Association - Golf Course
Valuation, 5-97
New Jersey Association of
Assessors - Golf Course
Valuation Seminar, 3-10-97, 10-
03
Urban Land Institute –
Residential Golf Communities, ’98, ’00, 3-03, 11-03, 4-04, 4-06
CLE – Legal Education, Naples,
FL, 4-04, 4-05, 3-06
NE Assessors, Assn, Fairfax,
VA – 5-02
MD Assessors Assn.,
Baltimore, MD, 9-01
Golfweek Magazine,
Williamsburg, VA – 11-02 and
11-03
West Penn Golf Assn. –
Numerous times/Topics
Qualified as expert witness in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Florida, Virginia and New York.
EDUCATION
Pennsylvania State University, B.A. 1978
[Representative Assignments
Abacoa Golf Club FL
Abbey Golf Links RI
Airport GC & Mentel Memorial GC OH
Allegheny Country Club PA
Alpharetta Country Club GA
Alsatian Golf Club TX
Amelia Island Resort FL
Anthem Golf & Country Club AZ
Applecross Country Club PA
Applewood Golf Course CO
Army Navy Country Club VA
Arrowhead Golf Club CO
Arrowhead Golf Club PA
Ashbrooke Golf Course NJ Attitash Resort NH
Augustine Golf Club VA
Back Creek Golf Course DE
Baiting Hollow Club NY
Baker Hill Golf Club NH
Balcones Country Club TX
Bald Head Island Club NC
Ballen Isles Country Club FL
Ballentrae Country Club FL
Bandon Dunes Golf Resort OR
Bartram Trail Golf Club GA
Battleground Country Club NJ
Bayonne Golf Club NJ
Bayou Barriere Golf Club LA
Bayside Resort Golf Club DE Beachview Golf Club & Bay Beach Golf Club FL
Beacon Hill Golf Club VA
Bear Brook Golf Club NJ
Beaver Brook Golf Course NJ
Bedford Springs Golf Course PA Beechwwods Golf Course PA
Bella Vista Golf Club PA
Bensalem Country Club PA
Bent Creek Country Club PA
Bent Tree Golf Club OH
Bergen Hills Country Club NJ
Berkleigh Country Club PA
Bethany Dunes Golf Course DE
Bildarth on the Guadeloupe Golf Club TX
Birdsfoot Golf Course PA
Birkdale Country Club VA
Bishop's Bay Country Club WI
Bison Run Golf Course NY
Bittersweet Golf Club IL
Black Bear Golf Club WI Black Hawk Golf Course IL
Black Oak Golf Club, LLC NJ
Blackhawk Golf Club TX
Blackhawk Golf Course PA
Blackledge Country Club CT
Blackthorne Country Club & Blackthorne
Estates, Inc. PA
Blackwolf Run Golf Club WI
Bloomingdale Golfer's Club FL
Blue Bell Country Club PA
Blue Heron Pines Golf Club NJ
Blue Mountain Golf Club PA
Blue Mt. View Golf Course PA
Blue Ridge Shadows Golf Club VA
Blue Rock Country Club CA
Bolder Hill Golf & Country Club RI
Bon Air Golf Course PA
Bonaventure Golf Club FL
Bonita Bay East and Bonita Bay West FL
Bosque Canyon Ranch TX
Boston Golf Club MA
Boston Mills Ski Resort OH
Boulder Creek Golf Club OH
Boulder Pointe Golf Club & Banquet Center MI
Brae Burn Country Club NY
Brandt Distributors Property PA
Brandywine Country Club OH
Briarwood Golf Club LA
Brick Landing Golf & Country Club NC
Bristol Harbor Golf Course & Marina NY
Bristow Manor Golf Club VA
Brookfield Country Club GA
Brookside Country Club PA Bucks County Country Club PA
Bulle Rock Golf Club MD
Bulls Bay Golf Club SC
Bulls Bridge Golf Club CT
Bullseye Country Club XX
Bunker Hill Golf Course NJ
Burnt Pine Golf Club FL
Butter Valley Golf Port PA
Cambelback Ski Area & Cambelback Water
Park PA
Camillus Country Club NY
Camino Del Mar Country Club FL
Canyon Club NY
Cape Neddick Country Club ME
Carolina National Golf Club NC Carroll Valley Resort PA
Carter Plantation Golf Course LA
Cascades of Texas TX
Casperkill Country Club NY
Castlewoods Golf Club MS Caves Valley Golf Club MD
Cedar Crest Square PA
Century Country Club NY
Chandler Park Golf Course MI
Charles T. Myers Golf Course NC
Charlotte Country Club NC
Chartwell Country Club MD
Cherokee Valley Golf Club SC
Cherry Creek Golf Club PA
Cherry Creek Golf Club NY
Chesapeake Hills Golf Course MD
Chester Valley Golf Club PA
Chisel Creek Golf Course PA
Cimarrone Golf Club FL
Cleghorn Plantation Golf & Country Club NC Cliff Park Inn Lodge and Golf Course PA
Club At Pelican Bay FL
Cobblestone Creek Country Club NY
Colbert Hills Golf Club KS
Coldwater Springs Golf Course AZ
Colleton River Plantation Club SC
Collins Hill Golf Club GA
Collins Park Golf Course OH
Colonial Country Club TN
Colts Neck Golf Club NJ
Columbia Country Club MO
Cool Creek Golf Club PA
Cool Springs Golf Course WV
Copper Mill Golf Club LA
Cotton Ranch Golf Club CO Country Club of Castle Pines CO
Country Club of Hershey & South Course PA
Country Club of Maryland MD
Country Club of Meadowlakes TX
Country Club of Meadville PA
[Representative Assignments
Country Club of York PA
Crescent Golf Course NC
Crescent Pointe Golf Club SC
Cross Creek Golf Club MD
Cross Pines Ranch TX
Crossgates Golf Course PA
Crotched Mountain Ski Resort NH
Crystal Lake Golf Course MN
Cumberland Cove Golf Course XX Cypress Creek Country Club FL
Cypress Point Country Club
Honey Bee Golf Club VA
Dallas National Golf Club TX
Dataw Island Club SC Daufuskie Island Club & Resort SC
David L. Baker Memorial Golf Course CA
Deer Creek at Meadow Ranch CO
Deer Creek Golf Club KS
Deer Point Golf Course PA
Deer Run Golf Club PA
Deer Valley Golf Course PA
Deerfield Country Club DE
Delray Country Club FL
Detwiler Golf Course OH
Diamond Hill Golf & Country Club FL
Diamond Run Golf Club PA
Dominion Valley Country Club
Regency at Dominion VA
Downingtown Country Club PA DuBois Country Club PA
Due Process Golf Club NJ
Dunes West Golf Club SC
Dutchess Golf & Country Club NY
Eagle Brook Country Club IL
Eagle Lake Golf Club NJ
Eagle Oaks Golf & Country Club NJ
Eagle Pines/Shore Oaks Golf Club NJ
Eagle's Landing Country Club GA
Eagle's Pointe Golf Club SC
East Orange Golf Course NJ
Eastwood Golf Club FL
Echo Valley Country Club & Development IA
Elmridge GC, Pequot GC,Norwich Golf Club CT
Emerson Golf Club & Valley Brook Golf Club NJ Equinox Golf Club XX
Evergreen Golf Club PA
Fairfax National Golf Club VA
Fairway Golf Center NJ
Falcon Ridge Golf Club TN Feather Sound Country Club FL
Felicita Resort and Lands PA
Fenway Golf Club NY
Ferncroft Country Club MA
Fiddlers Creek Golf Club FL
Fiddler's Elbow Country Club NJ
Fieldstone Golf Club DE
Fine Distributing Center FL
Flatbush Golf Course PA
Fleming Island Plantation Golf Course FL
Forest Park Golf Course MO
Forrest Crossing Golf Course TN
Forsgate Country Club NJ
Four Seasons Golf Course PA
Four Streams Golf Club MD Fowler's Mill Golf Course OH
Fox Fire Golf Club (proposed) PA
Fox Ridge Golf Club IA
Freezeland Resort - Proposed VA
French Creek Golf Club PA
Fresh Meadow Golf Club IL
Frog Hollow Golf Club DE
Fyre Lake West Golf Club IL
Galen Hall Golf Club PA
Galloping Hills Golf Course NJ
Gardiner's Bay Country Club NY
Garrisons Lake Golf Course DE
Gaylord Springs Golf Links TN
Geneva Farms Golf Course MD
Geneva National Golf Club WI Germantown Country Club TN
Gettysvue Country Club TN
Glen Arven Country Club GA
Glendale Golf Course IL
Glenlakes Golf Club AL Glenwoodie Golf Course IL
Golden Eagle Country Club FL
Golden Oaks Country Club PA
Golden Pheasant Country Club NJ
Golf at The Bridge NY
Golf Club at Cape Cod MA
Golf Club at Felicita PA
Golf Club of New England NH
Golf Club of Oklahoma OK
Golf Club of West Virginia WV
Golf Club, Front Royal XX
Goodwin Golf Course CT
Grand Blanc Country Club MI
Grande Oaks Golf Club FL
Great Bear Golf Club PA Great Gorge Country Club NJ
Great Bay Country Club NJ
Green Hills Golf Course PA
Greencastle Greens Golf Club PA
Greystone Golf Club TN
Grossinger's Resort & Golf Course NY
Gunpowder Golf Course MD
Hampton Hills Golf & Country Club NY
Hampton Island GA
Hampton Village Golf Club GA
Harborage Yacht Club FL
Harrisburg North Golf Resort PA
Hartefeld National Golf Club PA
Hawk Lake GC & Honey Run GC PA
Haworth Country Club NJ Hawthorns Golf and Country Club IN
Heartland Golf Club CA
Heatherwoode Golf Club OH
Hedingham Golf Club NC
Heidleberg Country Club PA Hercules Country Club DE
Heritage Country Club PA
Heritage Creek Golf Club PA
Heritage Golf Course NJ
Hermitage Golf Course TN
Hershey Golf Club PA
Hidden Creek Country Club VA
Hidden Creek Golf Club FL
Hidden Valley Ski Area MO
Hidden Valley Four Seasons Resort PA
High Point Golf Course NJ
Highland Park IL
Highlands Golf & Supper Club KS
Highlands Golfers' Club VA
Hiland Golf Course NY Hilltop Golf Course MI
Holiday Hills GC MO
Holliday Hills PA
Hollow Creek Golf Club MD
Hollow Creek Golf Course MD
Honey Run Golf Club PA
[Representative Assignments
Host Farm Resort Golf Course PA
Hudson National Golf Club NY
Hunt Valley Golf Club MD
Hunters Run Country Club FL
Huntsville Golf Club PA
Ibis Golf & Country Club FL
Imperial Golf Club FL
Indian Lakes Country Club IL
Indigo Lakes Golf Club FL Inniscrone Golf Club PA
Inverrary Country Club FL
Iron Valley Golf Club PA
Ironwood Golf Club NY
Island's End Country Club NY Isleworth Golf & Country Club FL
Ivy Hills Country Club OH
Jackson Valley National Golf Club NJ
Jones Creek Golf Club GA
Keney Golf Course CT
Keswick Club VA
Kingsbarns Golf Links UK
Kirkwood National Golf Club MS
Kiskiack Golf Club VA
Kissimmee Oaks Golf Club FL
Kittanning Country Club PA
Kohala Preserve HI
Kona Country Club HI
Lago Vista Club & Resort TX
Lake Arbor Golf Club MD Lake Breeze Golf Course WI
Lake Hills Golf Club IN
Lake Jovita Golf Club FL
Lake of Isles Golf Course CT
Lake Powell Residential Golf Community FL
Lake Toxaway Golf Club NC
Lake View Country Club PA
Lakes of Arlington TX
Lakeview Country Club & Development PA
Lakewood Ranch Golf & Country Club FL
Lanier Golf Club GA
Las Vegas Golf Club NV
Latrobe Country Club PA
Lebanon Valley Golf Course PA
Legend of the Lakes MI Legends Golf Club
Heritage Golf Club
Oyster Bay Golf Club SC & NC
Lehigh Country Club PA
Lemon Bay Golf Club FL Liberty Forge Golf Course PA
Lighthouse Sound Golf Course MD
Limerick Golf Club PA
Lincoln Oaks Golf Course IL
Links at Gettysburg PA
Little Creek Par 3 Golf Course PA
Little Elk Horn Creek - G.C. KY
Little Mill Country Club NJ
Loch Raven Golf Club MD
Locust Hill Golf Club WV
Long Island National Golf Club NY
Lost Lake Golf Club FL
Lulu Country Club PA
MacArthur Golf Club FL
Macoby Run Golf Course PA Mad River Mountain Ski Area OH
Mainland Golf Course PA
Majestic Oaks Golf Course MN
Majestic Ridge Golf Courses PA
Manchester Country Club VT
Manhattan Woods Golf Club NY
Manor Resort/Poplar Hills Golf Course VA
Mansion Ridge, The Golf Club at NY
Maryland National Golf Club MD
Mason Dixon Country Club PA
Mason-Dixon Golf Course PA
Matheson Greens MI
McGregor Links Country Club NY
Meadowbrook Country Club OK
Meadowink Golf Course PA Meadowlakes Country Club TX
Meadowlands Country Club PA
Meadowlands Golf Club NC
Meadowlark Golf Course CA
Metedeconk National Golf Club NJ Micke Grove Golf Links CA
Mid South Golf Club NC
Mid-Atlantic Golf Course at Broad Run VA
Middle Island Country Club NY
Middleburg Country Club VA
Mid-South Golf Club NC
Mill Creek Golf Club IL
Mill Creek Golf Club NY
Mission Hills Country Club IL
Mission Inn Golf & Tennis Resort FL
Mississippi National Golf Club MS
Mizner Country Club FL
Moccasin Run Golf Course PA
Montclair Golf, Tennis & Swim Club VA
Morelands Golf Links VA
Mount Snow Grand Summit Hotel VT Mountain Branch Golf Club MD
Mountain Creek Ski Area NJ
Mountain Ranch Golf Club AR
Mountain Valley Golf Course PA
Mt. Snow Resort VT Musket Ridge Golf Club MD
Mystic Creek Golf Club MI
Nashboro Golf Club TN
Natural Bridge Golf Club VA
Naval Surface Weapons Center Golf Course MD
New Holland Woodlands PA
New Jersey National Golf Club NJ
North Hills Country Club PA
North River Club of Beaufort, NC NC
Northampton Valley Country Club PA Northshore Country Club TX
Oak Grove Golf Club site IL
Oak Harbor Golf Club LA
Oak Terrace Country Club XX
Oakhurst Country Club OH Oakhurst Links WV
Ocean Ridge Plantation NC
Oceanview Golf Course VA
Odessa National Golf Club DE
Old Corkscrew Golf Club FL
Old Natchez Country Club TN
Old Silo Golf Course KY
Old South Country Club MD
Olde Homestead Gold Club PA
Olde Stonewall Golf Club PA Olympia Hills Golf Course TX
Ottawa Park Golf Course OH
Over Lake Golf Course & Land Dev. PA
P.B. Dye Club at Urbana PA
Paa Ko Ridge Golf Club NM
Painted Desert Golf Club NV
Palm Desert Country Club CA
Palm-Aire Country Club FL
Palmer Park Golf Course MI
[Representative Assignments
Paoli Peaks Ski Area IN
Par Line Golf Course PA
Park Hill Golf Course CO
Pascack Brook Golf Course NJ
Paxtuxent Greens GC XX
Pebble Creek Club SC
Peconic Bay Golf, LLC (Long Island National
GC NY
Pelican's Nest Golf Club FL Penn Forest Inn & Country Club PA
Pete Dye Golf Club WV
PGA Golf Club FL
PGA Village San Antonio TX
Pikewood National Golf Club WV Philadelphia Country Club PA
Philmont Country Club PA
Pilgrim's Oak Golf Course PA
Pine Barrens Golf Club NJ
Pine Creek Golf Course TN
Pine Needles, Inc. NC
Pinery Country Club CO
Plantation Golf Club NC
Pleasant Valley Golfers Club VA
Pleasant View Retirement Community PA
Pocono Manor Golf Club PA
Polo Trace Golf Club & Cypress Creek Golf
Club FL
Port LaBelle Inn & Oxbow Golf Course FL
Port Royal Golf Resort SC Potomac Ridge Golf Club MD
Poxabogue Golf Course NY
Presidential Golf Course & Hill Crest Country
Club FL
Prince William County Golf Course VA
Quail Creek C.C. FL
Quicksilver Golf Club PA
Rackham Golf Course MI
Radnor Valley Country Club PA
Rancocas Golf Club NJ
Raspberry Plains Golf Course VA
Reading Country Club PA
Red Eagle Golf Club NM
Regent's Glen Country Club PA
Renaissance Park Golf Course NC Reston National Golf Club VA
Reunion Resort and Club FL
Revolution Park Golf Course NC
Reynolds Park Golf Course NC
Richland Country Club TN Rich Valley Golf Club PA
Ridgeview Country Club PA
Ridgeway Country Club TN
Ritz Carlton Golf Club FL
Ritz Carlton Golf Club & Spa VA
River Crest Country Club PA
River Downs Golfer's Club MD
River Forest Country Club PA
River Islands Golf Club TN
River Oaks Golf Club NY
River Oaks Golf Plantation SC
River Vale Country Club NJ
River Winds Country Club NJ
Riverfront Golf Club VA
River's Bend Golf Club VA Riverwinds Golf Course NJ
Riverwood Golf Club NC
Robert Trent Jones Golf Club VA
Rouge Park Golf Course MI
Royal American Golf Links OH
Royal Oak Country Club OH
Royal Oaks Golf Course PA
Royal Ottawa Golf Club CA
Royal Poinciana Golf Club FL
Royce Brook Golf Club NJ
Ruffled Feathers Golf Club IL
Running Deer Golf Club NJ
Saddlebred Golf Club WV
Sand Creek Country Club IN
Sandy Ridge Golf Course NJ Sapphire Mountain Golf Club NC
Saratoga National Golf Club NY
Savannah Quarters Country Club GA
Scenic Hills Country Club FL
Schuylkill Country Club PA Scotland Run Golf Club NJ
Sea Trail Plantation Golf Club NC
Serenoa Golf Club FL
Shackamaxon Golf & Country Club NJ
Shadow Isle Golf Club NJ
Shadow Wood Country Club FL
Shalimar Pointe Golf & Country Club FL
Shandin Hills Golf Course CA
Sharks Tooth Golf Club FL
Shawnee Inn & Golf Resort PA
Shelter Harbor Golf Club RI
Shenandoah Valley Golf Course VA
Sherbrooke Golf & Country Club FL
Shipyard Golf Resort SC
Silver Springs Golf Club PA Silverhorn Golf Club OK
Skippack Golf Course PA
Skyview Golf Club NJ
Sleepy Hollow Country Club NY
Smoky Mountain Golf Club NC
Snow Creek Ski Area MO
Somerset Golf Club VA
South Hills Golf Club PA
South Riding Golfers Club VA
Spring Brook Country Club NJ
Spring Creek Golf Club PA
Spring Lake Golf Club NY
Spring Meadow Farm Golf Club IN
Springwood Golf Club PA
St. Annes Golf Club DE St. Ives Golf Club MI
St. James Bay FL
St. Peters Golf Course MO
State College Elks Club PA
Sterling Country Club MA Stonebridge Country Club LA
Stonebridge Golf Club TN
Stonebridge Golf Club of New Orleans LA
Stonehedge Country Club PA
Stonehenge Golf Club TN
Stonewall Golf Club VA
Stonewall Golf Club (Links Course) PA
Sugarloaf Golf Club PA
Summit Country Club KY
Suncrest Golf Course PA
Sunnybreeze Palms Golf Course FL
Swan Point Yacht & Country Club MD
Swansea Country Club MA
Taberna Country Club NC
Talamore Golf Club at Oak Terrace PA
Tall Oaks at Reston, LLC VA
Tallgrass Country Club KS
Tallwood County Club CT
Tamarack Golf Club IL
Tamarack Golf Club ID
[Representative Assignments
Tanglewood Country Club OH
Tanglewood Golf Course PA
Tattersall Golf Club PA
Temple Hills Country Club TN
Tennessee National Golf Club TN
Tesoro Golf Club FL
The 1809 Club GA
The Apawamis Club NY
The Bala Golf Club PA The Bay Club at Mattapoisett MA
The Beach Club MD
The Bear's Club FL
The Bedford Springs Golf Club PA
The Belfrey Golf Course NY The Blue Shark Golf Club at South Ocean Bahamas
The Bog Golf Club WI
The Bridges Community PA
The Club at Cordillera CO
The Club at Nevillewood PA
The Club at North Creek MS
The Cotton Ranch Club CO
The Course at Westland FL
The Deerwood Country Club FL
The Dominion Club at Wyndham VA
The Dunes at Palm Beach (Emerald Dunes)
Golf Club FL
The Easton Club MD
The Golf Professionals Club SC
The Governors Club TN The Great Outdoors Golf Club FL
The Inverness Country Club AL
The Lawrenceville School Golf Course NJ
The Legends Golf Club SC
The Links at Gettysburg PA
The Links Golf Course IN
The P.B. Dye Club at Urbana PA
The Pines Golf Course at Paa-Ko NM
The Plantation at Leesburg FL
The Ranch Golf Club MA
The Ridge at Back Brook NJ
The Stonyridge OH
The University Club LA
The Virginian Club XX
The Woodlands MI The Woodmere Club NY
Thistle Golf Club NC
Thorncreek Golf Course CO
Three Little Bakers Golf Club DE
Tiger Point Golf Club FL TPC of Heron Bay FL
TPC of Tampa Bay FL
TPC of Eagle Trace FL
TPC at Wakefield Plantation NC
TPC of Michigan MI
TPC of Virginia Beach VA
TPC Piper Glen NC
TPC Prestancia FL
Treasure Lake Golf Club XX
Treyburn Country Club NC
Trillium Links NC
Trout Brook Golf & Country Club NJ
Trump National Golf Club Bedminster PA
Tudor Hall Village Golf Course MD Turnberry Isle Yacht Club FL
Turtle Creek Golf Course NJ
Twin Pines Golf Course IA
Twining Valley Golf Club PA
Twisted Dune Golf Club NJ Uniontown Country Club PA
University of Connecticut Golf Club CT
Valley Brook Golf Club & Emerson Golf Club NJ
Vellano Country Club CA
Victoria National Golf Club IN
Village Green Golf Club PA
Virginia National Golf Club VA
Virginia Oaks Golf Club VA
Vista Royale Golf Club FL
Waccabuc Country Club NY
Walden Country Club MD
Watertown Country Club WI
Westchester Country Club NY
Westfields Golf Club VA
Weston Hills Country Club FL Westover Golf & Country Club PA
Westwinds Golf & Country Club MD
Whispering Woods Golf Club PA
Whistling Straits Golf Club WI
White Hawk Golf Club OK
Whitetail Golf Course PA
Whitetail Ski Area PA
Wildcat Mountain Ski NH
Williamsburg National Golf Course VA
Willow Creek Golf Club SC
Willow Creek Golf Course IA
Willow Ridge Country Club NY
Windermere Country Club FL
Windtree Golf Club TN
Windyke Country Club TN Winged Foot Golf Club NY
Wintergreen Resort & Country Club VA
Wolf Hills Golf Course KY
Woodcrest Country Club NJ
Woodmont Country Club FL Woodmoor Pines Golf & Country Club CO
Worthington Manor Golf Club MD
Wren Dale Golf Club PA
Wyncote Golf Club PA
Wyndemere Country Club FL
Bradley Klein, Ph.D.
82 Tariffville Road
Bloomfield, Conn. 06002
p. 860-243-3296
f. 860-726-9523
c. 860-508-7696
e. igolfbadly@aol.com
Education:
B.A. SUNY-Binghamton, 1976
Ph.D. University of Massachusetts at Amherst, 1984 (Political Science)
Retired in 1999 after teaching 14 years at St. Lawrence University (N.Y.), Trinity College (Conn.), Clark
University (Ma)
Current Occupation
Architecture editor, Golfweek, 1988-
Columnist, feature writer, photographer, and director, "Golfweek’s Best:" Golfweek's National Golf Course
Rating System
Design consultant on golf course architecture, development and restoration, sole proprietor of Divot
Designs, LLC
Founding editor, Superintendent News, 1999-2007
Publications:
Building Sebonack: Classic Golf by Jack Nicklaus and Tom Doak (Melville, N.Y.: Duck Pond Press, 2006)
Rough Meditations exp., paperback edn. (Hoboken, N.J.: Wiley Publishers, 2006)
-first published in 1997
-collection of golf essays about parenting, caddying, design and travel
Desert Forest Golf Club: The First 40 Years (Carefree, Ariz.: Desert Forest Golf Club, 2004)
A Walk in the Park: Golfweek Presents America’s Best Classic and Modern Golf Courses (Champaign, Ill.:
Sports Publishing LLC, 2004)
- editor and principal writer
Discovering Donald Ross: The Architect and his Golf Courses (Chelsea, Mich.: Sleeping Bear Press, 2001)
- winner, USGA International Book Award, 2001
Have written over 1,200 feature articles on course architecture, resort travel, golf course development, golf
history and the media for Golf Digest, Golfweek, Golf and Travel, Financial Times of Canada,
Links, USGA Golf Journal, Golf for Women, Citibank's America's Best Resorts, New York Times,
New York Times Book Review, Sports Illustrated, SwissAir Gazette, Diversion, Sports Business
Journal
Strategic Studies and World Order: the Global Politics of Deterrence (Cambridge University Press, 1994)
Have written some two dozen scholarly essays on international politics and strategic studies for academic
journals and edited books in the U.S., Great Britain, and Germany
Other Experiences:
PGA Tour caddie during summers, 1976-1986; inducted, Professional Caddie Hall of Fame (Jan. 2007)
Golf course photographer: published in Golfweek, Golf Illustrated, Links, Golf for Women, New York
Times
Contributing Editor, wrote "Modern Classics" series in Links Magazine, 1994-97
Golf acquisitions editor, Clock Tower Press, 2002-2004
Regular op-ed page columnist and book reviewer, Hartford Courant
Held visiting academic research appointments at Free University of Berlin (1985), Australian National
University Graduate School of Pacific Studies (1989), Harvard University Center for International
Affairs (1989-91)
Frequent lecturer on golf course architecture, maintenance and the industry, at various national and regional
trade meetings, for CEU credit-bearing courses
Frequent Lecturer at Golf Industry Meetings:
American Society of Golf Course Architects
Arizona Golf Association
Asian-Pacific Golf Conference, Singapore
A.W. Tillinghast Society
California Golf Course Superintendents Association
Carolinas Golf Course Superintendents Association
Connecticut Association of Golf Course Superintendents
Connecticut State Golf Association
Empire State (N.Y.) Turfgrass Association
William Flynn Society
GolfClubAtlas.Com Annual Winter Meeting
Golf Course Builders Association of America
Golf Course Superintendents Association of America
Golf & Travel Magazine Business Forum
Greater Cincinnati Golf Course Superintendents Association
Heart of America Golf Course Superintendents Association
Idaho Golf Course Superintendents Association
Illinois Turfgrass Foundation
International Association of Golf Administrators
International Network of Golf
Long Island Golf Association
Maine State Golf Association Caddie Fund
Maryland State Golf Association
Metropolitan (N.Y.) Golf Association
Metropolitan (N.Y.) Golf Course Superintendents Association
Minnesota Turfgrass Foundation
Missouri Valley Turfgrass Association
New England Regional Turf Conference
New Hampshire Golf Course Superintendents Association
New Jersey Golf Course Superintendents Association
New Jersey State Golf Association
Northeast Golf Course Superintendents Association
Northern California PGA Annual Meeting
Peaks & Prairies Golf Course Superintendents Association
Philadelphia Association of Golf Course Superintendents
Seth Raynor Society
Superintendent News/Golfweek Conference on Course Renovation and Restoration
Tennessee Turfgrass Association
United States Golf Association, Annual Meeting
United States Golf Association Green Section
University of Connecticut, Department of Plant and Soil Sciences
Topics include:
Architecture and the media
A whole new ball game: golf and the economy today
Best and worst of golf course design
Bunkers: a strategic history
Donald Ross and the classical tradition of golf course design
Golf: a great game but a lousy business
Greens: theory and method of design and performance
How superintendents need to do more with less
Lessons from a municipal project
Once a caddie: lessons from a lifetime of looping
Superintendents, the media and effective communications
The golf course ratings game
The place of trees on a golf course
Awards
1971-1975 Long Island Caddie Scholarship Fund Award Winner
1997 Bacardi Award for Environmental Reporting, Society of Professional Journalists (as part
of a 3-person team for special issue of Golfweek, Nov. 26, 1996).
2001 USGA International Book Award for Discovering Donald Ross
2006 Golf Writers Association of America annual writing award for best magazine column:
“When “love” hurts,” Golfweek, Aug. 6, 2005.
2007 Inductee, International Caddie Hall of Fame
Golf Course Design Consultancy: Client List (inc. restorations)
Amanyara Resort, Turks & Caicos Island, British West Indies
Barrington Hills CC, Barrington Hills, Ill.
Barton Hills Country Club, Ann Arbor, Mich. (D. Ross)
Bellevue Biltmore GC, Clearwater, Fla. (D. Ross)
Bensalem Township Country Club, Bensalem, Pa.
Beverly CC, Chicago, Ill. (D. Ross)
Birmingham CC, Detroit, Mich. (T. Bendelow)
Blue Heron Pines, East & West Courses, Galloway Township, NJ
Boston GC, Hingham, Mass.
Brookside CC, Canton, Ohio (D. Ross)
California Golf Club of San Francisco, South San Francisco, Cal. (V. Macan, A. MacKenzie)
Carolina GC, Charlotte, N.C. (D. Ross)
Cedar Rapids CC, Cedar Rapids, Iowa (D. Ross)
Chateau Montebello GC, Montebello, Quebec (S. Thompson)
Coral Creek Club, Placidia, Fla.
Desert Forest GC, Carefree, Ariz. (R. Lawrence)
Detroit GC, Detroit, Mich. (D. Ross)
Donald Ross Memorial GC – 36 holes, Edinburgh, Scotland
Engineers GC, Roslyn, N.Y. (H. Strong)
Evanston GC, Skokie, Ill. (D. Ross)
Fancourt Resort and Estates, George, South Africa
Fiddlers Creek GC, Naples, Fla.
Forsyth CC, Winston-Salem, N.C. (D. Ross)
Hawthorns G&CC, Fishers, Ind.
Hyde Park G&CC, Cincinnati, Ohio (D. Ross)
Kennett Square G&CC, Kennett Square, Pa. (D. Ross)
Lake Shore CC, Glencoe, Ill. (T. Bendelow, D. Ross)
Lane Creek GC, Watkinsville, Ga.
Links at Union Vale, Poughkeepsie, N.Y.
Lookout Mountain GC, Lookout Mountain, Ga. (S. Raynor)
Mahogany Run GC, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
Maketewah CC, Cincinnati, Ohio (T. Bendelow, D. Ross)
Manoir Richelieu Resort and GC, Le Malbie, Quebec (H. Strong)
Minot CC, Minot, N.D.. (T. Vardon)
Monterey Peninsula Country Club, Pebble Beach, Cal.
Muskegon CC, Muskegon, Mich.
New Haven CC, Hamden, Conn.
Northland CC, Duluth, Minn. (D. Ross)
Northmoor CC, Highland Park, Ill. (D. Ross)
Ocean Course at Kiawah Island, S.C.
Old Macdonald, Bandon, Ore.
Oyster Harbor GC, Cape Cod, Ma. (D. Ross)
Peninsula G&CC, San Mateo, Calif. (D. Ross)
Pine Needles Resort, Southern Pines, N.C. (D. Ross)
Pistol Creek GC, Middletown, Conn., with J. Gentile
Pocono Manor Resort, Pocono Manor, Pa.
Poppy Hills Golf Club, Pebble Beach, Cal.
Rackham Municipal Golf Course, Huntington Woods, Mi.
Ridgewood CC, Paramus, N.J.
Quaker Ridge GC, Scarsdale, N.Y.
Scioto CC, Columbus, Ohio (D. Ross)
Sedgefield CC, Greensboro, N.C. (D. Ross)
Shuttle Meadow CC, Kensington, Conn. (W. Park Jr.)
Souris Valley GC, Minot, N.D.
Southampton GC, Southampton, N.Y. (S. Raynor)
Sunnehanna CC, Johnstown, Pa. (A.W Tillinghast)
Sterling GC, Sterling, Mass.
Tokatee GC, Blue River, Ore.
Tumble Brook CC, Bloomfield, Conn.
Valle Vista Country Club. Kingman, Az.
Vesper CC, Lowell, Ma. (D. Ross)
Vineyard GC, Martha’s Vineyard, Mass.
Wallingford CC, Wallingford, Conn.
Wigwam Resort & Country Club, Phoenix, Az.
Whitinsville GC, Whitinsville, Ma. (D. Ross)
Wild Pines GC, Pocono Manor, Pa.
Wintonbury Hills GC, Bloomfield, Conn., with Pete Dye and Tim Liddy
Yale Farms GC, Norfolk/North Canaan, Conn.
Affiliations:
Golf Writers Association of America
Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, affiliate member
Metropolitan (New York) Golf Course Superintendents Association
Donald Ross Society (executive board member, 1995-2003)
Metropolitan (New York) Golf Writers Association
Shivas Irons Society
James Braid Society
A.W. Tillinghast Society
Professional Tour Caddies Association (1983-1993)
Member:
The Orchards Golf Club, South Hadley, Mass. (hon.)
Royal Dornoch Golf Club, Dornoch, Scotland
Desert Forest Golf Club, Carefree, Ariz. (hon.)
Service:
Municipal Golf Course Management Committee, Bloomfield, Conn. (appointed by town council)
World Golf Hall of Fame Ballot and Nomination Review Committee
USGA Architecture Archive Committee