Golf Courses

With the string of excessively hot temperatures we have had in the region lately, there's no doubt that brown, burnt-out grass is everywhere. Everywhere except in the fairways and on the greens of many golf courses. And that's just another reason to keep the ball in the fairway. I've personally been on a golf binge in the last four weeks with early-morning wakeup calls and tee times at many courses throughout the area. My "home" club is Beaver Creek but I've played others such as Black Rock, Whitetail, Quail Valley, Hollow Creek, Rattlewood and a few more.

As a way to stimulate business, Hagerstown officials are considering a new policy that would allow the sale of beer at its public golf course. City Engineer Rodney Tissue took two suggestions before the Hagerstown City Council on Tuesday to outline the idea. During the discussion, Tissue said the city could allow third-party catering companies to serve food and drinks for groups playing in tournaments at the course. The caterers would have to offer wine or beer under their own licenses, he said.

New golf course developed in Pa. By RICHARD F. BELISLE / Staff Writer, Waynesboro MERCERSBURG, Pa. - Although it won't officially open to the public until April, golfers with special invitations are being allowed to play on the new Whitetail Golf Resort on Blairs Valley Road, the course superintendent said Tuesday. continued "We want to get a little feedback on what players think of the course," said Jeff Hall, 46. The golf course is owned by the Hummelstown (Pa.)

Rocky Springs Golf Course opens in Pa. By STACEY DANZUSO / Staff Writer, Chambersburg photo: RICHARD T. MEAGHER / staff photographer CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. - Since the Rocky Spring Golf Course opened to the public last month, about 80 people have purchased memberships to the former U.S. Army facility. Part of the nine-hole course on the Letterkenny Army Depot is on land scheduled to be transferred from the Army to the Letterkenny Industrial Development Authority.

WASHINGTON COUNTY -- With less money in local residents' budgets for leisure pastimes, the rough economy is taking a toll on revenue at Black Rock Golf Course , the county-owned golf course off Mt. Aetna Road, officials said. "We're looking at different things to try to keep play up or pick play up, but until the economy picks up, there's just no disposable income out there to play a $50 round of golf," said James L. Sterling, Washington County's director of buildings, grounds and parks.

MERCERSBURG, Pa. - Hummelstown Pa.'s plans to buy a new 250-acre golf course near the Whitetail Ski Resort could be thwarted if the owners of Penn National Golf Course in Quincy Township, Pa., follow through with a threat to sue over the purchase. Christopher Mattson, a Lancaster, Pa., attorney representing White Rock Inc., owners of Penn National, said Tuesday that his clients are claiming the sale to Hummelstown, a municipality, would create unfair competition between the two golf courses because Hummelstown can finance the purchase with tax-exempt bonds.

CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. - Jefferson County Commission members on Tuesday started reviewing new land-use regulations that have been called restrictive, confusing and contradictory by some. Many of the areas examined Tuesday dealt with restrictions on businesses. For example, the new regulations would only allow rough areas of golf courses to be irrigated with storm water, said Jefferson County Commissioner Dale Manuel. The regulation was drafted because of concerns about the amount of water golf courses use, said Commissioner Greg Corliss.

GREENCASTLE, Pa. - A 192-unit housing development proposed in Antrim Township, Pa., is one of several across the state that would close and eliminate golf courses. GIBG Golf LLC has proposed the single-family houses on land now used for the Greencastle Greens Golf Course, two miles north of the intersection of Pa. 16 and U.S. 11 in Franklin County. The Connecticut-based firm and other developers are listed on similar plans in Lancaster and York counties, according to township officials in those counties.

The Hagerstown Parks Board wants golf courses, cemeteries and other organizations to share the cost of a border collie to chase away waterfowl, the board's chairman said Thursday. John Ziegler said the board will recommend to Hagerstown Mayor Robert E. Bruchey II and Hagerstown City Council next month that the city lease or buy a dog with or without help. Hundreds of birds have overrun Hagerstown City Park, attracted by its abundance of water and food. Ziegler said Public Works Manager Doug Stull would research the costs of leasing and buying a border collie, a breed that has successfully been used other places.

A national publication has ranked Hagerstown among the top golf cities in the U.S. The July issue of Golf Digest lists Hagerstown Municipal Golf Course and Black Rock Golf Course as being among the premier layouts in the United States in terms of good, affordable public and municipal golf courses. The municipal course in Hagerstown and Black Rock, off Mount Aetna Road, were ranked 41st among 309 golf courses across the country. "It's really gratifying that Golf Digest has the wisdom to recognize Municipal Golf Course for the asset it is to the city of Hagerstown," said Harry McAbee Jr., a golfer and unofficial spokesman for golfers at the city course.

Waynesboro Municipal Golf Course fees are increasing to help the course balance its budget. On Wednesday, the Waynesboro Borough Council approved fee changes for the coming year. Each round of golf will increase by $1.50. That makes a weekday, 18-hole game $14.75. Annual membership rates also will be on the rise. The council approved raising that rate by $25, bringing it to $350 for a single membership. The senior citizen and junior rates are $300 per year. Between 9,000 and 10,000 rounds are played per year at the golf course off Cemetery Avenue, according to Assistant Borough Manager Jason Cohen.

As a way to stimulate business, Hagerstown officials are considering a new policy that would allow the sale of beer at its public golf course. City Engineer Rodney Tissue took two suggestions before the Hagerstown City Council on Tuesday to outline the idea. During the discussion, Tissue said the city could allow third-party catering companies to serve food and drinks for groups playing in tournaments at the course. The caterers would have to offer wine or beer under their own licenses, he said.

The price to play golf at Hagerstown Greens at Hamilton Run could rise in 2012. The Hagerstown City Council will vote next week on a proposal  to increase fees at the city-owned golf course between 50 cents and $4 per round and between $40 and $55 for season passes. Under the proposal from city officials, cart rentals would also increase between 75 cents and $3 per person. The city has been actively seeking to reduce the course's dependence on an interfund subsidy while also improving its viability.

The Hagerstown City Council has informally agreed to close the city golf course in the winter to save money and is considering improving the financially struggling operation in an effort to reduce its dependence on an annual subsidy. Among the ideas discussed Tuesday during a council meeting were renovations to the clubhouse at Hagerstown Greens at Hamilton Run, the addition of concessions - including the sale of alcohol - and closing the course during the winter months. The council discussed the possibilities for the golf course at length but did not take any formal votes.

After a successful turnout and great feedback from the disc golf nights at Hagerstown Greens at Hamilton Run, the city of Hagerstown's Parks and Engineering Department has good news for all disc throwers. The golf course will now offer disc golf nights the first and third Sundays and Mondays of each month from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Officials will be lengthening the course and changing the pars of each hole. “It was awesome to see all of the interest and excitement about disc golf,” said Junior Mason, parks superintendent for the city.

With the string of excessively hot temperatures we have had in the region lately, there's no doubt that brown, burnt-out grass is everywhere. Everywhere except in the fairways and on the greens of many golf courses. And that's just another reason to keep the ball in the fairway. I've personally been on a golf binge in the last four weeks with early-morning wakeup calls and tee times at many courses throughout the area. My "home" club is Beaver Creek but I've played others such as Black Rock, Whitetail, Quail Valley, Hollow Creek, Rattlewood and a few more.

WAYNESBORO, PA.-- Golfers could consume beer during tournaments at Waynesboro's municipal golf course if the borough council adopts new rules suggested by staff. Borough Manager Lloyd Hamberger asked the council to consider changing the golf course's rules by ordinance. As that change is being drafted, he asked the council to waive the beer rule on a case-by-case basis for upcoming tournaments. Allowing beer could lead to a greater number of tournaments and more revenue, Hamberger said last week.

GREENCASTLE, Pa. -- The owner of Greencastle Greens Golf Course has appealed a federal ruling preventing it from developing the course into homes. Greencastle GIBG LLC, represented by Philadelphia-based law firm Fox Rothchild LLP, filed a motion Oct. 28 to appeal the ruling of U.S. District Judge Yvette Kane in the Third Circuit Federal Appeals Court. Kane issued a summary judgment Sept. 28 ordering that covenants in the original deed of sale for the course restrict its owner from converting it into a housing development.

GREENCASTLE, Pa. -- After three years of litigation, a federal court has ruled the 18-hole Greencastle Greens must remain a golf course. U.S. District Judge Yvette Kane issued a summary judgment Sept. 28 ordering that covenants in the original deed of sale restrict the present owner from converting the golf course into a housing development. Greens at Greencastle Limited Partnership challenged a 2006 land development plan by the course's owner, Greencastle GIBG LLC, which proposed to develop the course into 192 single-family homes.

WAYNESBORO, Pa. -- Waynesboro's recreation board has selected the person it wants to serve as the municipal golf course's new manager after the retirement of Harry "Chip" Grove Sr. After more than 30 years on the job, Grove will retire by Jan. 1, 2010, Rec Board President Mike Forney said. A dozen applicants was narrowed to five, then two through the interview process. The rec board has chosen its candidate and will ask the Waynesboro Borough Council tonight to hire that person.