Jack Frost National

[Craig_Rokke]

Anyone familiar with the Poconos has probably heard of the Jack Frost/Big Boulder ski area. They are mid way through the construction of a new course, Jack Frost National (I cringe a little when I hear "National" in new course names). I believe the course is scheduled to open sometime in 06'. Rumor has it that they are using an old design done for them by Robert Trent Jones sr., many years ago. Has anyone seen or heard anything about the course?

[Mike_Cirba]

Craig,

About a year or so ago, somebody who's name escapes me on GCA (who doesn't seem to post here any longer) sent me an IM telling me that they were the architect in charge of building a course at Jack Frost to a plan by RTJ Sr.

I could probably dig if no one comes up with anything more informational than my bit of non-information.

[Steve_ Shaffer]

I called JFN a few months ago and requested a brochure or info re membership. They took my name and address and said thay would send a package.They never sent me anything. It seemed to me that they were more interested in getting me up there for their weekend open houses to see the golf course and/or sell me a time share.

[Dave Bourgeois]

Jack Frost National...  what a horrible name.  Before I was a member here I remember reading a thread about course names, and man the UK has it over the US.

Now I'm thinking JFN a quirky name to add to Pocono quirk.

[Craig_Rokke]

Dave-
I agree. They could have done better on the name. To begin with, when I hear "Jack Frost" I conjur up images of that 60's animated Christmas special that I believe features the distinctive voice of Buddy Hackett.  But the ski facility has held the JF name for a long time, so I guess they had to work with the name recognition they had going
for them.

The Poconos badly needs some new golf. With gambling seemingly on the horizon, and new resorts springing up (Great Wolf) and being sold (Pocono Manor), perhaps that is a possibility.

[Dave Bourgeois]

Ahhh Pocono Manor.  I played one of the courses there and remember the 6th or 7th was like a 65 yard par three that went way downhill into the woods!  I may have the hole # wrong, but that was a quirky joint.

[Steve_ Shaffer]

from cybergolf.com

Anyone ever hear of Barbaron?

 "The Pocono Mountains Vacation Bureau has announced that the new Jack Frost National Golf Club in Blakeslee, Pa., has begun the final construction phase. If all goes well, the course will open in fall 2006.
Grow-in is now underway at Jack Frost National, which was designed and is being built by Barbaron, a Florida-based company. The 18-hole course will measure more than 7,200 yards from the tips, and will feature Lo-Mo Bluegrass fairways and Penn-4 bentgrass greens. The facility will be conditioned by a double-row irrigation system and will feature five sets of tees and a state-of-the-art practice facility.
“This piece of land is turning into a magnificent golf course,” says Tom Wheary, president of Golf Strategies, LLC, which is the project manager at Jack Frost National and will manage course operations after it opens. “Mother Nature has been very cooperative throughout the last year.”
Jack Frost National Golf Club has established an office in Blakeslee. For more information, call 866/268-5503."

[Steve_ Shaffer]

Here they are:

www.barbaron.com

They list the archie at JFN as :



 Terrill A. LaGree

[Derek_Duncan]

Terry LaGree is a builder and occasional architect who works primarily in Central Florida. He's been associated with several projects around the Brooksville area (including Black Diamond) and designed the Diamond Players Club in Clermont west of Orlando (a fun and adventurous course with tremendous elevation changes). I've been encouraged by what I've seen of his in the past--he's not shy about deviating from the standard.

[Craig_Rokke]

Interesting that Barbaron has done a lot of work in Florida, but JFN is the first bit of work outside the state. Is it a challenge to jump to a new geographic area with differing climates, soil conditions, and terrain?

Speaking of Pocono Manor earlier, I know that the course(s)
will be changing. I hope that the Stihls are brought in, and
that they put some sorely needed work into the East, and start from scratch with the West. They own a ton of acreage, so they ought to be able to improve.

[Mike Salinetti]

I am a superintendent in the Poconos and hopefully with a few casinos and a Hard Rock Cafe in the works right now we can bring more golfers to the area. I get sick of hearing the ads for $25.00 greens fees and a free hot dog at the turn. This forces the course to cut prices to compete. Hopefully JFN along with some casinos will attract a higher quality of golfers instead of the jeans, tank top, and pull cart crowd.