Atlantic City Country Club is proud of its array of firsts, including the term birdie. Other noteworthy originals include:
• Eagle, first used at the club to represent a score of two under par. • Senior Tour Event held in 1980 and won by Don January. • Intercollegiate Ivy League Championship held in 1901; Harvard won. • John J. McDermott, age 19, became the first American to win the USGA Open Championship in 1911.
• Babe Didrikson Zaharias won her first of three USGA Women’s Open championships in 1948.
Fair’s enthusiasm is contagious as he dis- cusses food, golf and games.“We can set food stations at various holes. One may serve softshell crab sandwiches, another healthy granola and fruit.We go all out for corporate branding requests.A huge logo carved out of ice resembles glisten- ing glass. This is a novel component for new product launches.”
What sets Blue Bell Country Club apart from many other golf clubs is its singular makeup. Together with its neighboring sister property, Normandy Farm, it offers a hotel and conference center, a country club,and a wonderful place to dine.
“We truly are a resort right here in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania,” pro- claims Fair. “Depending on the size of a group,we will rent the club for a full day. Guests can hold a reception or dine inside the clubhouse ballroom. Other groups opt to stage a conference one day, play golf the next and conclude theirmeeting with dinner at the Farmer’s Daughter restaurant. The golf portion of the event is designed to get everyone relaxed, so they can do what they came to do – build their team, reward employ- ees, raise money for charity, gather for an annual meeting or entertain clients.”
Another venue where the offerings bring groups back again and again is the Hershey Country Club.
Founded in 1930 by Milton S.Hershey as a place to unwind, relax,meet, entertain and celebrate, it is punctuated by its
three golf
courses.Private lessons, group clinics with PGA-certified professional golf instructors, a driving range, shotgun or tee time starting options and event availability seven days a week are among the club’s myriad high points.
Packages include overnight bookings for groups of 10 or more, golf and lunch meetings and group outings, complete with accommodations, breakfast, unlim- ited golf and carts, access to private facilities and admission to The Hershey Story, TheMuseumon ChocolateAvenue and Hershey Gardens.
“We always try to achieve whatever expe- rience the organization hopes to create,” points out Hershey Country Club’s PGA general manager,Ned Graff. “One of our big charitable events is the Jake Gittlen Memorial Golf Tournament. This is the largest fund raising golf tournament in the country. Last year, we brought in close to $750,000 for cancer research.”
“Another fund raiser we participate in is the Our Kids golf outing,” adds Graff. “This is a one-day tournament held at 11 to 14 courses to benefit Children’s Miracle Network at the Penn State/ Hershey Children’s Hospital. We serve as headquarters for the event. All results come to us and we determine the win- ners. The finale includes a dinner at Hershey Lodge for 1,400 people.”
Because Hershey Country Club has decades of experience, nonprofit, busi- ness and corporate groups are comfort-
Mid-Atlantic EVENTS Magazine 25
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