LuLu has few peers in the 6,500 yds. and under class in the Philadelphia region. As Rory notes, there really isn't a JV hole in the line-up. Number 5 is as stout a four as there is in Phila. There is quality golf throughout the routing. Despite a shoe-string budget, the former and present superintendent have had the course, typically, in fine shape. With pace, the greens are delightfully diabolical. So why in its centennial year is it on the ropes?
To me, the management of the facility has been inconsistent. The membership, that was aging over the past 10-20 years, didn't direct what meager money they did allocate to the right places. A neigborhood that is teetering to drifting into a slide doesn't help.
LuLu has a four way intersection that is a visability gem from a showcase perspective. Literally THOUSANDS of cars pass by that course every day. With, by my count, three different management teams at the helm in the recent past, you think one of them would have figured that out! It currently is: the site for the tree and landscape/debris dump, is horribly overgrown, has much of the great view of holes up the valley obscured by invasive or poor quality trees, and has a dynamite, sporty little practice green/hole right there that now sits forlornly, in neglected, scruffy condition, that would be a really cool spot tightened up.
How can you keep missing the obvious? For 15-20k, they could clean that whole mess up and really have something there to highlight how special that place is...but no, they just keep looking elsewhere and the club continues its decent. You have to INVEST in improvements or folks go elsewhere. Shabby chic only goes so far. Some well-directed lipstick could cover the clubhouse issues in the short. The course comes first!
I believe the current, open it up to anybody approach devalues the membership. Limited play is fine, but a come up and your're on mantra is not the way to go if you wish to have a private component to the facility. Semi-privates work, but it's a delicate balance that must be struck. Why would someone pay more for something ANYONE else can get for less? It makes no sense...there is no value to the private option.
Management needs to have someone in place who knows how to recruit members and they haven't had the right mix on that score...for a while. Of course a better product makes that job easier.
LuLu deserves a better fate. I hope they get it together, and it returns to form on the level of the superb golf architecture that's there.
Cheers,
Kris
